DCV Phenomena

Anomalous sea-surface temperature (SST) patterns associated with decadal climate variability (DCV) phenomena are shown here. The observed SST data used for this historical analysis were compiled from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) Version 5.

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Major conclusions of these analyses are:
  • The PDO pattern, spanning much of the Pacific and nearly symmetric in the North and South Pacific, undergoes primarily decadal-multidecadal timescale variability, with the spatial pattern persisting in positive (warm) or negative (cold) state for several years two or more decades.  The PDO also varies on timescales of a few months.
  • The TAG pattern undergoes variability at timescales of several seasons to a decade or longer, with the primary oscillation at the 12-13 year period.  Multidecadal variations are also apparent.
  • There is a pronounced warming of the WPWP and the EIWP since early 1950s.  Additionally, variability at timescales of a few seasons to a few decades is also apparent.
  • The AMO, spanning the Atlantic from the Equator to 60ºN, undergoes primarily multidecadal variability, with secondary decadal variability also apparent.
  • The El Niño-La Niña pattern is confined largely to equatorial Pacific and undergoes variability at timescales of a few seasons to a few years.