热带印度洋偶极子发生和演变机制的数值研究

对中国科学院大气物理研究所(IAP)大气科学和地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室(LASG)发展的第三代海洋模式(L30T63 OGCM)进行了改进。分析了该模式1959年1月—1998年12月的40a积分结果，以此研究热带印度洋偶极子发生、发展和消亡的物理机制。对数值模拟结果的分析表明，赤道印度洋表面异常东风引起的异常环流结构是偶极子发生、发展的主要动力学原因，其表面异常东风转换为异常西风所引起的异常环流结构调整是偶极子消亡的主要动力学原因；海气界面热通量异常的交换对热带印度洋海表温度距平偶极子模态的形成和演变起着重要的作用；垂直输送作用是热带印度洋次表层海温偶极子模态发生和演变的主要物理机制。     

热带东印度洋春季浮游植物群落结构空间特征分析

基于2013年3月至5月采集的热带东印度洋海域(10.0°S～4.0°N, 83.0°～97.5°E)浮游植物水样样品,分析了其种类组成、优势类群、细胞丰度等群落特征参数,综合比较了水平和垂向上浮游植物种类及丰度的差异性,初步探讨了其成因。结果表明：2013年春季热带东印度洋微型浮游植物共鉴定出306种,主要由硅藻、甲藻、金藻、蓝藻、裸藻和隐藻六大门类组成,其优势类群主要以粒径较小的隐藻、微型甲藻、菱形藻、环沟藻等为主。水平分布上,各水层浮游植物细胞丰度分布趋势相似,但斑块特征明显,其高值区位于88°E断面赤道以南次表层水域(30 m、75 m),局部区域细胞丰度值可达10⁴ cells/L以上;与其毗邻的东南部、东部水域为低值区,并向赤道延伸。垂直剖面上,硅藻和甲藻广泛分布在各取样深度,但分布特征有明显的空间差异和规律,0 m、30 m大部分站位硅藻种类比例在0.2～0.3甚至更低,甲藻在0.7～0.8,随着水层加深(75 m、100 m、150 m、300 m),硅藻种类占比上升到0.5～0.6,甲藻降低到0.4～0.5,无论硅藻还是甲藻种类数75 m层最丰富。30 m和75 m水层细胞丰度明显高于其他水层。甲藻是热带东印度洋微型浮游植物种类和细胞丰度的重要贡献者,低生物量海域表现的更为明显,贡献率大于80%。该研究将极大丰富东印度洋浮游植物群落空间特征基础信息较匮乏的现状,为量化、评估该海域的生物资源提供数据支撑。     

风应力桥梁作用下热带太平洋和热带印度洋相互作用的数值试验

利用中等复杂程度全球热带大气和热带海洋模式的数值试验,模拟分析了热带太平洋和热带印度洋通过风应力桥梁的相互作用过程.利用NCEP再分析的1958～1998年SST强迫大气模式得到的风应力与NCEP再分析的同期热通量共同驱动海洋模式,作为控制试验;和控制试验平行,但强迫大气模式的SST在某一海盆取为多年气候平均值的试验作为敏感性试验.比较控制试验与敏感性试验模拟的SST变率,揭示了热带某海盆SST异常通过风应力桥梁作用对其他海盆SST的影响及其过程.数值试验结果表明:热带某海盆SST暖(冷)异常一般总是引起该海盆上空西部西(东)风异常和东部东(西)风异常;热带太平洋SST暖(冷)异常导致年际尺度上印度洋上空东(西)风异常和年代际尺度上热带印度洋风场辐散(合),该风应力导致热带印度洋年际SST暖(冷)异常以及年代际SST冷(暖)异常,但这种异常均较弱;热带印度洋SST暖(冷)异常导致热带太平洋上空东(西)风异常,该风应力异常在年际和年代际尺度上均导致热带太平洋SST冷(暖)异常,但年代际尺度上异常更明显.考虑到热带印度洋SSTA受热带太平洋SSTA影响大,并且热带太平洋SST暖(冷)异常主要通过表面热通量导致热带印度洋SST变暖(冷)的观测事实,文中揭示的热带印度洋SST暖(冷)异常通过风应力桥梁作用导致热带太平洋SST冷(暖)异常的结果表明,热带印度洋SSTA对于热带太平洋SSTA主要起着一种负反馈作用,并且这种负反馈作用在年代际尺度上更为明显.     

