Role of the oceanic bridge in linking the 18.6 year modulation of tidal mixing and long-term SST change in the North Pacific

Abstract

The impact of the 18.6 year modulation of tidal mixing on sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Pacific is investigated in a comparative study using an ocean data synthesis system. We show that remote impact through a slow ocean response can make a significant contribution to the observed bidecadal variation in wintertime SST near the center of action of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation in the eastern Pacific. A comparative data synthesis experiment showed that the modified SST variation is amplified by bidecadal variation in the westerly wind. This relationship between SST and wind variations is consistent with an observed air-sea coupled mode in the extratropics, which suggests that a midlatitude air-sea interaction plays an important role in enhancing the climate signal of the 18.6 year modulation. This result supports the hypothesis that the 18.6 year tidal cycle influences long-term variability in climate; thus, knowledge of this cycle could contribute toward improving decadal predictions of climate. Key Points The 18.6 year modulation of tidal mixing makes a significant contribution on SSTSlow ocean response plays an important roleModified SST may be amplified through a midlatitude air-sea interaction