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Hypothesized mechanism for stratospheric QBO influence on ENSO variability
Author(s) -
Gray William M.,
Sheaffer John D.,
Knaff John A.
Publication year - 1992
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 - 10.1029/91gl02950
Subject(s) - climatology , stratosphere , deep convection , quasi biennial oscillation , el niño southern oscillation , environmental science , convection , trade wind , general circulation model , atmospheric sciences , western hemisphere warm pool , geology , climate change , oceanography , meteorology , geography
A hypothetical mechanism is described whereby the QBO of zonal winds in the lower tropical stratosphere alters the distribution of intense deep convective activity throughout the tropical West Pacific. In conjunction with the annual cycle and the buildup of heat in the West Pacific warm pool, these QBO‐linked variations of deep convection cause variations in the Central Pacific trade winds and Walker circulation which in turn govern the occurrence of ENSO events in the tropical Pacific. Although some details of the hypothetical mechanism are tentative, empirical results present a compelling argument for the stratospheric QBO to at least partly regulate ENSO variability.