Climate models struggle to accurately simulate the asymmetry between El Niño and La Niña phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This study reveals that the simulated ENSO asymmetry is strongly correlated with subsurface nonlinear dynamical heating (NDH) along the equatorial Pacific thermocline. Models with realistic NDH demonstrate a linear relationship between El Niño-like equatorial Pacific warming patterns and ENSO amplitude changes in response to greenhouse warming. Improving the simulation of ENSO asymmetry dynamics is crucial for reducing uncertainties in future climate projections.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Aug 28, 2020
Authors
Michiya Hayashi, Fei-Fei Jin, Malte F. Stuecker
Tags
El Niño
La Niña
ENSO
climate models
nonlinear dynamical heating
greenhouse warming
equatorial Pacific
Related Publications
Explore these studies to deepen your understanding of the subject.