Tropical explosive volcanic eruptions can trigger El Niño by cooling tropical Africa

Myriam Khodri (), Takeshi Izumo, Jérôme Vialard, Serge Janicot, Christophe Cassou, Matthieu Lengaigne, Juliette Mignot, Guillaume Gastineau, Eric Guilyardi, Nicolas Lebas, Alan Robock and Michael J. McPhaden
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Myriam Khodri: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Takeshi Izumo: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Jérôme Vialard: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Serge Janicot: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Christophe Cassou: CECI, CNRS, Cerfacs, Université de Toulouse
Matthieu Lengaigne: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Juliette Mignot: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Guillaume Gastineau: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Eric Guilyardi: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Nicolas Lebas: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN
Alan Robock: Rutgers University
Michael J. McPhaden: NOAA

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Stratospheric aerosols from large tropical explosive volcanic eruptions backscatter shortwave radiation and reduce the global mean surface temperature. Observations suggest that they also favour an El Niño within 2 years following the eruption. Modelling studies have, however, so far reached no consensus on either the sign or physical mechanism of El Niño response to volcanism. Here we show that an El Niño tends to peak during the year following large eruptions in simulations of the Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Targeted climate model simulations further emphasize that Pinatubo-like eruptions tend to shorten La Niñas, lengthen El Niños and induce anomalous warming when occurring during neutral states. Volcanically induced cooling in tropical Africa weakens the West African monsoon, and the resulting atmospheric Kelvin wave drives equatorial westerly wind anomalies over the western Pacific. This wind anomaly is further amplified by air–sea interactions in the Pacific, favouring an El Niño-like response.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00755-6

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