Extracting the Dominant SST Modes Impacting North America's Observed Climate

The seasonal impacts of the dominant sea surface temperature (SST) modes to North American climate are assessed comprehensively in observations using the multivariate generalized equilibrium feedback assessment (GEFA) method. The GEFA method is first validated before applying it to observations. Imp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Climate
Main Authors: Wang, Fuyao, Liu, Zhengyu, Notaro, Michael
Other Authors: Wang, FY (reprint author), Univ Wisconsin, Ctr Climat Res, 1225 West Dayton St, Madison, WI 53706 USA., Univ Wisconsin, Nelson Inst Ctr Climat Res, Madison, WI 53706 USA., Peking Univ, Lab Climate Ocean Atmosphere Studies, Beijing, Peoples R China., Univ Wisconsin, Ctr Climat Res, 1225 West Dayton St, Madison, WI 53706 USA.
Format: Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: journal of climate 2013
Subjects:
North America
Atmosphere-ocean interaction
SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE
ATLANTIC MULTIDECADAL OSCILLATION
ASSESSING ATMOSPHERIC RESPONSE
PACIFIC DECADAL OSCILLATION
SOUTHERN-OSCILLATION
UNITED-STATES
PART I
PRECIPITATION VARIABILITY
DYNAMICAL ASSESSMENT
CROSS-VALIDATION
Indian
Pacific
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11897/391274
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00583.1
Description
Summary:The seasonal impacts of the dominant sea surface temperature (SST) modes to North American climate are assessed comprehensively in observations using the multivariate generalized equilibrium feedback assessment (GEFA) method. The GEFA method is first validated before applying it to observations. Impacts of each individual SST mode are quantified and the associated mechanisms are discussed. Four critical SST modes for North American climate are found: the ENSO mode, Indian Ocean Basin (IOB) mode, North Pacific first empirical orthogonal function (EOF) mode, and tropical Atlantic second EOF mode. The impacts of the ENSO mode are consistent with previous studies qualitatively, while the impact strength is further quantified here. The IOB mode has a strong influence on surface air temperature across North America, and it is demonstrated for the first time that its impact strength might even exceed that of ENSO during both winter and summer. The IOB mode also affects the year-round precipitation. A deeper understanding of the impact of North Pacific SSTs on wintertime surface air temperature is achieved: namely, positive SST anomalies in the Kuroshio Extension region correspond to colder (warmer) air in western (eastern) North America. The tropical Atlantic has a more significant influence on North American precipitation than does the extratropical Atlantic, with colder than normal tropical North Atlantic SSTs supporting wetter conditions across much of the United States, especially during autumn. Because of the linearity of GEFA, the total impacts of multiple SST modes can be obtained by the linear combination of each individual mode's impact. The GEFA method is a potentially powerful tool for seasonal climate prediction. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000322327700008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701 Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences SCI(E) EI 8 ARTICLE 15 5434-5452 26

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