Oscillations, Ensemble Prediction, and Ocean Waves Lectures (ENSO slides and Figures not included!) Flashcards
To Graduate.
The ____ is an intraseasonal fluctuation or wave occurirng in the global tropics.
MJO
TheMJOisresponsibleforthemajorityofweathervariabilityintheseregionsandresultsinvariationsinseveralimportant
atmosphericandoceanicparameterswhichinclude:
- Lower and Upper Level wind speed and direction.
- Cloudiness and rainfall
- Surface Pressure
- Sea surface temperature
The typical length of the MJO is ___.
30-60 Days
Characteristics of the MJO are:
- eastward propagation of regions of enhanced and suppressed tropical rainfall
- primarily over the Indian and Pacific Oceans
- typically evident over the Indian Ocean first and propagates eastward to the tropical Pacific
- Over the eastern Pacific, the pattern of tropical rainfall becomes nondescript, but reappears over the Atlantic and Africa.
More Characteristics of the MJO include:
- distinct patterns of lower and upper level divergence and circulation anomalies in the tropics and subtropics
- these features can extend across the globe and provide important information regarding the regions of ascending and descending motion of particular phases of the oscillation
The active convection _______ as it moves into the western hemisphere.
weakens
Upper level and Lower Level Features when the convection (MJO) is active in the Indian Ocean and Indonesia:
Upper-Level:
- Anomalous easterlies exit the area of enhanced convection associated with anti-cyclonic gyres straddling the equator to the west of the convection. - cyclonic gyres straddle suppressed convection to the east
Lower Level:
- Anomalous easterlies are evident to the east of the area of enhanced convection (anti-cyclonic gyres) - Anomalous westerlies are evident within and to the west of the area of enhanced convection (cyclonic gyres)
Low level gyres are generally (weaker/stronger) than those at upper levels.
weaker
As the MJO propagates eastward through the central and eastern Pacific, the circulation anomalies become (less/more) recognizable.
Less
Enhanced rainfall accompanies the Upper Level (Convergent/Divergent) phase of the MJO. However rainfall may still be suppressed across portions of the equatorial ______ due to colder water.
Divergent
Eastern Pacific Ocean
Anomalously strong 850 mb easterlies occur in the tropics within the low level (convergent/divergent) phase of the MJO.
Divergent
Anomalously strong 850 mb westerlies occur in the tropics within and immediately west of the low level (convergent/divergent) phase of the MJO.
Convergent
During the MJO, 850mb westerlies south of Mexico are:
associated with an enhanced monsoon trough over the NW Caribbean and Southern Gulf of Mexico.
these areas also have cyclonic shear and are favorable for tropical cyclone formation
The MJO can substantially modulate the intensity of monsoon systems around the globe including:
- The Australian Monsoon(SH Summer)
- The Asian Monsoon (NH Summer)
- The South American Monsoon (SH Summer)
- The North American Monsoon (NH Summer)
The divergent (wet) phase of the MJO can affect the _____ and _____ of the monsoon.
timing and intensity
The convergent(dry) phase of the MJO can ______ and also ________ during already existing monsoons.
prematurely end
initiate breaks
The MJO also seems to influence the _______ cycle.
El Nino/La Nina
The MJO does not cause the El Nino but can contribute to the _______.
Speed of development and overall intensity
The MJO is known to modulate tropical cyclone activity in the _____, _____, ______, and _____.
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Mexico
Atlantic Ocean
_________ at the surface in and just behind the MJO’s area of ________ may generate mirror-image cyclonic gyres straddling the equator.
At the same time in the upper levels, mirror-image anticyclonic gyres develop along and just behind the ______.
The net result is:
- westerly wind anomalies
- enhanced convection
- area of convection
- a reduction of U/L wind shear for westward-moving tropical cyclones and an increase in U/L divergence.
The strongest tropical cyclones tend to develop during the U/L (divergent/convergent) phase of the MJO.
divergent (wet)
As the MJO progresses eastward, the favored region for tropical activity shifts (east/west).
east
Enhanced tropical rainfall in the western and central Pacific can contribute to extreme rainfall events in ________.
Western North America
Typical scenario linking the pattern of tropical rainfall associated with the MJO to extreme precipitation events in the Pacific Northwest is :
Eastward moving U/L divergent phase in the central or eastern tropical Pacific and a retrograding mid-latitude jet stream trof in the high latitudes of the NE Pacific (Pineapple Express)
There is (weak/strong) year-to-year variability in the MJO activity.
strong
The interannual variability of the MJO can be partially linked to the ______.
El Nino cycle
Strong MJO is often observed when _____.
La Nina is weak or El Nino/La Nina is absent.
Weak or absent MJO activity is typicall associated with _______.
Strong El Nino episodes.
The ____________ is a zonal direct circulation in the tropical Pacific.
Walker Circulation
During a normal Walker circulation regime, _____ over the west Pacific. Meanwhile, _____ over the cooler water of the east Pacific.
Warm air rises (Heavy rainfall)
Cooler air Sinks (dry)
During the Walker Circulation, at the surface, the west and east Pacific are linked by ______.
Conversely, the upper troposphere portions are linked by ______.
westward-directed trade winds
eastward-directed winds
If the Walker Circulation is strong:
- Low (High) Pressure resides over the tropical West (East) Pacific
- The trade winds are strong over the Pacific
- The West (East) Pacific is wet (dry) and stormy (tranquil)
_____ is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific.
El Nino
El Nino is characterized by a major (cooling/warming) of waters in the tropical central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
warming
El Nino is called _______ because it occurs or was first noticed along ________ around Christmas time.
