Three-Dimensional Structure and Dynamics of African Easterly Waves. Part I: Observations

Abstract The mean structure of African easterly waves (AEWs) over West Africa and the adjacent Atlantic is isolated by projecting dynamical fields from reanalysis and radiosonde data onto space?time-filtered satellite-derived outgoing longwave radiation. These results are compared with previous studies and an idealized modeling study in a companion paper, which provides evidence that the waves bear a close structural resemblance to the fastest-growing linear normal mode of the summertime basic-state flow over Africa. There is a significant evolution in the three-dimensional structure of AEWs as they propagate along 10°N across West Africa. At this latitude, convection occurs in northerly flow to the east of the Greenwich meridian, then shifts into the wave trough, and finally into southerly flow as the waves propagate offshore into the Atlantic ITCZ. In contrast, to the north of the African easterly jet along 15°N convection remains in southerly flow throughout the waves? trajectory. Along 10°N over West Africa, the location of convection is consistent with the adiabatic dynamical forcing implied by the advection of perturbation vorticity by the mean thermal wind in the zonal direction, as in the companion paper. Offshore, and along 15°N, the relationship between the convection and dynamics is more complex, and not as easily explained in terms of dynamical forcing alone.