<p>This is a question inspired by the post at <a href="http://cliffmass.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/is-super-el-nino-coming-next-winter.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cliff Mass Weather Blog: "Is a Super El Nino Coming Next Winter?"</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>There is something else.  You ever hear of the Pacific Decadal
  Oscillation?  This is a cyclic phenomenon of the Pacific ocean that
  has a great impact on sea surface temperatures and other parameters. 
  A graph is shown below.  We were in the warm phase from roughly 1976
  to roughly 2005 and now appear to be in a cool phase.  The strongest
  El Niños like to be in the warm phase, which is not where we are now. 
  So perhaps we should be careful about predicting super El Niños.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I'm wondering: do we have a mechanistic explanation as for why?</p>

<meteorology><ocean><climate><temperature><enso>
Why is the warm phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation associated with stronger El Niños?
InquilineKea
# Why is the warm phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation associated with stronger El Niños?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-21)

This is a question inspired by the post at [Cliff Mass Weather Blog: "Is a Super El Nino Coming Next Winter?"](http://cliffmass.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/is-super-el-nino-coming-next-winter.html).

> There is something else. You ever hear of the Pacific Decadal
> Oscillation? This is a cyclic phenomenon of the Pacific ocean that
> has a great impact on sea surface temperatures and other parameters.
> A graph is shown below. We were in the warm phase from roughly 1976
> to roughly 2005 and now appear to be in a cool phase. The strongest
> El Niños like to be in the warm phase, which is not where we are now.
> So perhaps we should be careful about predicting super El Niños.

I'm wondering: do we have a mechanistic explanation as for why?

**Tags:** meteorology, ocean, climate, temperature, enso


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## 0 answers

