Please join us for the first webinar of the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020, 10:30 am | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) | 1 hr Title: On the Subseasonal-to-seasonal Variability of Extra-tropics Speaker: Cristiana Stan, George Mason University, USA
Abstract Recent advancements in understanding the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) variability outside of the tropics will be discussed. I will introduce the multi-channel singular spectral analysis (MSSA) method used to isolate the S2S variability in the extra-tropics, present the oscillatory modes dominating the extra-tropics on these time scales and their relationship with tropical and stratospheric variability, and discuss the implications of midlatitude oscillatory modes for the predictability at Week 3&4.
The S2S variability of the extra-tropics is dominated by three propagating oscillations with broad-band spectra centered at 120, 45, and 28 days are found. The first oscillatory mode is referred to as the midlatitude seasonal oscillation (MLSO), and the other two are referred to as midlatitude intraseasonal oscillation 1 and 2 (MLISO 1 and MLISO2). When combined, the oscillations explain up to 30% of the natural variability of the extra-tropics on the intra-seasonal to seasonal time scales. These oscillations share some features with the circumglobal wave guide and in some phases of their lifecycles they project onto the canonical teleconnection patterns.
MLSO and MLISO-1 are related to the intraseasonal convective activity of the tropics and MLISO-1 shows some connection with the stratospheric variability associated with QBO.
When used as predictors in a simple linear regression model with 2-meter temperature as predictand, the mid-latitude oscillations extend the potential predictability of dependent variable to about 20 days.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel
Please join us for the May Webinar of the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2020, 10:30am | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) | 1hr Title: Non-normal optimal growth of the Pacific-North American pattern Speaker: Stephanie Henderson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Abstract The Pacific-North American (PNA) pattern has been previously linked to tropical variability including the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), as well as internal extratropical variability. However, many questions remain regarding how these various relationships act, both together and individually, to yield observed PNA variability. The role of tropical heating and the extratropical circulation on PNA pattern growth is examined using linear inverse modeling (LIM). Optimal PNA growth is found to occur via the non-normal interference between the modes strongly coupled to sea surface temperatures (SST), including ENSO, and the modes internal to the atmosphere, such as the MJO. PNA growth beyond this interference is also examined through the development of an “internal atmospheric” LIM that excludes the modes strongly coupled to SST, such as ENSO, while retaining MJO variability. Optimal PNA growth in the internal atmospheric LIM is driven by MJO Indian Ocean heating with suppressed heating over the tropical western Pacific, and a retrograding northeast Pacific streamfunction anomaly. The separate contributions of tropical heating and the extratropical circulation on PNA growth are also investigated.
Importantly, the non-normal PNA growth highlights the difficulty in partitioning PNA variance into contributions from different phenomena and should be considered in attribution studies.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel
Please join us for the June webinar of the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Title: MJO Teleconnections to the Euro-Atlantic sector Speaker: Robert Lee, National Centre for Atmospheric Science and Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK
Abstract The teleconnection from the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) provides a source of subseasonal variability and predictability to the North Atlantic-European (NAE) region. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulates the seasonal mean state, through which the MJO and its teleconnection pattern propagates; however, its impact on this teleconnection to the NAE region has not been investigated. In this webinar I will present evidence of a robust dependence of the teleconnections from the MJO to NAE weather regimes on the phase of ENSO. I will demonstrate that the MJO to NAO+ regime tropospheric teleconnection is strongly enhanced during El Niño years, via enhanced Rossby wave activity, and inactive during La Niña. Conversely the MJO to NAO− regime stratospheric teleconnection is enhanced during La Niña years, and inactive during El Niño. This dependence on the background state has strong implications for subseasonal predictability, including interannual variations in subseasonal predictive skill. I will go on to show statistical analysis of the MJO-NAE teleconnections using a larger set of 29 patterns, known as the Grosswetterlagen (GWL), to represent the European weather. Since the GWL patterns are smaller in spatial scale, they capture more synoptic detail. These findings demonstrate how the MJO can modify the preferred evolution of the NAE atmospheric flow.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel.
