The Effect of Tropical Atlantic Heating Anomalies upon GCM Rain Forecasts over the Americas

Abstract Severe droughts occurred over eastern sections of North America and central sections of South America in 1986 and 1988. We summarize data suggesting that both periods were characterized by above-normal tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures and convection, and investigate the response of a general circulation model to positive heating anomalies in the tropical Atlantic sector. An eight-case control ensemble of 30 day global predictions is made starting from the atmospheric state observed on 1 January of each year from 1977 through 1984. The same eight cases are integrated in a second experimental ensemble that is identical to the first control ensemble, except that a heating term is added to the thermodynamic equation in a region centered at 30°W, 6.6°N. This is intended to simulate the latent heating of enhanced tropical Atlantic convection. The third ensemble is identical to the second, except the heating is centered at 6.6°S. Both heated ensembles produce reductions of forecast precipitati...