Quasi-biennial Oscillation Period Research Articles

Contributions of Parameterized Gravity Waves and Resolved Equatorial Waves to the QBO Period in a Future Climate of CESM2

AbstractContributions of the resolved waves and parameterized gravity waves to changes in the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) in a future simulation (2015–2100) under the SSP370 scenario are investigated using the Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2) with enhanced vertical resolution and are compared with those from four CESM2 historical simulations (1979–2014). The maximum QBO amplitude of the future simulation is 26.0 m s−1, which is slightly less than that of the historical simulations (27.4–29.3 m s−1). However, the QBO period in the future simulation is much shorter: 21.6 months in the early‐future (2015–2050) and 12 months in the late‐future (2065–2100) period, than in the historical simulations (23.5–30.9 months). The shortened QBO period in the future is primarily due to increases in both resolved wave forcing and parameterized gravity wave drag (GWD) in the stratosphere, with a more significant contribution by the GWD. As convective activity becomes stronger in the future simulation, the momentum flux of parameterized convective gravity waves at the cloud top increases, resulting in stronger GWD in the stratosphere. The increases in the magnitude of westward GWD dominate those of eastward GWD in the stratosphere. This is due to a significant increase in westward momentum flux in the troposphere, especially during the descending easterly QBO, and enhanced westerlies in the lowermost stratosphere, which introduces a westward anomaly. For the resolved waves, Kelvin wave forcing is a key contributor to increased eastward forcing in the future simulation, with relatively minor contributions by other equatorial planetary waves.

The graft‐versus‐host problem for data‐driven gravity‐wave parameterizations in a one‐dimensional quasibiennial oscillation model

AbstractTwo key challenges in the development of data‐driven gravity‐wave parameterizations are generalization, how to ensure that a data‐driven scheme trained on the present‐day climate will continue to work in a new climate regime, and calibration, how to account for biases in the “host” climate model. Both problems depend fundamentally on the response to out‐of‐sample inputs compared with the training dataset, and are often conflicting. The ability to generalize to new climate regimes often goes hand in hand with sensitivity to model biases. To probe these challenges, we employ a one‐dimensional (1D) quasibiennial oscillation (QBO) model with a stochastic source term that represents convectively generated gravity waves in the Tropics with randomly varying strengths and spectra. We employ an array of machine‐learning models consisting of a fully connected feed‐forward neural network, a dilated convolutional neural network, an encoder–decoder, a boosted forest, and a support‐vector regression model. Our results demonstrate that data‐driven schemes trained on “observations” can be critically sensitive to model biases in the wave sources. While able to emulate accurately the stochastic source term on which they were trained, all of our schemes fail to simulate fully the expected QBO period or amplitude, even with the slightest perturbation to the wave sources. The main takeaway is that some measures will always be required to ensure the proper response to climate change and to account for model biases. We examine one approach based on the ideas of optimal transport, where the wave sources in the model are first remapped to the observed one before applying the data‐driven scheme. This approach is agnostic to the data‐driven method and guarantees that the model adheres to the observational constraints, making sure the model yields the right results for the right reasons.

Exploring the ENSO modulation of the QBO periods with GISS E2.2 models

Abstract. Observational studies have shown that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exerts an influence on the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO). The downward propagation of the QBO tends to speed up and slow down during El Niño and La Niña, respectively. Recent results from general circulation models have indicated that the ENSO modulation of the QBO requires a relatively high horizontal resolution, and that it does not show up in the climate models with parameterized but temporally constant gravity wave sources. Here, we demonstrate that the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) E2.2 models can capture the observed ENSO modulation of the QBO period with a horizontal resolution of 2∘ latitude by 2.5∘ longitude but with its gravity wave sources being parameterized interactively. This is because El Niño events lead to more vigorous gravity wave sources generating more absolute momentum fluxes over the equatorial belt, as well as less filtering of these waves into the tropical lower stratosphere through a weakening of the Walker circulation. Various components of the ENSO system, such as the sea surface temperatures, the convective activities, and the Walker circulation, are intimately involved in the generation and propagation of parameterized gravity waves, through which ENSO modulates the QBO period in GISS E2.2 models.

