Structure of synoptic-scale waves in the tropical Pacific during July-December 1974-1976

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Author
Bepristis, Donald Joseph
Date
1977-12Advisor
Chang, C.-P.
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Show full item recordAbstract
Composite wave structures, sea-surface temperatures (SST),
and mean zonal winds are studied for the period July through
December over the three consecutive years 19 7M-, 1975 and 1976.
These three years were found to possess an "average" SST anomaly
distribution, a cold anomaly pattern and a warm anomaly
pattern respectively. Radiosonde data for the six month period
for each year and each of the six locations (Koror, Yap,
Truk , Ponape , Kwajalein and Majuro) were analyzed to derive
composite wave descriptions of meridional and zonal wind components,
temperature and specific humidity. The basic results
such as periodicity and structural tilt were generally in
agreement with previous research. Combining the SST data,
mean zonal flow and wave composites leads to some new insights into the effects of the tropical SST on the semi-permanent
Walker circulation and transient easterly waves. Results indicate
that the east to west oscillation of the Walker circulation
may be directly related to the tropical eastern Pacific
SST. It is also shown that the migration of the Walker circulation
and subsequent change in the upper- tropospheric flow
is directly related to the structural tilt of migratory tropical
waves. Consideration of the wave thermal structure and
its relation to the SST indicates that the waves energetics
may reflect the effects of the upstream SST.
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