Impact of quasi-decadal variability in the tropical Pacific on ENSO modulations

Takuya Hasegawa, Kimio Hanawa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The impact of quasi-decadal (QD: 8 to 18 years) variability in the tropical Pacific on ENSO events is investigated. It is found that there is a significant difference in the behavior of ENSO events between the phases of positive and negative anomalies of the QD Niño-3.4 index. During the period of negative QD-scale Niño-3.4 index, ENSO events, especially La Niña events, occur more frequently, and larger amplitudes of thermal anomalies related to El Niño events appear over the central to eastern equatorial Pacific. Furthermore, propagations of upper ocean heat content anomaly and a phase relationship between upper ocean heat content and Niño-3 index in the equatorial Pacific, which have been pointed out by previous studies, are clearly detected during the period of negative QD Niño-3.4 index.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-234
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Oceanography
Volume62
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006 Apr
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ENSO modulation
  • Quasi-decadal variation
  • Upper ocean heat content

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography

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