Quasi-biennial modulation of total ozone distribution from equator to polar regions based on observations

The modulation of total ozone (TOZ) by the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) not only at the equator, but also at subtropics, middle and high latitudes has long been known. As well, a large number of studies have shown seasonal synchronization and interhemispheric asymmetry of QBO effects in the TOZ in extratropical regions. However, the proposed mechanisms of seasonality and asymmetry as a consequence of the interaction of the quasi-biennial and annual cycles are not well understood. A great problem in comparing model simulations with observations and, hence, in verifying theoretical assumptions about the mechanism of extratropical ozone QBO, is the continually changing phase relationship between the annual and quasi-biennial cycles. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that, as is commonly believed, the wind QBO period is not constant, but varies irregularly from one cycle to another. In this study the influence of the QBO of equatorial stratospheric wind on the global distribution of the TOZ has been analyzed using the SBUV Merged Ozone Data Set (MOD). The investigation of the QBO effects in the TOZ in the subtropics, middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres is based on accounting for the seasonal regularities of the wind QBO, which leads to a limited number of only certain combinations of the quasi-biennial and annual cycles that can be realized. The smaller variability serves to clarify the nature of changes in extratropical ozone. A detailed analysis of the TOZ data for 1970–2021 showed that the interannual TOZ variability at subtropics, middle and high latitudes depends on the alternation of wind QBO cycles of different scenarios. The key moments of the TOZ variations are clearly associated with certain points in time during the downward propagation of the easterly and westerly QBO wind regimes and the seasonally dependent QBO circulation produced by them. These results contradict the general view that it is difficult to isolate the effect of QBO on the TOZ in extratropics because of the irregularly varying QBO period, and can be used in comparing simulated and observed extratropical ozone QBO, as well as in long-term forecast of variations in the TOZ distribution.

Calibration and Uncertainty Quantification of a Gravity Wave Parameterization: A Case Study of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation in an Intermediate Complexity Climate Model

AbstractThe drag due to breaking atmospheric gravity waves plays a leading order role in driving the middle atmosphere circulation, but as their horizontal wavelength range from tens to thousands of kilometers, part of their spectrum must be parameterized in climate models. Gravity wave parameterizations prescribe a source spectrum of waves in the lower atmosphere and allow these to propagate upwards until they either dissipate or break, where they deposit drag on the large‐scale flow. These parameterizations are a source of uncertainty in climate modeling which is generally not quantified. Here, we explore the uncertainty associated with a non‐orographic gravity wave parameterization given an assumed parameterization structure within a global climate model of intermediate complexity, using the Calibrate, Emulate and Sample (CES) method. We first calibrate the uncertain parameters that define the gravity wave source spectrum in the tropics, to obtain climate model settings that are consistent with properties of the primary mode of tropical stratospheric variability, the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO). Then we use a Gaussian process emulator to sample the calibrated distribution of parameters and quantify the uncertainty of these parameter choices. We find that the resulting parametric uncertainties on the QBO period and amplitude are of a similar magnitude to the internal variability under a 2xCO2 forcing.

Response of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation to Historical Volcanic Eruptions

AbstractThe impact of volcanic eruptions on surface climate is well‐appreciated, but their in situ impact on the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) has received comparatively little attention. This study examines the QBO responses to Krakatoa and Pinatubo using five configurations of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Model E2.2 and MERRA‐2 reanalysis. A dynamically consistent response is found in terms of static stability, zonal wind, and upwelling. Eruptions are found to bias the QBO towards a westerly state, such that the QBO period response depends upon the phase at the time of eruption. The QBO does not have a clear amplitude response to an eruption, based on these simulations. The underlying mechanisms appear not to be influenced to first‐order by interactive composition, sea surface temperatures, or long‐term trends in and ozone‐depleting substances.

