Modulation of wet‐season rainfall over Iran by the Madden–Julian Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole and El Niño–Southern Oscillation

Abstract

The intra‐seasonal variation of precipitation over Iran is examined in terms of the combined effects of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), using daily observations during the wet season (October–May) from 1961 to 2015. We have examined how the probability of daily rainfall above the upper tercile varies across MJO phases during positive and negative IOD and ENSO states. The results indicate that the response of Iran's wet‐season rainfall to the MJO is affected more by large‐scale atmospheric variations associated with the IOD than by ENSO. The negative (positive) IOD strengthens (suppresses) the MJO–rainfall relationship in the wet and dry MJO phases. The variation in the atmospheric variables (relative humidity and vertical velocity) indicates more (less) humidity and upwards (downwards) motion which increases (decreases) precipitation in wet (dry) MJO phases during the negative IOD. The rainfall relationship with the MJO during the negative IOD is statistically significant, while the relationship during the positive IOD is weak; and no significant relationship is found during either phase of ENSO.