Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

On the Persistence of Cold-Season SST Anomalies Associated with the Annular Modes

Laura M. Ciasto Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Michael A. Alexander NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

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Clara Deser Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado

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Matthew H. England Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Print Publication:
15 May 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JCLI3535.1
Page(s):
2500–2515
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Abstract

In this study, a simple stochastic climate model is used to examine the impact of the ocean mixed layer depth, surface turbulent energy fluxes, and Ekman currents on the persistence of cold-season extratropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies associated with variability in the annular modes of atmospheric circulation in both hemispheres. Observational analysis reveals that during the cold season, SST anomalies associated with the southern annular mode (SSTSAM) persist considerably longer than those associated with the northern annular mode (SSTNAM). Using the simple model, it is shown that the persistence of the cold-season SSTSAM is consistent with the simple stochastic climate paradigm in which the atmospheric forcing is approximated as white noise, and the persistence of SST anomalies can be largely determined by the thermal inertia of the ocean mixed layer. In the North Atlantic, however, the simple climate model overestimates the persistence of the cold-season SSTNAM. It is thought that this overestimate occurs because the NAM-related heat flux forcing cannot be described purely as white noise but must also include a feedback from the underlying SST anomalies.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Laura Ciasto, Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia. E-mail: l.ciasto@unsw.edu.au

Abstract

In this study, a simple stochastic climate model is used to examine the impact of the ocean mixed layer depth, surface turbulent energy fluxes, and Ekman currents on the persistence of cold-season extratropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies associated with variability in the annular modes of atmospheric circulation in both hemispheres. Observational analysis reveals that during the cold season, SST anomalies associated with the southern annular mode (SSTSAM) persist considerably longer than those associated with the northern annular mode (SSTNAM). Using the simple model, it is shown that the persistence of the cold-season SSTSAM is consistent with the simple stochastic climate paradigm in which the atmospheric forcing is approximated as white noise, and the persistence of SST anomalies can be largely determined by the thermal inertia of the ocean mixed layer. In the North Atlantic, however, the simple climate model overestimates the persistence of the cold-season SSTNAM. It is thought that this overestimate occurs because the NAM-related heat flux forcing cannot be described purely as white noise but must also include a feedback from the underlying SST anomalies.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Laura Ciasto, Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia. E-mail: l.ciasto@unsw.edu.au
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