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On the effect of ENSO precipitation anomalies in a global ocean GCM

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Abstract

An ocean general circulation model is used to study the influence of positive precipitation anomalies associated with El Nino and La Nina events. In this idealized model, the precipitation over the appropriate part of the equatorial Indo-Pacific region is doubled for one year. At the surface, salinity anomalies of up to −0.9 parts per thousand result from this anomalous precipitation. Perturbation surface currents ranging from 10–100% of the climatological values are induced in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. A return flow is found beneath the thermocline with upwelling (downwelling) in (outside) the region of enhanced precipitation. The net effect of the precipitation anomalies is to generate a zonal overturning cell which transports fresher surface water away from the forcing region and replaces it with cooler, more saline water from below.

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  1. C J C Reason

    Present address: Mathematics, Murdoch University, 6150, Murdoch, W.A., Australia

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  1. CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research, P.M.B. I, Mordialloc, 3195, Victoria, Australia

    C J C Reason

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  1. C J C Reason
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Reason, C.J.C. On the effect of ENSO precipitation anomalies in a global ocean GCM. Climate Dynamics 8, 39–47 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209342

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209342

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