On the interaction of stochastic forcing and regime dynamics

Abstract. In this paper we investigate the curious ability of stochastic forcing to increase the persistence of regimes, in a low-order, stochastically forced system. In recent years, evidence from both simple models and climate simulations have suggested that stochastic forcing can act as a stabilising force to increase regime persistence, but the mechanisms driving this potential reinforcement are unclear. Using a six-mode truncation of a barotropic β-plane model, featuring transitions between analogues of zonal and blocked flow conditions, we show that moderate levels of fast-varying stochastic forcing can increase the low-frequency variability of the system, and act asymmetrically to increase the persistence of certain regimes. We show that the presence of a deterministically-inaccessible unstable fixed point, and the low-dimensionality of the flow during blocking, are vital dynamical components that allow this stochastic persistence to occur. We present a simple geometric argument that explains how stochastic forcing can slow the growth of instabilities, which may have more general applicability in understanding stochastic chaotic systems.