Contrasting global teleconnection features of the eastern Pacific and central Pacific El Nino events

Being triggered by different physical processes, the eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Nifio events have several different teleconnection features around the globe. Using the ERA-Interim re-analysis monthly data during the period 1980-2016, the El Nitio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnections on the global scale and their statistical significance are investigated, with an emphasis on the contrasting features of the EP and CP El Nib) events. With some exceptions, the EP El Nifio and La Nifia have generally similar teleconnection patterns with the reversed sign, while in some parts of the globe different and occasionally contrasting teleconnections of the EP and CP El Niflo events are identified. Compared to the CP El Nifio, more regions of the world are influenced by the statistically significant positive surface pressure anomalies during the EP El Niflo, particularly over the Indian Ocean, tropical Atlantic and Northern Africa. It is found that the mid-tropospheric geopotential height anomalies across the globe are significantly different during the EP and CP El Nifio events. Associated with different surface pressure and mid-tropospheric geopotential height anomalies, precipitation anomalies in many regions of the world are found different during the EP and CP El Nifio events, particularly over the tropical Pacific, central to eastern equatorial Atlantic and the eastern Sahara. While central and eastern equatorial Atlantic experience statistically significant negative (positive) rainfall anomalies during the EP El Nifio (La Nina), the CP El Nifio does not have a strong influence on the amount of annual rainfall over the equatorial Atlantic. For the first time, statistically significant anomalously dry conditions are found over some parts of the Middle East and Southwest Asia during La Nifia, and over the eastern Sahara during the EP El Nino. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.