Simulations of Ozone Feedback Effects on the Equatorial Quasi-Biennial Oscillation with a Chemistry–Climate Model

Ozone feedback effects on the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) were investigated with a chemistry–climate model (CCM) by modifying ozone abundance in the radiative process. Under a standard run for 50 years, the CCM could realistically reproduce the QBO of about a 28-month period for wind and ozone. Five experiment runs were made for 20 years through varying ozone abundance only in the equatorial stratosphere from 100 to 10 hPa by −40, −20, −10, +10, and +20%, respectively, after the chemistry module and transferring the resultant ozone to the radiation calculation. It was found that the modification of ozone abundance in the radiation substantially changed the period of the QBO but slightly influenced the amplitude of the QBO. The 10% and 20% increase runs led to longer QBO periods (31 and 34 months) than that of the standard run, i.e., lengthening by 3 and 6 months, while the 10%, 20%, and 40% decrease runs resulted in shorter periods (24, 22, and 17 months), i.e., shortening by 4, 6, and 11 months. These substantial changes in the QBO period in the experiment runs indicate that the ozone feedback significantly affects the QBO dynamics through the modulation in solar heating.

The impact of increasing stratospheric radiative damping on the quasi-biennial oscillation period

Abstract. Stratospheric radiative damping increases as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration rises. We use the one-dimensional mechanistic models of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) to conduct sensitivity experiments and find that the simulated QBO period shortens due to the enhancing of radiative damping in the stratosphere. This result suggests that increasing stratospheric radiative damping due to rising CO2 may play a role in determining the QBO period in a warming climate along with wave momentum flux entering the stratosphere and tropical vertical residual velocity, both of which also respond to increasing CO2.

Dynamical and Trace Gas Responses of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation to Increased CO2

AbstractLong‐term projections of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) remain uncertain. Using the high‐top “Middle Atmosphere” (MA) version of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) ModelE (E2.2‐AP), we show that increased CO2 reduces the QBO period and weakens its amplitude, consistent with results from recent multimodel studies. The amplitude response is asymmetric, with the easterly phase weakening more than the westerly phase. Results from both coupled atmosphere‐ocean and climatologically fixed sea surface temperature simulations link the period response to changes in parameterized convective gravity wave fluxes, whereas the amplitude changes are more closely tied to changes in tropical upwelling. Comparisons of simulations with and without ozone‐dynamical feedbacks reveal that ozone feedbacks increase the QBO amplitude and period in pre‐industrial control simulations, and reduce the response of the amplitude to increased CO2. The response of stratospheric tracers to projected changes in the QBO is also investigated. Similarity between results using fully interactive (trace gas and aerosol) versus linearized ozone chemical mechanisms suggests that the QBO response to CO2 does not depend on additional chemical feedbacks beyond those associated with ozone, which implies that projected QBO changes may be credibly represented using simplified stratospheric ozone schemes.

Quasi-Biennial Oscillation and Sudden Stratospheric Warmings during the Last Glacial Maximum

The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) are investigated in simulations using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model version 6 (WACCM6). We find that the period of QBO, which is 27 months in the preindustrial and modern climate simulations, was 33 months in the LGM simulation using the proxy sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and 41 months using the model-based LGM SSTs. We show that the longer QBO period in the LGM is due to weaker wave forcing. The WACCM6 simulations of the LGM, preindustrial, and modern climates do not support previous modeling work that suggests that the QBO amplitude is smaller (larger) in a warmer (colder) climate. We find that SSWs in the LGM occurred later in the year, as compared to the preindustrial and modern climate, but that time of the final warming was similar. The difference in SSW frequency is inconclusive.

Subseasonal midlatitude prediction skill following Quasi-Biennial Oscillation and Madden–Julian Oscillation activity

Abstract. The Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) is known to force extratropical weather days to weeks following an MJO event through excitation of stationary Rossby waves, also referred to as tropical–extratropical teleconnections. Prior research has demonstrated that this tropically forced midlatitude response leads to increased prediction skill on subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) timescales. Furthermore, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) has been shown to possibly alter these teleconnections through modulation of the MJO itself and the atmospheric basic state upon which the Rossby waves propagate. This implies that the MJO–QBO relationship may affect midlatitude circulation prediction skill on S2S timescales. In this study, we quantify midlatitude circulation sensitivity and prediction skill following active MJOs and QBOs across the Northern Hemisphere on S2S timescales through an examination of the 500 hPa geopotential height field. First, a comparison of the spatial distribution of Northern Hemisphere sensitivity to the MJO during different QBO phases is performed for European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis and ECMWF and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) hindcasts. Secondly, differences in prediction skill in ECMWF and NCEP hindcasts are quantified following MJO–QBO activity. In both hindcast systems, we find that regions across the Pacific, North America, and the Atlantic demonstrate an enhanced MJO impact on prediction skill during strong QBO periods with lead times of 1–4 weeks compared to MJO events during neutral QBO periods.

