Madden–Julian Oscillation

E64496

The Madden–Julian Oscillation is a large-scale tropical atmospheric pattern characterized by eastward-moving pulses of enhanced and suppressed rainfall that strongly influence global weather and climate variability on intraseasonal timescales.

Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
MJO 1
Walker circulation 1

Statements (62)

Predicate Object
instanceOf atmospheric oscillation
climate variability mode
tropical intraseasonal oscillation
affects onset of the Australian monsoon
onset of the South Asian monsoon
tropical cyclone genesis in the Atlantic
tropical cyclone genesis in the Indian Ocean
tropical cyclone genesis in the western Pacific
affectsRegion global tropics
midlatitudes
subtropics
alsoKnownAs Madden–Julian Oscillation
surface form: MJO
characterizedBy eastward-propagating regions of enhanced convection
eastward-propagating regions of suppressed convection
enhanced and suppressed tropical rainfall anomalies
large-scale circulation anomalies in the tropics
discoveredBy Paul R. Julian NERFINISHED
Roland A. Madden NERFINISHED
firstDescribedInPublicationYear 1971
governingProcess coupling between tropical convection and large-scale circulation
hasIndex RMM1
RMM1
surface form: RMM2

Real-time Multivariate MJO index
hasPhase active convective phase
multiple longitudinal phases used in indices
suppressed convective phase
hasSpatialScale 10,000 km or more
planetary scale
hasTypicalPeriod 30 to 60 days
30 to 90 days
influences ENSO-related variability
atmospheric rivers
extreme precipitation events
global weather patterns
intraseasonal climate variability
jet stream variability
monsoon variability
temperature anomalies in extratropics
tropical cyclone activity
tropical rainfall variability
measuredBy Outgoing Longwave Radiation anomalies
zonal wind anomalies at 200 hPa
zonal wind anomalies at 850 hPa
modulates stratosphere–troposphere coupling
surface fluxes of heat and moisture
upper-ocean mixed layer variability
namedAfter Paul R. Julian NERFINISHED
Roland A. Madden NERFINISHED
playsRoleIn extended-range weather forecasting
subseasonal to seasonal prediction
primaryRegion tropical Indian Ocean
tropical western Pacific Ocean
propagationDirection eastward
relatedTo Kelvin waves
Rossby waves
convectively coupled equatorial waves
timeScale 30–90 day timescale
intraseasonal
typicalConvectionDecayRegion central to eastern Pacific
typicalConvectionOrigin Southwest Indian Ocean
surface form: western Indian Ocean
typicalPropagationSpeed about 4 to 8 m/s
about 5 m/s

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Madden–Julian Oscillation alsoKnownAs Madden–Julian Oscillation
this entity surface form: MJO
Climate Prediction Center field Madden–Julian Oscillation
Global Tropics Hazards Outlook relatedTo Madden–Julian Oscillation
Southern Oscillation relatedTo Madden–Julian Oscillation
this entity surface form: Walker circulation