Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America

Abstract The hydrological cycle in South America during austral summer, including extreme precipitation and floods, is significantly influenced by northerly low-level jets (LLJs) along the eastern Andes. These synoptic weather events have been associated with three different types of LLJs (Central,...

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Main Authors: Ye Mu, Charles Jones, Leila M. V. Carvalho, Lulin Xue, Changhai Liu, Qinghua Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00852-6
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author Ye Mu
Charles Jones
Leila M. V. Carvalho
Lulin Xue
Changhai Liu
Qinghua Ding
author_facet Ye Mu
Charles Jones
Leila M. V. Carvalho
Lulin Xue
Changhai Liu
Qinghua Ding
author_sort Ye Mu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The hydrological cycle in South America during austral summer, including extreme precipitation and floods, is significantly influenced by northerly low-level jets (LLJs) along the eastern Andes. These synoptic weather events have been associated with three different types of LLJs (Central, Northern, and Andes) and are sensitive to remote large-scale forcings. This study investigates how tropical forcings related to El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) regulate the duration and frequency of each LLJ type and their impacts on extreme precipitation. Our analysis reveals that ENSO and PDO are important in driving the variability of LLJs over the past 65 years. Specifically, the Central LLJ type is more prevalent during El Niño and Warm/Neutral PDO phases, leading to heightened extreme precipitation in southern South America. Conversely, La Niña years during Cold PDO phases tend to favor the Northern and Andes LLJs, which are associated with increased precipitation extremes in the western Amazon and southeastern South America. Central and Andes LLJs tend to persist longer during these favored conditions, causing more pronounced precipitation events in the areas under their influence. This study enhances our understanding of the influence of large-scale atmospheric forcings on the regional precipitation dynamics in South America.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2397-3722
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-9ba8d4b08e1c4d71b41e3b0851014d062025-08-20T02:20:38ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222024-12-017111210.1038/s41612-024-00852-6Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South AmericaYe Mu0Charles Jones1Leila M. V. Carvalho2Lulin Xue3Changhai Liu4Qinghua Ding5Department of Geography, University of California Santa BarbaraDepartment of Geography, University of California Santa BarbaraDepartment of Geography, University of California Santa BarbaraNSF National Center for Atmospheric ResearchNSF National Center for Atmospheric ResearchDepartment of Geography, University of California Santa BarbaraAbstract The hydrological cycle in South America during austral summer, including extreme precipitation and floods, is significantly influenced by northerly low-level jets (LLJs) along the eastern Andes. These synoptic weather events have been associated with three different types of LLJs (Central, Northern, and Andes) and are sensitive to remote large-scale forcings. This study investigates how tropical forcings related to El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) regulate the duration and frequency of each LLJ type and their impacts on extreme precipitation. Our analysis reveals that ENSO and PDO are important in driving the variability of LLJs over the past 65 years. Specifically, the Central LLJ type is more prevalent during El Niño and Warm/Neutral PDO phases, leading to heightened extreme precipitation in southern South America. Conversely, La Niña years during Cold PDO phases tend to favor the Northern and Andes LLJs, which are associated with increased precipitation extremes in the western Amazon and southeastern South America. Central and Andes LLJs tend to persist longer during these favored conditions, causing more pronounced precipitation events in the areas under their influence. This study enhances our understanding of the influence of large-scale atmospheric forcings on the regional precipitation dynamics in South America.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00852-6
spellingShingle Ye Mu
Charles Jones
Leila M. V. Carvalho
Lulin Xue
Changhai Liu
Qinghua Ding
Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
title Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America
title_full Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America
title_fullStr Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America
title_full_unstemmed Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America
title_short Pacific decadal oscillation and ENSO forcings of northerly low-level jets in South America
title_sort pacific decadal oscillation and enso forcings of northerly low level jets in south america
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00852-6
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