Quasi-Biennial Oscillation influence on tropical convection and El Niño variability

The Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) of descending zonal winds is the leading mode of tropical stratospheric variability. Numerous studies have explored its connection with the troposphere, including its sensitivity to El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). While it is accepted that an upward ENSO imp...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Rodrigo Sánchez, Mario, García-Serrano, Javier, 1980-, Bladé, Ileana
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/223680
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/223680
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Estratosfera
Oscil·lacions
Corrent del Niño
Stratosphere
Oscillations
El Niño Current
Description
Summary:The Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) of descending zonal winds is the leading mode of tropical stratospheric variability. Numerous studies have explored its connection with the troposphere, including its sensitivity to El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). While it is accepted that an upward ENSO impact on the QBO exists, little investigation has been devoted to the potential downward influence of the QBO. Observational and model evidence show that the QBO modulates upper‐tropospheric divergence, with reduced outflow over the Maritime Continent during the westerly phase. It can also impact the warm phase of ENSO, El Niño, characterized by a weakened Walker circulation. Results show that the westerly phase of the QBO further suppresses tropical convection in the western Pacific and thus accentuates the weakening of the Walker circulation during El Niño. These results suggest that considering the QBO state could improve El Niño prediction and projection, particularly for extreme events.