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Strong El Niño events and nonlinear dynamical heating
Author(s) -
Jin FeiFei,
An SoonIl,
Timmermann Axel,
Zhao Jingxia
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl016356
Subject(s) - climatology , climate change , pacific ocean , environmental science , nonlinear system , asymmetry , oceanography , indian ocean , tropical cyclone , atmospheric sciences , geology , physics , quantum mechanics
We present evidence showing that the nonlinear dynamic heating (NDH) in the tropical Pacific ocean heat budget is essential in the generation of intense El Niño events as well as the observed asymmetry between El Niño (warm) and La Niña (cold) events. The increase in NDH associated with the enhanced El Niño activity had an influence on the recent tropical Pacific warming trend and it might provide a positive feedback mechanism for climate change in the tropical Pacific.