Skip to main content

Simulation of state-dependent high-frequency atmospheric variability associated with ENSO

Climate Dynamics volume 32, pages 635–648 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

High-frequency atmospheric variability depends on the phase of El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Recently, there is increasing evidence that state-dependent high-frequency atmospheric variability significantly modulates ENSO characteristics. Hence, in this study, we examine the model simulations of high-frequency atmospheric variability and, further, its dependency on the El Nino phase, using atmospheric and coupled GCMs (AGCM and CGCM). We use two versions of physical packages here—with and without convective momentum transport (CMT)—in both models. We found that the CMT simulation gives rise to a large climatological zonal wind difference over the Pacific. Also, both the climate models show a significantly improved performance in simulating the state-dependent noise when the CMT parameterization is implemented. We demonstrate that the better simulation of the state-dependent noise results from a better representation of anomalous, as well as climatological, zonal wind. Our further comparisons between the simulations, demonstrates that low-frequency wind is a crucial factor in determining the state-dependency of high-frequency wind variability. Therefore, it is suggested that the so-called state-dependent noise is directly induced by the low-frequency wind anomaly, which is caused by SST associated with ENSO.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

References

  • Bonan GB (1996) A land surface model (LSM version 1.0) for ecological, hydrological, and atmospheric studies: technical description and user’s guide. NCAR Tech. Note NCAR/TN-417 + STR, Natl Cent For Atmos Res, Boulder, Colorado, pp 150

  • Carr MT, Bretherton CS (2001) Convective momentum transport over the tropical Pacific: budget estimates. J Atmos Sci 58:1673–1693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J, Cohen P (1983) Applied multi regression/correlation analysis for behavioral sciences. Lawrence Erlbam Associate, Hillsdale, p 545

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis S, Adler RF, Huffman GJ, Gu G (2004) Westerly wind events and a precipitation in the eastern Indian Ocean as predictors for El Nino: climatology and case study for the 2002–2003 El Nino. J Geophys Res 109:D20104. doi:10.1029/2004JD004663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dima IM, Wallace JM, Kraucunas I (2005) Tropical zonal momentum balance in the NCEP reanalyses. J Atmos Sci 62:2499–2513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duchon C (1979) Lancos filtering in one and two dimensions. J Appl Meteorol 18:1016–1022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenman I, Yu L, Tziperman E (2005) Westerly wind bursts: ENSO’s tail rather than the dog? J Clim 18:5224–5238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fink A, Speth P (1997) Some potential forcing mechanisms of the year-to-year variability of the tropical convection and its intraseasonal (25–70 day) variability. Int J Climatol 17:1513–1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebbie G, Eisenman I, Wittenberg A, Tziperman E (2007) Modulation of westerly wind bursts by sea surface temperature: a semi-stochastic feedback for ENSO. J Atmos Sci (in press)

  • Gregory D, Kershaw R, Inness PM (1997) Parameterization of momentum transport by convection.2. Tests in single-column and general circulation models. Q J R Meteorol Soc 123:1153–1183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutzler DS (1991) Interannual fluctuations of intraseasonal variance of near-equatorial winds. J Geophys Res 96:3173–3185

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison DE, Vecchi GA (1997) Westerly wind events on the tropical Pacific, 1986–95. J Clim 10:3131–3156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helfand HM (1979) Effect of cumulus friction on the simulation of the January Hadley circulation by the Glas model of the general-circulation. J Atmos Sci 36:1827–1843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendon H, Zhang C, Glick J (1999) Interannual variation of the Madden–Julian oscillation during austral summer. J Clim 12:2538–2550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holtslag AAM, Boville BA (1993) Local versus nonlocal boundary layer diffusion in a global climate model. J Clim 6:1825–1842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin F-F, Lin L, Timmermann A, Zhao J (2007) Ensemble-mean dynamics of the ENSO recharge oscillator under state-dependent stochastic forcing. Geophys Res Lett 34:L03807. doi:10.1029/2006GL027372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalnay E et al (1996) The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bull Am Met Soc 77:437–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler W (2001) EOF representations of the Madden–Julian oscillation and its connection with ENSO. J Clim 14:3055–3061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler WS, Kleeman R (2000) Rectification of the Madden–Julian oscillation into the ENSO cycle. J Clim 13:3560–3575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler WS, McPhaden MJ, Weickmann KM (1995) Forcing of intraseasonal Kelvin waves in the equatorial Pacific. J Geophys Res 100:10613–10631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim D, Kug J-S, Kang I-S, Jin F-F, Wittenberg AT (2008) Tropical Pacific impacts of convective momentum transport in the SNU coupled GCM. Clim Dyn. doi:10.1007/s00382-007-0348-4

