Abstract
This study explores whether anomalies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial Pacific during warm events of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are related to the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO). An index is derived from surface wind data of a global model reanalysis to measure forcing of oceanic Kelvin waves by wind stress associated with the MJO. This Kelvin wave forcing index of the MJO is used to relate interannual anomalies in seasonal activity of the MJO to interannual anomalies in equatorial SST for the 1980-99 time period. Evidence is found showing that during ENSO warm events, stronger Kelvin wave forcing in the western Pacific precedes greater SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific by 6-12 months. No such evidence, however, can be found for the period of 1950-79. The result suggests that during ENSO warm events, amplitudes of SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific can be affected by the MJO, at least for the 1980-99 period, through its seasonal activity of Kelvin wave forcing. A possible mechanism for such an MJO-ENSO relationship is described. How ENSO prediction can be benefited from the precursory signals of the MJO is discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2429-2445 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Journal of Climate |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2002 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atmospheric Science
Cite this
SST anomalies of ENSO and the Madden-Julian oscillation in the equatorial Pacific. / Zhang, Chidong; Gottschalck, Jonathan.
In: Journal of Climate, Vol. 15, No. 17, 01.09.2002, p. 2429-2445.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - SST anomalies of ENSO and the Madden-Julian oscillation in the equatorial Pacific
AU - Zhang, Chidong
AU - Gottschalck, Jonathan
PY - 2002/9/1
Y1 - 2002/9/1
N2 - This study explores whether anomalies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial Pacific during warm events of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are related to the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO). An index is derived from surface wind data of a global model reanalysis to measure forcing of oceanic Kelvin waves by wind stress associated with the MJO. This Kelvin wave forcing index of the MJO is used to relate interannual anomalies in seasonal activity of the MJO to interannual anomalies in equatorial SST for the 1980-99 time period. Evidence is found showing that during ENSO warm events, stronger Kelvin wave forcing in the western Pacific precedes greater SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific by 6-12 months. No such evidence, however, can be found for the period of 1950-79. The result suggests that during ENSO warm events, amplitudes of SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific can be affected by the MJO, at least for the 1980-99 period, through its seasonal activity of Kelvin wave forcing. A possible mechanism for such an MJO-ENSO relationship is described. How ENSO prediction can be benefited from the precursory signals of the MJO is discussed.
AB - This study explores whether anomalies of sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial Pacific during warm events of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are related to the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO). An index is derived from surface wind data of a global model reanalysis to measure forcing of oceanic Kelvin waves by wind stress associated with the MJO. This Kelvin wave forcing index of the MJO is used to relate interannual anomalies in seasonal activity of the MJO to interannual anomalies in equatorial SST for the 1980-99 time period. Evidence is found showing that during ENSO warm events, stronger Kelvin wave forcing in the western Pacific precedes greater SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific by 6-12 months. No such evidence, however, can be found for the period of 1950-79. The result suggests that during ENSO warm events, amplitudes of SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific can be affected by the MJO, at least for the 1980-99 period, through its seasonal activity of Kelvin wave forcing. A possible mechanism for such an MJO-ENSO relationship is described. How ENSO prediction can be benefited from the precursory signals of the MJO is discussed.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036747235&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 15
SP - 2429
EP - 2445
JO - Journal of Climate
JF - Journal of Climate
SN - 0894-8755
IS - 17
ER -