Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Comment on "Resolving the Tropical Pacific/Atlantic Interaction Conundrum" by Feng Jiang et al. (2023). |
| Authors: |
Richter, Ingo, Keenlyside, Noel, Tozuka, Tomoki, Okumura, Yuko, Wang, Chunzai, Chang, Ping, Kido, Shoichiro, Tokinaga, Hiroki |
| Source: |
Geophysical Research Letters; 12/16/2024, Vol. 51 Issue 23, p1-5, 5p |
| Subject Terms: |
EL Nino, REGRESSION analysis, STATISTICAL correlation, OSCILLATIONS, TEMPERATURE |
| Abstract: |
Jiang et al. (2023), https://doi.org/10.1029/2023gl103777 argue that the apparent impact of the equatorial Atlantic on El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a statistical artifact, and that the 6‐month lead correlation reported in previous studies stems from early developing ENSO events driving the equatorial Atlantic zonal mode (AZM) in boreal summer and maturing in winter. Closer examination, however, reveals that most AZM events develop too early to be driven by developing ENSO, and that the influence of decaying ENSO events has to be considered too. Thus, while early developing ENSO events may play a role, they do not fully explain observed AZM behavior. Our aim is not to argue for or against an AZM influence on ENSO, but rather to show that Jiang et al.'s analysis is insufficient to resolve this issue. More analysis will be needed for a deeper understanding of Atlantic‐Pacific interaction. Plain Language Summary: Jiang et al. (2023), https://doi.org/10.1029/2023gl103777 argue that year‐to‐year sea‐surface temperature variability in the equatorial Atlantic is driven by the equatorial Pacific and suggest that the Atlantic cannot remotely influence the Pacific. They suggest that the influence of the equatorial Atlantic on the equatorial Pacific reported in previous studies is a statistical artifact. The study makes some important points, but it primarily relies on correlation and regression analyses, which can only provide limited insight into causality. In addition, the authors do not fully consider the seasonality of variability patterns in the equatorial Pacific and Atlantic. Thus, their view of the equatorial Atlantic being a slave to the equatorial Pacific is too simplistic and does not account for the full nature of observed variability. Key Points: Some of the methods used by Jiang et al. (2023) are too simplistic to rule out an Atlantic influence on El NiñoEl Niño usually develops too late in the year to influence the Atlantic zonal mode and can therefore not be its dominant driverJiang et al. (2023) make some valid points but do not offer a complete explanation of Atlantic‐Pacific interaction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Complementary Index |
