Open AccessPredictability of the California Niño/Niña*
Author(s) -
Takeshi Doi,
Chaoxia Yuan,
Swadhin K. Behera,
Toshio Yamagata
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of climate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.315
H-Index - 287
eISSN - 1520-0442
pISSN - 0894-8755
DOI - 10.1175/jcli-d-15-0112.1
Subject(s) - predictability , climatology , environmental science , boreal , climate model , atmosphere (unit) , submarine pipeline , mode (computer interface) , structural basin , scale (ratio) , sea surface temperature , climate change , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , oceanography , geology , geography , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , operating system , cartography
Predictability of a recently discovered regional coupled climate mode called the California Niño (Niña) off Baja California and California is explored using a seasonal prediction system based on the Scale Interaction Experiment-Frontier, version 1 (SINTEX-F1) coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation model. Because of the skillful prediction of basin-scale El Niño (La Niña), the California Niño (Niña) that co-occurs with El Niño (La Niña) with a peak in boreal winter is found to be predictable at least a couple of seasons ahead. On the other hand, the regional coupled phenomenon peaking in boreal summer without co-occurrence with El Niño (La Niña) is difficult to predict. The difficulty in predicting such an intrinsic regional climate phenomenon may be due to model deficiency in resolving the regional air–sea–land positive feedback processes. The model may also underestimate coastal Kelvin waves with a small offshore scale, which may play an important role in the generation of the California Niño/Niña. It may be improved by increasing horizontal resolution of the ocean component of the coupled model. The present study may provide a guideline to improve seasonal prediction of regional climate modes for important industrial as well as social applications.