Pacific meridional mode and El Nino-southern oscillation

Publication Status is "Submitted" Or "In Press: 
LDEO Publication: 
Publication Type: 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Editor: 
Journal Title: 
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal Date: 
Aug 30
Place Published: 
Tertiary Title: 
Volume: 
34
Issue: 
16
Pages: 
-
Section / Start page: 
Publisher: 
ISBN Number: 
0094-8276
ISSN Number: 
Edition: 
Short Title: 
Accession Number: 
ISI:000249334600003
LDEO Publication Number: 
Call Number: 
Abstract: 

We present intriguing evidence that the majority of El Nino events over the past four decades are preceded by a distinctive sea-surface warming and southwesterly wind anomaly in the vicinity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during the boreal spring. This phenomenon, known as the Meridional Mode (MM), is shown to be intrinsic to the thermodynamic coupling between the atmosphere and ocean. The MM effectively acts as a conduit through which the extratropical atmosphere influences ENSO. Modeling results further suggest that the MM plays a vital role in the seasonal phase-locking behavior of ENSO. The findings provide a new perspective for understanding the important role of thermodynamic ocean-atmosphere feedback in ENSO and may have profound implications for ENSO prediction, particularly the unresolved issue of the spring predictability barrier.

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208QPTimes Cited:2Cited References Count:22

DOI: 
Doi 10.1029/2007gl030302