scholarly journals Differences in the Initiation and Development of the Madden–Julian Oscillation over the Indian Ocean Associated with Two Types of El Niño

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1397-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pang-Chi Hsu ◽  
Ting Xiao

Abstract The influences of different types of Pacific warming, often classified as the eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Niño events, on Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) activity over the Indian Ocean were investigated. Accompanied by relatively unstable (stable) atmospheric stratification induced by enhanced (reduced) moisture and moist static energy (MSE) in the lower troposphere, strengthened (weakened) MJO convection was observed in the initiation and eastward-propagation stages during CP (EP) El Niño events. To examine the key processes resulting in the differences in low-level moistening and column MSE anomalies over the Indian Ocean associated with the two types of El Niño, the moisture and column MSE budget equations were diagnosed using the reanalysis dataset ERA-Interim. The results indicate that the enhanced horizontal advection in the CP El Niño years plays an important role in causing a larger moisture and MSE growth rate over the MJO initiation area during CP El Niño events than during EP El Niño events. The increases in horizontal moisture and MSE advection primarily result from advection by mean flow across the enhanced intraseasonal moisture and MSE gradient, as well as by intraseasonal circulation across the mean moisture and MSE gradient associated with the CP El Niño. In the eastward development stage, the enhanced preconditioning comes from positive moisture and MSE advection anomalies in the CP El Niño events. Meanwhile, the strengthened MJO-related convection over the central-eastern Indian Ocean is maintained by increased atmospheric radiative heating and surface latent heat flux during the CP El Niño compared to the EP El Niño events.

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 2895-2916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Song ◽  
Gabriel A. Vecchi ◽  
Anthony J. Rosati

Abstract The interannual variability of the Indian Ocean, with particular focus on the Indian Ocean dipole/zonal mode (IODZM), is investigated in a 250-yr simulation of the GFDL coupled global general circulation model (CGCM). The CGCM successfully reproduces many fundamental characteristics of the climate system of the Indian Ocean. The character of the IODZM is explored, as are relationships between positive IODZM and El Niño events, through a composite analysis. The IODZM events in the CGCM grow through feedbacks between heat-content anomalies and SST-related atmospheric anomalies, particularly in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean. The composite IODZM events that co-occur with El Niño have stronger anomalies and a sharper east–west SSTA contrast than those that occur without El Niño. IODZM events, whether or not they occur with El Niño, are preceded by distinctive Indo-Pacific warm pool anomaly patterns in boreal spring: in the central Indian Ocean easterly surface winds, and in the western equatorial Pacific an eastward shift of deep convection, westerly surface winds, and warm sea surface temperature. However, delayed onsets of the anomaly patterns (e.g., boreal summer) are often not followed by IODZM events. The same anomaly patterns often precede El Niño, suggesting that the warm pool conditions favorable for both IODZM and El Niño are similar. Given that IODZM events can occur without El Niño, it is proposed that the observed IODZM–El Niño relation arises because the IODZM and El Niño are both large-scale phenomena in which variations of the Indo-Pacific warm pool deep convection plays a central role. Yet each phenomenon has its own dynamics and life cycle, allowing each to develop without the other. The CGCM integration also shows substantial decadal modulation of the occurrence of IODZM events, which is found to be not in phase with that of El Niño events. There is a weak, though significant, negative correlation between the two. Moreover, the statistical relationship between the IODZM and El Niño displays strong decadal variability.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 8977-9002
Author(s):  
T. Tang ◽  
W. Li ◽  
G. Sun

