Wed. May 24, 2017 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM 303 (International Conference Hall 3F)

convener:Ingo Richter(JAMSTEC Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Noel S Keenlyside(Geophysical Institute Bergen), Thomas Spengler(University of Bergen), Carlos R Mechoso(University of California Los Angeles), Chairperson:Ingo Richter(JAMSTEC Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Chairperson:Carlos Mechoso(University of California Los Angeles)

The Atlantic Ocean is subject to pronounced climate variations that occur on a wide range of time scales. Atlantic multi-decadal variability (AMV) associated with the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation has long been known to have global impacts. In particular, AMV has been linked to changes in the Indian, Asian and South American summer monsoons, and also to changes in the Pacific associated with the "global hiatus". Interannual variability in the equatorial and subtropical Atlantic is influenced by teleconnections from the Pacific, and also modulates El Nino/Southern Oscillation according to recent studies. This session seeks observational, modeling, as well as theoretical studies that attempt to understand the mechanisms of Atlantic variability and its predictability. We also seek studies that evaluate climate model performance in the region. Topics include atmosphere-ocean-cloud interactions in the tropical Atlantic and their remote impacts; relationships between tropical and mid/high latitude variability; air-sea interaction along the Gulf Stream and its influence on cyclones and storm track evolution; variability in the Benguela upwelling region; influence of Agulhas leakage on the South Atlantic; and coupled climate models biases in the region and their impact on prediction skill and projection uncertainties.