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A Positive Feedback Onto ENSO Due to Tropical Instability Wave (TIW)‐Induced Chlorophyll Effects in the Pacific
Author(s) -
Tian Feng,
Zhang RongHua,
Wang Xiujun
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1029/2018gl081275
Subject(s) - el niño southern oscillation , instability , zonal and meridional , climatology , la niña , environmental science , chlorophyll , amplitude , chlorophyll a , oscillation (cell signaling) , atmospheric sciences , physics , chemistry , geology , biology , horticulture , optics , botany , biochemistry , mechanics
Tropical instability waves (TIWs) induce large physical and biological perturbations, which have a feedback onto the tropical Pacific climate and ecosystem. However, the extent to which TIW‐induced chlorophyll perturbations ( Chl TIW ) can influence El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains unknown. Here we used a hybrid‐coupled model to investigate the Chl TIW effect on ENSO. Two experiments are conducted, one with the Chl TIW effect being represented in the control run (CTRL) and other with the Chl TIW effect being purposely excluded by filtering out Chl TIW signals (FILT). Results show that the amplitude of ENSO is increased by 27% in CTRL compared to FILT. Chl TIW tends to modulate the penetrative solar radiation in the upper ocean, acting to weaken the intensity of TIWs. Then, the weakened TIWs lead to a reduction in the equatorward meridional heat transport and consequently less warming effect on the cold tongue. Therefore, La Niña conditions tend to be intensified, and ENSO amplitude is increased.