南印度洋热带气旋快速增强事件气候特征及其年际变率

利用美国联合台风预警中心的热带气旋最佳路径数据集、美国国家海洋和大气管理局的扩展重构海表温度数据、全球海洋数据同化系统的温度、盐度数据及美国国家环境预报中心/国家大气研究中心的再分析资料, 分析了1981—2019年南印度洋热带气旋快速增强事件的气候特征和年际变率。结果表明, 南印度洋热带气旋快速增强事件产生频率呈现单峰分布, 主要产生在每年的12月至次年4月。南印度洋热带气旋增强事件的产生位置呈带状分布, 其中3个高值中心分别位于马达加斯加岛东北海域、南印度洋中部海域和澳大利亚西北海域, 这主要是由于热带气旋热潜和垂直风切变两个大尺度环境变量决定的。年际变率方面, 厄尔尼诺-南方涛动对南印度洋热带气旋增强事件产生频率的调制作用是不对称的, 厄尔尼诺年与拉尼娜年南印度洋热带气旋快速增强事件均减少, 但使其减少的物理机制不同。厄尔尼诺年, 热带气旋快速增强事件减少主要是较高的垂直风切变造成的; 拉尼娜年, 热带气旋快速增强事件减少主要是由于热带气旋热潜的降低, 而海表温度、垂直风切变和相对湿度也存在一定贡献。     

2013年赤道波动调制下的东印度洋春季Wyrtki急流季节内变化研究

A strong spring Wyrtki jet(WJ) presents in May 2013 in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. The entire buildup and retreat processes of the spring WJ were well captured by two adjacent Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers mounted on the mooring systems. The observed zonal jet behaved as one intraseasonal event with the significant features of abrupt emergence as well as slow disappearance. Further research illustrate that the pronounced surface westerly wind burst during late-April to mid-May, associated with the active phase of a robust eastwardpropagating Madden–Julian oscillation in the tropical Indian Ocean, was the dominant reason for the rapid acceleration of surface WJ. In contrasting, the governing mechanism for the jet termination was equatorial wave dynamics rather than wind forcing. The decomposition analysis of equatorial waves and the corresponding changes in the ocean thermocline demonstrated that strong WJ was produced rapidly by the wind-generated oceanic downwelling equatorial Kelvin wave and was terminated subsequently by the westward-propagating equatorial Rossby wave reflecting from eastern boundaries of the Indian Ocean.     

东亚冬夏季风对热带印度洋秋季海温异常的响应

利用多年的Reynolds月平均海表温度资料和NCEP/NCAR全球大气再分析资料,分析了热带印度洋秋季海表温度距平(SSTA)与后期东亚冬夏季风强度变化的关系。结果表明,热带印度洋秋季SSTA的主要模态是全区一致(USB)型和偶极子(IOD)型,USB型模态主要代表热带印度洋秋季SSTA的长期变化趋势,而IOD型模态主要反映热带印度洋秋季SSTA的年际变化。热带印度洋秋季海温气候变率中既存在着明显的ENSO信号,也有独立于ENSO的变率特征,独立于ENSO的热带印度洋秋季SSTA变化的主要模态仍是USB型和IOD型。前期秋季USB模态与东亚冬季风及东亚副热带夏季风之间为负相关关系;与前期正(负)IOD模态相对应,南海夏季风强度偏弱(强),而东亚副热带夏季风强度偏强(弱)。USB型和IOD型模态对后期东亚冬、夏季风强度变化的影响是独立于ENSO的,但ENSO起到了调节二者相关显著程度的作用。     

热带东印度洋SST对气候变暖和变冷的响应

The response of the eastern tropical Indian Ocean(ETIO) to heat fluxes of equal amplitude but opposite sign is investigated using the Community Earth System Model(CESM). A significant positive asymmetry in sea surface temperature(SST) is found over the ETIO—the warming responses to the positive forcing exceeds the cooling to the negative forcing. A mixed layer heat budget analysis is carried out to identify the mechanisms responsible for the SST asymmetry. Results show that it is mainly ascribed to the ocean dynamical processes, including vertical advections and diffusion. The net surface heat flux, on the contrary, works to reduce the asymmetry through its shortwave radiation and latent heat flux components. The former is due to the nonlinear relationship between SST and cloud, while the latter is resulted mainly from Newtonian damping and air-sea stability effects. Changes in the SST skewness are also evaluated, with more enhanced negative SST skewness over the ETIO found for the cooling than heating scenarios due to the asymmetric thermocline-SST feedback.     

