The Walker Circulation and the MJO Skeleton: Comparison of Model and Observations

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) skeleton model has been shown to capture the primary intraseasonal/planetary scale features of the MJO. In this study we will present a comparison of the skeleton model with NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data to determine how well the model reproduces the climatological mean state of the tropics. The model mean state is found using time-averaged outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data which has been projected onto the meridional basis functions. The projected data serves as a proxy for convective activity in the MJO skeleton model and is used to predict MJO skeleton model steady-state zonal winds and the Walker circulation. In addition, the linear modes of the skeleton model are explored in the presence of a zonally-varying mean state. These linear modes show convective activity centered over the warm pool.