Disruptions of El Niño–Southern Oscillation teleconnections by the Madden–Julian Oscillation

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

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Abstract

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the leading mode of interannual variability, with global impacts on weather and climate that have seasonal predictability. Research on the link between interannual ENSO variability and the leading mode of intraseasonal variability, the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), has focused mainly on the role of MJO initiating or terminating ENSO. We use observational analysis and modeling to show that the MJO has an important simultaneous link to ENSO: strong MJO activity significantly weakens the atmospheric branch of ENSO. For weak MJO conditions relative to strong MJO conditions, the average magnitude of ENSO-associated tropical precipitation anomalies increases by 63%, and the strength of hemispheric teleconnections increases by 58%. Since the MJO has predictability beyond three weeks, the relationships shown here suggest that there may be subseasonal predictability of the ENSO teleconnections to continental circulation and precipitation.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Disruptions of El Niño–Southern Oscillation teleconnections by the Madden–Julian Oscillation
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1002/2013GL058648
Volume 41
Issue 3
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Publisher location Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description 7 p.
First page 998
Last page 1004
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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