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Tropical cyclones act to intensify El Niño

Author

Listed:
  • Qiuyun Wang

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Jianping Li

    (Ocean University of China and Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Fei-Fei Jin

    (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)

  • Johnny C. L. Chan

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Chunzai Wang

    (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ruiqiang Ding

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Cheng Sun

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Fei Zheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Juan Feng

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Fei Xie

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Yanjie Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fei Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yidan Xu

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TCs), some of the most influential weather events across the globe, are modulated by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, little is known about the feedback of TCs on ENSO. Here, observational and modelling evidence shows that TC activity in the southeastern western North Pacific can affect the Niño-3.4 index 3 months later. Increased TC activity in July–September can significantly contribute to the intensity of ENSO in October–December by weakening the Walker circulation and enhancing eastward-propagating oceanic Kelvin waves in the tropical Pacific. Thus, the greater the accumulated cyclone energy, the stronger (weaker) the El Niño (La Niña). A new physics-based empirical model for ENSO is constructed that significantly outperforms current models in predicting ENSO intensity from July to December and addressing the problem about the target period slippage of ENSO. Results suggest that TCs may provide significant cross-scale feedback to ENSO.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiuyun Wang & Jianping Li & Fei-Fei Jin & Johnny C. L. Chan & Chunzai Wang & Ruiqiang Ding & Cheng Sun & Fei Zheng & Juan Feng & Fei Xie & Yanjie Li & Fei Li & Yidan Xu, 2019. "Tropical cyclones act to intensify El Niño," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11720-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11720-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Liangying Zeng & Yao Ha & Chuanfeng Zhao & Haixia Dai & Yimin Zhu & Yijia Hu & Xiaoyu Zhu & Zhiyuan Ding & Yudi Liu & Zhong Zhong, 2024. "Tropical cyclone activity over western North Pacific favors Arctic sea ice increase," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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