Abstract. The responses of river runoff to shifts of large-scale climatic patterns are of increasing concerns to water resource planners and managers for long-term climate change adaptation. El Niño is one of the most dominant modes of climate variability that is closely linked to hydrologic extremes such as floods and droughts that cause great loss of lives and properties. However, the different impacts of the two types of El Niño-Central Pacific (CP) and Eastern Pacific (EP)-El Niño on runoff across the conterminous US (CONUS) are not well understood. This study characterizes the impacts of the CP- and EP-El Niño on seasonal and annual runoff using observed historical streamflow data from 658 reference gaging stations and NCAR-CCSM4 model. We found that surface runoff responds similarly to the two types of El Niño events in Southeast, Central, South and Western coastal regions, but differently in Northeast (NE), Pacific Northwest (PNW) and West North Central (WNC) climatic zones. Specifically, EP-El Niño events tend to bring above-average runoff in NE, WNC, and PNW throughout the year while CP-El Niño events cause below-than normal runoff in the three regions. Similar findings were also found by analyzing NCAR-CCSM4 model outputs that captured both the CP- and EP-El Niño events representing the best datasets among selected CMIP5 models. The CCSM4 model simulates lower runoff values during CP-El Niño years than those in EP-El Niño in all of the three climatic regions (NE, PNW and WNC) during 1950–1999. In the future (2050–2099), for both types of El Niño years, runoff is projected to increase over the NE and PNW regions, mainly due to increased precipitation (P). In contrast, the increase of future evapotranspiration (ET) is higher than that of future P, leading to a projected decrease in runoff over the WNC region. In addition, model analysis indicates that all of the three regions (NE, PNW and WNC) are projected to have lower runoff values during CP-El Niño years than EP-El Niño. Our study suggests that US water resources may be distributed more unevenly in space and time with more frequent and intense flood and drought events. The findings from this study have important implications to water resource management at the regional scale. Information generated from this study is useful for water resource planners to anticipate the influence of two different types of El Niño events on droughts and floods across the CONUS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 4351-4371 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Calvo ◽  
M. Iza ◽  
M. M. Hurwitz ◽  
E. Manzini ◽  
C. Peña-Ortiz ◽  
...  

The Northern Hemisphere (NH) stratospheric signals of eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Niño events are investigated in stratosphere-resolving historical simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), together with the role of the stratosphere in driving tropospheric El Niño teleconnections in NH climate. The large number of events in each composite addresses some of the previously reported concerns related to the short observational record. The results shown here highlight the importance of the seasonal evolution of the NH stratospheric signals for understanding the EP and CP surface impacts. CMIP5 models show a significantly warmer and weaker polar vortex during EP El Niño. No significant polar stratospheric response is found during CP El Niño. This is a result of differences in the timing of the intensification of the climatological wavenumber 1 through constructive interference, which occurs earlier in EP than CP events, related to the anomalous enhancement and earlier development of the Pacific–North American pattern in EP events. The northward extension of the Aleutian low and the stronger and eastward location of the high over eastern Canada during EP events are key in explaining the differences in upward wave propagation between the two types of El Niño. The influence of the polar stratosphere in driving tropospheric anomalies in the North Atlantic European region is clearly shown during EP El Niño events, facilitated by the occurrence of stratospheric summer warmings, the frequency of which is significantly higher in this case. In contrast, CMIP5 results do not support a stratospheric pathway for a remote influence of CP events on NH teleconnections.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 991-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wang ◽  
Chunzai Wang

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tang ◽  
W. Li ◽  
G. Sun

Abstract. The responses of river runoff to shifts of large-scale climatic patterns are of increasing concerns to water resource planners and managers for long-term climate change adaptation. El Niño, as one of the most dominant modes of climate variability, is closely linked to hydrologic extremes such as floods and droughts that cause great loss of lives and properties. However, the different impacts of the two types of El Niño, i.e., central Pacific (CP-) and eastern Pacific (EP-)El Niño, on runoff across the conterminous US (CONUS) are not well understood. This study characterizes the impacts of the CP- and EP-El Niño on seasonal and annual runoff using observed streamflow data from 658 reference gaging stations and the NCAR-CCSM4 model. We found that surface runoff responds similarly to the two types of El Niño events in southeastern, central, southern, and western coastal regions, but differently in northeast (NE), Pacific northwest (PNW) and west north central (WNC) climatic zones. Specifically, EP-El Niño events tend to bring above-average runoff in NE, WNC, and PNW throughout the year while CP-El Niño events cause below-than normal runoff in the three regions. Similar findings were also found by analyzing NCAR-CCSM4 model outputs that captured both the CP- and EP-El Niño events, representing the best data set among CMIP5 models. The CCSM4 model simulates lower runoff values during CP-El Niño years than those in EP-El Niño over all of the three climatic regions (NE, PNW, and WNC) during 1950–1999. In the future (2050–2099), for both types of El Niño years, runoff is projected to increase over the NE and PNW regions, mainly due to increased precipitation (P). In contrast, the increase of future evapotranspiration (ET) exceeds that of future P, leading to a projected decrease in runoff over the WNC region. In addition, model analysis indicates that all of the three regions (NE, PNW, and WNC) are projected to have lower runoff in CP-El Niño years than in EP-El Niño years. Our study suggests that the US water resources may be distributed more unevenly in space and time with more frequent and intense flood and drought events. The findings from this study have important implications to water resource management at regional scales. Information generated from this study may help water resource planners to anticipate the influence of two different types of El Niño events on droughts and floods across the CONUS.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochao Yu ◽  
Zhili Wang ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Jianjun He ◽  
Ying Li

