Multidecadal variations of the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the climate system

Brönnimann, Stefan; Malik, Abdul; Stickler, Alexander; Wegmann, Martin; Raible, Christoph C.; Muthers, Stefan; Anet, Julien G.; Rozanov, Eugene; Schmutz, Werner

doi:10.21256/zhaw-4650

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4650

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Multidecadal variations of the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the climate system
Authors:	Brönnimann, Stefan Malik, Abdul Stickler, Alexander Wegmann, Martin Raible, Christoph C. Muthers, Stefan Anet, Julien G. Rozanov, Eugene Schmutz, Werner
DOI:	10.21256/zhaw-4650 10.5194/acp-16-15529-2016
Published in:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Volume(Issue):	2016
Issue:	16
Page(s):	15529
Pages to:	15543
Issue Date:	Dec-2016
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Copernicus
ISSN:	1680-7316 1680-7324
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	551: Geology and hydrology
Abstract:	Effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) on tropospheric climate are not always strong or they appear only intermittently. Studying them requires long time series of both the QBO and climate variables, which has restricted previous studies to the past 30–50 years. Here we use the benefits of an existing QBO reconstruction back to 1908. We first investigate additional, newly digitized historical observations of stratospheric winds to test the reconstruction. Then we use the QBO time series to analyse atmospheric data sets (reconstructions and reanalyses) as well as the results of coupled ocean–atmosphere-chemistry climate model simulations that were forced with the reconstructed QBO. We investigate effects related to (1) tropical-extratropical interaction in the stratosphere, wave-mean flow interaction and subsequent downward propagation, and (2) interaction between deep tropical convection and stratospheric flow. We generally find weak connections, though some are statistically significant over the 100-year period and consistent with model results. Apparent multidecadal variations in the connection between the QBO and the investigated climate responses are consistent with a small effect in the presence of large variability, with one exception: the imprint on the northern polar vortex, which is seen in recent reanalysis data, is not found in the period 1908-1957. Conversely, an imprint in Berlin surface air temperature is only found in 1908-1957 but not in the recent period. Likewise, in the model simulations both links tend to appear alternatingly, suggesting a more systematic modulation due to a shift in the circulation, for example. Over the Pacific warm pool, we find increased convection during easterly QBO, mainly in boreal winter in observation-based data as well as in the model simulations, with large variability. No QBO effects were found in the Indian monsoon strength or Atlantic hurricane frequency.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/8902
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 3.0: Attribution 3.0 Unported
Departement:	School of Engineering
Organisational Unit:	Centre for Aviation (ZAV)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Engineering

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Brönnimann, S., Malik, A., Stickler, A., Wegmann, M., Raible, C. C., Muthers, S., Anet, J. G., Rozanov, E., & Schmutz, W. (2016). Multidecadal variations of the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the climate system. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2016(16), 15529–15543. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4650

Brönnimann, S. et al. (2016) ‘Multidecadal variations of the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the climate system’, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2016(16), pp. 15529–15543. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4650.

S. Brönnimann et al., “Multidecadal variations of the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the climate system,” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 2016, no. 16, pp. 15529–15543, Dec. 2016, doi: 10.21256/zhaw-4650.

BRÖNNIMANN, Stefan, Abdul MALIK, Alexander STICKLER, Martin WEGMANN, Christoph C. RAIBLE, Stefan MUTHERS, Julien G. ANET, Eugene ROZANOV und Werner SCHMUTZ, 2016. Multidecadal variations of the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the climate system. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Dezember 2016. Bd. 2016, Nr. 16, S. 15529–15543. DOI 10.21256/zhaw-4650

Brönnimann, Stefan, Abdul Malik, Alexander Stickler, Martin Wegmann, Christoph C. Raible, Stefan Muthers, Julien G. Anet, Eugene Rozanov, and Werner Schmutz. 2016. “Multidecadal Variations of the Effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the Climate System.” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 2016 (16): 15529–43. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4650.

Brönnimann, Stefan, et al. “Multidecadal Variations of the Effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the Climate System.” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 2016, no. 16, Dec. 2016, pp. 15529–43, https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4650.