25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology

Friday, 3 May 2002: 12:15 PM
Variability of MJO Associated with ENSO and the QBO
John D. Sheaffer, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO
Variability of the MJO, as expressed by the amplitude of 30-60 day oscillations of surface pressure values in the tropical west Pacific, is examined for long-term trends and sensitivity to broad scale climate features including the QBO and ENSO, among others. QBU stratified data (ie., 30-60 day power) show a robust tendency for sharply stronger amplitudes for November through February during the east phase and for a March through May maximum during the west phase. ENSO stratified oscillations show robust El Nino linked enhancements concentrated in 45-60 day frequencies during September to November whereas La Nina data tend to become stronger in 30-45 day frequencies during December to March. The QBO linked variations are consistent with the effects of previously suggested mechanisms for QBO-troposphere interactions whereas the ENSO linked differences, though robust in time at any location, show a more complex spatial variability.

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