Interdecadal Changes in Ocean Teleconnections with the Sahel

Roberto Suárez has been a postdoctoral researcher at University Complutense of Madrid since July 2017. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University Autónoma of Madrid in September 2010 and completed his master’s degree in Meteorology and Geophysics at the University Complutense of Madrid in June 2012. He received his doctorate from University Complutense of Madrid in June 2017 for his research on climate variability in the West African Sahel, conciliating both statistical methods and numerical models to improve rainfall predictability in this region. He recently investigated the potential modulations of interannual sea surface temperature-forced teleconnections of Sahelian rainfall by the global ocean background state, using observations and general circulation models. He has found how the Mediterranean Sea is becoming a leading factor due to its growing impact on monsoonal Sahelian rainfall during recent decades. In this framework, he is currently studying the underlying causes for the strengthening of the Mediterranean-Sahel atmospheric teleconnection,in which the inter-tropical convergence zone plays a fundamental role.

Preface.- Chapter 1: Motivation.- Chapter 2: State-of-the-Art.- Chapter 3: Objectives.- Chapter 4: Physical Background.- Chapter 5: Data.- Chapter 6: Methodology.- Chapter 7: A Statistical Model based on Non-stationary Predictors.- Chapter 8: Interdecadal changes in the SST-driven teleconnections with the Sahel.- Chapter 9: Modulation of the non-stationary Mediterranean-Sahel teleconnection.- Chapter 10: Concluding Remarks.- Glossary.- References.