scholarly journals Strengthened Relationships of Northwest China Wintertime Precipitation with ENSO and Midlatitude North Atlantic SST since the Mid-1990s

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 3967-3988
Author(s):  
Xiaoxue Yin ◽  
Lian-Tong Zhou

AbstractThe present study investigates the interdecadal changes in the relationship between El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and midlatitude North Atlantic (MNA) sea surface temperature (SST) with northwest China (NWC) winter precipitation (WP) variability and the plausible causes. Results show that ENSO and MNA SST have weak correlations with NWC WP before the mid-1990s, whereas the connections are enhanced sharply afterward, with above (below) normal precipitation occuring when there are positive (negative) ENSO SST and negative (positive) MNA SST anomalies (SSTA). Remarkable differences are found in the atmospheric circulations. After the mid-1990s, there is a pronounced Pacific–North American–Eurasian (PNA-EU)-like pattern in the Northern Hemisphere, whereas an Arctic Oscillation–like pattern is found before the mid-1990s. The change in the relationships between NWC WP and SSTs is likely attributable to the enhanced connection between ENSO and MNA SST after the mid-1990s. It is found that ENSO and MNA SSTA can cause NWC WP variation independently through atmospheric teleconnections. In addition, significant precipitation anomalies also occur when concurrent but oppositely signed SSTs anomalies in the two regions are observed. The reinforced negative correlations between ENSO and MNA SST after the mid-1990s act in concert on NWC WP by exciting a PNA-EU-like pattern. This information would help us to better understand the physical processes of the teleconnections between NWC WP variability and the ENSO/MNA SST, in which the strength of the correlation between ENSO and MNA SST should be taken into account.

Author(s):  
Julia Nikolaevna Chizhova

The subject of this article is exmination of the influence of the Arctic air flow on the climatic conditions of the winter period in the center of the European territory of Russia (Moscow). In recent years, the question of the relationship between regional climatic conditions and such global circulation patterns as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AK) has become increasingly important. Based on the data of long-term observations of temperature and precipitation, the relationship with the AK and NAO was considered. For the winter months of the period 2014-2018, the back trajectories of the movement of air masses were computed for each date of precipitation to identify the sources of precipitation. The amount of winter precipitation that forms the snow cover of Moscow has no connection with either the North Atlantic Oscillation or the Arctic Oscillation. The Moscow region is located at the intersection of the zones of influence of positive and negative phases of both cyclonic patterns (AK and NAO), which determine the weather in the Northern Hemisphere. For the winter months, a correlation between the surface air temperature and NAO (r = 0.72) and AK (r = 0.66) was established. Winter precipitation in the center of the European territory of Russiais mainly associated with the unloading of Atlantic air masses. Arctic air masses relatively rarely invade Moscow region and bring little precipitation (their contribution does not exceed 12% of the total winter precipitation).


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1923-1937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Jia ◽  
Jingwen Ge

Abstract The current study investigates the interdecadal changes in the relationship between the winter precipitation anomalies in southeastern China, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) at the end of the twentieth century. It appears that the relationships between the interannual variability of the southeastern China winter precipitation and ENSO as well as EAWM are obviously weakened after 1998/99. The possible mechanisms accounting for this interdecadal change in the relationship have been examined by dividing the data into two subperiods [1980–98 (P1) and 1999–2015 (P2)]. The results indicate that, without the linear contribution of EAWM, ENSO only play a limited role in the variability of winter precipitation in southeastern China in both subperiods. In contrast, in P1, corresponding to an ENSO-independent weaker-than-normal EAWM, anomalous southerlies along coastal southeastern China associated with an anticyclone over the northwestern Pacific transport water vapor to China. However, in P2 the impact of EAWM on winter precipitation in southeastern China is weakened because of the regime shift of EAWM. The EAWM-related positive SLP anomalies over the North Pacific move eastward in P2, causing an eastward migration of the associated anomalous southerlies along its western flank and therefore cannot significantly contribute to the positive winter precipitation anomalies in southeastern China.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-212
Author(s):  
G. Wolf ◽  
A. Czaja ◽  
D. J. Brayshaw ◽  
N. P. Klingaman