After a month of hiatus, we are resuming the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project. Please join us for the August webinar.
Title: Impact of MJO propagation and background flow variability on the evolution of the MJO mid-latitude teleconnection
Speaker: Prof. Edmund Chang, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2020 Time: 1pm EDT | 5pm UTC
Abstract The MJO acts as a tropical heat source to excite Rossby waves that propagate into the mid-latitudes and modulate the mid-latitude circulation and weather. In this talk, using results from idealized model experiments, I will examine how the MJO excited mid-latitude teleconnection may depend on the history of the MJO evolution, as well as how different mid-latitude large-scale background flow may impact the evolution of the MJO mid-latitude teleconnection.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel.
After another month of hiatus, we are resuming the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project. Please join us for the October webinar.
Title: Understanding tropical-midlatitude interactions: metrics, dynamical processes, and future change Speaker: Jiabao Wang, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020
Time: 1pm EDT | 5pm UTC
Abstract
Tropical convections impact remotely on the midlatitude weather events (e.g., precipitation extremes over California) by forcing changes in circulation patterns. These tropical-midlatitude interactions are particularly important to be accurately simulated and predicted on subseasonal timescales since many management decisions fall within this time range. The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) is a unique type of organized tropical convection varying on subseasonal timescales and is recognized as an important source of subseasonal predictability for midlatitude weather phenomena. Better understanding of the MJO-midlatitude interactions is important in improving the simulation, prediction, and the understanding of future changes in MJO associated weather events.
As a joint activity between the WGNE MJO Task Force and WMO S2S teleconnection subproject, we developed a set of standardized diagnostics and metrics to characterize the MJO teleconnections and to understand the associated key dynamical processes (Wang et al. 2020a, b). In this talk, application of these diagnostics to CMIP5 and CMIP6 models will be presented. We will discuss the sensitivity of MJO teleconnections to MJO and basic state representations in models and sources of teleconnection biases. Future changes of MJO teleconnections and the underlying mechanisms will also be discussed.
Wang, J., H. Kim, D. Kim, S. A. Henderson, C. Stan, and E. D. Maloney (2020b): MJO teleconnections over the PNA region in climate models. Part II: Impacts of the MJO and basic state, J. Climate, 33, 5081-5101. doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0865.1.
Wang, J., H. Kim, D. Kim, S. A. Henderson, C. Stan, and E. D. Maloney (2020a): MJO teleconnections over the PNA region in climate models. Part I: Performance- and process-based skill metrics, J. Climate, 33, 1051-1067. doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0253.1.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel.
We are resuming the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project. Please join us for the January webinar.
Title: Intrinsic Uncertainty in the Euro-Atlantic Response to the MJO heating in boreal winter: Ongoing Results from ECMWF Re-Forecasts Speaker: David Straus, George Mason University
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021 Time: 10:30am EST | 3:30pm UTC
Abstract While the Euro-Atlantic response to the MJO has been well studied in reanalysis and a hierarchy of models, a factor that is often overlooked is the uncertainty in the response due to the intrinsic variability in the full diabatic heating during even a single phase of the MJO. We examine the heating variability within large (51-member) ensembles of boreal winter reforecasts from the ECMWF model, focusing on forecasts initialized in phases 2 and 3 of the MJO (with heating anomalies located over the Indian Ocean). Results will be shown from new experimental reforecasts in which all the ensemble members utilize identical initial conditions, with the only difference between ensemble members arising from the application of stochastic physics in the target Indian Ocean region. (The stochastic physics is turned off outside the target region.) The resulting uncertainty (ensemble spread) in the Euro-Atlantic response during the first few weeks of the forecasts is also examined, as well as some discussion of ongoing work to link the response uncertainties to those in the heating. The Euro-Atlantic response is seen to be similar to the traditional MJO response early in the forecast (MJO phases 2/3 leading to the NAO+ regime). However, later on in the forecast variability in the heating over the Pacific Ocean may play a role. Further experiments are planned to clarify the roles of ENSO vis-à-vis those of the MJO.
