西北太平洋台风活动的年代际变化与大尺度环流因子的关系

用多项式拟合和统计分析的方法对1960～2005年西北太平洋台风年频数资料进行分析表明：台风活动存在明显的年代际变化，46a间台风活动存在两个高频期和两个低频期，高低频期台风频数的差异主要集中在7～10月（称为台风活跃季），利用台风活跃季的NCEP／NOAA资料对影响台风年代际变化的大尺度环流因子进行分析，结果表明：与低频期相比，在台风生成的高频期出现了较高的海表温度、较低的海平面气压、较大的高层散度和低层相对涡度、较小的垂直风切变，而且500hPa风场利于台风的生成和向西北太平洋移动。西太平洋副热带高压偏北，100hPa南亚高压偏弱。西北太平洋海盆的总降水量的年代际变化与台风的年代际变化关系不明显。     

西北太平洋晚季台风频数突然减少的成因分析

西北太平洋地区晚季(10—12月)66%的热带气旋可以发展成为台风,其比率高于盛夏季节。基于贝叶斯突变分析的研究结果表明,西北太平洋晚季台风频数在1998年前后发生了年代际转折,即相对于1979—1997年,台风频数在1998—2016年显著减少。台风生成的空间分布情况表明,西北太平洋台风频数总体呈减少状态,减少最多的区域出现在东南部(0°～17.5°N,135°～180°E)。相应的,台风生成潜在指数(Genesis Potential Index, GPI)在该区域也明显减小。通过对比分析涡度、垂直切变、相对湿度和最大潜在强度四个主要因子对GPI变化的相对贡献大小,结果表明动力因子(垂直切变和涡度)对西北太平洋台风生成频数的年代际变化起关键作用。     

近67a影响山东台风频数的变化特征及其与若干气候因子的关系

利用1949—2015年台风年鉴资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、NOAA资料等对近67 a影响山东的台风频数特征及其与相关气候因子的关系进行了分析。结果表明:(1)影响山东的6类台风中沿海北上类最多,登陆填塞类最少。8月和8月上旬是主要月份和旬份。台风年代际变化明显,并存在显著的26 a年代际尺度和5 a年际尺度的周期变化。(2)台风频数与同年份的东亚槽位置、亚洲区极涡面积指数分别呈显著的负、正相关关系。Ni1o3. 4区海温对台风频数存在超前的显著负相关,超前影响分别在1、2、3、4月。台风频数与冬季北大西洋涛动(NAO)指数、太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)指数分别存在显著的正、负相关关系。春、夏、秋季和年PDO冷位相时台风频数偏多,PDO暖位相时台风频数偏少,这与西太平洋副热带高压和低层水汽条件关系密切。(3)冷、暖位相年台风频数与太平洋海温分别存在显著的相关区,特别是冬季暖位相时赤道中东太平洋显著负相关区域较大。年PDO冷位相与夏季的显著相关区较相似,暖位相与秋季相似。(4)太平洋海温与台风频数相关性较好的海域主要有3个关键区:赤道中东太平洋、北太平洋中部和西太平洋暖池。其中赤道中东太平洋的的显著性表现在冬季,北太平洋中部的显著性表现在年、春、夏、秋季,西太平洋暖池的显著性表现在夏、秋季。     

澳大利亚冷空气活动对西北太平洋热带气旋生成的影响

利用1980—2012年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料及中国气象局的最佳台风路径资料,研究澳大利亚冷空气活动对西北太平洋热带气旋生成的影响。研究发现,北半球夏季925 h Pa经向风超过6 m/s的频数在澳大利亚东北部海域最高,达40 d/a。为此,确定澳大利亚冷空气侵入南北半球低纬的关键区为澳大利亚东北部所罗门海地区,并用该区域经向风风速定义了一个澳大利亚冷空气活动强度指数。该指数与越赤道气流及赤道西风都有很好的相关关系,还与同期的SOI(Southern Oscillation Index,南方涛动指数)显著相关。当SOI偏低(高)时,关键区经向风风速偏强(弱)。合成分析和相关分析结果表明,澳大利亚冷空气活动强、弱年西北太平洋热带气旋生成的位置的变化与季风槽的变化一致,西北太平洋热带气旋生成总数则无显著差异。澳大利亚冷空气活动强年季风槽偏强偏东,热带气旋生成位置偏东偏南;而弱年季风槽偏弱偏西,热带气旋生成位置偏西偏北。低层涡度场、水汽输送、风垂直切变以及低纬地区对流活动的分布表明,澳大利亚冷空气活动强年有利于热带气旋生成位置偏东、偏南;弱年偏西、偏北。     

