Terrestrial Water Storage Anomalies Emphasize Interannual Variations in Global Mean Sea Level During 1997–1998 and 2015–2016 El Ni?o Events
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal Volume
48
Journal Issue
18
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
Interannual variations in global mean sea level (GMSL) closely correlate with the evolution of El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation. However, GMSL differences occur in extreme El Ni?os; for example, in the 2015–2016 and 1997–1998 El Ni?os, the peak GMSL during the mature stage of the former (9.00?mm) is almost 2.5 times higher than the latter (3.72?mm). Analyses from satellite and reanalysis data sets show that the disparity in GMSL is primarily due to barystatic (ocean mass) changes. We find that the 2015–2016 event developed not purely as an Eastern Pacific El Ni?o event but with Central Pacific (CP) El Ni?o forcing. CP El Ni?os contribute to a stronger negative anomaly of global terrestrial water storage and subsequent higher barystatic heights. Our results suggest that the mechanism of hydrology-related interannual variations of GMSL should be further emphasized, as more CP El Ni?o events are projected to occur. ? 2021 The Authors.
Subjects
El Nino
global mean sea level
terrestrial water storage anomaly
Digital storage
Nickel compounds
Sea level
Data set
EL Nino
El Nino event
Global mean sea levels
Interannual variation
Level difference
Mass change
Reanalysis
Terrestrial water storage
Terrestrial water storage anomaly
Atmospheric pressure
annual variation
El Nino-Southern Oscillation
satellite data
sea level
terrestrial environment
water storage
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean (Central)
Type
journal article