AbstractLarge-scale, quasi-stationary atmospheric waves (QSWs) are known to be strongly connected with extreme events and general weather conditions. Yet, despite their importance, there is still a lack of understanding about what drives variability in QSW. This study is a step toward this goal, and it identifies three statistically significant connections between QSWs and sea surface anomalies (temperature and ice cover) by applying a maximum covariance analysis technique to reanalysis data (1979–2015). The two most dominant connections are linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation. They confirm the expected relationship between QSWs and anomalous surface conditions in the tropical Pacific and the North Atlantic, but they cannot be used to infer a driving mechanism or predictability from the sea surface temperature or the sea ice cover to the QSW. The third connection, in contrast, occurs between late winter to early spring Atlantic sea ice concentrations and anomalous QSW patterns in the following late summer to early autumn. This new finding offers a pathway for possible long-term predictability of late summer QSW occurrence.


2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (7) ◽  
pp. 2804-2811 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Grady Dixon ◽  
Gregory B. Goodrich ◽  
William H. Cooke

Abstract Previous wildfire research in the United States has been focused primarily on the western states. Much of this research has discovered relationships between wildfire variability and atmospheric teleconnections. Thus far, few published projects have addressed the effects of various teleconnections on wildfire in the southeastern United States. Index values for the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), and Pacific–North American (PNA) pattern are all tested for relationships with fire variables in the state of Mississippi. Each of the indices displays significant correlations with wildfire occurrence and/or size in Mississippi. The findings of this research suggest that it might be feasible to create predictive fire-risk models for the southeastern United States based on the combination of these teleconnection indices.


2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 856-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixin Wu ◽  
Feng He ◽  
Zhengyu Liu ◽  
Chun Li

Abstract In this paper, the atmospheric teleconnections of the tropical Atlantic SST variability are investigated in a series of coupled ocean–atmosphere modeling experiments. It is found that the tropical Atlantic climate not only displays an apparent interhemispheric link, but also significantly influences the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In spring, the tropical Atlantic SST exhibits an interhemispheric seesaw controlled by the wind–evaporation–SST (WES) feedback that subsequently decays through the mediation of the seasonal migration of the ITCZ. Over the North Atlantic, the tropical Atlantic SST can force a significant coupled NAO–dipole SST response in spring that changes to a coupled wave train–horseshoe SST response in the following summer and fall, and a recurrence of the NAO in the next winter. The seasonal changes of the atmospheric response as well as the recurrence of the next winter’s NAO are driven predominantly by the tropical Atlantic SST itself, while the resulting extratropical SST can enhance the atmospheric response, but it is not a necessary bridge of the winter-to-winter NAO persistency. Over the Pacific, the model demonstrates that the north tropical Atlantic (NTA) SST can also organize an interhemispheric SST seesaw in spring in the eastern equatorial Pacific that subsequently evolves into an ENSO-like pattern in the tropical Pacific through mediation of the ITCZ and equatorial coupled ocean–atmosphere feedback.


Author(s):  
Emily Black

Knowledge of the processes that control East African rainfall is essential for the development of seasonal forecasting systems, which may mitigate the effects of flood and drought. This study uses observational data to unravel the relationship between the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and rainy autumns in East Africa. Analysis of sea–surface temperature data shows that strong East African rainfall is associated with warming in the Pacific and Western Indian Oceans and cooling in the Eastern Indian Ocean. The resemblance of this pattern to that which develops during IOD events implies a link between the IOD and strong East African rainfall. Further investigation suggests that the observed teleconnection between East African rainfall and ENSO is a manifestation of a link between ENSO and the IOD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
I Gede Mita Anjas Swara ◽  
I Wayan Gede Astawa Karang ◽  
Gede Surya Indrawan