Abstract. El Niño is a complex system with diverse distribution features and intensities. The regional climate anomalies caused by different types of El Niño event likely lead to various impacts on winter haze pollution in China. Based on long-term site observations of haze days in China from 1961 to 2013, this study explores the effects of Eastern Pacific (EP) and Central Pacific (CP) types of El Niño event on winter haze days (WHD) in China's Jing-Jin-Ji (JJJ) region and the physical mechanisms underlying WHD changes. The results show statistically significant positive and negative correlations, respectively, between WHD in the JJJ region and EP and CP El Niño events. At most sites in the JJJ region, the average WHD are increased in all EP El Niño years, with the maximum change exceeding 2.0 days. Meanwhile the average WHD are decreased at almost all stations over this region in all CP El Niño years, with the largest change being more than −2.0 days. The changes in large-scale circulations indicate obviously positive surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies and negative sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies over North China, and southerly wind anomalies at the mid-low troposphere over eastern China in the winters of EP El Niño years. These anomalies are conducive to increases in WHD in the JJJ region. However, there are significant northerly and northwesterly wind anomalies at the mid-low troposphere over eastern China, and stronger and wider precipitation anomalies in the winters of CP El Niño years, which contribute to decreased WHD over the JJJ region. Changes in local synoptic conditions indicate negative SLP anomalies, positive SAT anomalies, and weakened northerly winds over the JJJ region in the winters of EP El Niño years. The occurrence frequency of circulation types conducive to the accumulation (diffusion) of aerosol pollutants is increased (decreased) by 0.4 % (0.37 %) in those winters. However, the corresponding frequency is decreased (increased) by 0.54 % (0.56 %) in the winters of CP El Niño years. Our study highlights the importance of distinguishing the impacts of two types of El Niño events on winter haze pollution in China's JJJ region.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 10279-10293
Author(s):  
Xiaochao Yu ◽  
Zhili Wang ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Jianjun He ◽  
Ying Li

Abstract. El Niño events differ widely in their patterns and intensities. The regional climate anomalies caused by different types of El Niño events likely lead to various impacts on winter haze pollution in China. Based on long-term site observations of haze days in China from 1961 to 2013, this study explores the effects of eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) types of El Niño events on the number of winter haze days (WHDs) in China's Jing-Jin-Ji (JJJ) region and the physical mechanisms underlying WHD changes. The results show statistically significant positive and negative correlations, respectively, between WHDs in the JJJ region and EP and CP El Niño events. At most sites in the JJJ region, the average WHD increased in all EP El Niño years, with the maximum change exceeding 2.0 d. Meanwhile, the average WHD decreased at almost all stations over this region in all CP El Niño years, with the largest change being more than −2.0 d. The changes in large-scale circulations indicate obvious positive surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies and negative sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies over North China, as well as southerly wind anomalies at the middle to low troposphere over eastern China in the winters of EP El Niño years. These anomalies are conducive to increases in WHDs in the JJJ region. However, there are significant northerly and northwesterly wind anomalies at the middle to low troposphere over eastern China, as well as stronger and wider precipitation anomalies in the winters of CP El Niño years, which contribute to decreased WHDs over the JJJ region. Changes in local synoptic conditions indicate negative SLP anomalies, positive SAT anomalies, and weakened northerly winds over the JJJ region in the winters of EP El Niño years. The total occurrence frequency of circulation types conducive to the accumulation (diffusion) of aerosol pollutants is increased (decreased) by 0.4 % (0.2 %) in those winters. However, the corresponding frequency is decreased (increased) by 0.5 % (0.6 %) in the winters of CP El Niño years. Our study highlights the importance of distinguishing the impacts of these two types of El Niño events on winter haze pollution in China's JJJ region.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 2035-2046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chie Ihara ◽  
Yochanan Kushnir ◽  
Mark A. Cane

