A Theoretical Explanation of Anomalous Atmospheric Circulation Associated with ENSO Modoki during Boreal Winter

Based on a linear model, the present study provides analytical solutions for ideal triple forcing sources similar to sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) patterns associated with El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Modoki in winter. The ideal triple pattern is composed of an equatorially symmetric heat source in the middle and equatorially asymmetric cold forcing in the southeast and northwest. The equatorially symmetric heat source excites low-level cyclonic circulation anomalies associated with Rossby waves in both hemispheres, while the northwestern and southeastern equatorially asymmetric cold sources induce low-level anomalous anticyclones associated with Rossby waves in the hemisphere where the forcing source is located. Low-level zonal winds converge toward the heat sources associated with Kelvin and Rossby waves. Due to unequal forcing intensity in the northwest and southeast, atmospheric responses around the equatorially symmetric forcing become asymmetric, and low-level cyclonic circulation anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere become greater than those in the Northern Hemisphere. Ascending (descending) flows coincide with heat (cold) sources, resulting in a double-cell structure over the regions of forcing sources. Ideal triple patterns similar to SSTA patterns associated with La Nina Modoki produce opposite atmospheric responses. The theoretical atmospheric responses are consistent with observed circulation anomalies associated with ENSO Modoki. Therefore, the theoretical solutions can explain the dynamics responsible for atmospheric circulation anomalies associated with ENSO Modoki events.