Tuesday, 16 January 2001
In this paper the atmospheric response to the tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST)
anomalies following the ENSO cycle is analyzed. This analysis differs from the traditional
composite or regression analysis where the atmospheric response to simultaneous SST
anomalies is documented. The present analysis, in principle, can capture atmospheric
anomalies related to ENSO which may persist after the tropical Pacific SST state had
weakened. From the analysis of observational data for the 1950-1996 period we show that
for the summer following the peak of SST anomalies in the boreal winter, the atmospheric
response persists well beyond what could be inferred from the analysis of simultaneous
response to SST anomalies alone. This is particularly evident for the upper level
atmospheric height anomalies in the tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. For example, the
upper level heights continue to stay above normal, well after the tropical Pacific SST
anomalies start to return to normal. Different possible causes for this delayed response to
ENSO are also discussed
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