This study investigates why the major convective envelope of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) detours to the south of the Maritime Continent (MC) only during boreal winter [December–March (DJFM)]. To examine processes affecting this MJO detour, the MJO-related variance of precipitation and column-integrated moisture anomalies in DJFM are compared with those in the seasons before [October–November (ON)] and after [April–May (AM)]. While MJO precipitation variance is much higher in the southern MC (SMC) during DJFM than in other seasons, the MJO moisture variance is comparable among the seasons, implying that the seasonal locking of the MJO’s southward detour cannot be explained by the magnitude of moisture anomalies alone. The higher precipitation variance in the SMC region is partly explained by the much higher moisture sensitivity of precipitation in DJFM than in other seasons, resulting in a more efficient conversion of anomalous moisture to anomalous precipitation. DJFM is also distinguishable from the other seasons by stronger positive wind–evaporation feedback onto MJO precipitation anomalies due to the background westerly wind in the lower troposphere. It is found that the seasonal cycle of moisture–precipitation coupling and wind–evaporation feedback in the SMC region closely follows that of the Australian monsoon, which is active exclusively in DJFM. Our results suggest that the MJO’s southward detour in the MC is seasonally locked because it occurs preferentially when the Australian monsoon system produces a background state that is favorable for MJO development in the SMC.
Kang, Daehyun, et al. "Seasonal Locking of the MJO’s Southward Detour of the Maritime Continent: The Role of the Australian Monsoon." Journal of Climate, vol. 35, no. 24, Dec. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-22-0234.1
Kang, Daehyun, Kim, Daehyun, Rushley, Stephanie, & Maloney, Eric (2022). Seasonal Locking of the MJO’s Southward Detour of the Maritime Continent: The Role of the Australian Monsoon. Journal of Climate, 35(24). https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-22-0234.1
Kang, Daehyun, Kim, Daehyun, Rushley, Stephanie, et al., "Seasonal Locking of the MJO’s Southward Detour of the Maritime Continent: The Role of the Australian Monsoon," Journal of Climate 35, no. 24 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-22-0234.1
@article{osti_1901440,
author = {Kang, Daehyun and Kim, Daehyun and Rushley, Stephanie and Maloney, Eric},
title = {Seasonal Locking of the MJO’s Southward Detour of the Maritime Continent: The Role of the Australian Monsoon},
annote = {Abstract This study investigates why the major convective envelope of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) detours to the south of the Maritime Continent (MC) only during boreal winter [December–March (DJFM)]. To examine processes affecting this MJO detour, the MJO-related variance of precipitation and column-integrated moisture anomalies in DJFM are compared with those in the seasons before [October–November (ON)] and after [April–May (AM)]. While MJO precipitation variance is much higher in the southern MC (SMC) during DJFM than in other seasons, the MJO moisture variance is comparable among the seasons, implying that the seasonal locking of the MJO’s southward detour cannot be explained by the magnitude of moisture anomalies alone. The higher precipitation variance in the SMC region is partly explained by the much higher moisture sensitivity of precipitation in DJFM than in other seasons, resulting in a more efficient conversion of anomalous moisture to anomalous precipitation. DJFM is also distinguishable from the other seasons by stronger positive wind–evaporation feedback onto MJO precipitation anomalies due to the background westerly wind in the lower troposphere. It is found that the seasonal cycle of moisture–precipitation coupling and wind–evaporation feedback in the SMC region closely follows that of the Australian monsoon, which is active exclusively in DJFM. Our results suggest that the MJO’s southward detour in the MC is seasonally locked because it occurs preferentially when the Australian monsoon system produces a background state that is favorable for MJO development in the SMC.},
doi = {10.1175/JCLI-D-22-0234.1},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1901440},
journal = {Journal of Climate},
issn = {ISSN 0894-8755},
number = {24},
volume = {35},
place = {United States},
publisher = {American Meteorological Society},
year = {2022},
month = {12}}
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Center; Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0016223; SC0019495
OSTI ID:
1901440
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1908816 OSTI ID: 1909190
Journal Information:
Journal of Climate, Journal Name: Journal of Climate Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 35; ISSN 0894-8755