Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial distribution and the interdecadal change of leading modes of heat budget of the mixed-layer in the tropical Pacific and the association with ENSO

  • Published:
Climate Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using heat budget diagnosis of ocean mixed layer from the Global Ocean Data Assimilation System, the spatial distribution of the leading modes of the heat budget was examined. The analysis was for the tropical Pacific in 1979–2013 and was based on combined empirical orthogonal function (CEOF) analysis. The interdecadal changes of the leading modes and their associations with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) were also analyzed. The first leading CEOF mode (CEOF1) corresponds to the ENSO mature phase. The contribution from the zonal advection was relatively small along the equator, except the region near the Pacific coast of Central America. The vertical entrainment and diffusion (surface heat flux) had pronounced maxima with positive (negative) values along the equatorial central and eastern Pacific. The meridional advection displayed a different spatial pattern with large positive values on both sides of the equator and smaller values along the equator. The total meridional advection anomaly was mainly determined by advection of anomalous temperature by climatological current responsible for broadening of the ENSO SSTA pattern meridionally. The zonal advection varied almost simultaneously with the tendency of ocean temperature anomaly in the mixed layer. The second leading CEOF mode (CEOF2) included contribution to SSTA tendency during the ENSO developing phase. The distribution pattern and amplitude of the zonal advection in the eastern Pacific in CEOF2 was similar to but with opposite sign to that in CEOF1. The amplitudes of the other dynamical and thermodynamical terms were smaller than that in CEOF1 and spatial distributions displayed an opposite variation between the Pacific coast of Central America and central and eastern tropical Pacific in CEOF2. A comparison of two periods (1979–1999 and 2000–2013) suggested that coupling in the tropical Pacific weakened at ENSO time scales and shifted to a relatively higher frequency regime (from 2 to 4 years averaged in 1979–1999 to 1.5–3 years) after 2000.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnston AG, Chelliah M, Goldenberg SB (1997) Documentation of a highly ENSO-related SST region in the equatorial Pacific. Atmos Ocean 35:367–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battisti DS, Hirst AC (1989) Interannual variability in a tropical atmosphere-ocean model: influence of the basic state, ocean geometry and nonlinearity. J Atmos Sci 46:1687–1712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bay T, Dommenget D (2014) Comparing the spatial structure of variability in two datasets against each other on the basis of EOF-modes. Clim Dyn 42:1631–1648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behringer DW (2005) The global ocean data assimilation system (GODAS) at NCEP, 11th Symposium on Integrated Observing and Assimilation Systems for the Atmosphere, Oceans, and Land Surface (IOAS-AOLS), San Antonio, TX, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 3.3 [Available online at https://ams.confex.com/ams/87ANNUAL/webprogram/11IOAS.html]

  • Behringer DW, Xue Y (2004) Evaluation of the global ocean data assimilation system at NCEP: the Pacific Ocean. Preprints, Eighth Symp. on Integrated Observing and Assimilation Systems for Atmosphere, Oceans, and Land Surface, Seattle, WA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 2.3 [Available online at http://ams.confex.com/ams/84Annual/techprogram/paper_70720.htm]

  • Bjerknes J (1969) Atmospheric teleconnections from the equatorial Pacific. Mon Weather Rev 97:163–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke AJ (2010) Analytical theory for the quasi-steady and low-frequency equatorial ocean response to wind forcing: the ‘tilt’ and ‘warm water volume’ modes. J Phys Ocean 40(1):121–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dommenget D, Latif M (2002) A cautionary note on the interpretation of EOFs. J Climate 15:216–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glantz MH (2000) Currents of change: impacts of El Niño and La Niña on climate and society. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, p 266. ISBN 052178672X

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z-Z, Nitta T (1996) Wavelet analysis of summer rainfall over North China and India and SOI using 1891–1992 data. J Meteorol Soc Jpn 74(6):833–844

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z-Z, Kumar A, Jha B, Wang W, Huang B, Huang B (2012) An analysis of warm pool and cold tongue El Niños: air-sea coupling processes, global influences, and recent trends. Climate Dyn 38(9–10):2017–2035. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1224-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z-Z, Kumar A, Ren H-L, Wang H, L’Heureux M, Jin F-F (2013a) Weakened interannual variability in the tropical Pacific Ocean since 2000. J Climate 26(8):2601–2613. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00265.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z-Z, Kumar A, Huang B, Zhu J (2013b) Leading modes of upper ocean temperature interannual variability along the equatorial Atlantic Ocean in NCEP GODAS. J Climate 26(13):4649–4663. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00629.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Schneider EK (1995) The response of an ocean general circulation model to surface wind stress produced by an atmospheric general circulation model. Mon Weather Rev 123:3059–3085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Xue Y, Zhang D, Kumar A, McPhaden MJ (2010) The NCEP GODAS ocean analysis of the tropical Pacific mixed layer heat budget on seasonal to interannual time scales. J Climate 23:4901–4925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Xue Y, Wang H, Wang W, Kumar A (2012) Mixed layer heat budget of the El Niño in NCEP climate forecast system. Climate Dyn 39(1–2):365–381. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1111-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin F-F (1997a) An equatorial ocean recharge paradigm for ENSO. Part I: conceptual model. J Atmos Sci 54:811–829