Please join us for the February webinar hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Title: Mapping Large-scale Climate Variability to Hydrological Extremes: An Application of the Linear Inverse Model to Subseasonal Prediction Speaker: Kai-Chih Tseng, GFDL
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 Time: 10:30am EST | 3:30pm UTC
Abstract The excitation of the Pacific-North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) has been considered as one of the most important predictability sources on subseasonal timescales over the extratropical Pacific and North America. However, until recently, the interactions between tropical heating and other extratropical modes and their relationships to subseasonal prediction have received comparatively little attention. In this study, a linear inverse model (LIM) is applied to examine the tropical-extratropical interactions. The LIM provides a means of calculating the response of a dynamical system to a small forcing by constructing a linear operator from the observed covariability statistics of the system. Given the linear assumptions, it is shown that the PNA is one of a few leading modes over the extratropical Pacific that can be strongly driven by tropical convection while other extratropical modes present at most a weak interaction with tropical convection. In the second part of this study, a two-step linear regression is introduced which leverages a LIM and large-scale climate variability to the prediction of hydrological extremes (e.g. atmospheric rivers) on subseasonal timescales. Consistent with the findings of the first part, most of the predictable signals on subseasonal timescales are determined by the dynamics of MJO-PNA teleconnection while other extratropical modes are important only at the shortest forecast leads.
test comment from A Robertson
The MJO-Teleconnection sub-project is launching a webinar series once a month on the last Thursday of the month.
Dear Colleagues,
Please join us for the first webinar of the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020, 10:30 am | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) | 1 hr
Title: On the Subseasonal-to-seasonal Variability of Extra-tropics
Speaker: Cristiana Stan, George Mason University, USA
Abstract
Recent advancements in understanding the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) variability outside of the tropics will be discussed. I will introduce the multi-channel singular spectral analysis (MSSA) method used to isolate the S2S variability in the extra-tropics, present the oscillatory modes dominating the extra-tropics on these time scales and their relationship with tropical and stratospheric variability, and discuss the implications of midlatitude oscillatory modes for the predictability at Week 3&4.
The S2S variability of the extra-tropics is dominated by three propagating oscillations with broad-band spectra centered at 120, 45, and 28 days are found. The first oscillatory mode is referred to as the midlatitude seasonal oscillation (MLSO), and the other two are referred to as midlatitude intraseasonal oscillation 1 and 2 (MLISO 1 and MLISO2). When combined, the oscillations explain up to 30% of the natural variability of the extra-tropics on the intra-seasonal to seasonal time scales. These oscillations share some features with the circumglobal wave guide and in some phases of their lifecycles they project onto the canonical teleconnection patterns.
MLSO and MLISO-1 are related to the intraseasonal convective activity of the tropics and MLISO-1 shows some connection with the stratospheric variability associated with QBO.
When used as predictors in a simple linear regression model with 2-meter temperature as predictand, the mid-latitude oscillations extend the potential predictability of dependent variable to about 20 days.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel
Webinar Recording:
https://gmu.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/gmu/recording/playback/85d85c8913a6409caaabfc51ee7cd84e
Dear Colleagues,
Please join us for the May Webinar of the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2020, 10:30am | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) | 1hr
Title: Non-normal optimal growth of the Pacific-North American pattern
Speaker: Stephanie Henderson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Abstract
The Pacific-North American (PNA) pattern has been previously linked to tropical variability including the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), as well as internal extratropical variability. However, many questions remain regarding how these various relationships act, both together and individually, to yield observed PNA variability. The role of tropical heating and the extratropical circulation on PNA pattern growth is examined using linear inverse modeling (LIM). Optimal PNA growth is found to occur via the non-normal interference between the modes strongly coupled to sea surface temperatures (SST), including ENSO, and the modes internal to the atmosphere, such as the MJO. PNA growth beyond this interference is also examined through the development of an “internal atmospheric” LIM that excludes the modes strongly coupled to SST, such as ENSO, while retaining MJO variability. Optimal PNA growth in the internal atmospheric LIM is driven by MJO Indian Ocean heating with suppressed heating over the tropical western Pacific, and a retrograding northeast Pacific streamfunction anomaly. The separate contributions of tropical heating and the extratropical circulation on PNA growth are also investigated.
