Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The intraseasonal oscillation in ECHAM4 Part I: coupled to a comprehensive ocean model

  • Published:
Climate Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study discusses the representation of the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in three simulations with the ECHAM4 atmosphere general circulation model (GCM). First, the model is forced by AMIP sea surface temperatures (SST), then coupled to the OPYC3 global ocean GCM and third forced by OPYC3 SSTs to clarify possible air-sea interactions and connections of the ISO and the ENSO cycle. The simulations are compared to ECMWF reanalysis data and NOAA outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) observations. Although previous studies have shown that the ECHAM4 GCM simulates an ISO-like oscillation, the main deficits are an overly fast eastward propagation and an eastward displacement of the main ISO activity, which is shown with a composite analysis of daily data between 1984 to 1988 for the reanalysis and the AMIP simulation, 25 years of the coupled integration, and a five year subset of the coupled SST output used for the OPYC3 forced atmosphere GCM experiment. These deficits are common to many atmospheric GCMs. The composites are obtained by principal oscillation pattern (POP). The POPs are also used to investigate the propagation speed and the interannual variability of the main ISO activity. The present coupled model version reveals no clear improvements in the ISO simulation compared to the uncoupled version forced with OPYC3 SSTs, although it is shown that the modeled ISO influences the simulated high-frequency SST variability in the coupled GCM. Within the current analysis, ECHAM4 forced by AMIP SSTs provides the most reasonable ISO simulation. However, it is shown that the maximum amplitudes of the annual cycle of the ISO variability in all analyzed model versions are reached too late in the year (spring and summer) compared to the observations (winter and spring). Additionally, the ENSO cycle influences the interannual variability of the ISO, which is revealed by 20 years of daily reanalysis data and 100 years of the coupled integration. The ENSO cycle is simulated by the coupled model, although there is a roughly 1 K cold bias in the East Pacific in the coupled model. This leads to a diminished influence of the ENSO cycle on the spatial variability of the modeled ISO activity compared to observations. This points out the strong sensitivity of the SST on the ISO activity. Small biases in the SST appear to cause large deterioration in the modeled ISO.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bacher A, Oberhuber JM, Roeckner E (1998) ENSO dynamics and seasonal cycle in the tropical Pacific as simulated by the ECHAM4/OPYC3 coupled general circulation model. Clim Dyn 14: 431–450

    Google Scholar 

  • Bladé I, Hartmann DL (1993) Tropical intraseasonal oscillations in a simple nonlinear model. J Atmos Sci 50: 2922–2939

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen TC, Chen JM (1997) On the relationship between the streamfunction and velocity potential of the Madden-Julian oscillation. J Atmos Sci 54: 679–685

    Google Scholar 

  • Delcroix T, Dewitte B, du Penhoat Y, Masia F, Picaut J (2000) Equatorial waves and warm pool displacements during the 1992–1998 El Nino Southern Oscillation events: observation and modeling. J Geophys Res 105: 26,045–26,062

    Google Scholar 

  • Dommenget D, Latif M (2002) A cautionary note on the interpretation of EOF. J Clim 15: 216–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferranti L, Palmer TN, Molteni F, Klinker E (1990) Tropical-extratropical interaction associated with the 30–60 day oscillation and its impact on medium and extended range prediction. J Atmos Sci 47: 2177–2199

    Google Scholar 

  • Flatau M, Flatau PJ, Phoebus P, Niiler PP (1997) The feedback between equatorial convection and local radiative and evaporative processes: the implications for intraseasonal oscillations. J Atmos Sci 54: 2373–2386

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher F, von Storch H, Schnur R, Hannoschoeck G (1991) The POP manual. Techn Rep 1, Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum, Hamburg, Germany, pp 66

  • Graham N, Barnett TP (1987) Observations of sea surface temperature and convection over tropical oceans. Science 238: 657–660

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruber A, Krueger AF (1984) Status of the NOAA outgoing long-wave radiation data set. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 65: 958–962

    Google Scholar 

  • Gualdi S, Navarra A, von Storch H (1997) Tropical intraseasonal oscillation appearing in operational analysis and in a family of general circulation models. J Atmos Sci 54: 1185–1202

    Google Scholar 

  • Gualdi S, Navarra A, Tinarelli G (1999) The interannual variability of the Madden-Julian oscillation in an ensemble of GCM simulations. Clim Dyn 15: 643–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi YY, Golder DG (1993) Tropical 40–50- and 25–30-day oscillations appearing in realistic and idealised GFDL climate models and the ECMWF dataset. J Atmos Sci 50: 464–494

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendon HH (2000) Impact of air-sea coupling on the Madden-Julian oscillation in a general circulation model. J Atmos Sci 57: 3939–3952