Impact of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on the Northern Winter Stratospheric Polar Vortex in CMIP5/6 Models

AbstractUsing 16 CMIP5/6 models with a spontaneously generated quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO)-like phenomenon, this study investigates the impact of the QBO on the northern winter stratosphere. Eight of the models simulate a QBO with a period similar to that observed (25–31 months), with other models simulating a QBO period of 20–40 months. Regardless of biases in QBO periodicity, the Holton–Tan relationship can be well simulated in CMIP5/6 models with more planetary wave convergence in the polar stratosphere in easterly QBO winters. This wave polar convergence occurs not only due to the Holton–Tan mechanism, but also in the midlatitude upper stratosphere where an Elissen–Palm (E-P) flux divergence dipole (with poleward E-P flux) is simulated in most models. The wave response in the upper stratosphere appears related to changes in the background circulation through a directly excited meridional–vertical circulation cell above the maximum tropical QBO easterly center. The midlatitude upwelling in this anticlockwise cell is split into two branches, and the north branch descends in the Arctic region and warms the stratospheric polar vortex. Most models underestimate the Arctic stratospheric warming in early winter during easterly QBO. Further analysis suggests that this bias is not due to an overly weak response to a given QBO phase, as the models simulate a realistic response if one focuses on similar QBO phases. Rather, the model bias is due to the too-low frequency of strong QBO winds in the lower stratosphere in early winter simulated by the models.

Progress in Simulating the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation in CMIP Models

AbstractThe quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) of the zonal mean zonal wind is the primary mode of variability in the tropical lower stratosphere. The QBO is characterized by alternating easterly westerly shear layers that descend down from ∼10 to 100 hPa. The QBO is also seen in lower stratospheric tropical temperature, water vapor, and ozone and affects tropospheric variability through various teleconnections. We examine here the progress in simulating the QBO in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) models, more specifically in CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 models. We show that the number of models that are able to simulate the QBO has increased from 0 in CMIP3, to 5 in CMIP5, to 15 in CMIP6. While the number of models with an internally generated QBO has tripled from CMIP5 to CMIP6, the fidelity of the simulation averaged over the CMIP models has not improved. We show that CMIP5 and CMIP6 models represent the QBO period and latitudinal extent quite well; however the QBO amplitude is shifted upwards relative to observations resulting in large underestimation of QBO amplitude at all levels below 20 hPa. The underestimation of QBO amplitude in the lowermost stratosphere and lack of variations downward to the tropopause and below will likely impact the quality of teleconnections seen in the current generation Earth system models.

Response of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation to a warming climate in global climate models

AbstractWe compare the response of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) to a warming climate in eleven atmosphere general circulation models that performed time‐slice simulations for present‐day, doubled, and quadrupled CO2 climates. No consistency was found among the models for the QBO period response, with the period decreasing by 8 months in some models and lengthening by up to 13 months in others in the doubled CO2 simulations. In the quadrupled CO2 simulations, a reduction in QBO period of 14 months was found in some models, whereas in several others the tropical oscillation no longer resembled the present‐day QBO, although it could still be identified in the deseasonalized zonal mean zonal wind timeseries. In contrast, all the models projected a decrease in the QBO amplitude in a warmer climate with the largest relative decrease near 60 hPa. In simulations with doubled and quadrupled CO2, the multi‐model mean QBO amplitudes decreased by 36 and 51%, respectively. Across the models the differences in the QBO period response were most strongly related to how the gravity wave momentum flux entering the stratosphere and tropical vertical residual velocity responded to the increases in CO2 amounts. Likewise it was found that the robust decrease in QBO amplitudes was correlated across the models to changes in vertical residual velocity, parametrized gravity wave momentum fluxes, and to some degree the resolved upward wave flux. We argue that uncertainty in the representation of the parameterized gravity waves is the most likely cause of the spread among the eleven models in the QBO's response to climate change.