Abstract The state of the Indian Ocean dipole representing the SST anomaly difference between the western and southeastern regions of the ocean is investigated using historical SST reconstructions from 1880 to 2004. First, the western and eastern poles of the SST-based dipole mode index are analyzed separately. Both the western and eastern poles display warming trends over this period, particularly after the 1950s. The western pole tends to be anomalously colder than the eastern pole from 1880 to 1919, whereas in the interval 1950–2004 the SST anomalies over the western pole are comparable to those over the eastern pole though there are occasional outliers where the eastern pole is anomalously colder than the western pole. The tendencies of the occurrences of positive and negative dipole events in September–November show three distinct regimes during the period analyzed. In 1880–1919, negative dipole events associated with La Niña events occur more frequently than positive events. In 1920–49, some weak positive events occur relatively independently of El Niño events over the Pacific. The period of 1960–2004 is characterized by strong and frequent occurrences of positive events associated with El Niño events.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shouwen Zhang ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Hua Jiang ◽  
Wentao Ma

AbstractThe late spring rainfall may account for 15% of the annual total rainfall, which is crucial to early planting in southeastern China. A better understanding of the precipitation variations in the late spring and its predictability not only greatly increase our knowledge of related mechanisms, but it also benefits society and the economy. Four models participating in the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) were selected to study their abilities to forecast the late spring rainfall over southeastern China and the major sources of heavy rainfall from the perspective of the sea surface temperature (SST) field. We found that the models have better abilities to forecast the heavy rainfall over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region (MLYZR) with only a 1-month lead time, but they failed for a 3-month lead time since the occurrence of the heavy rainfall was inconsistent with the observations. The observations indicate that the warm SST anomalies in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean are vital to the simultaneously heavy rainfall in the MLYZR in May, but an El Niño event is not a necessary condition for determining the heavy rainfall over the MLYZR. The heavy rainfall over the MLYZR in May is always accompanied by warming of the northeastern Indian Ocean and of the northeastern South China Sea (NSCS) from April to May in the models and observations, respectively. In the models, El Niño events may promote the warming processes over the northeastern Indian Ocean, which leads to heavy rainfall in the MLYZR. However, in the real world, El Niño events are not the main reason for the warming of the NSCS, and further research on the causes of this warming is still needed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Teckentrup ◽  
Martin G. De Kauwe ◽  
Andrew J. Pitman ◽  
Benjamin Smith

Abstract. The El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences the global climate and the variability in the terrestrial carbon cycle on interannual timescales. Two different expressions of El Niño have recently been identified: (i) Central–Pacific (CP) and (ii) Eastern–Pacific (EP). Both types of El Nino are characterised by above average sea surface temperature anomalies in the respective locations. Studies exploring the impact of these expressions of El Niño on the carbon cycle have identified changes in the amplitude of the concentration of interannual atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) variability, as well as different lags in terrestrial CO2 release to the atmosphere following increased tropical near surface air temperature. We employ the dynamic global vegetation model LPJ–GUESS within a synthetic experimental framework to examine the sensitivity and potential long term impacts of these two expressions of El Niño on the terrestrial carbon cycle. We manipulated the occurrence of CP and EP events in two climate reanalysis datasets during the later half of the 20th and early 21st century by replacing all EP with CP and separately all CP with EP El Niño events. We found that the different expressions of El Niño affect interannual variability in the terrestrial carbon cycle. However, the effect on longer timescales was negligible for both climate reanalysis datasets. We conclude that capturing any future trends in the relative frequency of CP and EP El Niño events may not be critical for robust simulations of the terrestrial carbon cycle.


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