reading time
1 minute, 49 seconds
The Madden Julian Oscillation
The Madden-Julian Oscillation is an oscillation in the equatorial belt characterized by an eastward shift of areas of tropical precipitation followed by areas where it is suppressed, mainly over the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The areas where this is found correspond to the 8 phases of the MJO; These phases are traced on a special chart that not only defines the counter-clockwise movement from west to east, but also the magnitude and the 8 areas of the globe in which it is positioned. The further the MJO is from the circle, the more powerful it is, while in the circle it can be considered inactive; a high amplitude has greater effects on a planetary scale. In fact, it can also affect mid-latitude circulation by forming Rossby waves. The travel time around the globe is about 45-60 days.
strong Madden Julian oscillation
The strength of the MJO is extraordinary during this time, one of the strongest in recent years. This is probably the Result of the strat warming which intensified the Brewer-Dobson circulation at the polar equator by increasing its tropical convection activity.
The movement of MJO across the eastern Equatorial Pacific has resulted in a weakening of La Nina. It is thought possible that the upcoming return of the MJO to the Pacific could involve the entry of El Nino. The last 2 years marked by a strong MJO in March were 2015 and 1997, years then followed by El Nino Strong
The MJO is steadily weakening as it moves towards the Indian Ocean later this month and then enters the circle. The immediate shift in the MJO will affect weather patterns over the next two weeks, for example, it is believed to support an eastward shift in cold weather in the United States; in California it will moderate the current pattern of heavy rains, while in India it will bring plenty of rain, especially in the eastern sectors; in Europe it correlates with higher pressures in the south and east. It must be said that the MJO is just one variable that can explain some of the meteorological patterns that interest us most.