Advances in the Theory and Modeling of ENSO

The recent advances in the theory of the variability in the tropics due to the coupling between the atmosphere and ocean falls into four categories: the physics of ENSO (including attempts to verify some existing hypotheses), the irregularity of ENSO events, the theory of ENSO prediction, and the potential for interactions between the annual cycle and the ENSO variability.

• The Physics of ENSO
• Irregularity of ENSO
  • Internal noise.
  • Nonlinearity.
  • External forcing and decadal-to-century variability of ENSO.
• Seasonal Cycle and ENSO
  • The general circulation models.
  • Interactions between ENSO and the seasonal cycle.
• Optimal Growth, ENSO Prediction and ENSO Physics