Designing Efficient Observing Networks for ENSO Prediction

Abstract

The Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array of moored buoys in the tropical Pacific Ocean is a major source of data for understanding and predicting El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Despite the importance of the TAO array, limited work has been performed where observations are most important for predicting ENSO effectively. To address this issue, this study performs a series of observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) with a linearized intermediate coupled ENSO model, stochastically forced. ENSO forecasts are simulated for a variety of observing network configurations, and forecast skill averaged over many simulated ENSO events is compared. The first part of this study examined the relative importance of sea surface temperature (SST) and subsurface ocean observations, requirements for spacing and meridional extent of observations, and important regions for observations in this system. Using these results as a starting point, this paper develops efficient observing networks for forecasting ENSO in this system, where efficient is defined as providing reasonably skillful forecasts for relatively few observations. First, efficient networks that provide SST and thermocline depth data at the same locations are developed and discussed. Second, efficient networks of only thermocline depth observations are addressed, assuming that many SST observations are available from another source (e.g., satellites). The dependence of the OSSE results on the duration of the simulated data record is also explored. The results suggest that several decades of data may be sufficient for evaluating the effects of observing networks on ENSO forecast skill, despite being insufficient for evaluating the long-term potential predictability of ENSO.