ENSO Influence on Atlantic ENSO Influence on Atlantic Hurricanes via Tropospheric Hurricanes via Tropospheric Warming Warming Brian Tang* and David Neelin Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics *Current affiliation: MIT Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
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ENSO Influence on Atlantic Hurricanes via Tropospheric Warming
ENSO Influence on Atlantic Hurricanes via Tropospheric Warming. Brian Tang* and David Neelin Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. *Current affiliation: MIT Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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ENSO Influence on Atlantic Hurricanes via ENSO Influence on Atlantic Hurricanes via Tropospheric WarmingTropospheric Warming
Brian Tang* and David NeelinDept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
*Current affiliation: MIT Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
ENSO N Atlantic teleconnection theory
Tropical cyclogenesis and tropical cyclone intensity theory
During an El Nino, wave dynamics spread anomalously warm tropospheric temperatures eastward over the tropical Atlantic. SST is brought into equilibrium with the troposphere after ~4-5 months.
Warmer than normal tropospheric temperatures relative to SST increases the moist static stability of the atmosphere. Tropical cyclogenesis and intensification are hindered.
If prolonged ENSO induced tropospheric temperature anomalies occur over the tropical N Atlantic without being compensated by SSTs, seasonal tropical cyclone frequency and intensity may be impacted.
Time series of DEQ PC and [Jun:Nov] Nino3.4 anomalies
Regression coef for DEQ PC [K/K], Frequency [#storms/K], Intensity [knots/K], & Aug-Oct Nino3.4 [K/K] regressed on a sliding 3 mon averaged Nino3.4 window. 0 lag corresponds to middle of the contemporaneous hurricane season.
Frequency & Intensity show a similar pattern as DEQ PC except inverted. Supports a thermodynamic pathway between ENSO and TC activity over the N Atlantic.
Regression coef for EQ PC [K/K] and Nov.-Jan. Nino3.4 (8.5 month lead) [K/K] regressed on a sliding 3 mon averaged Nino3.4 window.
EQ PC is strongly influenced by ENSO events from the preceding fall/winter. By the time hurricane season rolls around, equilibrium has been reestablished between the sea surface & troposphere.
Gridded seasonal (Jun.-Nov.) tropospheric temperature anomalies regressed on DEQ PC (top) and regressed on May-July Nino3.4 anomalies (2.5 month lead) (bottom). Regression coefficients contoured [K/K] and 90, 95, and 99% significance levels shaded.
Gridded seasonal (Jun.-Nov.) SST anomalies regressed on DEQ PC. Regression coef contoured [K/K] and 90, 95, and 99% significance levels shaded.
Summary
DEQ PC is associated with departures from SST and tropospheric temperature varying in equilibrium & can also be interpreted as an empirical measure of convective instability relative to SST.
DEQ PC has high correlations to N Atlantic TC Frequency and Intensity relative to both NAtlSST and NAtlTT.
DEQ PC is strongly correlated to ENSO through the hurricane season and into the following winter.
Onsetting El Nino events create a disequilibrium state in which NAtlTT is warmer relative to its normal relationship to NAtlSST creating a large scale environment which is less conducive to TC intensification and tropical cyclogenesis.
EQ PC is related to the prior winter ENSO, consistent with equilibrium being reestablished after past ENSO forcing on a time scale of several months.
Tang, B. H., and J. D. Neelin (2004), ENSO Influence on Atlantic hurricanes via tropospheric warming, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L24204, doi:10.1029/2004GL021072.