Increasing climate model resolution offers multifaceted benefits, such as improving modeled tropical cyclones. However, the extent to which it benefits El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) simulation remains unknown. Here, comprehensive information on the sensitivity of ENSO performance to various resolutions is provided, based on a multi‐model and multi‐resolution ensemble of global coupled models. Overall, the reduced model biases of the equatorial sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation mean state in higher‐resolution models may be attributed to increased oceanic resolution, and thus, better resolved eddy‐driven heat transport. ENSO spatial patterns were reproduced clearer in the eddy‐present models, likely due to the improved mean state and associated surface thermodynamic feedback. However, increasing atmospheric resolution alone deteriorates ENSO asymmetry, which may be due to the degradation of nonlinear atmospheric feedback. It remains challenging to alleviate the SST−shortwave‐flux feedback bias, which is a major source of too‐weak net heat flux feedback, irrespective of model resolution.
Mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous in the upper ocean as evidenced by satellite observations and eddy-rich model simulations over the past two decades (e.g., Biastoch & Krauss, 1999;Chelton et al., 2011). They are approximately in geostrophic balance and contribute significantly to the global mechanical energy budget (Ferrari & Wunsch, 2010;McWilliams, 2008). Furthermore, they can produce strong material transport and thus have an impact on the global climate and ocean ecosystem (
As the most important interannual climate phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific, El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has highly consequential global impacts and thus becomes an important topic of climate research (Cai et al., 2020;Cashin et al., 2017;Claar et al., 2018;Ropelewski & Halpert, 1987). The ENSO is characterized by irregular warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) events. Studies over the past years have shown that El Niño and La Niña events are not just mirrored images but reveal asymmetric characteristics in some aspects, such as amplitude, duration period, and phase transformation (
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