The distribution of chlorophyll a in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean in austral summer

To study the effect of hydrographic factors on the spatial distributions of chlorophyll a (Chl a), an investigation was carried out in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean (80 -100 E along 7 S, and 7 -18 S along 80 E) in December 2010. The fluorescent method was used to obtain total Chl a and size-fractioned Chl a at the 26 stations. The results show that surface Chl a concentration averaged at (0.168 ± 0.095) mg/m 3 s.d. (range: 0.034-0.475 mg/m 3 ), concentrations appeared to be higher in the west for longitudinal variations, and higher in the north for latitudinal variations. Furthermore, the surface Chl a concentration was lower (0.034-0.066 mg/m 3 ) in the region to the south of 16 S. There was a strong subsurface Chl a maximum layer at all stations and the depth of the Chl a maximum increased towards to the east and south along with the respective nitracline. The spatial variation of Chl a was significant: correlation and regression analysis suggests that it was primarily affected by PO 3 4 , N(NO 3 -N+NO 2 -N) and temperature. Size-fractionated Chl a concentration clearly showed that the study area was a typical oligotrophic open ocean, in which picophytoplankton dominated, accounting for approximately 67.8% of total Chl a, followed by nanophytoplankton (24.5%) and microphytoplankton (7.6%). The two larger fractions were sensitive to the limitation of P, while picophytoplankton was primarily affected by temperature.     

热带太平洋盐度变化:2015?2017年盐度异常

本文利用Argo海水盐度资料、海流同化数据和同期大气再分析数据,探讨热带太平洋盐度趋势变化和相关动力过程。Argo资料显示,2015?2017年热带太平洋出现显著的盐度异常(SAE),这是改变长期趋势的主要原因,表现为表层显著淡化和次表层咸化特征。这种盐度异常具有明显的区域性特征和垂直结构的差异,体现在热带太平洋北部海区(NTP)和南太平洋辐合区(SPCZ)表层淡化,盐度最大变幅为0.71～0.92,淡化可以达到混合层底;热带太平洋南部海区(STP)次表层咸化,最大变幅为0.46,主要发生在温跃层附近,期间盐度异常沿着等位密面从西向东扩展。平流和挟卷是与SAE密切相关的海洋动力过程,两者在NTP淡化海域有着持续而较为显著的影响,在SPCZ淡化、STP咸化海域后期贡献也较大,其中盐度平流对热带太平洋海区盐度变化起主要贡献。NTP淡化海区表层淡水通量和STP咸化海区密度补偿引起的混合也是SAE的重要影响因素。     

Annual cycle of the upper-ocean circulation and properties in the tropical western Indian Ocean

A regional ocean model was used to simulate the annual cycle of the upper-ocean dynamics and its influence on ocean properties in the tropical western Indian Ocean. Surface winds and heat fluxes from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis forced the model (Model_NCEP) with initial and lateral boundary conditions derived from the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA). The model findings were in good agreement with previous research, satellite and observational data as well as another model configuration forced by Comprehensive Ocean and Atmosphere Data Sets (COADS). The initial and lateral boundary conditions for Model_COADS were extracted from World Ocean Atlas 2001. Anticyclonic wind stress curl occurred to the north of Madagascar, and extended towards the Tanzanian coast throughout the year, leading to Ekman convergence and downwelling in that region. The lowest sea-surface height values during the year occurred between 5° and 12° S with an elongated and contracted shape. The East African Coastal Current (EACC) was in phase with the westward North-East Madagascar Current (NEMC) throughout the year with volume transports peaking in June through July in the model forced by NCEP reanalysis. The variability of the volume transport, ocean currents, temperature and salinity to the north of Madagascar on the path of the NEMC mirrored those in the middle Tanzanian shelf on the path of the EACC throughout the year. The NEMC seemed to influence the water masses on the Tanzanian shelf, with cooler and lower-salinity water in the South-West Monsoon, and warmer and saltier water during the North-East Monsoon.     

