Abstract
Interactions between ocean basins affect El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO), altering its impacts on society. Here, we explore the effect of
Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) on ENSO behaviour using
idealized experiments performed with the NCAR-CESM1 model. Comparing
warm (AMV+) to cold (AMV-) AMV conditions, we find that ENSO sea surface
temperature (SST) anomalies are reduced by ~10% and
ENSO precipitation anomalies are shifted to the west during El Niño and
east during La Niña. Using the Bjerknes stability index, we attribute
the reduction in ENSO variability to a weakened thermocline feedback in
boreal autumn. In AMV+, the Walker circulation and trade winds
strengthen over the Pacific, increasing the background zonal SST
gradient. Those background changes shift ENSO anomalies westwards, with
wind stress anomalies more confined to the West. We suggest the changes
in ENSO-wind stress decrease the strength of the thermocline feedback in
the East, eventually reducing ENSO growth rate.