ENSO modulation of tropical Indian Ocean subseasonal variability
Abstract
In this study, we use 30 years of retrospective climate model forecasts and observational estimates to show that El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects the amplitude of subseasonal variability of sea surface temperature (SST) in the southwest Indian Ocean, an important Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillation (TISO) onset region. The analysis shows that deeper background mixed‐layer depths and warmer upper ocean conditions during El Niño reduce the amplitude of the subseasonal SST variability over Seychelles‐Chagos Thermocline Ridge (SCTR), which may reduce SST‐wind coupling and the amplitude of TISO variability. The opposite holds for La Niña where the shallower mixed‐layer depth enhances SST variability over SCTR, which may increase SST‐wind coupling and the amplitude of TISO variability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1002/2016gl071899
Entities
People
- Ben Kirtman
- Eunsil Jung
Organizations
- National Institute of Meteorological Sciences
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Miami