Work

Mechanisms of Seasonal – ENSO Interaction

Year: 1997

Type: article

Abstract: The mechanisms by which the seasonal cycle in the equatorial Pacific affects ENSO are investigated using the Zebiak and Cane ENSO prediction model. The most dominant seasonal effect is found to be due to the wind divergence field, as determined by the seasonal motion of the ITCZ, through its effect on the atmospheric heating. The next-order seasonal effects are due to the seasonality of the background SST and ocean upwelling velocity, and the corresponding mechanisms are analyzed. It is suggested that the seasonal forcing has a first-order effect on ENSO’s dynamics and that important aspects of the seasonal forcing may be included in idealized delayed oscillator ENSO models by making the model background shift seasonally from stable to unstable states.

Source: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

DOI: 10.1175/1520-0469(1997)054<0061:mosei>2.0.co;2

Authors: Eli Tziperman, Stephen E. Zebiak, Mark A. Cane

Institutions: Weizmann Institute of Science, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Climate variability and models

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration