Diabatic heating governs the seasonality of the Atlantic Niño

Abstract The Atlantic Niño is the leading mode of interannual sea-surface temperature (SST) variability in equatorial and assumed to be largely governed by coupled ocean-atmosphere dynamics described Bjerknes-feedback loop. However, role atmospheric diabatic heating, which can either an indicator atmosphere’s response to, or its influence on SST, poorly understood. Here, using satellite-era observations from 1982–2015, we show that heating associated with seasonal migration Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone controls seasonality Niño. precipitation, a measure vertically integrated leads whereas SST relatively weak. Our findings imply oceanic impact atmosphere smaller than previously thought, questioning relevance classical loop for limiting climate predictability over sector.