A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability

A machine learning method is used to identify sources of long‐term ENSO predictability in the ocean (sea surface temperature (SST) and heat content) and the atmosphere (near‐surface zonal wind (U10)). Tropical SST represents the primary source of predictability skill. While U10 does not increase the...

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Main Authors: Colfescu, I, Christensen, H, Gagne, DJ
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Wiley Open Access 2024
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author Colfescu, I
Christensen, H
Gagne, DJ
author_facet Colfescu, I
Christensen, H
Gagne, DJ
author_sort Colfescu, I
collection OXFORD
description A machine learning method is used to identify sources of long‐term ENSO predictability in the ocean (sea surface temperature (SST) and heat content) and the atmosphere (near‐surface zonal wind (U10)). Tropical SST represents the primary source of predictability skill. While U10 does not increase the skill when associated with SST, our analysis suggests U10 alone has apredictive skill comparable to that of SST between 11 and 21 months in advance, from late fall up to late spring. The long‐lead signal originates from coupled wind‐SST interactions across the Indian Ocean (IO) and propagates across the Pacific via an atmospheric bridge mechanism. A linear correlation analysis supports this mechanism, suggesting a precursor link between anomalies in SST in the western and wind in the eastern IO. Our results have important implications for ENSO predictions beyond 1 year ahead and identify the key role of U10 over the IO.
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spelling oxford-uuid:7d04c30a-1813-4a48-bec1-a9339254fb142024-07-04T20:06:46ZA Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of PredictabilityJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7d04c30a-1813-4a48-bec1-a9339254fb14EnglishJisc Publications RouterWiley Open Access2024Colfescu, IChristensen, HGagne, DJA machine learning method is used to identify sources of long‐term ENSO predictability in the ocean (sea surface temperature (SST) and heat content) and the atmosphere (near‐surface zonal wind (U10)). Tropical SST represents the primary source of predictability skill. While U10 does not increase the skill when associated with SST, our analysis suggests U10 alone has apredictive skill comparable to that of SST between 11 and 21 months in advance, from late fall up to late spring. The long‐lead signal originates from coupled wind‐SST interactions across the Indian Ocean (IO) and propagates across the Pacific via an atmospheric bridge mechanism. A linear correlation analysis supports this mechanism, suggesting a precursor link between anomalies in SST in the western and wind in the eastern IO. Our results have important implications for ENSO predictions beyond 1 year ahead and identify the key role of U10 over the IO.
spellingShingle Colfescu, I
Christensen, H
Gagne, DJ
A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability
title A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability
title_full A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability
title_fullStr A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability
title_full_unstemmed A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability
title_short A Machine Learning‐Based Approach to Quantify ENSO Sources of Predictability
title_sort machine learning based approach to quantify enso sources of predictability
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AT christensenh amachinelearningbasedapproachtoquantifyensosourcesofpredictability
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