2018年8月西北太平洋热带气旋频数异常的成因分析

基于中国气象局"CMA-STI热带气旋最佳路径数据集"、欧洲中期天气预报中心ERA_Interim逐月再分析资料,利用1979—2018年热带气旋生成指数中与西北太平洋海域(包括南海海域)8月TC生成频数相关性较好因子,定量分析了2018年8月环境场因子异常的情况与可能原因,并讨论其影响该月台风数量异常偏多的物理机制。结果表明:850 hPa相对涡度和600 hPa相对湿度与西北太平洋海域8月TC生成频数的相关关系最好。2018年8月,相关较高区域的850 hPa相对涡度与多年平均值最大正距平达0.25×10^-4/s,600 hPa相对湿度高于多年平均值8%～10%。2018年8月,西北太平洋副热带高压(副高)位置偏西偏北、北印度洋至我国南海大范围海域西风正异常、南海海域经向风正异常、水汽通量正异常,以及季风槽的位置决定了850 hPa相对涡度因子和600 hPa相对湿度因子正异常的出现,触发对流活动的增强,并通过风驱动海面热量交换机制为TC中潜热释放提供所需的能量供应,最终导致TC生成频数偏多。     

1979—2019年影响中国沿海的热带气旋与ENSO变化关系初探

采用1979—2019年热带气旋最佳路径资料,分析影响中国沿海的热带气旋的时空演变特征,并结合Ni?o3.4指数、海表温度和海洋上层热容量资料,对热带气旋与ENSO变化关系进行初步探讨。结果表明,近40年来影响中国沿海的热带气旋经历了1990年代减弱,2000年代增强的变化过程,且在2000年以后呈现显著向岸迁移趋势。影响中国沿海的热带气旋与表征ENSO的Ni?o3.4指数的相关关系在2000年发生突变,具体表现为ACE与Ni?o3.4指数在2000年前呈显著正相关,2000年后二者相关性明显下降。通过将ACE分解成平均强度ACE₁、持续时间ACE₂和频数ACE₃这三个分量,发现2000年前Ni?o3.4指数与平均强度ACE₁呈显著正相关,但2000年后Ni?o3.4指数与ACE₁相关关系减弱,这可能是导致ACE与Ni?o3.4指数的相关关系在2000年左右发生突变的主要原因。持续时间ACE₂与Ni?o3.4指数一直保持显著正相关,频数ACE_3<...     

Comparison of Grid Averaged Altimeter and Buoy Significant Wave Heights in the Northern Indian Ocean

A quantitative comparison of the collocated inter-annual significant wave height (SWH) data collected between 2006 and 2009 from buoys and altimeters at nine buoy locations (total n = 2241) in the Northern Indian Ocean is attempted for assessing the validity of daily averaged gridded altimeter significant wave height (ASWH) provided by AVISO for operational use. ASWH is underestimated by 0.20 m, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) is less than 0.30 m, the Scatter Index is less than 20%, and the correlation coefficient is greater than 0.90. Further, at three locations, the examination of the above statistics showed that the bias and RMSE is high during the southwest monsoon season compared with the Northeast monsoon. Scatter Index showed only slight variation (14–18%) for different ranges of SWH. The response of the daily average gridded ASWH data during extreme conditions (cyclones) in the vicinity of the buoy locations is poor at all compared buoy locations. The gridded ASWH from different satellite missions provided by AVISO can be used for basin scale validation experiments of the wave model and for climatological studies in the Indian Ocean, except during cyclone conditions.     

热带太平洋次表层三维海温距平场的EOF分析

应用太平洋次表层海温距平资料构造了一个立体的西低东高的四级阶梯模型,使用EOF方法对此模型进行时空分解,重点讨论了分解结果与ENSO循环的关系,并对Nino 3距平指数进行试预报,结果表明,用 EOF分解的第一主分量代表暖池-厄尔尼诺(拉尼娜)模态,第二主分量代表次表层温度距平的东西运移模态,厄尔尼诺事件正是东西运移模态突变的结果.时滞相关分析估算,一次ENSO循环的平均周期约为41个月,厄尔尼诺、拉尼娜模态与温度距平的东西运移模态的位相差平均约为9.7个月.应用逐步回归方法得到超前Nino 3距平指数3、6和12个月的3个预报方程.预报结果表明,第一、第二时间系数对Nino 3距平指数均具有一定的预报价值,预报时效可达1 a左右.     

