Real-Time Forecasting of Modes of Tropical Intraseasonal Variability: The Madden-Julian and Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillations

2017 ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Wheeler ◽  
Hae-Jeong Kim ◽  
June-Yi Lee ◽  
Jon C. Gottschalck
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillations

scholarly journals A Precipitation-Based Index for Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillations

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 805-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuguang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Decadal Variability ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Eof Analysis ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillations ◽  
Precipitation Anomalies ◽  
Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillations

AbstractCharacteristic patterns of precipitation-associated tropical intraseasonal oscillations, including the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO), are identified using local empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation data as a function of the day of the year. The explained variances of the EOF analysis show two peaks across the year: one in the middle of the boreal winter corresponding to the MJO and the other in the middle of summer corresponding to the BSISO. Comparing the fractional variance indicates that the BSISO is more coherent than the MJO during the TRMM period. Similar EOF analyses with the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) confirm this result and indicate that the BSISO is less coherent before the TRMM era (1979–98). In contrast, the MJO exhibits much less decadal variability. A precipitation-based index for tropical intraseasonal oscillation (PII) is derived by projecting bandpass-filtered precipitation anomalies to the two leading EOFs as a function of day of the year. A real-time version that approximates the PII is further developed using precipitation anomalies without any bandpass filtering. It is further shown that this real-time PII index may be used to diagnose precipitation in the subseasonal forecasts.

scholarly journals Estimate of the Predictability of Boreal Summer and Winter Intraseasonal Oscillations from Observations

2011 ◽  
Vol 139 (8) ◽  
pp. 2421-2438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruiqiang Ding ◽  
Jianping Li ◽  
Kyong-Hwan Seo
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Potential Predictability ◽  
The North ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillations ◽  
The North Pacific

AbstractTropical intraseasonal variability (TISV) shows two dominant modes: the boreal winter Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO). The two modes differ in intensity, frequency, and movement, thereby presumably indicating different predictabilities. This paper investigates differences in the predictability limits of the BSISO and the boreal winter MJO based on observational data. The results show that the potential predictability limit of the BSISO obtained from bandpass-filtered (30–80 days) outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), 850-hPa winds, and 200-hPa velocity potential is close to 5 weeks, comparable to that of the boreal winter MJO. Despite the similarity between the potential predictability limits of the BSISO and MJO, the spatial distribution of the potential predictability limit of the TISV during summer is very different from that during winter. During summer, the limit is relatively low over regions where the TISV is most active, whereas it is relatively high over the North Pacific, North Atlantic, southern Africa, and South America. The spatial distribution of the limit during winter is approximately the opposite of that during summer. For strong phases of ISO convection, the initial error of the BSISO shows a more rapid growth than that of the MJO. The error growth is rapid when the BSISO and MJO enter the decaying phase (when ISO signals are weak), whereas it is slow when convection anomalies of the BSISO and MJO are located in upstream regions (when ISO signals are strong).

scholarly journals The Intraseasonal Variability of African Easterly Wave Energetics

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (17) ◽  
pp. 6559-6580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghassan J. Alaka ◽  
Eric D. Maloney
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Diabatic Heating ◽  
Heating Temperature ◽  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
West African ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Lake Chad ◽  
Baroclinic Energy Conversion

Abstract African easterly waves (AEWs) and associated perturbation kinetic energy (PKE) exhibit significant intraseasonal variability in tropical North Africa during boreal summer. Consistent with East Africa (e.g., east of Lake Chad) being an initiation region for AEWs, previous studies have shown that increased East African PKE precedes and leads to increased West African AEW activity on intraseasonal time scales. In this study, reanalysis budgets of PKE and perturbation available potential energy (PAPE) are used to understand this behavior. The variability of PKE and PAPE sources is analyzed as a function of Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) phase and a local 30–90-day West African PKE index to diagnose when and where eddy energy conversions terms are important to periods of increased or decreased intraseasonal AEW activity. In East Africa, an increased meridional temperature gradient locally enhances baroclinic energy conversion anomalies to initiate periods of increased intraseasonal AEW activity. Downstream barotropic and baroclinic energy conversions associated with strong AEWs are important for the maintenance of intraseasonal AEW activity in West Africa. Barotropic energy conversions dominate south of the African easterly jet (AEJ), while baroclinic energy conversions are most important north of the AEJ. In both East and West Africa, diabatic heating does not appear to aid intraseasonal PKE creation. Instead, negative PAPE tendency anomalies due to the diabatic heating–temperature covariance act as a negative feedback to increased baroclinic energy conversion downstream in the AEJ.

scholarly journals Internal Intraseasonal Variability of the West African Monsoon in WRF

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (15) ◽  
pp. 5815-5833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghassan J. Alaka ◽  
Eric D. Maloney
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
West African Monsoon ◽  
West African ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Kelvin Wave ◽  
The West ◽  
African Monsoon ◽  
External Influences

The West African monsoon (WAM) and its landmark features, which include African easterly waves (AEWs) and the African easterly jet (AEJ), exhibit significant intraseasonal variability in boreal summer. However, the degree to which this variability is modulated by external large-scale phenomena, such as the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), remains unclear. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is employed to diagnose the importance of the MJO and other external influences for the intraseasonal variability of the WAM and associated AEW energetics by removing 30–90-day signals from initial and lateral boundary conditions in sensitivity tests. The WAM produces similar intraseasonal variability in the absence of external influences, indicating that the MJO is not critical to produce WAM variability. In control and sensitivity experiments, AEW precursor signals are similar near the AEJ entrance in East Africa. For example, an eastward extension of the AEJ increases barotropic and baroclinic energy conversions in East Africa prior to a 30–90-day maximum of perturbation kinetic energy in West Africa. The WAM appears to prefer a faster oscillation when MJO forcing is removed, suggesting that the MJO may serve as a pacemaker for intraseasonal oscillations in the WAM. WRF results show that eastward propagating intraseasonal signals (e.g., Kelvin wave fronts) are responsible for this pacing, while the role of westward propagating intraseasonal signals (e.g., MJO-induced Rossby waves) appears to be limited. Mean state biases across the simulations complicate the interpretation of results.

