Decadal Climate Variability in the North Pacific during the Recent Decades

Nakamura, Hisashi; Lin, Gufa; Yamagata, Toshio

doi:10.1175/1520-0477(1997)078<2215:dcvitn>2.0.co;2

Cited by 308 publications

(270 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Moreover, the Aleutian Low in the central North Pacific has a dominant low-frequency time scale, and low-frequency SST variations result from the atmospheric forcing of the Aleutian Low [e.g., Nakamura et al, 1997;Minobe, 1999]. In our results, the SSTA WWR in the North Pacific also has interdecadal variability, possibly associated with the climatic regime shift that occurred in the North Pacific in 1976/1977[e.g., Miller et al, 1994.…”

Section: Summary and Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…[27] A number of studies have already documented that there exists not only interannual variability but also significant interdecadal variability in the North Pacific [e.g., Deser and Blackmon, 1995;Mantua et al, 1997;Nakamura et al, 1997]. Moreover, the Aleutian Low in the central North Pacific has a dominant low-frequency time scale, and low-frequency SST variations result from the atmospheric forcing of the Aleutian Low [e.g., Nakamura et al, 1997;Minobe, 1999].…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Winter‐to‐winter recurrence and non‐winter‐to‐winter recurrence of SST anomalies in the central North Pacific

Zhao¹,

Li²

2012

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] All previous studies of the winter-to-winter recurrence (WWR) of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) have focused on mean climatic characteristics. Here, interannual variability of the SSTA WWR in the central North Pacific (CNP) is studied. The SSTA WWR displays a strong interannual variability in the CNP. The relative roles of atmospheric forcing and the oceanic reemergence mechanism are investigated by comparing SSTA WWR years and non-WWR years. Oceanic reemergence mechanism operates every year, the SSTA in the following winter, however, depends not only on the oceanic entrainment but also the atmospheric forcing, which exhibits substantial interannual variability. During SSTA WWR years, atmospheric circulation anomalies also exhibit the WWR phenomenon. Atmospheric forcing as well as the oceanic reemergence mechanism can act synergistically to create SSTA in the following winter with the same sign. During SSTA non-WWR years, winter atmospheric circulation anomalies do not recur in the following winter, and the following winter has opposing atmospheric forcing on SSTA. Although the reemergence mechanism is likely still operating, the anomalous heating supplied by the oceanic reemergence mechanism is smaller than that coming through the atmospheric forcing. Overall, the WWR in the CNP is an evolutional characteristic of the whole air-sea system with the seasons, and the WWR of atmospheric circulation anomalies and its forcing play an important role in the SSTA WWR.Citation: Zhao, X., and J. Li (2012), Winter-to-winter recurrence and non-winter-to-winter recurrence of SST anomalies in the central North Pacific,

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Section: Summary and Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter‐to‐winter recurrence and non‐winter‐to‐winter recurrence of SST anomalies in the central North Pacific

Zhao¹,

Li²

2012

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…However, here we note a possible linkage between the North Atlantic and North Pacific on the quasi-decadal time scale. Nakamura et al (1997) describe a decadal oscillation on the Pacific subarctic front (PSF) along 42N (see also Deser and Blackmon, 1996). The time series of Nakamura et al's PSF oscillation is reproduced in Fig.…”

Section: Link To the North Pacificmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Hemispheric-Scale Quasi-Decadal Oscillation and Its Signature in Northern Japan

Xie

Noguchi

Matsumura

1999

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

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Pronounced quasi-decadal oscillation in surface air temperature over northern Japan is linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). A NAO-based regression analysis reveals a hemispheric-scale decadal temperature anomaly pattern that features a seesaw between eastern Canada/Greenland and northern Eurasia at high latitudes, with additional centers of action in the eastern United States and North Africa/Middle East. Advection of climatological mean temperature gradient by anomalous winds seems to be a mechanism for these temperature anomalies. Particularly, positive temperature anomalies over Siberia at NAO's positive phase are associated with anomalous southwesterly winds on the upstream side. The advection by mean westerlies is also important over Eurasia, bringing large decadal variability to northern Japan. This quasi-decadal oscillation can be traced farther eastward to the North Pacific, in the Aleutian low and in sea surface temperature on the subarctic front. A possible inter-oceanic link between the North Atlantic and Pacific is discussed.

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“…Observational studies have shown that SST decadal-scale variability in the North Pacific is associated with two major oceanic fronts, namely the Subarctic Front (SAF) and the Subtropical Front (STF) [Nakamura et al, 1997] (Figure 1). Near the SAF, the SST variability is negatively correlated with that in the Alaskan Gyre, whereas near the STF, the SST variability exhibits a strong negative correlation with tropical SST variability [Nakamura et al, 1997]. Although there have been many studies on SST variability in the SAF region, especially in relation to the decadal variability in the midlatitude atmosphere -ocean system [e.g., Latif and Barnett, 1994], few studies have focused on decadal-scale SST variability in the STF region, probably because of the scarcity of observed data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decadal variability of the Subtropical Front of the western North Pacific in an eddy‐resolving ocean general circulation model

Yamanaka¹,

Ishizaki²,

Hirabara³

et al. 2008

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] We examined decadal variability of the Subtropical Front (STF) of the western North Pacific by using a North Pacific ocean general circulation model (OGCM), comparing the results of three simulations with different horizontal resolutions. In the long-term mean fields, the eddy-resolving model (10 km) was able to simulate the distributions of the STF and the associated Subtropical Countercurrent (STCC) between 20°N and 30°N better than either the non-eddy-resolving model (100 km) or the eddy-permitting model (20 km) because it simulated the Kuroshio recirculation gyre more realistically. The simulated STF intensity exhibited significant decadal-scale variations: it was stronger in the late 1970s and weaker in the early 1990s. During these two periods, the simulated mode waters showed corresponding differences in their potential vorticity minima density and paths. We also investigated the relationship between the decadal-scale STF variability and atmospheric forcing. The results suggest that the decadal-scale STF variability can be largely explained by changes in the mode waters formed in the western North Pacific and advected to north of the STF by the subtropical gyre in response to a change in surface westerly winds that occurred in the mid-1970s.

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Decadal Climate Variability in the North Pacific during the Recent Decades

Cited by 308 publications

References 54 publications

Winter‐to‐winter recurrence and non‐winter‐to‐winter recurrence of SST anomalies in the central North Pacific

Winter‐to‐winter recurrence and non‐winter‐to‐winter recurrence of SST anomalies in the central North Pacific

A Hemispheric-Scale Quasi-Decadal Oscillation and Its Signature in Northern Japan

Decadal variability of the Subtropical Front of the western North Pacific in an eddy‐resolving ocean general circulation model

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