Propagation of planetary-scale zonal mean wind anomalies and polar oscillations

Global atmospheric variables can be physically decomposed into four components:(1) the zonal time averaged climate symmetric component,(2) the time averaged climate asymmetric,(3) the zonal-mean transient symmetric anomaly,and (4) the transient asymmetric anomaly.This study analyzes the relationships between the intra-seasonal and inter-annual variability of planetary scale decomposed zonal and meridional winds in the tropopause,and oscillations such as those from the El Ni o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO),the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO).The tropical inter-annual zonal mean wind anomalies in the tropopause are linked with the ENSO cycle and can propagate into the subtropics,mid-latitudes,and polar front regions via abnormal meridional vertical cells.Similarly,tropical intra-seasonal (40-60-d) zonal wind anomalies can reach the subtropics and mid-latitudes.The polar intra-seasonal zonal wind anomalies in the tropopause can propagate toward high-latitude areas.Thus,the AO and the AAO are the result of the interaction and propagation of these planetary scale zonal wind anomalies.