Historical trends in the trade wind inversion in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean

The trade wind inversion (TWI) serves as an important stabilizing mechanism in the tropical North Atlantic (TNA) region, including Caribbean basin. Previous studies have diagnosed TWI using situ observations and radiosondes, typically over islands. However, relying on these point measurements are unable to discern climatology evolution of rest TNA. This study addresses this gap literature through use high-resolution ERA5 reanalysis model level data. Due advances ERA line products, now provides vertical resolution fine ~4 mb lower troposphere, enabling identification shallow inversions, such TWI, consistently a climatological time scale remote regions world. While still coarser than observed soundings, reanalysis-based approach first attempt understanding TNA variability its strength frequency trends from 1979 2019. constructed here finds consilience with previous modelling observational terms spatial base across domain. Stronger more frequent TWIs noted central all seasons. Results Mann–Kendall analysis reveals increasing that vary spatially domain based season. most widespread strongest signal is December July. regionalization noted, potential regional forcing mechanisms responsible for changes discussed.