ESS200A
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Why Only Pacific Has ENSO?
qBased
on the delayed oscillator theory of ENSO, the ocean basin
has to be big enough to produce the “delayed” from ocean
wave propagation and reflection.
qIt
can be shown that only the Pacific Ocean is “big” (wide) enough
to produce such delayed for the ENSO cycle.
qIt is
generally believed that the Atlantic Ocean may produce
ENSO-like oscillation if external forcing are applied
to the Atlantic Ocean.
qThe
Indian Ocean is considered too small to produce ENSO.