Skip to main content
Log in

Pacific tropical instability waves have intensified since the 1990s

  • Research Briefing
  • Published:

From Nature Climate Change

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Tropical instability waves (TIWs) are an important component of the equatorial Pacific climate. An analysis of satellite observations, in situ measurements and ocean circulation models indicates that TIW activity has intensified in the central equatorial Pacific by approximately 12 ± 6% per decade since the 1990s.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1: Long-term evolution of Pacific TIWs.

References

  1. Willett, C. S., Leben, R. R. & Lavín, M. F. Eddies and tropical instability waves in the eastern tropical Pacific: a review. Prog. Oceanogr. 69, 218–238 (2006). A review article that presents characteristics of Pacific TIWs.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Holmes, R. M., Thomas, L. N., Thompson, L. & Darr, D. Potential vorticity dynamics of tropical instability vortices. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 44, 995–1011 (2014). This paper reports multiscale ocean dynamics associated with TIWs.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Maillard, L., Boucharel, J. & Renault, L. Direct and rectified effects of tropical instability waves on the eastern tropical Pacific mean state in a regional ocean model. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 52, 1817–1834 (2022). This paper reports the effects of TIWs on the eastern tropical Pacific mean state.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Xue, A., Zhang, W., Boucharel, J. & Jin, F. F. Anomalous tropical instability wave activity hindered the development of the 2016/17 La Niña. J. Clim. 34, 5583–5600 (2021). This paper reports the damping effects of TIWs on La Niña.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wang, M., Xie, S. P., Shen, S. S. & Du, Y. Rossby and Yanai modes of tropical instability waves in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and a diagnostic model for surface currents. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 50, 3009–3024 (2020). This paper presents a diagnostic model for equatorial ageostrophic currents.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This is a summary of: Wang, M. et al. Intensification of Pacific tropical instability waves over the recent three decades. Nat. Clim. Change https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01915-x (2024).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pacific tropical instability waves have intensified since the 1990s. Nat. Clim. Chang. 14, 124–125 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01916-w

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01916-w

  • Springer Nature Limited

Navigation