Time–Frequency Variability of ENSO and Stochastic Simulations

The Impact of ENSO on Atmospheric Intraseasonal Variability as Inferred from Observations and GCM Simulations

The impact of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the atmospheric intraseasonal variability in the North Pacific is assessed, with emphasis on how ENSO modulates midlatitude circulation anomalies associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) in the Tropics and the westward-traveling patterns (WTP) in high latitudes. The database for this study consists of the output of a general ci...

Decadal Variability in ENSO Predictability and Prediction

A simple coupled model is used to examine decadal variations in El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) prediction skill and predictability. Without any external forcing, the coupled model produces regular ENSO-like variability with a 5-yr period. Superimposed on the 5-yr oscillation is a relatively weak decadal amplitude modulation with a 20-yr period. External uncoupled atmospheric ‘‘weather nois...

Stochastic Scenario for ENSO Irregularity

Stochastic theories for the irregularity of ENSO.

The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is the dominant climatic fluctuation on interannual time scales. It is an irregular oscillation with a distinctive broadband spectrum. In this article, we discuss recent theories that seek to explain this irregularity. Particular attention is paid to explanations that involve the stochastic forcing of the slow ocean modes by fast atmospheric tr...

ENSO-like Interdecadal Variability: 1900–93

A number of recent studies have reported an ENSO-like EOF mode in the global sea surface temperature (SST) field, whose time variability is marked by an abrupt change toward a warmer tropical eastern Pacific and a colder extratropical central North Pacific in 1976–77. The present study compares this pattern with the structure of the interannual variability associated with the ENSO cycle and doc...