The caribbean low‐level jet, the inter‐tropical convergence zone and precipitation patterns in the intra‐americas sea: a proposed dynamical mechanism

Data from the lobal recipitation limatology roject covering entral merica, the aribbean ea, the eastern tropical acific and northern outh merica are used to compute four indexes that describe characteristics of the nter‐ropical onvergence one: the latitudinal center of mass of precipitation, the longitudinal center of mass of precipitation, the average precipitation in a region bounded by 10° S–25° N and 100° W–55° W, and the spread of the precipitation patterns. A very strong correlation is found between summer latitudinal center of mass and a summer index of the aribbean ow‐evel Jet suggesting connections between acific and aribbean climatic processes. The sign of the correlation implies that when the jet is stronger (weaker) there is a lower (higher) latitudinal center of mass and at the same time less (more) precipitation in the acific slope of entral merica. The connection between the aribbean and acific climate is not only related to high‐level wind convergence, but it is proposed here that local convection and the establishment of a zonal circulation may be playing a role in the process. The circulation seems to be consistent during years when latitudinal center of mass is lower than normal, apparently reinforcing the jet, and presents weaker strength during years of high latitudinal center of mass. The proposed mechanism is explained in some detail.