Boreal Winter Links between the Madden–Julian Oscillation and the Arctic Oscillation

There is increasing evidence that the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) modifies the mid- to high-latitude circulation and, in particular, appears to have a relationship to the leading mode of extratropical variability, the Arctic Oscillation (AO). In this study, new insights into the observed similar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of climate Vol. 21; no. 12; pp. 3040 - 3050
Main Authors L’Heureux, Michelle L., Higgins, R. Wayne
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Boston, MA American Meteorological Society 15.06.2008
Subjects
Atmosphere
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospherics
Climate system
Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change
Convection
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Geopotential height
Meteorology
Oceans
Studies
Surface temperature
Temperate regions
Tropical climates
Tropical environments
Weather
Western hemisphere
Winter
PN, Arctic
High latitude
Teleconnection
Extratropical zone
Temperature distribution
Mid latitude
Arctic oscillation
geopotential field
climate variability
Dynamical climatology
Winter
Northern Hemisphere
atmospheric circulation
Madden Julian oscillation
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Summary:There is increasing evidence that the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) modifies the mid- to high-latitude circulation and, in particular, appears to have a relationship to the leading mode of extratropical variability, the Arctic Oscillation (AO). In this study, new insights into the observed similarities between the MJO and the AO are explored. It is shown that the eastward progression of the convectively active phase of the MJO is associated with a corresponding shift in the tendency and sign of the AO index. Moreover, the AO and the MJO share several analogous features not only in the global circulation, but also in surface temperature fields. Also, the AO is linked to a pattern of eastward-propagating MJO-like variability in the tropics that is partially reproduced in free runs of the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS) model. Finally, it is shown that the structure of the AO, as defined by the leading mode in the 1000-hPa geopotential height field, is significantly altered based on the phase of the MJO.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
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ISSN:0894-8755
1520-0442
DOI:10.1175/2007jcli1955.1