Impact of Penetrating Kelvin Waves on MJO Rainfall Propagation Through Deep Convection Modulation

Chen, Xingchao; Leung, L. Ruby; Feng, Zhe

doi:10.1029/2025GL116549

Impact of Penetrating Kelvin Waves on MJO Rainfall Propagation Through Deep Convection Modulation

Journal Article · Sun May 25 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL116549· OSTI ID:2569575

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Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

The Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a dominant intraseasonal oscillation in the tropics. As MJOs propagate over the Indian Ocean, some of them can be penetrated by fast‐moving equatorial Kelvin waves originating to the west of the MJOs. Through a series of sensitivity experiments, we demonstrate that these penetrating Kelvin waves can modulate the eastward propagation speed of MJO rainfall. Deep convection in the western MJO rainfall envelope initiates more frequently and produces greater lifetime rainfall when a convectively active Kelvin phase is present, while the opposite occurs during a convectively suppressed Kelvin phase. This alteration in deep convection activity can lead to notable changes in the propagation of the large‐scale MJO rainfall envelope. The modulation of deep convection lifetime rainfall by penetrating Kelvin waves primarily occurs through their impact on deep convection rainfall area, which is closely related to the variations in lower‐tropospheric moisture induced by the Kelvin waves.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2569575

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--212273

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 52; ISSN 1944-8007; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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