The Relationship Between ENSO Phases and Southern Hemisphere Jet Structure

Abstract:

Tropical convection affects Southern Hemisphere jet dynamics through the process of mass outflow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere and through radiation of planetary wave trains through the connecting westerly waveguide. Seasonal changes and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases have an impact on the structure of the Subtropical, Polar and Polar Night Jet in the high latitude Southern Hemisphere. Through reanalysis of ERA-Interim data sets, an investigation of the different southern hemispheric jet structures that result from the various phases of ENSO. A classification of months into categories of El Niño, neutral and La Niña and then further sub classify the El Niño and La Niña into strong, moderate and weak events. The strength of the polar jet and subtropical jet vary greatly between the El Niño and La Niña episodes and also vary in latitudinal placement. Also, the structure of the jets vary between the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean Basins. Seasonal progression also has an impact on the structure and shape of the polar and subtropical jets. During the Winter in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, a more diffuse jet structure occurs during La Nina while a more focused jet structure is favored in El Niño periods. In addition, a strong link between the Polar-Night Jet and and the tropospheric polar jet is discovered.