热带东太平洋表面水温和南方涛动指数的混沌学性质及其可预报性

由于地球轨道几何形状周期性的摆动,导致接收太阳辐射量的周期变化,从而引起对标志全球气候年际变化的热带太平洋表面水温和南方涛动指数周期性的研究,并得出了具有2～7a的周期,且又以3～4a为主的结果.然而进一步研究表明,地球轨道变化对气候的线性驱动,从能量上只能解释气候变化总量的一部分,从周期变化上不能很好地解释厄尔尼诺的发生和强弱,以及气候变化的复杂性等.人们逐渐接受这样的说法,太阳辐射和气候变化之间存在着尚不明了的非线性关系.     

热带印度洋降水、蒸发的时空特征及其对海表盐度的影响

本文利用降水、蒸发等资料分析热带印度洋年降水量、蒸发量、净淡水通量的分布特征,并选取4个典型海域来分析降水量、蒸发量、净淡水通量的季节变化和年际变化。结果表明:东印度洋的苏门答腊岛西部海域年降水量最大,季节变化较小,属全年降雨型;孟加拉湾的东北部和安达曼海的北部海域年降水量较大,其年际变化以4.2 mm/a的速率增长,强降水出现在5-9月;阿拉伯海的西部海域年降水量较小;南印度洋东部（20°~30°S,80°~110°E）海域年降水量较小,年蒸发量较大,年蒸发量在2000年之前以5.1 mm/a的速率增长,之后以4.5 mm/a的速率减小。本文还采用Argo盐度等资料探讨降水、蒸发对海表盐度的影响,研究结果表明:降水量远大于蒸发量的海域,海表盐度较低;降水量远小于蒸发量的海域,海表盐度较高。表层水平环流是导致高净淡水通量中心与低盐中心并不重合的主要原因,也是导致强蒸发中心与高盐中心并不重合的主要原因。选取的4个典型海域海表盐度的季节变化与净淡水通量关系不大,而是与表层水平环流有关。孟加拉湾强降水对表层盐度的影响显著,强降水发生后表层盐度降低0.2~0.8,其影响深度为30~50 m。     

春季季风间期赤道东印度洋浮游植物光合生理特征

Phytoplankton physiologies are dynamic and have sensitive responses to the ambient environment. In this paper,we examine photosynthetic physiologies of phytoplankton communities with Phyto-PAM in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean during the spring inter-monsoon. Environmental parameters were measured to investigate the coupling between phytoplankton photosynthetic physiologies and their habitats. During the cruise, the water column was highly stratified. The mixed layer extended to about 75 m and was characterized by high temperature(28°C) and low nutrient level. The F_v/F_m values and chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentrations were lower at the surface, as consequences of nutrient depletion and photo-inhibition. Subsurface Chl a maximum(SCM) occurred between 75 and 100 m, and had the highest F_v/F_m values. The formation of SCM was a balance between nutrient availability and light limitation. The SCM may contribute significantly to pelagic food web and primary production in the water column. Phytoplankton in different layers encountered different light, trophic and hydrographic dynamics and evolved distinct photosynthetic characteristics. Despite of co-limitation of nutrient limitation and photo-inhibition, phytoplankton in the surface layer showed their acclimation to high irradiance, had lower light utilization efficiencies(α: 0.061±0.032) and could exploit a wide range of light irradiance. Whereas, phytoplankton in the SCM layers presented the highest light utilization efficiencies(α:0.146±0.48), which guaranteed higher photosynthetic capacities under low light level. These results provide insights into phytoplankton photo-adaption strategies in this less explored region.     

First and second baroclinic mode responses of the tropical Indian Ocean to interannual equatorial wind anomalies

The combined and individual responses of the first and second baroclinic mode dynamics of the tropical Indian Ocean to the well-known Indian Ocean Dipole mode (IOD) wind anomalies are investigated. The IOD forced first baroclinic Rossby waves arrive at the western boundary in three months, while the reflected component from the eastern boundary with opposite phase arrives in five to six months, both carry input energy to the west. The inclusion of the second baroclinic mode slows down the wave propagation by mode coupling and stretches the energy spectrum to a relatively longer time scale. The total energy exists in the equatorial wave guide for at least five months from the forcing, as much as 10% of that of the atmospheric input, which mainly dissipates at the western boundary. The individual responses of the ocean to IOD interannual wind anomaly show that the significant modes of oceanic anomalies are confined to a wave guide of 10° on either side of the equator.     