西北太平洋多台风事件气候特征及其可能形成机制

利用1945-2018年美国联合台风警报中心JTWC台风最佳路径资料,定义并系统分析了西北太平洋多台风事件时空分布气候特征和可能形成机制。结果表明:西北太平洋多台风事件(MTYE)主要发生在7-10月,其生成源地关键区位于西北太平洋135°~180°E的12°N附近。相对于单独发生的台风,多台风事件的台风平均强度更强、生命期更长。多台风事件的台风频数占总台风频数的比例以年际变率为主,并有一定的增长趋势。多台风事件强年对应于中东太平洋热带和北半球副热带海温显著增暖,通过Gill型Rossby波响应和Walker环流异常,在西北太平洋产生大气低层相对涡度正异常、中层相对湿度正异常和垂直东风切变异常,为多台风的生成提供了重要的气候背景,季节内多时间尺度瞬变涡旋动能的增强也有重要贡献。     

ENSO事件与中国东南沿海3月降水关系分析

利用1951—2006年永安、赣州、厦门、梅州、汕头、曲江和河源7个代表站3月降水量资料,以及南方涛动指数（SOI）和北太平洋海温资料,分析了中国东南沿海3月降水的年际和年代际变化特征,及其与ENSO事件的关系。结果发现,东南沿海3月降水具有年际变化大和年代际变化明显的特征,与SOI、赤道东太平洋海温和西风漂流区海温存在显著相关。在前一年出现厄尔尼诺现象,北太平洋海温距平分布呈厄尔尼诺分布型,SOI偏低的情况下,东南沿海3月降水偏多;反之,前一年出现拉尼娜现象,北太平洋海温距平分布呈现拉尼娜分布型,SOI偏高时,东南沿海3月降水偏少。前期1月赤道东太平洋关键区海温和前期2月西风漂流区关键区海温的异常变化,对东南沿海3月降水具有很好的指示意义。当前期1月赤道东太平洋关键区海温偏高,前期2月西风漂流区关键区海温偏低时,东南沿海3月降水偏多;反之,东南沿海3月降水则偏少。     

关于西北太平洋季风槽年际和年代际变异及其对热带气旋生成影响和机理的研究

总结和综述近年来中国科学院大气物理研究所季风系统研究中心,关于西北太平洋季风槽的年际和年代际变异及其对热带气旋和台风(TCs)生成的影响和机理的气候学研究进展,并综述一些有关的国内外研究。给出了夏、秋季西北太平洋季风槽的气候特征以及利于TCs生成的四类季风槽环流型,表明了西北太平洋季风槽强度和位置有明显的年际和年代际变异。特别是揭示了西北太平洋季风槽的年际和年代际变异不仅通过影响西北太平洋上空对流层低层气流的涡度和对流层高层的散度、对流层中、下层的水汽以及对流层上下层风场的垂直切变等利于TCs生成的大尺度环境因子的分布而影响TCs的生成,而且通过对热带对流耦合波动的转化和提供扰动能量而对TCs生成起着重要的动力作用。还指出今后有关西北太平洋季风槽和TCs活动一些亟需进一步研究的气候学问题。     

西北太平洋近赤道热带气旋生成的特征分析

1979—2012年西北太平洋存在70个形成于0°～5°N的低纬度地区的热带气旋(TC),占TC总量的8%,其中达到台风等级的个数占64%。而针对此类缺少一定科氏力作用而形成的罕见TC生成的研究相对较少。本文利用JTWC的TC最佳观测资料、ERA-Interim再分析资料,以及NOAA-OISST海温资料,以西北太平洋近赤道TC为研究对象,统计诊断了其年际、年代际、季节分布特征,分析了其大尺度环境背景场,重点探讨了近赤道TC生成的影响因子。研究结果表明,近赤道TC具有明显的年际与年代际变化,并且近赤道TC具有与西北太平洋总TC恰好相反的季节变化。近赤道TC生成的大尺度环境背景场是东北冬季风与其在近赤道地区偏转形成的西北风之间的气旋性环流。对流层低层的绝对涡度动力项与对流层中层的湿度热量项是近赤道TC生成的主要贡献因子,并且相对于5°～10°N生成的TC,近赤道TC对对流层低层的正涡度与对流层中层的湿度条件的要求更高。     

