Intensification of Pacific Trade Wind and Related Changes in the Relationship Between Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Level Pressure

Abstract

This study applies a quantitative method to analyze variation in Pacific trade winds in 1950–2020. It's found that the southeast and northeast trade winds enter an acceleration period since the mid to late 1990s while the wind are enhanced in each month of the year. The enhancement of southeast trade wind is less intense than that of northeast trade wind. Further analysis shows that after the acceleration, the correlation between sea level pressure/sea surface temperature (SST) and the trade wind speed in the Pacific subtropical high area are obviously strengthened. The negative correlation between sea level pressure and SST in this area is also enhanced, which may be due to the enhancement of trade wind that have caused a decrease in SST. The reduction further enhanced and maintained a higher sea level pressure, thus forming a configuration which is conducive to the intensification of trade wind.