Kernel Analog Forecasting of Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillations

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 1321-1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romeo Alexander ◽  
Zhizhen Zhao ◽  
Eniko Székely ◽  
Dimitrios Giannakis
Keyword(s):  
Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Empirical Method ◽  
Temperature Data ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Weighted Averaging ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Pattern Correlation ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillations ◽  
Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillations

Abstract This paper presents the results of forecasting the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) through the use of satellite-obtained global brightness temperature data with a recently developed nonparametric empirical method. This new method, referred to as kernel analog forecasting, adopts specific indices extracted using the technique of nonlinear Laplacian spectral analysis as baseline definitions of the intraseasonal oscillations of interest, which are then extended into forecasts through an iterated weighted averaging scheme that exploits the predictability inherent to those indices. The pattern correlation of the forecasts produced in this manner remains above 0.6 for 50 days for both the MJO and BSISO when 23 yr of training data are used and 37 days for the MJO when 9 yr of data are used.

scholarly journals Relative Roles of Background Moisture and Vertical Shear in Regulating Interannual Variability of Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillations

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (19) ◽  
pp. 7009-7025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Deng ◽  
Tim Li
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Tropical Indian Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Vertical Shear ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Moisture Condition ◽  
Intensity Index ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillations

Abstract The interannual variability of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) is investigated using observed outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and ERA-Interim data for the period of 1980–2012. It is found that the interannual variability of BSISO intensity is much stronger in the tropical western Pacific (TWP) than the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO). A BSISO intensity index is defined based on a multivariate EOF analysis in TWP. It is found that strong BSISO years are associated with El Niño–like sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical Pacific, anomalous easterly shear, and enhanced background moisture condition in the region. Using a 2.5-layer atmospheric model with a specified idealized background mean state, the authors further examine the relative roles of background moisture and vertical shear fields in modulating the BSISO intensity. Sensitivity numerical experiments indicate that the background moisture change is most important in regulating the BSISO intensity, whereas the background vertical shear change also plays a role.

Impact of the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation on the Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation near and over the Island of Luzon

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 (5) ◽  
pp. 1805-1827
Author(s):  
Kyle Chudler ◽  
Weixin Xu ◽  
Steven A. Rutledge
Keyword(s):  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Diurnal Variability ◽  
Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Precipitation Estimates ◽  
Monsoon Winds

Abstract During the boreal summer, satellite-based precipitation estimates indicate a distinct maximum in rainfall off the west coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Also occurring during the summer months is the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO), a main driver of intraseasonal variability in the region. This study investigates the diurnal variability of convective intensity, morphology, and precipitation coverage offshore and over the island of Luzon. The results are then composited by BSISO activity. Results of this study indicate that offshore precipitation is markedly increased during active BSISO phases, when strong low-level southwesterly monsoon winds bring increased moisture and enhanced convergence upwind of the island’s high terrain. A key finding of this work is the existence of an afternoon maximum in convection over Luzon even during active BSISO phases, when solar heating and instability are apparently reduced due to enhanced cloud cover. This result is important, as previous studies have shown in other areas of the tropics afternoon convection over landmasses is a key component to offshore precipitation. Although offshore precipitation is maximized in the evening hours during active phases, results indicate that precipitation frequently occurs over the ocean around the clock (both as organized systems and isolated, shallow showers), possibly owing to an increase in sensible and latent heat fluxes, vertical wind shear, and convergence of the monsoon flow with land features.

scholarly journals Tropical Intraseasonal Variability in the MRI-20km60L AGCM*

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 2006-2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Yoshiyuki Kajikawa ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Akio Kitoh ◽  
Tetsuzo Yasunari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Cumulus Parameterization ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Loose Coupling ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Mature Phase ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ceof Analysis

Abstract This study documents the detailed characteristics of the tropical intraseasonal variability (TISV) in the MRI-20km60L AGCM that uses a variant of the Arakawa–Schubert cumulus parameterization. Mean states, power spectra, propagation features, leading EOF modes, horizontal and vertical structures, and seasonality associated with the TISV are analyzed. Results show that the model reproduces the mean states in winds realistically and in convection comparable to that of the observations. However, the simulated TISV is less realistic. It shows low amplitudes in convection and low-level winds in the 30–60-day band. Filtered anomalies have standing structures. Power spectra and lag correlation of the signals do not propagate dominantly either in the eastward direction during boreal winter or in the northward direction during boreal summer. A combined EOF (CEOF) analysis shows that winds and convection have a loose coupling that cannot sustain the simulated TISV as realistically as that observed. In the composited mature phase of the simulated MJO, the low-level convergence does not lead convection clearly so that the moisture anomalies do not tilt westward in the vertical, indicating that the low-level convergence does not favor the eastward propagation. The less realistic TISV suggests that the representation of cumulus convection needs to be improved in this model.

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