Seasonal Dependence of the MJO–ENSO Relationship

Harry H. Hendon; Matthew C. Wheeler; Chidong Zhang

doi:10.1175/jcli4003.1

journal article Feb 01, 2007

Seasonal Dependence of the MJO–ENSO Relationship

Harry H. Hendon

Matthew C. Wheeler

Chidong Zhang

Journal of Climate Vol. 20 No. 3 pp. 531-543 · American Meteorological Society

View at Publisher Save 10.1175/jcli4003.1

Abstract

AbstractObservations of the development of recent El Niño events suggest a pivotal role for the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). Previous attempts to uncover a systematic relationship between MJO activity and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), however, have yielded conflicting results. In this study the MJO–ENSO relationship is stratified by season, and the focus is on MJO activity in the equatorial western Pacific. The results demonstrate that MJO activity in late boreal spring leads El Niño in the subsequent autumn–winter for the period 1979–2005. Spring is the season when MJO activity is least asymmetric with respect to the equator and displays the most sensitivity to SST variations at the eastern edge of the warm pool. Enhanced MJO activity in the western Pacific in spring is associated with an eastward-expanded warm pool and low-frequency westerly surface zonal wind anomalies. These sustained westerly anomalies in the western Pacific are hypothesized to project favorably onto a developing El Niño in spring.

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Details

Published: Feb 01, 2007
Vol/Issue: 20(3)
Pages: 531-543

Authors

H

Harry H. Hendon

BMRC, Melbourne, Australia

M

Matthew C. Wheeler

BMRC, Melbourne, Australia

C

Chidong Zhang

RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, Florida

Cite This Article

Harry H. Hendon, Matthew C. Wheeler, Chidong Zhang (2007). Seasonal Dependence of the MJO–ENSO Relationship. Journal of Climate, 20(3), 531-543. https://doi.org/10.1175/jcli4003.1

Seasonal Dependence of the MJO–ENSO Relationship

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