scholarly journals Zonal SST Difference as a Potential Environmental Factor Supporting the Longevity of the Madden–Julian Oscillation

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (18) ◽  
pp. 7549-7564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamaki Suematsu ◽  
Hiroaki Miura
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Western Pacific ◽  
Sst Gradient

An environment favorable for the development of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) was investigated by classifying MJO-like atmospheric patterns as MJO and regionally confined convective (RCC) events. Comparison of MJO and RCC events showed that even when preceded by a major convective suppression event, convective events did not develop into an MJO when large-scale buildup of moist static energy (MSE) was inhibited. The difference in the MSE accumulation between MJO and RCC is related to the contrasting low-frequency basic-state sea surface temperature (SST) pattern; the MJO and RCC events were associated with anomalously warm and cold low-frequency SSTs prevailing over the western to central Pacific, respectively. Differences in the SST anomaly field were absent from the intraseasonal frequency range of 20–60 days. The basic-state SST pattern associated with the MJO was characterized by a positive zonal SST gradient from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, which provided a long-standing condition that allowed for sufficient buildup of MSE across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific via large-scale low-level convergence over intraseasonal and longer time scales. The results of this study suggest the importance of such a basic-state SST, with a long-lasting positive zonal SST gradient, for enhancing convection over a longer than intraseasonal time scale in realizing a complete MJO life cycle.

scholarly journals Impact of the Madden–Julian Oscillation on Summer Rainfall in Southeast China

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Zhang ◽  
Bizheng Wang ◽  
Qingcun Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Tropical Indian Ocean ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Energy Propagation ◽  
Southeast China ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Western Pacific

Abstract The impact of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) on summer rainfall in Southeast China is investigated using the Real-time Multivariate MJO (RMM) index and the observational rainfall data. A marked transition of rainfall patterns from being enhanced to being suppressed is found in Southeast China (east of 105°E and south of 35°N) on intraseasonal time scales as the MJO convective center moves from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean. The maximum positive and negative anomalies of regional mean rainfall are in excess of 10% relative to the climatological regional mean. Such different rainfall regimes are associated with the corresponding changes in physical fields such as the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), moisture, and vertical motions. When the MJO is mainly over the Indian Ocean, the WPSH shifts farther westward, and the moisture and upward motions in Southeast China are increased. In contrast, when the MJO enters the western Pacific, the WPSH retreats eastward, and the moisture and upward motions in Southeast China are decreased. It is suggested that the MJO may influence summer rainfall in Southeast China through remote and local dynamical mechanisms, which correspond to the rainfall enhancement and suppression, respectively. The remote role is the energy propagation of the Rossby wave forced by the MJO-related heating over the Indian Ocean through the low-level westerly waveguide from the tropical Indian Ocean to Southeast China. The local role is the northward shift of the upward branch of the anomalous meridional circulation when the MJO is over the western Pacific, which causes eastward retreat of the WPSH and suppressed moisture transport toward Southeast China.

scholarly journals Changes in the Eastward Movement Speed of the Madden–Julian Oscillation with Fluctuation in the Walker Circulation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-50
Author(s):  
Tamaki Suematsu ◽  
Hiroaki Miura
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Walker Circulation ◽  
Movement Speed ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Lower Boundary Condition ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
The Walker Circulation

AbstractThe eastward movement of a convectively active region is a distinguishing characteristic of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). However, knowledge about the mechanisms that determine the eastward movement speed remains limited. This study investigates how the background environment modulates the speed of the boreal winter MJO and describes an intrinsic relationship between the MJO and background atmospheric circulation. We calculated the speed of the MJO events from the daily tracking of the locations of the minimum values of the outgoing longwave radiation anomaly in the time–longitude space. These speeds were then used to analyze systematic differences in the sea surface temperature (SST) distribution associated with the MJO speed. The analysis revealed a deceleration of the MJO under low-frequency (> 90 days) SST distributions that increased toward the western Pacific from both the Indian Ocean and the eastern Pacific. In contrast, the dependency on SST variability in intraseasonal frequencies (20–90 days) was small. Subsequently, the relationship between the MJO speed and background circulation, which is largely determined by the lower boundary condition set by the low-frequency SST distribution, was analyzed. The analysis counterintuitively revealed that the MJO tends to decelerate when the large-scale zonal circulation with low-level westerlies and upper-level easterlies from the Indian Ocean to the Maritime Continents is strong. The results suggest a novel view that the MJO is an integral component of the Walker circulation and that its eastward movement is modulated by the state of the large-scale flow of the Walker circulation.

scholarly journals Evolution of the Madden–Julian Oscillation in Two Types of El Niño

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1919-1934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiong Chen ◽  
Jian Ling ◽  
Chongyin Li
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Moisture Flux ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Cp El Niño ◽  
Ep El Niño ◽  
The Western Pacific

Abstract Evolution characteristics of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) during the eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) types of El Niño have been investigated. MJO activities are strengthened over the western Pacific during the predeveloping and developing phases of EP El Niño, but suppressed during the mature and decaying phases. In contrast, MJO activities do not show a clear relationship with CP El Niño before their occurrence over the western Pacific, but they increase over the central Pacific during the mature and decaying phases of CP El Niño. Lag correlation analyses further confirm that MJO activities over the western Pacific in boreal spring and early summer are closely related to EP El Niño up to 2–11 months later, but not for CP El Niño. EP El Niño tends to weaken the MJO and lead to a much shorter range of its eastward propagation. Anomalous descending motions over the Maritime Continent and western Pacific related to El Niño can suppress convection and moisture flux convergence there and weaken MJO activities over these regions during the mature phase of both types of El Niño. MJO activities over the western Pacific are much weaker in EP El Niño due to the stronger anomalous descending motions. Furthermore, the MJO propagates more continuously and farther eastward during CP El Niño because of robust moisture convergence over the central Pacific, which provides adequate moisture for the development of MJO convection.

scholarly journals Impacts of the Tropical Pacific–Indian Ocean Associated Mode on Madden–Julian Oscillation over the Maritime Continent in Boreal Winter

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1049
Author(s):  
Xin Li ◽  
Ming Yin ◽  
Xiong Chen ◽  
Minghao Yang ◽  
Fei Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Maritime Continent ◽  
The Western Pacific ◽  
The Tropical Pacific

Based on the observation and reanalysis data, the relationship between the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) over the Maritime Continent (MC) and the tropical Pacific–Indian Ocean associated mode was analyzed. The results showed that the MJO over the MC region (95°–150° E, 10° S–10° N) (referred to as the MC–MJO) possesses prominent interannual and interdecadal variations and seasonally “phase-locked” features. MC–MJO is strongest in the boreal winter and weakest in the boreal summer. Winter MC–MJO kinetic energy variation has significant relationships with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in winter and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in autumn, but it correlates better with the tropical Pacific–Indian Ocean associated mode (PIOAM). The correlation coefficient between the winter MC–MJO kinetic energy index and the autumn PIOAM index is as high as −0.5. This means that when the positive (negative) autumn PIOAM anomaly strengthens, the MJO kinetic energy over the winter MC region weakens (strengthens). However, the correlation between the MC–MJO convection and PIOAM in winter is significantly weaker. The propagation of MJO over the Maritime Continent differs significantly in the contrast phases of PIOAM. During the positive phase of the PIOAM, the eastward propagation of the winter MJO kinetic energy always fails to move across the MC region and cannot enter the western Pacific. However, during the negative phase of the PIOAM, the anomalies of MJO kinetic energy over the MC is not significantly weakened, and MJO can propagate farther eastward and enter the western Pacific. It should be noted that MJO convection is more likely to extend to the western Pacific in the positive phases of PIOAM than in the negative phases. This is significant different with the propagation of the MJO kinetic energy.

scholarly journals Convective activities associated with intraseasonal variation over Sumatera, Indonesia, observed with the equatorial atmosphere radar

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 3899-3916 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Seto ◽  
M. K. Yamamoto ◽  
H. Hashiguchi ◽  
S. Fukao
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Local Circulation ◽  
Intraseasonal Variation ◽  
Cloud Clusters ◽  
Inactive Phase ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
The Western Pacific

