The dominant pattern of tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies simulated in the GFDL coupled ocean-atmosphere model is identified and compared to observations. The spatial pattern and temporal variability of that pattern resemble observational results. On interannual time scales it is shown that anomalous surface heat fluxes, consistent with variations in the intensity of the sub-tropical high pressure system in the atmosphere and the associated Northeasterly Trade winds, appear to be the most important process for generating this SST pattern. This relationship is also true on decadal time scales, although the relative role of oceanic heat advection is somewhat larger than on the interannual time scales. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union