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendon HH, Salby ML (1994) The life cycle of the Madden-Julian oscillation. J Atmos Sci 51: 2225–2237

    Google Scholar 

  • Inness PM, Slingo JM, Woolnough SJ, Neale RB, Pope VD (2001) Organization of tropical convection in a GCM with varying vertical resolution; implications for the simulation of the Madden-Julian oscillation. Clim Dyn 17: 777–793

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones C (2000) Occurrence of extreme precipitation events in California and relationships with the Madden Julian oscillation. J Clim 13: 3576–3587

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones C, Waliser DE, Gautier C (1998) The influence of the Madden-Julian oscillation on ocean surface heat fluxes and sea surface temperature. J Clim 11: 1057–1072

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemball-Cook SR, Weare BC (2001) The onset of convection in the Madden-Julian oscillation. J Clim 14: 780–793

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemball-Cook SR, Wang B, Fu X (2002) Simulation of the intraseasonal oscillation in the ECHAM-4 model: the impact of coupling with an ocean model. J Atmos Sci 59: 1433–1453

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler WS, McPhaden M, Weickmann KM (1995) Forcing of intraseasonal Kelvin waves in the equatorial Pacific. J Geophys Res 100: 10,613–10,631

    Google Scholar 

  • Knutson TR, Weickmann KM (1987) 30-60 day atmospheric oscillations: composite life cycles of convection and circulation anomalies. Mon Weather Rev 115: 1407–1436

    Google Scholar 

  • Koblinsky C, Ray R, Beckley B, Brenner A, Tsaoussi L, Wang Y (1999) NASA ocean altimeter Pathfinder project. Report 2: data set validation. Technical memorandum, NASA/TM-1999-209230

    Google Scholar 

  • Lau KM, Sui CH (1997) Mechanisms of short-term sea surface temperature regulation: observations during TOGA COARE. J Clim 10: 465–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Liebmann B, Smith CA (1996) Description of a complete (interpolated) outgoing longwave radiation dataset. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 77: 1275–1277

    Google Scholar 

  • Liess S (2002) Model studies of the 30–60 day oscillation. PhD thesis, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany, pp 143

  • Liess S, Bengtsson L (2004) The intraseasonal oscillation in ECHAM Part II: sensitivity studies. Clim Dym DOI 10.1007/s00382-004-0407-z

    Google Scholar 

  • Madden RA, Julian PR (1971) Detection of a 40–50 day oscillation in the zonal wind in the tropical Pacific. J Atmos Sci 28: 702–708

    Google Scholar 

  • Madden RA, Julian PR (1972) Description of global-scale circulation cells in the tropics with a 40–50 day period. J Atmos Sci 29: 1109–1123

    Google Scholar 

  • Madden RA, Julian PR (1994) Observations of the 40-50-day tropical oscillation – a review. Mon Weather Rev 122: 814–837

    Google Scholar 

  • Maloney ED, Hartmann DL (2001) The sensitivity of intraseasonal variability in the NCAR CCM3 to changes in convective parametrization. J Clim 14: 2015–2034

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews AJ (2000) Propagation mechanisms for the Madden-Julian oscillation. Q J R Meteorol Soc 126: 2637–2651

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews AJ, Hoskins BJ, Slingo JM, Blackburn M (1996) Developement of convection along the SPCZ within a Madden-Julian oscillation. Q J R Meteorol Soc 122: 669–688

    Google Scholar 

  • McPhaden MJ, Taft BA (1988) Dynamics of seasonal and intraseasonal variability in the eastern equatorial Pacific. J Phys Oceanogr 18: 1713–1732

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers DS, Waliser DE (2003) Three-dimensional water vapor and cloud variations associated with the Madden-Julian oscillation during northern hemisphere winter. J Clim 16:929–950

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakazawa T (1999) MJO–a key component in the atmosphere for triggering ENSO. In: Conference on the TOGA Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE), Boulder, Colorado, USA, 7–14 July 1998, COARE-98. Geneva, Switzerland, World Meteorological Organization, WMO/TD 940, pp 165–166

  • Newman M, Sardeshmukh PD, Bergman JW (2000) An assessment of the NCEP, NASA, and ECMWF reanalyses over the tropical west Pacific warm pool. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 81: 41–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordeng TE (1994) Extended versions of the convective parametrization scheme at ECMWF and their impact on the mean and transient activity of the model in the tropics. Tech Mem. 206, ECMWF Research Department, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reading, UK, pp 41

  • Picaut J, Delcroix T (1995) Equatorial wave sequence associated with warm pool displacements during the 1986–1989 El Nino-La Nina. J Geophys Res 100: 18,393–18,408