Abstract. The influence of intraseasonal variation (ISV) on convective activities over Sumatera (or Sumatra) is studied by using data derived from the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR), the Boundary Layer Radar (BLR), the surface weather station, the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS), and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. In June 2002, convective activities over the Indian Ocean, the maritime continent, and the western Pacific were significantly modulated by the ISV. Blackbody brightness temperature observed by GMS (TBB) showed that two super cloud clusters (SCCs) developed over the Indian Ocean (70-90° E) in the first half of June 2002, and propagated eastward from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. Convective activities were enhanced over the western Pacific (130-160° E) in the latter half of June 2002. Convergence at 1000hPa, which prevailed over the Indian Ocean in the first half of June 2002, propagated eastward to the western Pacific in the latter half of June 2002. Zonal wind observed by EAR and surface pressure observed at the observation site suggested the existence of a Kelvin-wave-like structure of ISV. From temporal variations of TBB, zonal wind at 850hPa, and vertical shear of horizontal wind between 700 and 150hPa, we classified the observation periods into the inactive phase (1-9 June), active phase (10-19 June), and postwesterly wind burst phase of ISV (20-26 June). During the inactive phase of ISV, convective activities caused by local circulation were prominent over Sumatera. Results of radar observations indicated the dominance of convective rainfall events over the mountainous area of Sumatera during the inactive phase of ISV. During the active phase of the ISV, cloud clusters (CCs), which developed in the convective envelope of SCC with a period of 1-2 days, mainly induced the formation of convective activities over Sumatera. Results of radar observations indicated that both convective and stratiform rainfall events occurred over the mountainous area of Sumatera during the active phase of ISV. In the postwesterly wind burst phase of ISV, convective activities were suppressed over Sumatera. Features of convective activities found over Sumatera generally agreed well with those found in Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere/Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). However, local circulation played an important role in the formation of convective activities over Sumatera in the inactive phase of ISV.

MJO-Induced Variability of the Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation over the Maritime Continent

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajda Savarin ◽  
Shuyi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Diurnal Cycle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Maritime Continent ◽  
Convective Envelope ◽  
Modes Of Variability ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
The Western Pacific

<p>Large-scale convection associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) initiates over the Indian Ocean and propagates eastward across the Maritime Continent (MC) into the western Pacific. As an MJO enters the MC, it often weakens or completely dissipates due to complex interactions between the large-scale MJO and the MC landmass and its topography. This is referred to as the MC barrier effect, and it is responsible for the dissipation of 40-50% of observed MJO events. One of the main reasons for the MJO’s weakening and dissipation over the MC is the diurnal cycle (DC), one of the strongest modes of variability in the region. Due to the complex nature of the MJO and the MC’s complicated topography, the interaction between the DC and the MJO is not well understood.</p><p>In this study, we examine the MJO-induced variability of the DC of precipitation over the MC. We use gridded satellite precipitation products (TRMM 3B42 and GPM IMERG) to: (1) track the MJO convective envelope using the Large-scale Precipitation Tracking algorithm (LPT), (2) analyze the changes in the DC of precipitation over the MC relative to the passage of the MJO. We find that the presence of an MJO not only increases the amount of precipitation over the MC, but that the increase is more pronounced over water than over land. The results from observations are compared to those from two reanalysis datasets (ERA5, MERRA-2). The reanalysis datasets are then used to examine the dynamic and thermodynamic changes that drive the variability in the DC of precipitation relative to the MJO. In addition, we separate MJO events into two groups based on whether they cross the MC, and independently examine their influences on the evolution of the DC of precipitation.</p>

Precursor Environmental Conditions Associated with the Termination of Madden–Julian Oscillation Events

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 1908-1931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin P. Stachnik ◽  
Duane E. Waliser ◽  
Andrew J. Majda
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Warm Pool ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Advection Equation ◽  
Local Domain ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
The Indian Ocean

Abstract This study presents an analysis of the precursor environmental conditions related to the termination of Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) events. A simple climatology is created using a real-time MJO monitoring index, documenting the locations and frequencies of MJO decay. Lead–lag composites of several atmospheric variables including temperature, moisture, and intraseasonal wind anomalies are generated from three reanalyses. There is remarkable agreement among the datasets with long-term, lower-tropospheric moisture deficits over the local domain best identifying termination events over the Indian Ocean. MJO termination in the Indian Ocean is also linked to a northward shift of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) with possible lead times as much as 20 days prior to MJO decay. Statistically significant differences in the low-level vertical velocity and specific humidity are also identified more than 10 days in advance of MJO termination events in the western Pacific, though the differences here are more symmetric about the equator. Unlike the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, MJOs that terminate over the Maritime Continent appear to be related to their own intensity rather than the downstream conditions. As such, only the strongest MJOs tend to propagate into the warm pool region. Finally, a budget analysis is performed on the three-dimensional moisture advection equation in order to better elucidate what time scales and physical mechanisms are most important for MJO termination. The combination of intraseasonal vertical circulation anomalies coupled with the mean-state specific humidity best explain the anomalous moisture patterns associated with MJO termination, suggesting that the downstream influence of the MJO circulation can eventually lead to its future demise.

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