“The Child”
The west coast of South America
El Nino occurs every _____ years and is characterized by a major weakening or even total reversal of the ______.
2-10 years
Walker Circulation
El Ninos are numerically characterized by a negative Southern Oscillation Index (SOI).
SOI = _______ - _______
SOI = (Tahiti SLP) - (Darwin SLP)
The CPC has recently changed from using the SOI to the _____ which is based on ________.
ONI (Oceanice Nino Index)
a 3 month running mean of SST departures in the Nino 3.4 Region.
El Nino is characterized by a _____ ONI ____ than +0.5
La Nina is characterized by a _____ ONI ____ than -0.5
Positive and greater than
Negative and less than
ONI thresholds for El Nino/La Nina must be exceeded for a period of at least ______ overlapping 3-month seasons.
5 consecutive
When the Walker Circulation is weak or reversed:
- El Nino forms
- Great Havoc occurs in the world’s weather patterns
- Great hardship is experienced by many people and much wildlife
When El Nino is present
- Low pressure moves to the tropical Central and East Pacific
- High Pressure forms over the tropical West Pacific
- The trade winds weaken or reverse over the Pacific Ocean
- The West (Central/East) becomes dry( very stormy)
Formative Stages of El Nino (late summer and fall):
- Walker Circulation weakens
- Pressure falls (rises) in the east(west) pacific
- SOI becomes negative
- ONI becomes positive (>0.5)
- Equatorial Kelvin Wave moves from west to east pacific
- Warm SSTs whift eastward
- Upwelling in East Pacific weakens
- Convection and Precipitation shifts eastward.
Mature Stage of El Nino (winter and spring) :
- WC reverses
- Low(High) pressure resides in central/east(west) Pacific
- SOI(ONI) is strongly neg(positive)
- Trade winds calm or reverse
- Equatorial Kelvin Wave moves from west to east pacific
- Warm SSTs cover central/east Pacific
- Sea Level mound resides in east pacific
- Upwelling in East Pacific is absent
- Heavy thunderstorms in central/east pacific
Dissipating Stage of El Nino (late spring and summer):
- WC begins to strengthen
- Pressure Falls (rises) in west (east) Pacific
- SOI (ONI) becomes positive(negative)
- Trade Winds Strengthen
- Equatorial Kelvin Wave dissipates
- Warm SSTs slosh back to the west Pacific
- Sea Level mound dissapears in east pacific
- Upwelling in East Pacific resumes
- Heavy Thunderstorms move back to west Pacific
- Dry weather returns to east Pacific
Definition of La Nina
A major cooling of the tropical East Pacific Ocean generally following a strong El Nino event with an overly-strong WC
Relationship between MJO strength and El nino.
Anomalously strong MJO often precedes major El Nino by 6-12 months
How exactly does the MJO initiate an El Nino?
Vigorous bursts of Equatorial westerly winds, associated with the frequent positive phases of the MJO, may develop an oceanic Kelvin wave which forces a dome of warm water eastward from the West Pacific. This Kelvin wave would help suppress cold upwelling in the east pacific, helping to lower SLP, relax the zonal SLP gradient across the Pacific, and relax the trade winds, thus initiating El Nino.
What does ENSO stand for?
The El Nino Southern Oscillation
What is the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO)?
NAO = (Azores SLP) - (Iceland SLP)
What is dictated by the NAO?
Climate variability from the Eastern Seaboard of the US to Siberia and from the Arctic to the subtropical Atlantic. (Especially during the NH Winter)
_______ is associated with a net displacement of air from the arctic and icelandic regions towards the subtropical belt near the azores and the iberian peninsula. This mass displacement strengthens the Icelandic Low near the southeast coast of Greenland and also strengthens the subtropical high in the atlantic, resulting in more intense westerlies in the atlantic and more intense westerlies over the North Atlantic
high index NAO
Stronger (easterlies/westerlies) bring more warm moist air over the European continent and gives rise to milder maritime winters.
Westerlies
During a Positive NAO, (warmer/colder) temperatures are also observed over the western Atlantic and eastern US
warmer
The stronger Atlantic Subtropical High also strengthens the _______. This causes _____ to be blown across the tropical Atlantic toward the Caribbean and Florida. Increased upwelling of cold water off the northwest coast of Africa helps to keep surface temperatures cooler in the tropical Atlantic and enhances ______.
- trade winds over the tropical Atlantic
- African Dust
- Dry Weather
A negative NAO is associated with a net displacement of air from over the subtropical belt near _____ and ____ northward to the Arctic and Icelandic regions.
This mass displacement weakens the _____ and increases the variability of its location.
Also is weakens the ______ in the Atlantic, resulting in less intense ______ over the North Atlantic Ocean.
_____ often develop in the Atlantic Jet Stream pattern.
- The Azores and Iberian Peninsula
- Icelandic Low
- Subtropical High and westerlies.
- Blocking patterns
During a negative NAO, Arctic High Pressure is better developed in _____ and often invades into northern and central ____ when significant blocking patterns develop over the Atlantic. During this time, colder temperatures are observed over the _____ and _______.
- the polar regions
- Europe
- western Atlantic and Eastern US