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds RW, Smith TM (1994) Improved global sea surface temperature analysis using optimum interpolation. J Clim 7: 929–948

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeckner E, Arpe K, Bengtsson L, Christoph M, Claussen M, Dümenil L, Esch M, Giorgetta M, Schlese U, Schulzweida U (1996a) The atmospheric general circulation model ECHAM4: model description and simulation of present-day climate. Report 218, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany, pp 90

  • Roeckner E, Oberhuber JM, Bacher A, Christoph M, Kirchner I (1996b) ENSO variability and atmospheric response in a global coupled atmosphere-ocean GCM. Clim Dyn 12: 737–754

    Google Scholar 

  • Rui H, Wang B (1990) Development characteristics and dynamic structure of tropical intraseasonal convection anomalies. J Atmos Sci 47: 357–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Salby ML, Hendon HH (1994) Intraseasonal behavior of clouds, temperature, and motion in the tropics. J Atmos Sci 51: 2207–2224

    Google Scholar 

  • Slingo JM, Rowell DP, Sperber KR, Nortley F (1999) On the predictability of the interannual behaviour of the Madden-Julian oscillation and its relationship with El Niño. Q J R Meteorol Soc 125: 583–609

    Google Scholar 

  • Slingo JM, Sperber KR, Boyle JS, Ceron JP, Dix M, Dugas B, Ebisuzaki W, Fyfe J, Gregory D, Gueremy JF, Hack J, Harzallah A, Inness P, Kitoh A, Lau WKM, McAvaney B, Madden R, Matthews A, Palmer TN, Park CK, Randall D, Renno N (1996) Intraseasonal oscillations in 15 atmospheric general circulation models: results from an AMIP diagnostic subproject. Clim Dyn 12: 325–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Sperber KR, Slingo JM, Inness PM, Lau WKM (1997) On the maintenance and initiation of the intraseasonal oscillation in the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and the GLA and UKMO AMIP simulations. Clim Dyn 13: 769–795

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiedtke M (1989) A comprehensive mass flux scheme for cumulus parametrization in large scale models. Mon Weather Rev 117: 1779–1800

    Google Scholar 

  • van Oldenborgh GJ (2000) What caused the 1997–1998 El Niño? Mon Weather Rev 128: 2601–2607

    Google Scholar 

  • von Storch H, Bruns T, Fischer-Bruns I, Hasselmann K (1988) Principal oscillation pattern analysis of the 30- to 60-day oscillation in general circulation model equatorial troposphere. J Geophys Res 93: 11,022–11,036

    Google Scholar 

  • von Storch H, Bürger G, Schnur R, von Storch J (1995) Principal oscillation patterns: a review. J Clim 8: 377–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Waliser DE, Lau KM, Kim JH (1999) The influence of coupled sea surface temperatures on the Madden-Julian oscillation: a model perturbation experiment. J Atmos Sci 56: 333–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Rui H (1990) Synoptic climatology of transient tropical intraseasonal convection anomalies. Meteorol Atmos Phys 44: 43–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Xie X (1998) Coupled modes of the warm pool climate system. Part I: the role of air-sea interaction in maintaining Madden-Julian oscillation. J Clim 11: 2116–2133

    Google Scholar 

  • Weickmann KM, Kiladis GN, Sardeshmukh PD (1997) The dynamics of intraseasonal atmospheric angular momentum oscillations. J Atmos Sci 54: 1445–1461

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C (1997) Intraseasonal variability of the upper-ocean thermal structure observed at 0 degrees and 165 degrees E. J Clim 10: 3077–3092

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Hendon HH (1997) Propagating and standing components of the intraseasonal oscillation in tropical convection. J Atmos Sci 54: 741–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Hendon HH, Kessler WS, Rosati AJ (2001) Meeting summary: a workshop on the MJO and ENSO. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 82: 971–976

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Silvio Gualdi, Pete M. Inness, Duane E. Waliser and the staff at the Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology and the State University of New York at Stony Brook for helpful comments and discussions. The ECMWF made the radiosonde measurements at Singapore airport available as part of the MARS dataset. The ECMWF reanalysis data were supplied by the European Centre for Medium range Weather Forecast in cooperation with the German Climate Computing Center (DKRZ). The NCEP reanalysis and the NOAA data were kindly provided by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). Partial support for this study was provided by NOAA under grant NA16GP2021.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000, USA

    S. Liess

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg, Germany

    S. Liess, L. Bengtsson & K. Arpe

Authors
  1. S. Liess
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Bengtsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Arpe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Liess.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liess, S., Bengtsson, L. & Arpe, K. The intraseasonal oscillation in ECHAM4 Part I: coupled to a comprehensive ocean model. Climate Dynamics 22, 653–669 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-004-0406-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-004-0406-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation