Differences in the quasi‐biennial oscillation and quasi‐triennial oscillation characteristics of the solar, interplanetary, and terrestrial parameters

Abstract

The 12‐month running means (12 m) and the parameter (12–36 m) representing the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) and quasi‐triennial oscillation (QTO) were examined and spectrally analyzed for several solar, interplanetary, and terrestrial parameters. Solar indices (including solar open magnetic flux in solar latitudes <45°) had a QBO in the form of double peaks separated by ∼2–3 years during sunspot maximum years and smaller waves in other phases of the sunspot cycle. In the interplanetary space a similar structure was seen only in interplanetary total magnetic field B. Interplanetary N and V had long‐term variations different from solar variations. For ground‐level solar proton events as well as all solar proton events observed in satellites and for geomagnetic Dst and Ap, a partial relationship with V (solar wind) is indicated. Cosmic rays observed on Earth seem to have peaks matching with those of solar indices. In the terrestrial atmosphere, stratospheric wind has a predominant QBO similar to solar indices, but the sequence is more uniform than that of the QBO of solar indices. The El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices (T‐D) and Pacific sea surface temperature have overall characteristics different from those of stratospheric winds or solar indices. Thus there seem to be probably at least four QBO‐QTO regimes, namely those of (1) solar indices at low solar latitudes, (2) interplanetary parameters near Earth, (3) terrestrial low‐latitude stratospheric zonal winds, and (4) terrestrial ENSO phenomena.