  • Kug J-S, Kang I-S (2006) Interactive feedback between ENSO and the Indian Ocean. J Clim 19:1784–1801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kug J-S, An S-I, Jin F-F, Kang I-S (2005) Preconditions for El Nino and La Nina onsets and their relation to the Indian Ocean. Geophys Res Lett 32:L05706. doi:10.1029/2004GL021674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kug J-S, Kang I-S, Choi D-H (2008a) Seasonal climate predictability with tier-one and tier-two prediction systems. Clim Dyn. doi:10.1007/s00382-007-0264-7

  • Kug J-S, Jin F-F, Sooraj KP, Kang I-S (2008b) Evidence of the state- dependent atmospheric noise associated with ENSO. Geophys Res Lett 35:L05701. doi:10.1029/2007GL032017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Treut H, Li Z–X (1991) Sensitivity of an atmospheric general circulation model to prescribed SST changes: feedback effects associated with the simulation of cloud optical properties. Clim Dyn 5:175–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee M-I, Kang I-S, Kim J-K, Mapes BE (2001) Influence of cloud-radiation interaction on simulating tropical intraseasonal oscillation with an atmospheric general circulation model. J Geophys Res 106:14219–14233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee M-I, Kang I-S, Mapes BE (2003) Impacts of cumulus convection parameterization on aqua-planet AGCM simulations of tropical intraseasonal variability. J Meteorol Soc Jpn 81:963–992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lengaigne M, Guilyardi E, Boulanger JP, Menkes C, Delecluse P, Inness P, Cole J, Slingo J (2004) Triggering of El Niño by westerly wind events in a coupled general circulation model. Clim Dyn 23:601–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin JL, Zhang MH, Mapes B (2005) Zonal momentum budget of the Madden–Julian oscillation: the source and strength of equivalent linear damping. J Atmos Sci 62:2172–2188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luther DS, Harrison DE, Knox RA (1983) Zonal winds in the central equatorial Pacific and El Niño. Science 222:327–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maloney ED, Hartmann DL (2000) Modulation of Eastern North Pacific hurricanes by the Madden–Julian oscillation. J Clim 13:1451–1460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maloney ED, Hartmann DL (2001) The Madden–Julian oscillation, barotropic dynamics, and north Pacific tropical cyclone formation. Part I: observation. J Atmos Sci 58:2545–2558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPhaden MJ (1999) Genesis and evolution of the 1997–1998 El Niño. Science 283:950–954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore A, Kleeman R (1999) The non-normal nature of El Nino and intraseasonal variability. J Clim 12:2965–2982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima T, Tsukamoto M, Tsushima Y, Numaguti A (1995) Modelling of the radiative processes in an AGCM. In: Matsuno T (ed) Climate system dynamics and modelling, vol I-3. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, pp 104–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Noh Y, Kim HJ (1999) Simulations of temperature and turbulence structure of the oceanic boundary layer with the improved near-surface process. J Geophys Res Oceans 104:15621–15634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Numaguti A, Takahashi M, Nakajima T, Sumi A (1995) Development of an atmospheric general circulation model. In: Matsuno T (ed) Climate system dynamics and modelling, vol I-3. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, pp 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez CL, Moore AM, Zavaly-Garay J, Kleeman R (2005) A comparison of the influence of additive and multiplicative stochastic forcing on a coupled model of ENSO. J Clim 18:5066–5085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perigaud C, Cassou C (2000) Importance of oceanic decadal trends and westerly wind bursts for forecasting El Nino. Geophys Res Lett 27(3):389–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seiki A, Takayabu YN (2007a) Westerly wind bursts and their relationship with intraseasonal variations and ENSO. Part I: statistics. Mon Weather Rev 135:3325–3345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seiki A, Takayabu YN (2007b) Westerly wind bursts and their relationship with intraseasonal variations and ENSO. Part II: energetics over the Western and Central Pacific. Mon Wea Rev 135:3346–3361

