Work

Interdecadal changes in eastern Pacific ITCZ variability and its influence on the Atlantic ITCZ

Year: 2000

Type: article

Abstract: The eastern Pacific and Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zones (ITCZ) exhibit the largest year‐to‐year variations in boreal spring. We show evidence suggesting that Atlantic ITCZ April–May variability is linked to that for the eastern Pacific through the Walker circulation as it respond to changes in equatorial Pacific convection. Analysis of ITCZ proxy indices shows the link appears to be strong in the 1980–90's and 1920–30's but virtually nonexistent in the 1950–60's. We argue that this apparent nonstationarity results from the nonlinear relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and convection in the eastern equatorial Pacific and its consequent effect on the Walker circulation and the Atlantic ITCZ. This mechanism was modulated over 1856–1998 by interdecadal changes in peak SST attained in the eastern equatorial Pacific during boreal spring.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/1999gl011268

Authors: John C. H. Chiang, Yochanan Kushnir, Stephen E. Zebiak

Institutions: 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 Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration