A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations

Abstract Despite advances in climate modeling, simulating the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains challenging due to its spatiotemporal diversity and complexity. To address this, we build upon existing model hierarchies to develop a new unified modeling platform, which provides practical, sc...

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Main Authors: Jinyu Wang, Xianghui Fang, Nan Chen, Bo Qin, Mu Mu, Chaopeng Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01164-z
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author Jinyu Wang
Xianghui Fang
Nan Chen
Bo Qin
Mu Mu
Chaopeng Ji
author_facet Jinyu Wang
Xianghui Fang
Nan Chen
Bo Qin
Mu Mu
Chaopeng Ji
author_sort Jinyu Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite advances in climate modeling, simulating the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains challenging due to its spatiotemporal diversity and complexity. To address this, we build upon existing model hierarchies to develop a new unified modeling platform, which provides practical, scalable, and accurate tools for advancing ENSO research. Within this framework, we introduce a dual-core ENSO model (DCM) that integrates two widely used ENSO modeling approaches: a linear stochastic model confined to the equator and a nonlinear intermediate model extending off-equator. The stochastic model ensures computational efficiency and statistical accuracy. It captures essential ENSO characteristics and reproduces the observed non-Gaussian statistics. Meanwhile, the nonlinear model assimilates pseudo-observations from the stochastic model while resolving key air-sea interactions, such as oceanic feedback balances and spatial patterns of sea surface temperature anomalies during El Niño peaks. The DCM effectively captures the realistic dynamical and statistical features of the ENSO diversity and complexity. The computational efficiency of the DCM also facilitates a rapid generation of extended ENSO datasets, overcoming observational limitations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2397-3722
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
spelling doaj-art-84f66d31d95f46a5afb137e1b609e6ec2025-08-20T03:42:27ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222025-07-018111210.1038/s41612-025-01164-zA dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulationsJinyu Wang0Xianghui Fang1Nan Chen2Bo Qin3Mu Mu4Chaopeng Ji5Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan UniversityAbstract Despite advances in climate modeling, simulating the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains challenging due to its spatiotemporal diversity and complexity. To address this, we build upon existing model hierarchies to develop a new unified modeling platform, which provides practical, scalable, and accurate tools for advancing ENSO research. Within this framework, we introduce a dual-core ENSO model (DCM) that integrates two widely used ENSO modeling approaches: a linear stochastic model confined to the equator and a nonlinear intermediate model extending off-equator. The stochastic model ensures computational efficiency and statistical accuracy. It captures essential ENSO characteristics and reproduces the observed non-Gaussian statistics. Meanwhile, the nonlinear model assimilates pseudo-observations from the stochastic model while resolving key air-sea interactions, such as oceanic feedback balances and spatial patterns of sea surface temperature anomalies during El Niño peaks. The DCM effectively captures the realistic dynamical and statistical features of the ENSO diversity and complexity. The computational efficiency of the DCM also facilitates a rapid generation of extended ENSO datasets, overcoming observational limitations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01164-z
spellingShingle Jinyu Wang
Xianghui Fang
Nan Chen
Bo Qin
Mu Mu
Chaopeng Ji
A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
title A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
title_full A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
title_fullStr A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
title_full_unstemmed A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
title_short A dual-core model for ENSO diversity: unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
title_sort dual core model for enso diversity unifying model hierarchies for realistic simulations
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-01164-z
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