ESS228
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Delayed Oscillator: Wind Forcing
•The delayed oscillator suggested that oceanic Rossby and Kevin waves forced by atmospheric wind stress in the central Pacific provide the phase-transition mechanism (I.e. memory) for the ENSO cycle.
•The propagation and reflection of waves, together with local air-sea coupling,  determine the period of the cycle.
delayed delayed
Atmospheric Wind Forcing
Oceanic Wave Response
Rossby Wave
Kevin Wave
(Figures from IRI)