Variations in the tropical greenhouse effect during El Nino

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of Climate

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<1050:VITTGE>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:501578

Soden, B J ^[1]

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1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Princeton, NJ (United States)

Observations of the clear-sky outgoing longwave radiation and sea surface temperature are combined to examine the evolution of the tropical greenhouse effect from colder La Nina conditions in early 1985 to warmer El Nino conditions in late 1987. Although comparison of individual months can suggest a decrease in greenhouse trapping from cold to warm conditions, when the entire 4-yr record is considered a distinct increase in tropical-mean greenhouse trapping of {approximately}2 W m{sup -2} is observed in conjunction with a {approximately}0.4 K increase in tropical-mean sea surface temperature. This observed increase compares favorably with GCM simulations of the change in the clear-sky greenhouse effect during El Nifio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Superimposed on top of the SST-driven change in greenhouse trapping are dynamically induced changes in tropical moisture apparently associated with a redistribution of SST during ENSO. The GCM simulations also successfully reproduce this feature, providing reassurance in the ability of GCMs to predict both dynamically and thermodynamically driven changes in greenhouse trapping. 25 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 501578
• Journal Information: Journal of Climate, Journal Name: Journal of Climate Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 10; ISSN 0894-8755; ISSN JLCLEL
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CORRELATIONS
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MOISTURE
SOUTHERN OSCILLATION