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Tropical explosive volcanic eruptions can trigger El Niño by cooling tropical Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Myriam Khodri

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

  • Takeshi Izumo

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
    IISc-NIO-IITM-IRD Joint International Laboratory, NIO)

  • Jérôme Vialard

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

  • Serge Janicot

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

  • Christophe Cassou

    (CECI, CNRS, Cerfacs, Université de Toulouse)

  • Matthieu Lengaigne

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
    IISc-NIO-IITM-IRD Joint International Laboratory, NIO)

  • Juliette Mignot

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

  • Guillaume Gastineau

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

  • Eric Guilyardi

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
    University of Reading)

  • Nicolas Lebas

    (Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

  • Alan Robock

    (Rutgers University)

  • Michael J. McPhaden

    (NOAA)

Abstract

Stratospheric aerosols from large tropical explosive volcanic eruptions backscatter shortwave radiation and reduce the global mean surface temperature. Observations suggest that they also favour an El Niño within 2 years following the eruption. Modelling studies have, however, so far reached no consensus on either the sign or physical mechanism of El Niño response to volcanism. Here we show that an El Niño tends to peak during the year following large eruptions in simulations of the Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Targeted climate model simulations further emphasize that Pinatubo-like eruptions tend to shorten La Niñas, lengthen El Niños and induce anomalous warming when occurring during neutral states. Volcanically induced cooling in tropical Africa weakens the West African monsoon, and the resulting atmospheric Kelvin wave drives equatorial westerly wind anomalies over the western Pacific. This wind anomaly is further amplified by air–sea interactions in the Pacific, favouring an El Niño-like response.

Suggested Citation

  • Myriam Khodri & Takeshi Izumo & Jérôme Vialard & Serge Janicot & Christophe Cassou & Matthieu Lengaigne & Juliette Mignot & Guillaume Gastineau & Eric Guilyardi & Nicolas Lebas & Alan Robock & Michael, 2017. "Tropical explosive volcanic eruptions can trigger El Niño by cooling tropical Africa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00755-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00755-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Feng Zhu & Julien Emile-Geay & Kevin J. Anchukaitis & Gregory J. Hakim & Andrew T. Wittenberg & Mariano S. Morales & Matthew Toohey & Jonathan King, 2022. "A re-appraisal of the ENSO response to volcanism with paleoclimate data assimilation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Fei Liu & Chaochao Gao & Jing Chai & Alan Robock & Bin Wang & Jinbao Li & Xu Zhang & Gang Huang & Wenjie Dong, 2022. "Tropical volcanism enhanced the East Asian summer monsoon during the last millennium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.

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