Abstract:
Using the monthly mean data from NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis, the NOAA precipitation data, and the sea surface temperature from Hadley Center over the period of 1979-2015, we calculated the summer CP-type sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) index by employing the EOF-regression method proposed by Kao in 2009. Based on this CP-type SSTA index, we examined the relationship between CP-type ENSO and the Maritime Continent (MC) climate anomalies during boreal summer. Our results show that when positive CP-type SSTA occur in summer, there exist significantly negative (positive) precipitation and temperature anomalies in the key region of MC (central Pacific). Meanwhile, large negative (positive) heating anomalies are observed in the MC region, leading to descending (ascending) motions there. The anomalous diabatic heating other than latent heat release is also negative (positive) there, facilitating negative (positive) precipitation. The MC region and the central Pacific are linked by the horizontal and vertical circulations. When the CP-type ENSO index is significantly positive, a pair of cyclonic (anticyclone) circulations almost symmetrical about the equator are observed in the lower (upper) troposphere between MC region and the Pacific, inducing weaker than normal divergence (convergence) in the eastern part of MC region and stronger than normal divergence (convergence) in the western part of the region. Positive SSTAs in the equatorial central Pacific and atmospheric cooling anomalies in the key region of MC induce the anomalous westerly to further intensify, which in turn induces stronger warm SSTAs in central equatorial Pacific. This process can be explained by the Bjerknes mechanism and facilitates anomalous anti-Walker circulation between MC and the equatorial central Pacific, which directly links the SSTA forcing in equatorial central Pacific to climate anomalies in MC region. In the region between Peruvian coast and equatorial central Pacific, an anomalous Walker circulation is observed, which can also be explained by the Bjerknes mechanism. On the other hand, different to those direct connections mentioned above, MC and the central Pacific regions are linked indirectly by the vertical circulation along curve paths in the lower and middle latitudes outside the equatorial zone. Those vertical circulations along arc/curve paths are not only related to anomalous local Hadley circulations, but also related to the Rossby wave patterns in the tropical region and the quasi-stationary Rossby waves in the mid-latitudes. These results are helpful for better understanding how the CP-type ENSO influences not only the climate anomalies in MC region, but also circulation anomalies outside the tropical region during boreal summer.