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith TM, Reynolds RW (2004) Improved extended reconstruction of SST (1854–1997). J Clim 17:2466–2477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sooraj KP, Kim D, Kug J-S, Yeh S-W, Jin F-F, Kang I-S (2008) Effects of the low frequency zonal wind variation on the high-freqeuncy atmospheric variability over the tropics. Submitted to Clim Dyn

  • Stevens DE (1979) Vorticity, momentum and divergence budgets of synoptic-scale wave disturbances in the tropical eastern Atlantic. Mon Weather Rev 107:535–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson SL, Hartmann DL (1979) Cumulus friction-estimated influence on the tropical mean meridional circulation. J Atmos Sci 36:2022–2026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiedtke M (1983) The sensitivity of the time-mean large-scale flow to cumulus convection in the ECMWF model. Workshop on convection in large-scale numerical models. ECMWF, 28 Nov–1 Dec 1983, pp 297–316

  • Tung WW, Yanai M (2002) Convective momentum transport observed during the TOGA COARE IOP. Part I: general features. J Atmos Sci 59:1857–1871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vecchi GA, Harrison DE (2000) Tropical Pacific sea surface temprature anomalies, El Niñ0 and equatorial westerly events. J Clim 13:1814–1830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Xie X (1996) Low-frequency equatorial waves in vertically sheared zonal flow. Part I: stable waves. J Atmos Sci 53:449–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisberg RH, Wang C (1997) Slow variability in the equatorial west-central Pacific in relation to ENSO. J Clim 10:1998–2017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler M, Kiladis GN (1999) Convectively-coupled equatorial waves: analysis of clouds and temperature in the wavenumber-frequency domain. J Atmos Sci 56:374–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu XQ, Yanai M (1994) Effects of vertical wind shear on the cumulus transport of momentum—observations and parameterization. J Atmos Sci 51:1640–1660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu XQ, Liang XZ, Zhang GJ (2003) Seasonal migration of ITCZ precipitation across the equator: why can’t GCMs simulate it? Geophys Res Lett 30(15):1824. doi:10.1029/2003GL017198, 2003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu XQ, Deng L, Song X, Zhang GJ (2007) Coupling of convective momentum transport with convective heating in global climate simulations. J Atmos Sci 64:1334–1349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zavala-Garay J, Zhang C, Moore A, Kleeman R (2005) The linear response of ENSO to the Madden–Julian oscillation. J Clim 18:2441–2459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Gottschalk J (2002) SST anomalies of ENSO and the Madden–Julian oscillation in the equatorial Pacific. J Clim 15:2429–2445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang GJ, Mcfarlane NA (1995) Role of convective scale momentum transport in climate simulation. J Geophys Res 100:1417–1426

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was mostly done when J.-S. Kug visited CCSR during the summer in 2007. This work was supported by the Korea Meteorological Administration Research and Development Program under Grant CATER_2006-4206 and the second stage of the Brain Korea 21 Project. F.-F. Jin was partly supported by NSF grants ATM-0652145 and ATM-0650552 and NOAA grants GC01-229. M. Kimoto was supported by the Innovative Program of Climate Change Projection for the 21st Century (KAKUSHIN program) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) in Japan. Y. Takayabu is partially supported by the Global Environment Research Fund (S-5-2) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climate Environment System Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea

    Jong-Seong Kug, K. P. Sooraj, Daehyun Kim & In-Sik Kang

  2. Department of Meteorology, SOEST, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Fei-Fei Jin

  3. Center for Climate System Research (CCSR), University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Yukari N. Takayabu & Masahide Kimoto

Authors
  1. Jong-Seong Kug
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. P. Sooraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daehyun Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. In-Sik Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fei-Fei Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yukari N. Takayabu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Masahide Kimoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jong-Seong Kug.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kug, JS., Sooraj, K.P., Kim, D. et al. Simulation of state-dependent high-frequency atmospheric variability associated with ENSO. Clim Dyn 32, 635–648 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0434-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0434-2

Keywords

  • ENSO
  • High-frequency variability
  • ENSO/MJO interaction
  • Scale interaction