Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-774
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-774
15 May 2023
 | 15 May 2023

ENSO Modulation of the QBO Periods in GISS E2.2 Models

Tiehan Zhou, Kevin J. DallaSanta, Clara Orbe, David H. Rind, Jeffrey A. Jonas, Larissa Nazarenko, Gavin A. Schmidt, and Gary Russell

Abstract. Observational studies have shown that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exerts an influence on the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO). The downward propagation of the QBO tends to speed up and slow down during El Niño and La Niña, respectively. Recent results from general circulation models have indicated that the ENSO modulation of the QBO requires a relatively high horizontal resolution, and that it does not show up in the climate models with parameterized but temporally constant gravity wave sources. Here, we demonstrate that the NASA GISS E2.2 models can capture the observed ENSO modulation of the QBO period with a horizontal resolution of 2° latitude by 2.5° longitude and its gravity wave sources parameterized interactively. This is because El Niño events lead to more vigorous gravity wave sources generating more absolute momentum fluxes over the equatorial belt, as well as less filtering of these waves into the tropical lower stratosphere through a weakening of the Walker circulation. Various components of the ENSO system such as the SSTs, the convective activities, and the Walker circulation are intimately involved in the generation and propagation of parameterized gravity waves, through which ENSO modulates the QBO period in GISS E2.2 models.

Tiehan Zhou et al.

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-774', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Tiehan Zhou, 19 Sep 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-774', Anonymous Referee #2, 06 Jun 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tiehan Zhou, 19 Sep 2023
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-774', Anonymous Referee #3, 15 Jun 2023
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Tiehan Zhou, 19 Sep 2023

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-774', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Tiehan Zhou, 19 Sep 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-774', Anonymous Referee #2, 06 Jun 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Tiehan Zhou, 19 Sep 2023
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-774', Anonymous Referee #3, 15 Jun 2023
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Tiehan Zhou, 19 Sep 2023

Tiehan Zhou et al.

Tiehan Zhou et al.

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Short summary
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) tends to speed up and slow down the phase speed of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) during El Niño and La Niña, respectively. The ENSO modulation of the QBO does not show up in the climate models with parameterized but temporally constant gravity wave sources. We show that the GISS E2.2 models can capture the observed ENSO modulation of the QBO period with a horizontal resolution of 2° by 2.5° and its gravity wave sources parameterized interactively.