热带气旋潜在生成指数的对比分析及其在西北太平洋的改进

本研究评估了现有热带气旋(Tropical Cyclone,TC)潜在生成指数(Genesis Potential Indice,GPI)对北大西洋和西北太平洋热带气旋生成频数(TC Genesis Frequency,TCGF)时空特征的表征能力。结果表明,现阶段使用的GPIs能较好地再现两个海盆TCGF的空间分布和季节循环特征,以及北大西洋TCGF的年际变化,但几乎不能模拟西太平洋TCGF年际时间尺度上的变化。利用美国联合飓风警报中心(Joint Typhoon Warming Center,JTWC)提供的1979—2017年热带气旋最佳路径数据集和ERA-Interim再分析数据,对西北太平洋GPI进行了改进。考虑到相对涡度在西北太平洋对热带气旋生成的重要作用,将绝对涡度分离为相对涡度和地转涡度(f),移除相对湿度,使用多元线性回归的方法构建了GPI_WNP。与现有GPIs相比,改进后的GPI_WNP不仅对西北太平洋TCGF的空间分布和季节循环有较好的模拟能力,并且可以再现其年际变化特征。     

澳大利亚冷空气活动与西北太平洋台风频次的关系分析

利用中国气象局《台风年鉴》资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析1968—2006年北半球夏季（6—9月）澳大利亚冷空气活动与西北太平洋夏季台风频次（WNPSTYF）的关系,并研究其影响的可能机制。结果表明,夏季澳大利亚东部对流层经向风年际增量变化与WNPSTYF年际增量变化呈显著正相关;西太平洋近赤道区对流层上层纬向风年际增量与同期WNPSTYF年际增量呈显著负相关。澳大利亚冷空气活动影响WNPSTYF的可能机理是:当澳大利亚东部从对流层低层至上层的经向风年际增量有南风异常时（此时澳大利亚西侧对流层上层有年际增量的北风异常）,冷空气在向低纬移动过程中受热上升,同时因柯氏力向左偏转,并在对流层上层向中纬度辐散,导致110～160 °E区间的南半球近赤道附近对流层上层纬向风年际增量的偏北东风异常;由于赤道上空大气运动的无旋转特性及连续性,北半球也会出现同向的纬向风年际增量异常。赤道附近对流层上层纬向风年际增量的东风异常产生纬向风的经向切变,使对流层上层出现涡度年际增量的负异常;对流层上层涡度年际增量负异常的抽吸作用导致对流层低层出现涡度年际增量的正异常,利于台风生成,导致台风年际增量偏多。反之亦反。      

SENSITIVITY FACTORS FOR TYPHOON GENESIS OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC DURING JULY-SEPTEMBER

The paper compares the correlations between individual factors of the cyclogenesis and the number of TCs formed in the western North Pacific in July to September(NTWNP). It also compares the characteristics of zonal anomaly distribution of the factors in the primary TC source areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Results show that the vorticity factor has the closest correlation with NTWNP. In TC genesis conditions, this feature is relatively rich but not enough, which determines that it is the sensitivity factor of NTWNP's annual variation. The paper also analyzes the source of annual variation of the vorticity factor in the key area of the western North Pacific as well as its advantage in showing NTWNP. Results show that the annual variation of the vorticity factor mentioned above is related to the annual variation of Southern Oscillation, Antarctica Oscillation and the geopotential height field of East Australia, which reflects the effect of two large-scale systems in the Southern Hemisphere and ENSO(El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation) on NTWNP. Since the area where the vorticity factor is significantly correlated with NTWNP is consistent with the area of dense TC genesis sources, the vorticity factor has an obvious advantage in showing annual variation of TCs. Those features are very significant for research on the influencing mechanism of NTWNP and simulation of climate models.     

