The highly dynamic equatorial oceans are characterized by strong air-sea interaction, energetic currents, and pronounced equatorial wave activity. Equatorial oceans exhibit large variability in physical and biogeochemical parameters which can have far-reaching effects on remote areas through a myriad of teleconnections. Relevant processes that affect physical and biogeochemical variability in the tropics include equatorial upwelling and cold tongue dynamics, tropical instability waves, submesoscale and frontal processes, internal waves and vertical mixing. The strength and impact of these processes vary with different modes of tropical climate variability that affect equatorial dynamics (e.g., El-Niño Southern Oscillation, Atlantic Niño/Niña, Atlantic Meridional Mode). A better understanding of coupled ocean-atmosphere processes in equatorial regions remains a major challenge, but is deemed critical for improving El-Niño Southern Oscillation forecasting skills. This session aims to showcase studies on equatorial ocean dynamics and air-sea interactions as well as their implications for biogeochemical variability and marine ecosystems. We welcome studies based on observations, reanalysis, and model simulations from diurnal to decadal time scales. We particularly encourage submissions of interdisciplinary studies using innovative observation techniques and/or state-of-the-art model simulations.

• Air-Sea Interactions -
• Physical-Biological Interactions -
• Physical Oceanography: Mesoscale and Larger -