ALL ABOUT ENSO AND MJO 3rd September, 2021 Prelims ALL ABOUT ENSO AND MJO ENSO Cycle Nitio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an regularly periodie vari Pacific Ocean, Every three to seven years, the surface waters across tropical Pacific Ocean warm or cool by 1°C to 3°C, compared to normal The Warming phase of the Sea temperature is known as El Niio and the cooling phase as La Nia Thus, El Nio and La Nia are opposite phates of what is known as the El Nido-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, These deviations from normal surface temperatures can have large-scale impacts aot only on ocean processes, but also on global weather and climate nds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern [Notes El Niio and La Nita are the extreme phases of the ENSO cycle; between these two phases isa third phase called ENSO-neutral — ‘we need fo know before we delve deeper into the ENSO mechanism thermocline isthe transition layer between the warmer water atthe surface and the cooler deep water below.[The trade winds or easterlies ar the permanent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region (between 30°N and 30°S. latitudes) (Convection is the process generally associated with warm rising air and the formation of cloud. CLASSROOM PROGRAMME 2022 peed ENSO Mechanism‘The ‘Neutral phase’ Under ‘normal’ conditions, we have a situation refered to as a Neutral phase, At first, Easterly Trade Winds (blowing from east to west) push the warm surface water away from South America towards tropical South- East Asi, Conversely, off the west coat of South America the depth of the warm equatorial top layer ofthe ocean has reduced, and the thermocline is nearer the ocean surface. This means that cold, nutrient-rich water upwells into the upper parts f the ocean here. Around topical South-East Asia, warm surface water evaporates. Thiscauses increased rainfall around Indonesia and neighbouring lands such as the Top end of Australia In contrast, over the easter tropical Pacific and off the coast of Peru, dry ar accompanied with cloud dissipation sinks, resulting in much drier weather there Note: The pattern of air rising in the west and falling inthe east with wesoward moving air at the surface is referred to as the Walker Circulation. sees aE SERIES 2022 EI Nifio phase The Trade Winds loses most of their strength in an ELNifo phase, and may even reverse into a west ‘As a result, warm surface water from tropical South-East Asiaflows towards the coast of South America wind (west to east ditecton,+ Off the coast of South America, the thermocline sinks. The cold deep water no longer upwells into the surface layer of the ocean. + The source of nutrients i cut off, whieh has a subsequent effect on fishing stocks off South America + Nearby, over the eastern tropical Pacific, warm surface water evaporates. This results in more rainfll than usual there. + Conversely, on the other side ofthe Pacific, Indonesia and neighbouring counties are drier than usual during an El No The Global Impact of El Nifio. sopeintens Museutctes trsEomer™ oeseceier™ seine "REE aaetaes aaa ‘eee huricaies occu sev Anca ra S2e0 Seton / nena ated 8 organ arenes etapa es tnonat tt Guon, nga, tone =e() La ni on as F wer iw sees aE SERIES 2022 La Nifia Phase + In this patter, trade winds blow warm water a the ocean's surface from South Ameria to Indonesia + As the warm water moves west cold water from the deep rises tothe surface near the coast of South America Since, La Nifia blows all ofthis warm water tothe western Pacific places like Indonesia and Australia get much more convectionalrain than usual + However, the cold water in the eastern Pacific causes les rain clouds to form the So, places lke the southwestern United States are much drier than usual + La Nina can also lead to more lightning activity within the Gulf of Mexico and along the Gulf Coast + And more tropical eyelones—whieh include hurricanes—forming inthe deep tropes (near the islands inthe Caribbean, for example). + Ina nutshell, La Nina causes drought inthe Souts American counties of Peru and Ecuador, heavy floods in Australia, high temperatures in ‘Wester Pacific, Indian Ocean, off the Somalian coast and a comparatively better monsoon rains in India, Impact of La NifiaCSE 1AINS TEST Ph) 2022 ENSO and india Nino during winter causes warm conditions over the Indian subcontinent and during summer, i leads to dry conditions and deficient monsoon. Vhereas, La Nina results in beter than normal monsoons in India india experienced deficient rainfall during El Nino years 2002 and 2009 whereas monsoon was normal during El Nino years 1994 and 1997, It ans that in about 50 per cent ofthe year with El Nino during summer, India experienced droughts during monsoon, slike Paddy, Maize, Groundnut, Guar, Castor, Tur, Moong and Baja suffer due to El Nino. No cyclones in India in October 2020fourable months forthe development of eyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea + October to December period is among the f + This year, however, October passed without witnessing a cyclonic storm + This is due tothe weak La Nina conditions along the equatorial Pacific Ocean Cooler than normal sea surface temperatures over this region—termed as La Nina— has been prevailing since August tis year. Also, because Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) was positioned in a favourable phase, the low-pressure systems intensified maximum only Up toa deep depress + Also, there was the high wind shear noted between the differen atmospheric levels, + The high vertical wind shear created due to huge wind speed difference observed between higher and lowers atmospheric levels prevented the low-pressure systems and depression from strengthening into a cyclone. For eyelones to develop a low vertical wind shear isa must (**Refer to previous article to know about wind shear). What is MJO? ‘+ The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is the major fluctuation in tropical weather on weekly to monthly timescales. + ‘The MJO can be characterized as an eastward moving ‘pulse’ of cloud and rainfall near the equator that typically recurs every 30 to 60, days, +The MJO consists of two parts, or phases: one isthe enhanced rainfall (or convective) phase and the others the suppressed rainfall phase. + Strong MJO activity often dissects the planet into halves: one half within the enhanced convective phase and the other half inthe suppressed convective phase. + These two phases produce opposite changes in clouds and rainfall and this entire dipole (Le, having two main opposing centers of action) propagates eastward.Madden-Jllan Oselation — / eee PAY FEES FOR 1 YEAR GET ASSISTANCE FOR 2 YEARS Digging deeper + Inthe enhanced convective phase, winds at the surface converge, and ar is pushed up throughout the atmosphere. + Atthe top of the atmosphere, the winds diverge. Such rising air motion in the atmosphere tends to inerease condensation and rainfall + Inthe suppressed convective phase, winds converge atthe top ofthe atmosphere, forcing ar to sink and, later, to diverge atthe surface + As ir sinks ftom high altitudes, it warms and dries, which suppresses rainfall,‘+ Ibis this entire dipole stucture, illustrated in the Figure above that moves west fo east with time inthe Tropics, eausing more cloudiness, rainfall, and even storminess inthe enhanced convective phase, and more sunshine and dryness in the suppressed convective phase How does MJO affect Indian Monsoon? + The journey of MJO goes through eight phases, a the oscillation propagates from the Indian Ocean through the Pacific Ocean and into the Wester Hemisphere, When itis over the Indian Ovean during the Monsoon season, it brings good rainfall over the Indian subcontinent, (On the other hand, when it witnesses a longer eycle and stays over the Pacific Ocean, MJO brings bad news forthe Indian Monsoon. Basically it is linked with enhanced and suppressed rainfall activity inthe tropics and is very important forthe Indian monsoonal rainfall. If the periodicity of MJO is nearly 30 days then it brings good rainfall during the Monsoon season. fits above 40 days in Pacific then MIO doesn't give good showers and could even lead toa dry Monsoon Shorter the eyele of MJO, better the Indian Monsoon. Simply because, it then visits the Indian Ovean more oflen during the four month-long period + Presence of MJO over the Pacifie Ocean along with an El Nino is detrimental for Monsoon rains. Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Download PDE