Importantly, the non-normal PNA growth highlights the difficulty in partitioning PNA variance into contributions from different phenomena and should be considered in attribution studies.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel
Webinar Recording:
https://gmu.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/gmu/recording/playback/df07e2c1ced24c69933be4edcb8bd4aa
Dear Colleagues,
Please join us for the June webinar of the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Title: MJO Teleconnections to the Euro-Atlantic sector
Speaker: Robert Lee, National Centre for Atmospheric Science and Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK
Abstract
The teleconnection from the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) provides a source of subseasonal variability and predictability to the North Atlantic-European (NAE) region.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) modulates the seasonal mean state, through which the MJO and its teleconnection pattern propagates; however, its impact on this teleconnection to the NAE region has not been investigated. In this webinar I will present evidence of a robust dependence of the teleconnections from the MJO to NAE weather regimes on the phase of ENSO. I will demonstrate that the MJO to NAO+ regime tropospheric teleconnection is strongly enhanced during El Niño years, via enhanced Rossby wave activity, and inactive during La Niña. Conversely the MJO to NAO− regime stratospheric teleconnection is enhanced during La Niña years, and inactive during El Niño. This dependence on the background state has strong implications for subseasonal predictability, including interannual variations in subseasonal predictive skill.
I will go on to show statistical analysis of the MJO-NAE teleconnections using a larger set of 29 patterns, known as the Grosswetterlagen (GWL), to represent the European weather. Since the GWL patterns are smaller in spatial scale, they capture more synoptic detail. These findings demonstrate how the MJO can modify the preferred evolution of the NAE atmospheric flow.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel.
Webinar recording:
https://gmu.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/gmu/recording/playback/eb77f773e6584d8cbe93ecafd4f742bf
Why does MJO follow almost exactly the SOI time series ?
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/7305/bXNFwm.png
Dear Colleagues,
After a month of hiatus, we are resuming the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project. Please join us for the August webinar.
Title: Impact of MJO propagation and background flow variability on the evolution of the MJO mid-latitude teleconnection
Speaker: Prof. Edmund Chang, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2020
Time: 1pm EDT | 5pm UTC
Abstract
The MJO acts as a tropical heat source to excite Rossby waves that propagate into the mid-latitudes and modulate the mid-latitude circulation and weather. In this talk, using results from idealized model experiments, I will examine how the MJO excited mid-latitude teleconnection may depend on the history of the MJO evolution, as well as how different mid-latitude large-scale background flow may impact the evolution of the MJO mid-latitude teleconnection.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel.
Webinar recording:
https://gmu.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/gmu/recording/playback/569c57769c04466eba33d1d2abf83643
Dear Colleagues,
After another month of hiatus, we are resuming the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project. Please join us for the October webinar.
Title: Understanding tropical-midlatitude interactions: metrics, dynamical processes, and future change
Speaker: Jiabao Wang, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020
Time: 1pm EDT | 5pm UTC
Abstract
Tropical convections impact remotely on the midlatitude weather events (e.g., precipitation extremes over California) by forcing changes in circulation patterns. These tropical-midlatitude interactions are particularly important to be accurately simulated and predicted on subseasonal timescales since many management decisions fall within this time range. The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) is a unique type of organized tropical convection varying on subseasonal timescales and is recognized as an important source of subseasonal predictability for midlatitude weather phenomena. Better understanding of the MJO-midlatitude interactions is important in improving the simulation, prediction, and the understanding of future changes in MJO associated weather events.
As a joint activity between the WGNE MJO Task Force and WMO S2S teleconnection subproject, we developed a set of standardized diagnostics and metrics to characterize the MJO teleconnections and to understand the associated key dynamical processes (Wang et al. 2020a, b). In this talk, application of these diagnostics to CMIP5 and CMIP6 models will be presented. We will discuss the sensitivity of MJO teleconnections to MJO and basic state representations in models and sources of teleconnection biases. Future changes of MJO teleconnections and the underlying mechanisms will also be discussed.
