Influences of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation on the Locally Amplified Ningaloo Niño

Research reveals that the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) significantly influences the frequency of locally amplified Ningaloo Niño events, with their occurrence increasing during the negative IPO phase. This is attributed to positive sea surface temperature anomalies northwest of Australia, which enhance atmospheric convection and cyclone activity off Western Australia through a Matsuno-Gill response. A mixed layer heat budget analysis using regional ocean model outputs shows that shortwave radiation warming dominates these interdecadal SST anomalies, facilitated by anomalously weak winds linked to the negative IPO phase.

Tanuma, N., & Tozuka, T. (2020). Influences of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation on the Locally Amplified Ningaloo Niño. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(15). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl088712