ENSO-Monsoon relationship in a greenhouse warming scenario

Abstract

Recent studies based on observed climatic data indicate weakening of the relationship between El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian summer monsoon rainfall, possibly due to global warming. Transient climate change simulations of a coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM (ECHAM4/OPYC3) project a change towards enhanced ENSO activities in the tropical Pacific, as well as increase in mean monsoon rainfall and variability over India. However, the interannual correlations between the two are strong throughout the 240 year simulation. Analysis of monsoon viz-a-viz ENSO in the model simulations suggest a diminished impact of warm ENSO (El Niño) events on monsoon, while the impact of cold ENSO (La Niña) events remains unchanged in the scenario. Anomalous warming over the Eurasian landmass as well as enhanced moisture conditions over the Indian monsoon region in the global warming scenario have possibly contributed to the weakening of the impact of warm ENSO events on monsoon.