Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent
This study analyzes the relationships between the onset, the duration, and the maximum extent of the Atlantic Cold Tongue (ACT) using ERA5 reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) over the period 1979–2019. After calculating the start and end dates of the A...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Dianikoura Ibrahim Koné Adama Diawara Benjamin Komenan Kouassi Fidele Yoroba Kouakou Kouadio Assi Louis Martial Yapo Touré Dro Tiemoko Mamadou Diarrassouba Foungnigué Silué Arona Diedhioune |
| author_facet | Dianikoura Ibrahim Koné Adama Diawara Benjamin Komenan Kouassi Fidele Yoroba Kouakou Kouadio Assi Louis Martial Yapo Touré Dro Tiemoko Mamadou Diarrassouba Foungnigué Silué Arona Diedhioune |
| author_sort | Dianikoura Ibrahim Koné |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyzes the relationships between the onset, the duration, and the maximum extent of the Atlantic Cold Tongue (ACT) using ERA5 reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) over the period 1979–2019. After calculating the start and end dates of the ACT each year, this study investigates potential relationships between early or late onset that may be linked to the maximum duration and extent of the ACT, which is known to influence weather patterns and precipitation in surrounding regions and the West African Monsoon System. Results show that 68% of years with a short ACT duration are associated with a late-onset ACT, while 70% of years with a long ACT duration are associated with early ACT onset years. In addition, 63% of years with a short duration of ACT have a cold tongue with a low maximum extent, while 83% of years with a long duration of ACT have a cold tongue with a greater maximum extent. Finally, 78% of early ACT onset years are associated with the coldest SST tongue in the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean. A comparison of the last 20 years (1999–2019) with the previous 20 years (1979–1998) shows a cooling trend in SST, with ACT occurring and ending earlier in recent years than in the past. However, as the changes in the end date are greater than those in the onset date, the duration of the ACT has been 5–12 days shorter in the last 20 years than in the previous 20 years. Knowledge of these ACT characteristics and their interrelations and drivers is crucial for understanding the West African Monsoon System and for improving climate models and seasonal forecasts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9af3d2e6930741f69fc4d848b924e2f4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-9af3d2e6930741f69fc4d848b924e2f42025-01-24T13:21:50ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-01-011614710.3390/atmos16010047Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum ExtentDianikoura Ibrahim Koné0Adama Diawara1Benjamin Komenan Kouassi2Fidele Yoroba3Kouakou Kouadio4Assi Louis Martial Yapo5Touré Dro Tiemoko6Mamadou Diarrassouba7Foungnigué Silué8Arona Diedhioune9Laboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireDepartment of Sciences and Technology, University Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké 01 BPV 108, Côte d’IvoireLaboratory of Fundamental and Applied Physics, University Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan BP 31, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireLaboratoire des Sciences de la Matière de l’Environnement et de l’Energie Solaire, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan BP 582, Côte d’IvoireThis study analyzes the relationships between the onset, the duration, and the maximum extent of the Atlantic Cold Tongue (ACT) using ERA5 reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) over the period 1979–2019. After calculating the start and end dates of the ACT each year, this study investigates potential relationships between early or late onset that may be linked to the maximum duration and extent of the ACT, which is known to influence weather patterns and precipitation in surrounding regions and the West African Monsoon System. Results show that 68% of years with a short ACT duration are associated with a late-onset ACT, while 70% of years with a long ACT duration are associated with early ACT onset years. In addition, 63% of years with a short duration of ACT have a cold tongue with a low maximum extent, while 83% of years with a long duration of ACT have a cold tongue with a greater maximum extent. Finally, 78% of early ACT onset years are associated with the coldest SST tongue in the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean. A comparison of the last 20 years (1999–2019) with the previous 20 years (1979–1998) shows a cooling trend in SST, with ACT occurring and ending earlier in recent years than in the past. However, as the changes in the end date are greater than those in the onset date, the duration of the ACT has been 5–12 days shorter in the last 20 years than in the previous 20 years. Knowledge of these ACT characteristics and their interrelations and drivers is crucial for understanding the West African Monsoon System and for improving climate models and seasonal forecasts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/47Atlantic Cold Tonguesea surface temperatureequatorial Atlanticinterannual variabilityseasonal cycle |
| spellingShingle | Dianikoura Ibrahim Koné Adama Diawara Benjamin Komenan Kouassi Fidele Yoroba Kouakou Kouadio Assi Louis Martial Yapo Touré Dro Tiemoko Mamadou Diarrassouba Foungnigué Silué Arona Diedhioune Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent Atmosphere Atlantic Cold Tongue sea surface temperature equatorial Atlantic interannual variability seasonal cycle |
| title | Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent |
| title_full | Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent |
| title_fullStr | Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent |
| title_short | Composite Study of Relationships Between the Characteristics of Atlantic Cold Tongue: Onset, Duration, and Maximum Extent |
| title_sort | composite study of relationships between the characteristics of atlantic cold tongue onset duration and maximum extent |
| topic | Atlantic Cold Tongue sea surface temperature equatorial Atlantic interannual variability seasonal cycle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/47 |
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