Response of sea surface temperature to chlorophyll-a concentration in the tropical Pacific: Annual mean, seasonal cycle, and interannual variability

The response of the upper-ocean temperatures and currents in the tropical Pacific to the spatial distribution of chlorophyll-a and its seasonal cycle is investigated using a coupled atmosphere-ocean model and a stand-alone oceanic general circulation model. The spatial distribution of chlorophyll-a significantly influences the mean state of models in the tropical Pacific. The annual mean SST in the eastern equatorial Pacific decreases accompanied by a shallow thermocline and stronger currents because of shallow penetration depth of solar radiation. Equatorial upwelling dominates the heat budget in that region. Atmosphere-ocean interaction processes can further amplify such changes.