A zonal wave 3 index for the Southern Hemisphere

摘要: [1] In this study 500 hPa geopotential heights from the NCAR-NCEP Reanalysis are used to calculate an index describing spatial and temporal characteristics of zonal wave three (ZW3) in high latitude Southern Hemisphere atmosphere. The spans period 1958–2001. Wavelet analysis shows strong interannual variation which is characteristic ZW3 also reveals significant, amplitude decadal-scale variation. This takes form marked fluctuation sign magnitude index. It appears occur when there rapid changes strongly meridional flow or vice versa. Initial indications that some variability may be associated with ENSO events.