<p>The large scale modes of variability present in the atmosphere are also found in the ocean. There is a strong feedback between the two systems with wind, heat flux and atmospheric pressure modifying ocean surface conditions and with parameters such as sea surface temperature altering atmospheric conditions. </p>

<p>A lot of studies have explored teleconnections in the ocean looking for instance at the EOFs of sea surface temperature. A good compilation of different atmospheric and oceanic time series and references can be found in <a href="http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/climateindices/list/" rel="nofollow">Climate Indices: Monthly Atmospheric and Ocean Time Series</a>. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T15:15:18.693Z
2016-09-16T07:44:00.663Z
2016-09-16T07:44:00.663Z
arkaia
<p>Large-scale patterns of climate variability can be explained at this <a href="http://www.atmos.colostate.edu/ao/introduction.html" rel="nofollow">Annular Modes Website</a>.</p>

<p>If so, have they been characterized by EOF analysis in the same way that the annular modes in the atmosphere have been characterized? Where would be able to find this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-15T21:12:15.273Z
Could you be more precise in what exactly you mean by *annular modes*?  The short answer is *yes*, but that might not be a satisfactory one.
gerrit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T00:59:09.827Z
ENSO *is* a large scale variability in the ocean (to which the atmosphere responds)
casey
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T14:59:04.130Z
The separation between ocean and atmosphere when we talk about large-scale modes of variability is difficult as shown by Casey's comment. ENSO affects both the ocean and the atmosphere and it is better studied as a coupled mode of variability.
arkaia
<ocean><enso>
Do large-scale modes of variability (like NAM/SAM/ENSO) exist in the ocean?
InquilineKea
# Do large-scale modes of variability (like NAM/SAM/ENSO) exist in the ocean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-15)

Large-scale patterns of climate variability can be explained at this [Annular Modes Website](http://www.atmos.colostate.edu/ao/introduction.html).

If so, have they been characterized by EOF analysis in the same way that the annular modes in the atmosphere have been characterized? Where would be able to find this?

**Tags:** ocean, enso

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you be more precise in what exactly you mean by *annular modes*?  The short answer is *yes*, but that might not be a satisfactory one.  
> **username_2**: ENSO *is* a large scale variability in the ocean (to which the atmosphere responds)  
> **username_3**: The separation between ocean and atmosphere when we talk about large-scale modes of variability is difficult as shown by username_2's comment. ENSO affects both the ocean and the atmosphere and it is better studied as a coupled mode of variability.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-16. Score: 6

The large scale modes of variability present in the atmosphere are also found in the ocean. There is a strong feedback between the two systems with wind, heat flux and atmospheric pressure modifying ocean surface conditions and with parameters such as sea surface temperature altering atmospheric conditions.

A lot of studies have explored teleconnections in the ocean looking for instance at the EOFs of sea surface temperature. A good compilation of different atmospheric and oceanic time series and references can be found in [Climate Indices: Monthly Atmospheric and Ocean Time Series](http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/data/climateindices/list/).


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