Oscillations

Question 0

Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO)

Answer 0

30-60, 60-90 days
Moves from tropical Indian to Pacific Ocean
Winds, SST, rainfall
Weakens tropical cyclones in summer
Weaker westerly jet in winter affects US during phases 8,1,2

Question 1

Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO)

Answer 1

2 years
Found 10 mb to 100 mb in atmos.
Oscillation in temp and winds
Important for tropical activity

Question 2

Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)

Answer 2

20-30 years
Pacific Ocean
SST
Warm PDO- enhanced biological production in Alaska
Cold PDO- N/S pattern of marine ecosystem

Question 3

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Answer 3

3-6 month
West coast of S.A. in Pacific
SST
Changes in precip, temp in US

Question 4

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

Answer 4

3 months
North Atlantic Ocean
Pressure oscillation
+NAO: mild winter , -NAO: cold winter

Question 5

Arctic and Antarctic Oscillation (AO and AAO)

Answer 5

3 months
Arctic/Antarctic 
Pressure oscillation 
-AO: weak westerlies push arctic air south
\+AO: strong air keeps cold air north

Question 6

Pacific North American pattern (PNA)

Answer 6

3 month
North Pacific in every month except June and July
Height anomalies
\+PNA: above average heights in west
-PNA: blocking over high latitudes

Question 7

Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)

Answer 7

20-40 years
North Atlantic Ocean
SST
Impact rainfall and hurricanes over Northern Hemisphere
\+AMO: frequent droughts