Accessibility navigation

Effect of the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability on the global monsoon

Monerie, P.-A., Robson, J., Dong, B., Hodson, D. L. R. and Klingaman, N. P. (2019) Effect of the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability on the global monsoon. Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (3). pp. 1765-1775. ISSN 0094-8276

Text - Accepted Version
· Please see our End User Agreement before downloading.



To link to this item DOI: 10.1029/2018GL080903


We assess the effect of the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) on the global monsoon using idealized simulations. Warm AMV phases are associated with a significant strengthening of monsoon precipitation over Northern Africa and India, and anomalously weak monsoon precipitation over South America. Changes in monsoon precipitation are mediated by a change in atmospheric dynamics, primarily associated with a shift in the circulation related to both an enhanced interhemispheric thermal contrast and the remote impact of AMV on the Pacific Ocean, through changes in the Walker circulation. In contrast, the thermodynamic changes are less important. Further experiments show that the impact of AMV is largely due to the tropical component of the sea surface temperature anomalies. However, the extratropical Atlantic also plays a role, especially for northern Africa. Finally, we show that the effect of AMV on monsoons is not linearly related to the magnitude of warming.

Item Type:Article
ID Code:82038
Publisher:American Geophysical Union


Downloads per month over past year


Page navigation