ENSO Modulation of the QBO: Results from MIROC Models with and without Nonorographic Gravity Wave Parameterization

AbstractObservational studies have shown that, on average, the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) exhibits a faster phase progression and shorter period during El Niño than during La Niña. Here, the possible mechanism of QBO modulation associated with ENSO is investigated using the MIROC-AGCM with T106 (~1.125°) horizontal resolution. The MIROC-AGCM simulates QBO-like oscillations without any nonorographic gravity wave parameterizations. A 100-yr integration was conducted during which annually repeating sea surface temperatures based on the composite observed El Niño conditions were imposed. A similar 100-yr La Niña integration was also conducted. The MIROC-AGCM simulates realistic differences between El Niño and La Niña, notably shorter QBO periods, a weaker Walker circulation, and more equatorial precipitation during El Niño than during La Niña. Near the equator, vertical wave fluxes of zonal momentum in the uppermost troposphere are larger and the stratospheric QBO forcing due to interaction of the mean flow with resolved gravity waves (particularly for zonal wavenumber ≥43) is much larger during El Niño. The tropical upwelling associated with the Brewer–Dobson circulation is also stronger in the El Niño simulation. The effects of the enhanced tropical upwelling during El Niño are evidently overcome by enhanced wave driving, resulting in the shorter QBO period. The integrations were repeated with another model version (MIROC-ECM with T42 horizontal resolution) that employs a parameterization of nonorographic gravity waves in order to simulate a QBO. In the MIROC-ECM the average QBO periods are nearly identical in the El Niño and La Niña simulations.

Seasonal dependence of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO): New evidence from IGRA data

The seasonal features of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of the zonal wind in the equatorial stratosphere were examined using daily data from the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA). Analysis of forty years of daily IGRA data (1977–2016) shows the characteristics of a descent rate of easterly and westerly wind regimes that cannot be found from the mean monthly data. This study clearly demonstrates the stepwise descent of the easterly regime in the whole height range from ∼10 to ∼70 hPa, with the alternation of intervals with faster and slower descent. Furthermore, it seems that the easterly descent always sharply accelerates (decelerates) near equinoxes (solstices). Thus, the easterly regime descends faster in intervals from equinox to solstice, while from solstice to equinox the descent rate is lower and often is near zero or negative. These findings cannot be explained by the influence of annually varying tropical upwelling with a stronger and weaker strength in Northern Hemisphere winter and summer, respectively. Also it seems that the westerly wind regime, irrespective of the time of its appearance at ∼10 hPa, always reaches the level ∼70 hPa simultaneously with the appearance of the next easterly wind regime at ∼10 hPa. Consequently, seasonal alignment of the QBO seems to be primarily associated with the regularities of the easterly descent. The sharp changes of the easterly descent rate near equinoxes and solstices are especially evident in the layer 20–50 hPa, and the QBO period can be determined using these seasonal features of the easterly. The advantage of this method is the possibility of the long-term forecasting of the QBO due to the discretely changing QBO period, which turns out to be equal to 24, 30 or 36 months.

El Ni\xf1o\u2013Southern Oscillation effect on quasi-biennial oscillations of temperature diurnal tides in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

In this study, we evaluate the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signals in the two dominant temperature diurnal tides, diurnal westward wavenumber 1 (DW1) and diurnal eastward wavenumber 3 (DE3) on the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) scale (18–34 months) from 50 to 100 km altitudes. The tides are derived from the 21-year (January 1996–February 2017) Ground-to-Topside model of Atmosphere and Ionosphere for Aeronomy (GAIA) temperature simulations and 15-year (February 2002–February 2017) Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED)/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) temperature observations. The results show that ENSO warm phases shorten the period (~ 2 years) of the QBO in DW1 amplitude near the equator and DE3 amplitude at low latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, the QBO period lengthens (~ 2.5 years) during the ENSO neutral and cold phases. Correlation analysis shows the long-lasting effect of ENSO on the tidal QBO in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.

