Differences in the quasi-biennial oscillation and quasi-triennial oscillation characteristics of the solar, interplanetary, and terrestrial parameters

Abstract

The 12-month running means (12 m) and the parameter (12-36 m) representing the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBU) and quasi-triennial oscillation (QTO) were examined and spectrally analyzed for several solar, interplanetary, and terrestrial parameters. Solar indices (including solar open magnetic flux in solar latitudes <45°) had a QBO in the form of double peaks separated by ∼2-3 years during sunspot maximum years and smaller waves in other phases of the sunspot cycle. In the interplanetary space a similar structure was seen only in interplanetary total magnetic field B. Interplanetary N and V had long-term variations different from solar variations. For ground-level solar proton events as well as all solar proton events observed in satellites and for geomagnetic Dst and Ap, a partial relationship with V (solar wind) is indicated. Cosmic rays observed on Earth seem to have peaks matching with those of solar indices. In the terrestrial atmosphere, stratospheric wind has a predominant QBO similar to solar indices, but the sequence is more uniform than that of the QBO of solar indices. The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices (T-D) and Pacific sea surface temperature have overall characteristics different from those of stratospheric winds or solar indices. Thus there seem to be probably at least four QBO-QTO regimes, namely those of (1) solar indices at low solar latitudes, (2) interplanetary parameters near Earth, (3) terrestrial low-latitude stratospheric zonal winds, and (4) terrestrial ENSO phenomena. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.