Impacts of the Pacific Meridional Mode on June–August precipitation in the Amazon River Basin. (25th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Wei; Villarini, Gabriele; Vecchi, Gabriel A.
• Is Part Of: Quarterly journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. Volume 143:Number 705(2017)
• Page Start: 1936
• Page End: 1945
• Publication Date: 2017-05-25
• Subjects: Pacific Meridional Mode -- precipitation -- Amazon; Meteorology -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.3053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9009

Abstract

Abstract : This study examines the impacts of the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) on Amazon precipitation during June–August using observations and several experiments with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (NOAA/GFDL) Forecast‐oriented Low Ocean Resolution version of CM2.5 (FLOR). We find that the positive (negative) PMM can lead to precipitation surplus (deficit) using both observations and climate simulations with FLOR. The impacts of PMM on Amazon precipitation during June–August are induced by the forcing of sea‐surface temperature (SST) anomalies associated with PMM. Positive PMM can force the baroclinic Gill responses to the heat source in the Pacific with two low‐level cyclones (anticyclones) located west (east) of the heating source. The anomalous low‐level anticyclone and high‐level cyclone located in the Amazon region are associated with low‐level moisture transport from the Atlantic. There is significant positive correlation between the PMM index and moisture flux convergence in most parts of the Amazon basin, with negative correlation in its northwestern part. Such physical mechanisms underlying the linkage between PMM and the Amazon precipitation are supported by both the 500 years control experiment and a suite of perturbation experiments with FLOR. Abstract : The positive (negative) PMM can lead to precipitation surplus (deficit) during June–August. The impacts of PMM on Amazon precipitation are induced by sea‐surface temperature anomalies associated with PMM. Positive PMM can force the baroclinic Gill responses to the heat source in the Pacific with two low‐level cyclones (anticyclones) located west (east) of the heating source. The anomalous low‐level anticyclone and high‐level cyclone located in the Amazon region are associated with low‐level moisture convergence and moisture transport from the Atlantic. Maps showing: (a) the correlation coefficient (shading) between PMM and JJA precipitation; the partial correlation between PMM and precipitation by controlling for (b) Niño3.4 and (c) Niño4, in JJA. The regions with correlation coefficients that are statistically significant at the 0.05 level are stippled. The blue boundary represents the Amazon region.