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CLIMATE DYNAMICS

New insights into future tropical climate change

Nature Climate Change volume 11, pages 645–646 (2021)Cite this article

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The difference between tropical east and west Pacific sea-surface temperatures affects local and global climate, and most climate models suggest a weaker future gradient despite a recent observed increase. Research now suggests the recent trends are due to a transient delay in east Pacific warming driven by cold water upwelling and aerosols.

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Fig. 1: Schematic of zonal climate gradients in the tropical Pacific.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography & International Pacific Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Malte F. Stuecker

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  1. Malte F. Stuecker
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Correspondence to Malte F. Stuecker.

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Stuecker, M.F. New insights into future tropical climate change. Nat. Clim. Chang. 11, 645–646 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01107-5

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