Tropical Pacific/Atlantic Ocean interactions at multi-decadal time scales

Analysis of sea surface temperature (SST) observations suggests a pan-ocean ic interaction between the tropical Pacific anti the Atlantic Ocean at mult idecadal time scales, such that periods of anomalously high SSTs in the tro pical Pacific are followed by a basin-wide SST dipole in the Atlantic Ocean with a time delay of a few decades. The SST anomaly structure: in the Atla ntic Ocean is reminscent of variations in the North Atlantic thermohaline c irculation. The two ocean basins are linked through an "atmosphrric bridge" involving anomalous fresh water fluxes. Based on the observational finding s, the Atlantic thermohaline circulation may strengthen during the next dec ades in response to the strong decades-long increase in tropical Pacific SS T, which will have strong impacts on the climates of North America and Euro pe through changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).