Co-variability of poleward propagating atmospheric energy with tropical and higher-latitude climate oscillations

Abstract

One may infer from the poleward propagation of angular momentum that energy change in tropical regions may be manifested in polar regions through a poleward propagation. This idea does not seem to be extensively addressed in the literature. It has been found that the poleward propagation of total atmospheric energy appears to connect the tropics and the polar regions on the interannual timescale. The present study explores how this poleward propagation may be linked to prominent climate oscillations such as ENSO, PNA, NAO, AO, AAO, and PSA. Analysis suggests that the poleward propagation of energy is likely a result of the atmospheric circulation change modulated by the climate patterns of ENSO, PNA, NAO, AO from tropical to Arctic regions and by the climate patterns of ENSO, PSA, AAO from tropical to Antarctic regions. The existence of the poleward energy propagation may shed light on studies exploring the link- age between topical climate and polar climate.