On the Structure of the Southern Oscillation

摘要: Abstract A realistic oceanic general circulation model is forced with winds observed over the tropical Pacific between1967 and 1979. The structure of simulated Southern Oscillation strikingly different in western andeastern sides basin, because principal interannual zonal-wind fluctuations are confined to westand form an equatorial jet. This causes thermocline displacements have maxima offthe equatorin west (where curl wind large) but on equator east. Zonal phase propagation, bothon equator, at speeds pattern complex, there is,on time scale, no explicit evidence ofindividuai waves. These results lead a modificationof "delayed oscillator" mechanism originally proposed by Schopfand Suarez explain continual SouthernOscillation. also permit evaluation various coupled ocean-atmosphere models that simulatethe Osci...