This study finds that the El Nino influences on the summer Great Plains low-level jet (GPLLJ) are different for the Central Pacific (CP) and Eastern Pacific (EP) types during their decaying phases. While the CP El Nino induces negative sea level pressure anomalies over the Gulf of Mexico to drive anomalous northerly winds weakening the GPLLJ, the EP El Nino intensifies the GPLLJ by inducing anomalous surface air temperature gradient between the northeastern and southwestern United States. The recent emerging CP El Nino can weaken the GPLLJ to lead to a drier environment in the central United States.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asl.590

Journal Article

Grant no. NA11OAR4310102

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)