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Construction of low dimensional models of El Niño-southern oscillation using empirical orthogonal functions

Citation

Roulston, Mark Stephen (2000) Construction of low dimensional models of El Niño-southern oscillation using empirical orthogonal functions. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/32fe-ag39. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01242013-112006606

Abstract

The main theme of this thesis is the construction and analysis of low dimensional dynamical models of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Low dimensional models of ENSO have been constructed [Val86, WF96, Jin97b] but all the models were built on ad hoc assumptions and simplifications. The low dimensional models in this thesis were constructed from a higher dimensional intermediate coupled model (ICM) by Galerkin projection on truncated basis sets of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs), a method that has previously been applied to atmospheric models and models of turbulence [Sel95, HLB96]. This method makes no simplications to the physics of the ICM but instead projects it into a lower dimensional subspace of its full state space that has been empirically shown to contain the maximum amount of variance of any subspace of the same dimension.

Analysis of the reduced models shows that the variability of the full model can be explained by three types of mode; I. self-sustaining. II. linearly stable but nonlinearly coupled to a self-sustaining mode, III. linearly stable and excited by noise. When driven by noise the stable modes can couple to the primary modes, and this provides an additional pathway for noise to perturb these leading modes.

The implication is that the behavior of the model without stochastic forcing can be well reproduced by the low dimensional models obtained by projection onto the leading EOFs but that many more EOFs are required to properly model the response to stochastic forcing.

Experiments with the full model also indicate that the model is not efficient at transferring power from high (intraseasonal) frequencies to low (interannual) frequencies. In particular the impact of a Madden-Julian type oscillation in the 30-60 day frequency range on the interannual ENSO variability is negligble compared to the impact of the interannual component of atmospheric variability.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Planetary Science
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Geological and Planetary Sciences
Major Option:Planetary Sciences
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Yung, Yuk L.
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:22 November 1999
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:01242013-112006606
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01242013-112006606
DOI:10.7907/32fe-ag39
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:7432
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Dan Anguka
Deposited On:24 Jan 2013 19:47
Last Modified:08 Nov 2023 00:36

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