An enhanced influence of sea surface temperature in the tropical northern Atlantic on the following winter ENSO since the early 1980s

• Published in: Atmospheric and oceanic science letters = Daqi-he-haiyang-kexue-kuaibao Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 175 - 182
• Main Authors: CHEN, Shang-Feng, WU, Renguang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Taylor & Francis 04.03.2017; KeAi Publishing Communications Ltd; Center for Monsoon System Research, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: Anomalies; Anticyclones; Cyclones; El Nino; El Nino phenomena; ENSO; interdecadal change; mean precipitation; Ocean currents; Sea surface; Sea surface temperature; Southern Oscillation; Tropical climate; Tropical northern Atlantic; 厄尔尼诺-南方涛动; 年代际变化; 热带北大西洋; 降水气候态; mean precipitation; ENSO; 降水气候态; 热带北大西洋; 年代际变化; interdecadal change; Tropical northern Atlantic; 厄尔尼诺-南方涛动
• ISSN: 1674-2834; 2376-6123
• DOI: 10.1080/16742834.2016.1259542

Previous studies have revealed a connection between springtime sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical northern Atlantic (TNA) and the succeeding wintertime El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The present analysis demonstrates that the linkage between springtime TNA SST and the following ENSO experiences an obvious interdecadal change around the early 1980s, with the connection being weak before but significant after. After the early 1980s, springtime positive TNA SST anomalies induce an anomalous cyclone over the northeastern subtropical Pacific and an anomalous Walker circulation with a descending branch over the tropical central-eastern Pacific. This leads to anomalous cold SST in the northeastern Pacific and an anomalous anticyclone over the western-central tropical Pacific, with anomalous easterlies to the equatorward side. As such, springtime TNA SST anomalies are followed by wintertime ENSO after the early 1980s. In contrast, before the early 1980s, anomalous cold SST in the northeastern Pacific and related anomalous easterlies over the western-central tropical Pacific are weak, corresponding to springtime positive TNA SST anomalies and resulting in a weak linkage between springtime TNA SST and the succeeding wintertime ENSO. Further investigation implies that the change in the TNA SST-ENSO relationship is probably due to a change in springtime mean precipitation over the tropical Atlantic and South America.