Mechanisms of Pacific Climate Variability and Change

In 2013, the Pacific experienced the biggest heat wave in recorded history, dubbed the ‘Blob“ by scientists. This “Blob” resulted in anomalies in temperature, and caused massive disruption in ocean ecology and major drought in North America. The "Blob" impacted people's life and well-being, and led to massive die-off of marine species that impacted fisheries and ecosystems.

Professor Emanuele Di Lorenzo and his team are using a variety of methods to gain a better understanding of the climate dynamics of the Pacific Ocean that give rise to heat waves like the “Blob.” Specifically, they are studying the phenomena that drive long-term ocean fluctuation in the Pacific. The team uses satellite data, ship observations, climate variable estimates, and dynamical climate models to study the Pacific.This project studies teleconnections, such as ENSO (El-Nino Southern Oscillations) and PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation), which are driven by interactions between sea surface temperatures, atmospheric pressure systems, and wind patterns. 

Gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms that dictate the pattern of climate observed in the pacific will help predict future climate and weather extremes. This will also provide ecosystem services like fisheries and coral reef management with data to operate effectively. Understanding the connections between these phenomena is crucial for improving climate predictions and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events.

One important finding of the study is that the north and south pacific are linked by these teleconnections – which are weather phenomena that connect geographically disparate locations. These are crucial in explaining long-term changes in marine ecosystems across the pacific.