Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific
Abstract A time‐series analysis of Easterly Wave (EW) activity, based on dynamical and convective variance measures, was carried out over the tropical northeastern Pacific (EPAC). A significant interdecadal change in EW‐activity was identified shifting from reduced activity in 1980–1997, to increase...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099090 |
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| author | V. M. Torres C. D. Thorncroft |
| author_facet | V. M. Torres C. D. Thorncroft |
| author_sort | V. M. Torres |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A time‐series analysis of Easterly Wave (EW) activity, based on dynamical and convective variance measures, was carried out over the tropical northeastern Pacific (EPAC). A significant interdecadal change in EW‐activity was identified shifting from reduced activity in 1980–1997, to increased activity during 1998–2015. The changes in EW‐activity are modulated on interdecadal timescales by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). EW‐activity is increased when there is a positive AMO index and, to a lesser extent, a negative PDO index. The opposite occurred with a negative AMO index and positive PDO index. This relationship can be understood in terms of how the AMO and PDO impact sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the EPAC. Warmer SSTs tend to be associated with more EW‐related convection and associated vorticity generation in the EW troughs and vice versa. These results suggest potential predictability of EW‐activity in the EPAC on interdecadal timescales. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-51d38d621ec74e9d8f93bea6ea2973bd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-51d38d621ec74e9d8f93bea6ea2973bd2025-08-20T03:10:20ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072022-08-014915n/an/a10.1029/2022GL099090Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern PacificV. M. Torres0C. D. Thorncroft1Atmospheric Sciences Research Center University at Albany State University of New York Albany NY USAAtmospheric Sciences Research Center University at Albany State University of New York Albany NY USAAbstract A time‐series analysis of Easterly Wave (EW) activity, based on dynamical and convective variance measures, was carried out over the tropical northeastern Pacific (EPAC). A significant interdecadal change in EW‐activity was identified shifting from reduced activity in 1980–1997, to increased activity during 1998–2015. The changes in EW‐activity are modulated on interdecadal timescales by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). EW‐activity is increased when there is a positive AMO index and, to a lesser extent, a negative PDO index. The opposite occurred with a negative AMO index and positive PDO index. This relationship can be understood in terms of how the AMO and PDO impact sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the EPAC. Warmer SSTs tend to be associated with more EW‐related convection and associated vorticity generation in the EW troughs and vice versa. These results suggest potential predictability of EW‐activity in the EPAC on interdecadal timescales.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099090Easterly Waveseastern Pacificinterdecadal variabilityWestern Hemisphere Warm PoolAtlantic Multidecadal OscillationPacific Decadal Oscillation |
| spellingShingle | V. M. Torres C. D. Thorncroft Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific Geophysical Research Letters Easterly Waves eastern Pacific interdecadal variability Western Hemisphere Warm Pool Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation Pacific Decadal Oscillation |
| title | Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific |
| title_full | Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific |
| title_fullStr | Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific |
| title_short | Interdecadal Variability of Easterly Waves Over the Tropical Northeastern Pacific |
| title_sort | interdecadal variability of easterly waves over the tropical northeastern pacific |
| topic | Easterly Waves eastern Pacific interdecadal variability Western Hemisphere Warm Pool Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation Pacific Decadal Oscillation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099090 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vmtorres interdecadalvariabilityofeasterlywavesoverthetropicalnortheasternpacific AT cdthorncroft interdecadalvariabilityofeasterlywavesoverthetropicalnortheasternpacific |