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin F-F (1997b) An equatorial ocean recharge paradigm for ENSO. Part II: a stripped-down coupled model. J Atmos Sci 54:830–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanamitsu M et al (2002) NCEP-DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis (R-2). Bull Am Met Soc 83:1631–1643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang I-S, An S-I, Jin F-F (2001) A systematic approximation of the SST anomaly equation for ENSO. J Meteorol Soc Jpn 79:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kao H-Y, Yu J-Y (2009) Contrasting eastern-Pacific and central-Pacific types of ENSO. J Climate 22:615–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kug J-S, Jin F-F, An S-I (2009) Two types of El Niño events: cold tongue El Niño and warm pool El Niño. J Climate 22:1499–1515. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2624.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Hu Z-Z (2014) Interannual and interdecadal variability of ocean temperature along the equatorial Pacific in conjunction with ENSO. Climate Dyn 42(5–6):1243–1258. doi:10.1007/s00382-013-1721-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau N-C, Philander SGH, Nath MJ (1992) Simulation of ENSO-like phenomena with a low-resolution coupled GCM of the global ocean and atmosphere. J Climate 5(4):284–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee T, McPhaden MJ (2010) Increasing intensity of El Niño in the central equatorial Pacific. Geophys Res Lett 37:L14603. doi:10.1029/2010GL044007

    Google Scholar 

  • McPhaden MJ (2012) A 21st century shift in the relationship between ENSO SST and warm water volume anomalies. Geophys Res Lett 39:L09706. doi:10.1029/2012GL051826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meinen CS, McPhaden MJ (2000) Observations of warm water volume changes in the equatorial Pacific and their relationship to El Niño and La Niña. J Climate 13:3551–3559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (2010) Assessment of Intraseasonal to Interannual Climate Prediction and Predictability. The National Academies Press, Washington, p 192. ISBN 0-309-15183-X

    Google Scholar 

  • North GR, Bell TL, Cahalan RF, Moeng FJ (1982) Sampling errors in the estimation of empirical orthogonal functions. Mon Weather Rev 110:699–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picaut J, Masia F, du Penhoat Y (1997) An advective-reflective conceptual model for the oscillatory nature of the ENSO. Science 277:663–666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmusson EM, Carpenter TH (1982) Variation in tropical sea surface temperature and surface wind fields associated with Southern Oscillation/El Niño. Mon Weather Rev 110:354–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds RW, Rayner NA, Smith TM, Stokes DC, Wang W (2002) An improved in situ and satellite SST analysis for climate. J Climate 15:1609–1625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarachik ES, Cane MA (2010) The El Niño-Southern Oscillation Phenomenon. Cambridge University Press, London 384 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schopf PS, Suarez MJ (1987) Vacillations in a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. J Atmos Sci 45:549–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker GT (1923) Correlations in seasonal variations of weather, VIII. A preliminary study of world weather I. Mem India Meteorol Dep 23:75–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C (2001) A unified oscillator model for the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. J Climate 14:98–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Chen M, Kumar A (2010) An assessment of the CFS real-time seasonal forecasts. Weather Forecast 25:950–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen C, Kumar A, Xue Y, McPhaden MJ (2014) Changes in tropical pacific thermocline depth and their relationship to ENSO after 1999. J Climate 27:7230–7249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyrtki K (1975) E1 Niño-the dynamic response of the equatorial Pacific Ocean to atmospheric forcing. J Phys Ocean 5:572–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyrtki K (1985) Water displacements in the Pacific and the genesis of El Niño cycles. J Geophys Res 90(C4):7129–7132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiang B, Wang B, Li T (2013) A new paradigm for the predominance of standing Central Pacific warming after the late 1990s. Climate Dyn 41(2):327–340. doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1427-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh S, Kug J, Dewitte B, Kwon M, Kirtman BP, Jin F-F (2009) El Niño in a changing climate. Nature 461(7263):511–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zebiak SE, Cane MA (1987) A model El Niño/Southern Oscillation. Mon Wea Rev 115:2262–2278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang R-H, Levitus S (1996) Structure and evolution of interannual variability of the tropical Pacific upper ocean temperature. J Geophys Res 101:20501–20524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Kumar A, Xue Y, Wang W, Jin F-F (2007) Analysis of ENSO cycle in NCEP coupled forecast model. J Climate 20:1265–1284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J, Huang B, Balmased MA (2012) An ensemble estimation of the variability of upper-ocean heat content over the tropical Atlantic Ocean with multi-ocean reanalysis products. Climate Dyn 39(3–4):1001–1020. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1189-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We appreciated the insight comments and suggestions from two reviewers, which significantly improve the paper. We discussed with Prof. Fei-Fei Jin during early stage of this work. Bohua Huang is supported by grants from NSF (ATM-0830068), NOAA (NA09OAR4310058), and NASA (NNX09AN50G). The procedure of the heat budget calculation used in this work was developed by Dr. Boyin Huang and is maintained by Dr. C. Wen. The scientific results and conclusions, as well as any view or opinions expressed herein, are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NWS, NOAA, or the Department of Commerce.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climate Prediction Center, NCEP/NWS/NOAA, 5830 University Research Court, College Park, MD, 20740, USA

    Zeng-Zhen Hu & Arun Kumar

  2. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences, College of Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Bohua Huang

  3. Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, 270 Research Hall, Mail Stop 6C5, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Bohua Huang

Authors
  1. Zeng-Zhen Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arun Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bohua Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zeng-Zhen Hu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, ZZ., Kumar, A. & Huang, B. Spatial distribution and the interdecadal change of leading modes of heat budget of the mixed-layer in the tropical Pacific and the association with ENSO. Clim Dyn 46, 1753–1768 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2672-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2672-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation