The QBO-MJO connection: A possible role for the SST and ENSO

When driven with prescribed observed SST anomalies based on composites for QBO east and QBO west (QBOE and QBOW), however, the same atmospheric model produces a modest enhancement of MJO power during QBOE relative to QBOW, as observed. We explore the possibility that the SST anomalies are forced by the QBO itself. Indeed, composite Hovm oller diagrams based on observations show the propagation of QBO zonal wind anomalies all the way from the upper stratosphere to the surface.

Also, subsurface ocean temperature composites reveal a similarity between the western Pacific and Indian Ocean subsurface signal between La Nina and QBOE.