The Atlantic zonal mode: Dynamics, thermodynamics, and teleconnections

The equatorial Atlantic is subject to variability on interannual timescales that involves coupled air-sea interaction and bears some similarity to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation in the tropical Pacific. In this chapter, we take a closer look at equatorial Atlantic variability, examining its dynamical and thermodynamical mechanisms, its interaction with other variability patterns inside and outside the tropical Atlantic, its influences on precipitation over land, its representation in climate models, its predictability, and its low-frequency modulation. In addition to reviewing what is known about the equatorial Atlantic, we also point out where there is a current lack of consensus and where there are open questions requiring further research.