Stratospheric Dynamical Response and Ozone Feedbacks in the Presence of SO2 Injections

AbstractInjections of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere are among several proposed methods of solar radiation management. Such injections could cool the Earth's climate. However, they would significantly alter the dynamics of the stratosphere. We explore here the stratospheric dynamical response to sulfur dioxide injections ∼5 km above the tropopause at multiple latitudes (equator, 15°S, 15°N, 30°S and 30°N) using a fully coupled Earth system model, Community Earth System Model, version 1, with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model as its atmospheric component (CESM1(WACCM)). We find that in all simulations, the tropical lower stratosphere warms primarily between 30°S and 30°N, regardless of injection latitude. The quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) of the tropical zonal wind is altered by the various sulfur dioxide injections. In a simulation with a 12 Tg yr−1 equatorial injection, and with fully interactive chemistry, the QBO period lengthens to ∼3.5 years but never completely disappears. However, in a simulation with specified (or noninteractive) chemical fields, including O3 and prescribed aerosols taken from the interactive simulation, the oscillation is virtually lost. In addition, we find that geoengineering does not always lengthen the QBO. We further demonstrate that the QBO period changes from 24 to 12–17 months in simulations with sulfur dioxide injections placed poleward of the equator. Our study points to the importance of understanding and verifying of the complex interactions between aerosols, atmospheric dynamics, and atmospheric chemistry as well as understanding the effects of sulfur dioxide injections placed away from the Equator on the QBO.

Nearly identical cycles of the quasi‐biennial oscillation in the equatorial lower stratosphere

AbstractAs a nonlinear dynamical system with limit cycles but subject to periodic forcings associated with the seasonal cycle, the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) displays seasonal modulation such that phase transitions are more likely to occur in certain months than in others. Modulation is distinct from seasonal synchronization, defined as quantized QBO periods and identical cycles. Instead, nearly identical QBO cycles can be identified in the data having similar period, internal structure, and (optionally) timing with respect to the calendar year. Four such categories are found using a spectral phase method based on the 2‐D phase space of the leading rotated principal components (RPCs) of near‐equatorial monthly mean zonal wind in the layer 70–10 hPa. The most prominent category, containing as many as 15 cycles of the 28 observed thus far, is “nearly biennial” with period slightly greater than 24 months. All results, prior to the recent QBO anomaly in Cycle 28, are demonstrated to be statistically stationary in the sense that the RPCs are temporally invariant and insensitive to the inclusion of data to 100 hPa and with higher vertical resolution. Inclusion of Cycle 28 has no effect on the rotated empirical orthogonal functions but a microscopic change in the long‐term average, since strong easterlies are missing in the anomalous cycle. For objective definition of QBO cycles in physical space‐time, westerly onsets in the 40–53 hPa layer are least likely to stall and provide unambiguous starting times. Half of these onsets cluster in April–May, consistent with the seasonal modulation obtained with the spectral phase method.

Sensitivity of the quasi‐biennial oscillation simulated in WACCM to the phase speed spectrum and the settings in an inertial gravity wave parameterization

AbstractThe application of inertial gravity wave parameterization has allowed for the spontaneous generation of quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) in the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), although there is some mismatch when comparing with observations. The parameterization is based on Lindzen's linear saturation theory, modified to describe inertia‐gravity waves (IGW) by considering the Coriolis effect. In this work, we improve the parameterization by importing a more realistic IGW phase speed spectrum that exhibits a double peak Gaussian distribution calculated from tropical radiosonde observations. A series of numeric simulations are performed to test the sensitivity of QBO‐like oscillation features to the phase speed spectrum and the settings of parameterized IGW. All these simulations are capable of generating equatorial wind oscillations in the stratosphere based on standard spatial resolution settings. Central phase speeds of the “double‐Gaussian parameterization” affect QBO magnitudes and periods, and the momentum flux of IGW determines the acceleration rate of zonal wind. Furthermore, stronger IGW forcing can lead to a propagation of the QBO‐like oscillation to lower altitude. The intermittency factor of the parameterization also prominently affects the QBO period. Stratospheric QBO‐like oscillation with obvious improvements is generated using the new IGW parameterization in a long‐time simulation.