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Imprint of the El Niño Modoki on decadal sea level changes
Author(s) -
Behera Swadhin,
Yamagata Toshio
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1029/2010gl045936
Subject(s) - teleconnection , climatology , sea level , oceanography , geology , el niño , sea surface temperature , el niño southern oscillation , medicine , surgery
Decadal variation in sea level is shown to manifest as higher than normal sea level in the central Pacific flanked by lower than normal sea level on either side of the basin during the early 21st century. This abnormal condition is evidently aided by frequent occurrences of El Niño Modoki events and associated wind convergence to the dateline during 2000–2004. The sea level rise in central Pacific succeeded a phase of lower than normal sea level associated with La Niña Modoki events toward the end of 20th century. A correlation analysis confirms the dominant influence of El Niño/La Niña Modoki on the sea level rise in the central Pacific as compared to that of the El Niño/La Niña. This influence can even be seen in remote regions such as the coasts of California and Mauritius through atmospheric teleconnections.