Variations in the Flow of the Global Atmosphere Associated with a Composite Convectively Coupled Oceanic Kelvin Wave

Kelvin waves in the Pacific Ocean occasionally develop and propagate eastward together with anomalies of deep convection and low-level westerly wind. This pattern suggests coupling between the oceanic waves and atmospheric convection. A simple composite analysis based on observed coupled events from October through April demonstrates that this apparent coupled mode is associated with significant large anomalies in the global flow that extend to high latitudes. These high-latitude anomalies are significantly larger than those that are linearly associated with the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and they evolve on time scales between those of the Madden–Julian oscillation and ENSO, potentially providing an opportunity for enhanced subseasonal predictability in the flow of the global atmosphere.