Inconsistent Variations Between the Northern and Southern North Pacific Storm Track

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, the North Pacific storm track (PST) is divided into the northern PST (NPST) and southern PST (SPST). The consistencies of the interannual‐to‐interdecadal and climatological variations between the NPST and SPST are investigated. On an interannual‐to‐interdecadal scale, the PST‐related meridional dipole of the upper‐level zonal wind anomalies is largely associated with the NPST. Only the NPST is significantly associated with the North Pacific atmospheric blocking and the Pacific‐North American teleconnection pattern. The NPST‐related sea surface temperature anomalies are confined to the North Pacific. In contrast, the SPST‐related sea surface temperature anomalies basically coincide with the Indian Ocean basin mode and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. The climatological seasonal cycles of the NPST and SPST exhibit double‐peak and single‐peak structures, respectively, in accordance with the linear baroclinic instability theory. In general, the interannual‐to‐interdecadal and climatological variations in the NPST intensity are inconsistent with those in the SPST intensity.