Schematic of the atmosphere–ocean circulation. (a) The (top) total atmosphere circulation, (middle) surface zonal wind stress on the ocean (E indicates easterly and W indicates westerly), and (bottom) ocean circulation. Contours of moist static energy and water temperature are shown in gray, generally increasing in value upward and equatorward. (b) As in (a), but for the symmetric component of the atmosphere and ocean circulations and the surface zonal wind stress. (c) As in (a), but for the asymmetric component of the atmosphere and ocean circulations and the surface zonal wind stress. (Image: Green and Marshall)
