Madden-julian oscillation (MJO)

Abstract

TheMJO is a large-scale quasiperiodic oscillation of tropical atmospheric circulation and convection anomalies that moves slowly eastward along the equator mainly over the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans with a timescale on the order of 30-60 days. The MJO is the dominant form of the intraseasonal variability in the tropical atmosphere and has many important influences on the globalweather and climate system. Since the 1970s, the satellite remote sensing data have played a fundamental role in advancing our knowledge in the MJO, particularly in terms of its description, theoretical mechanisms, and global impacts. First, the satellite data provided us the fundamental knowledge of the convective and dynamic features of the MJO. Second, the satellite data presented us the three-dimensional thermodynamic structure and the surface condition (e.g., SST and surface heat flux) evolution associated with the MJO that helped us to better understand the MJO and propose theoretical description. Third, the satellite data offered us the opportunity to discover the global impacts of the MJO that have relevance to societal concerns such as extreme precipitation events, atmospheric composition, air quality, and biological markers in the ocean.