Tropical instability waves (TIWs) are an important component of the equatorial Pacific climate. An analysis of satellite observations, in situ measurements and ocean circulation models indicates that TIW activity has intensified in the central equatorial Pacific by approximately 12 ± 6% per decade since the 1990s.
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References
Willett, C. S., Leben, R. R. & Lavín, M. F. Eddies and tropical instability waves in the eastern tropical Pacific: a review. Prog. Oceanogr. 69, 218–238 (2006). A review article that presents characteristics of Pacific TIWs.
Holmes, R. M., Thomas, L. N., Thompson, L. & Darr, D. Potential vorticity dynamics of tropical instability vortices. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 44, 995–1011 (2014). This paper reports multiscale ocean dynamics associated with TIWs.
Maillard, L., Boucharel, J. & Renault, L. Direct and rectified effects of tropical instability waves on the eastern tropical Pacific mean state in a regional ocean model. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 52, 1817–1834 (2022). This paper reports the effects of TIWs on the eastern tropical Pacific mean state.
Xue, A., Zhang, W., Boucharel, J. & Jin, F. F. Anomalous tropical instability wave activity hindered the development of the 2016/17 La Niña. J. Clim. 34, 5583–5600 (2021). This paper reports the damping effects of TIWs on La Niña.
Wang, M., Xie, S. P., Shen, S. S. & Du, Y. Rossby and Yanai modes of tropical instability waves in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and a diagnostic model for surface currents. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 50, 3009–3024 (2020). This paper presents a diagnostic model for equatorial ageostrophic currents.
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This is a summary of: Wang, M. et al. Intensification of Pacific tropical instability waves over the recent three decades. Nat. Clim. Change https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01915-x (2024).
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Pacific tropical instability waves have intensified since the 1990s. Nat. Clim. Chang. 14, 124–125 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01916-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01916-w