Wang, J., H. Kim, D. Kim, S. A. Henderson, C. Stan, and E. D. Maloney (2020b): MJO teleconnections over the PNA region in climate models. Part II: Impacts of the MJO and basic state, J. Climate, 33, 5081-5101. doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0865.1.
Wang, J., H. Kim, D. Kim, S. A. Henderson, C. Stan, and E. D. Maloney (2020a): MJO teleconnections over the PNA region in climate models. Part I: Performance- and process-based skill metrics, J. Climate, 33, 1051-1067. doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0253.1.
To participate send and email to subseasonal_to_seasonal_prediction_mjo_tel.
Webinar recording:
S2S MJO-Teleconnections Webinar-20201029 1703-1
https://gmu.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/gmu/recording/playback/4011e1ce5a8b49149c295c2382f2159f
Dear Colleagues,
We are resuming the monthly series of webinars hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project. Please join us for the January webinar.
Title: Intrinsic Uncertainty in the Euro-Atlantic Response to the MJO heating in boreal winter: Ongoing Results from ECMWF Re-Forecasts
Speaker: David Straus, George Mason University
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Time: 10:30am EST | 3:30pm UTC
Abstract
While the Euro-Atlantic response to the MJO has been well studied in reanalysis and a hierarchy of models, a factor that is often overlooked is the uncertainty in the response due to the intrinsic variability in the full diabatic heating during even a single phase of the MJO.
We examine the heating variability within large (51-member) ensembles of boreal winter reforecasts from the ECMWF model, focusing on forecasts initialized in phases 2 and 3 of the MJO (with heating anomalies located over the Indian Ocean). Results will be shown from new experimental reforecasts in which all the ensemble members utilize identical initial conditions, with the only difference between ensemble members arising from the application of stochastic physics in the target Indian Ocean region. (The stochastic physics is turned off outside the target region.)
The resulting uncertainty (ensemble spread) in the Euro-Atlantic response during the first few weeks of the forecasts is also examined, as well as some discussion of ongoing work to link the response uncertainties to those in the heating. The Euro-Atlantic response is seen to be similar to the traditional MJO response early in the forecast (MJO phases 2/3 leading to the NAO+ regime). However, later on in the forecast variability in the heating over the Pacific Ocean may play a role. Further experiments are planned to clarify the roles of ENSO vis-à-vis those of the MJO.
Webinar recording:
https://gmu.webex.com/gmu/ldr.php?RCID=2aa2cd26f8ab42b18eef886e5ce34cd8
Dear Colleagues,
Please join us for the February webinar hosted by the WWRP/WCRP/S2S/MJO-Teleconnections sub-project.
Title: Mapping Large-scale Climate Variability to Hydrological Extremes: An Application of the Linear Inverse Model to Subseasonal Prediction
Speaker: Kai-Chih Tseng, GFDL
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021
Time: 10:30am EST | 3:30pm UTC
Abstract
The excitation of the Pacific-North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) has been considered as one of the most important predictability sources on subseasonal timescales over the extratropical Pacific and North America. However, until recently, the interactions between tropical heating and other extratropical modes and their relationships to subseasonal prediction have received comparatively little attention. In this study, a linear inverse model (LIM) is applied to examine the tropical-extratropical interactions. The LIM provides a means of calculating the response of a dynamical system to a small forcing by constructing a linear operator from the observed covariability statistics of the system. Given the linear assumptions, it is shown that the PNA is one of a few leading modes over the extratropical Pacific that can be strongly driven by tropical convection while other extratropical modes present at most a weak interaction with tropical convection. In the second part of this study, a two-step linear regression is introduced which leverages a LIM and large-scale climate variability to the prediction of hydrological extremes (e.g. atmospheric rivers) on subseasonal timescales. Consistent with the findings of the first part, most of the predictable signals on subseasonal timescales are determined by the dynamics of MJO-PNA teleconnection while other extratropical modes are important only at the shortest forecast leads.
Webinar recording:
https://gmu.webex.com/gmu/ldr.php?RCID=48afbbc7b5324ac9b40ebfc1c8a3523c