This research aimed to find out the pattern of spasio-temporal upwelling and its relation with El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the southern waters of Java to the East Nusa Tenggara. Two indicators namely sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorofil-a data obtained from oceancolor database were used as an indicator of upwelling occurences. The overlay technique and correlation analyses were used to describe the relationship between upwelling and ENSO. The results showed the phenomenon of upwelling occurred along southern Java and East Nusa Tenggara. The appearance of upwelling occurred in the South Easth Monsoon until transition season which began in June and ended in November. The pattern of upwelling area for 17 years varies each season, where for the South Easth Monsoon in June it gained 6986 km2, in July 78294 km2, and in August 254212 km2. As for transition season II in September 166767 km2, in October 72033 km2, and November 1949 km2. The results also showed that upwelling intensity was influenced by ENSO indicated by correlation values that matched the correlation value between SST - ENSO was -0.78 and chlorophyll-a-ENSO was 0.98.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (14) ◽  
pp. 5939-5951
Author(s):  
Albert Ossó ◽  
Rowan Sutton ◽  
Len Shaffrey ◽  
Buwen Dong

AbstractA recent study identified a relationship between North Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) gradients in spring and a specific pattern of atmospheric circulation in the following summer: the summer east Atlantic (SEA) pattern. It was shown that the SEA pattern is closely associated with meridional shifts in the eddy-driven jet in response to anomalous SST gradients. In this study, the physical mechanisms underlying this relationship are investigated further. It is shown that the predictable SEA pattern anomalies appear in June–July and undergo substantial amplification between July and August before decaying in September. The associated SST anomalies also grow in magnitude and spatial extent from June to August. The question of why the predictable atmospheric anomalies should occur in summer is addressed, and three factors are identified. The first is the climatological position of the storm track, which migrates poleward from spring to summer. The second is that the magnitude of interannual SST variability underlying the storm track peaks in summer, both in absolute terms, and relative to the underlying mean SST gradient. The third factor is the most interesting. We identify a positive coupled ocean–atmosphere feedback, which operates in summer and leads to the amplification of both SST and atmospheric circulation anomalies. The extent to which the identified processes are captured in the HadGEM3-GC2 climate model is also assessed. The model is able to capture the relationship between spring North Atlantic SSTs and subsequent ocean–atmosphere conditions in early summer, but the relationship is too weak. The results suggest that the real world might be more predictable than is inferred from the models.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 15357-15378
Author(s):  
Peng Xian ◽  
Philip J. Klotzbach ◽  
Jason P. Dunion ◽  
Matthew A. Janiga ◽  
Jeffrey S. Reid ◽  
...  

Abstract. Previous studies have noted a relationship between African dust and Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) activity. However, due to the limitations of past dust analyses, the strength of this relationship remains uncertain. The emergence of aerosol reanalyses, including the Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS) aerosol optical depth (AOD) reanalysis, NASA Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2), and ECMWF Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reanalysis (CAMSRA), enables an investigation of the relationship between African dust and TC activity over the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean in a consistent temporal and spatial manner for 2003–2018. Although June–July–August (JJA) 550 nm dust AOD (DAOD) from all three reanalysis products correlates significantly over the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean, the difference in DAOD magnitude between products can be as large as 60 % over the Caribbean and 20 % over the tropical North Atlantic. Based on the three individual reanalyses, we have created an aerosol multi-reanalysis consensus (MRC). The MRC presents overall better root mean square error over the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean compared to individual reanalyses when verified with ground-based AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) AOD measurements. Each of the three individual reanalyses and the MRC have significant negative correlations between JJA Caribbean DAOD and seasonal Atlantic accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), while the correlation between JJA tropical North Atlantic DAOD and seasonal ACE is weaker. Possible reasons for this regional difference are provided. A composite analysis of 3 high-JJA-Caribbean-DAOD years versus 3 low-JJA-Caribbean-DAOD years reveals large differences in overall Atlantic TC activity. We also show that JJA Caribbean DAOD is significantly correlated with large-scale fields associated with variability in interannual Atlantic TC activity including zonal wind shear, mid-level moisture, and sea surface temperature (SST), as well as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM), implying confounding effects of these factors on the dust–TC relationship. We find that seasonal Atlantic DAOD and the AMM, the leading mode of coupled Atlantic variability, are inversely related and intertwined in the dust–TC relationship. Overall, DAOD in both the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean is negatively correlated with Atlantic hurricane frequency and intensity, with stronger correlations in the Caribbean than farther east in the tropical North Atlantic.


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