基于延绳钓观察员数据的热带太平洋中东部食物网拓扑结构分析

热带太平洋是金枪鱼类、旗鱼类等渔业的主要作业海域,但目前针对此海域食物网的研究仍十分缺乏。本文根据2017年6月-11月中国金枪鱼科学观察员在热带太平洋中东部海域（13°09''N -34°27''S, 100°03''-176°17''W）采集的鱼类样品,结合胃含物及其他分析方法以35个物种间的摄食关系为基础对此海域的食物网结构进行了分析。拓扑学指标（节点强度,D;中心性指数,BC和CC;拓扑重要性指数,TI¹和TI³;关键性指数,K、K_t和K_b）和Key-Player算法（KPP-1和KPP-2）用来筛选关键种,并结合体长数据建立了基于关键种的简化食物网。肯德尔相关性分析和聚类分析结果表明,不同拓扑学指标筛选出的关键种是一致的。大多数关键种与太平洋其他海域的研究结果是相同的,如剑鱼（Xiphias gladius）、长鳍金枪鱼（Thunnus alalunga）、小吻四鳍旗鱼（Tetrapturus angustirostris）头足类和鲭属。移除5个关键种后,食物网将被离散为许多互不连接的部分（F=0.632,F^D=0.795,R^D=0.957）,表明这些物种在维持食物网结构和稳定性中的必要性。物种体长是本研究构建简化食物网时的决定性因素。研究结果有助于提高对热带太平洋食物网结构的认识,同时为进一步的生态系统动力学研究提供科学依据。     

Atmospheric forcing of the eastern tropical Pacific: A review

The increase in marine, land surface, atmospheric and satellite data during recent decades has led to an improved understanding of the air–sea interaction processes in the eastern tropical Pacific. This is also thanks to extensive diagnoses from conceptual and coupled ocean–atmosphere numerical models. In this paper, mean fields of atmospheric variables, such as incoming solar radiation, sea level pressure, winds, wind stress curl, precipitation, evaporation, and surface energy fluxes, are derived from global atmospheric data sets in order to examine the dominant features of the low level atmospheric circulations of the region. The seasonal march of the atmospheric circulations is presented to depict the role of radiative forcing on atmospheric perturbations, especially those dominating the atmosphere at low levels.In the tropics, the trade winds constitute an important north–south energy and moisture exchange mechanism (as part of the low level branch of the Hadley circulation), that determines to a large extent the precipitation distribution in the region, i.e., that associated with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Monsoonal circulations also play an important role in determining the warm season precipitation distribution over the eastern tropical Pacific through a large variety of air–sea–land interaction mechanisms. Westward traveling waves, tropical cyclones, low latitude cold air intrusions, and other synoptic and mesoscale perturbations associated with the ITCZ are also important elements that modulate the annual rainfall cycle. The low-level jets of the Gulf of California, the Intra-Americas Sea (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) and Chocó, Colombia are prominent features of the eastern tropical Pacific low-level circulations related to sub-regional and regional scale precipitation patterns. Observations show that the Intra-Americas Low-Level Jet intensity varies with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases, however its origin and role in the westward propagation and development of disturbances that may hit the eastern tropical Pacific, such as easterly waves and tropical cyclones, are still unclear. Changes in the intensity of the trade winds in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (associated with eastern tropical Pacific wind jets) exert an important control on precipitation by means of wind–topography interactions. Gaps in the mountains of southern Mexico and Central America allow strong wind jets to pass over the continent imprinting a unique signal in sea surface temperatures and ocean dynamics of the eastern tropical Pacific.The warm pools of the Americas constitute an important source of moisture for the North American Monsoon System. The northeastern tropical Pacific is a region of intense cyclogenetic activity, just west of the coast of Mesoamerica. Over the oceanic regions, large-scale properties of key variables such as precipitation, moisture, surface energy fluxes and wind stress curl are still uncertain, which inhibits a more comprehensive view of the region and stresses the importance of regional field experiments. Progress has been substantial in the understanding of the ocean and atmospheric dynamics of the eastern tropical Pacific, however, recent observational evidence such as that of a shallow meridional circulation cell in that region, in contrast to the classic concept of the Hadley-type deep meridional circulation, suggests that more in situ observations to validate theories are still necessary.This paper is part of a comprehensive review of the oceanography of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.