RELATION BETWEEN SUMMER TYPHOON FREQUENCY ANOMALIES IN WEST PACIFIC AND ENSO EVENTS AND THE ANOMALOUS ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION CHARACTERISTICS

By using data of serially numbered typhoons in northwestern Pacific and NOAA OLR data and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data of wind field, based on the statistics and study of the relationship between the calendar years with more (or fewer) summer typhoons and ENSO events, we compared the composites of OLR eigenvectors and tropical summer wind fields during El Nino and La Nina events with more or fewer than normal summer typhoons, respectively. The results show that, in summer, without remarkable systematic anomalies of Mascarene High and Australia High in South Hemisphere, the anomaly of Walker circulation will dominate and follow the rule of ENSO impacts to atmospheric circulation and typhoon frequency. Otherwise, when systematic anomalies of Australia High appear during the El Nino events, circulation anomalies in the South Hemisphere will dominate, and many more typhoons will occur. In 1999, which is a special year of La Nina events, northward and eastward monsoon was induced by the stronger Mascarene High, and fewer typhoons arose. The typhoon source are regions where weak vertical wind shear, warm pool in western Pacific and the area with monsoon troughs are overlapping with each other. Finally, this paper analyzes and compares the source locations and ranges of more (fewer) typhoons in the events of El Nino and La Nina, respectively.     

西北太平洋台风活动与大气季节内振荡

本文综合介绍了大气季节内振荡与西北太平洋台风活动关系的最新研究结果。主要内容是:大气MJO的活动对西北太平洋台风的生成有比较明显的调制作用,在MJO的活跃期与非活跃期西北太平洋生成台风数的比例为2:1;而在MJO活跃期,对流中心位于赤道东印度洋(即MJO第2～3位相)与对流中心在西太平洋地区(即MJO第5～6位相)时的比例也为2:1。在MJO的不同位相,西太平洋地区的动力因子和热源分布形势有很明显不同。在第2～3位相,各种因子均呈现出抑制西太平洋地区对流及台风发展的态势;而在第5～6位相则明显促进对流的发生发展。这说明MJO在不断东移的过程中,将影响和改变大气环流形势,最终影响台风的生成。对多台风年与少台风年850 hPa的30～60 d低频动能距平合成分析表明,在多台风年有两个低频动能的大值区,其中最显著的是低频动能正异常位于菲律宾以东15°N以南的西北太平洋地区,此区域正好为季风槽所在的位置。而少台风年的情况与多台风年相反,从阿拉伯海东部经印度半岛、孟加拉湾一直到我国南海地区,都是低频动能的大值区,最大的低频动能中心位于印度半岛和我国南海南部;而菲律宾以东的西北太平洋是低频动能的负距平区,季风槽偏弱,对台风生成发展不利。200 hPa速度势场清楚表明,多台风年(少台风年)在菲律宾以东的西北太平洋上表现为高层辐散(辐合),增强(减弱)该地区的上升气流,有利于(不利于)台风的生成。大气季节内振荡(ISO)对西北太平洋台风路径影响的研究表明,大气ISO)流场对台风路径预报有重要参考意义。其结果表明,台风生成时850 hPa低频气旋(LFC)的正涡度带(特别是最大正涡度线)走向往往预示着台风的未来走向;200 hPa的低频环流形势对台风的路径也有一定的指示作用,与200 hPa低频反气旋(LFAC)相联系的200 hPa强低频气流对台风起着引导气流的作用。     

Southern Hemisphere extra-tropical forcing: a new paradigm for El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation

The main goal of this paper is to shed additional light on the reciprocal dynamical linkages between mid-latitude Southern Hemisphere climate and the El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal. While our analysis confirms that ENSO is a dominant source of interannual variability in the Southern Hemisphere, it is also suggested here that subtropical dipole variability in both the Southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans triggered by Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude variability may also provide a controlling influence on ENSO in the equatorial Pacific. This subtropical forcing operates through various coupled air?Csea feedbacks involving the propagation of subtropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies into the deep tropics of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans from boreal winter to boreal spring and a subsequent dynamical atmospheric response to these SST anomalies linking the three tropical basins at the beginning of the boreal spring. This atmospheric response is characterized by a significant weakening of the equatorial Atlantic and Indian Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This weakened ITCZ forces an equatorial ??cold Kelvin wave?? response in the middle to upper troposphere that extends eastward from the heat sink regions into the western Pacific. By modulating the vertical temperature gradient and the stability of the atmosphere over the equatorial western Pacific Ocean, this Kelvin wave response promotes persistent zonal wind and convective anomalies over the western equatorial Pacific, which may trigger El Ni?o onset at the end of the boreal winter. These different processes explain why South Atlantic and Indian subtropical dipole time series indices are highly significant precursors of the Ni?o34 SST index several months in advance before the El Ni?o onset in the equatorial Pacific. This study illustrates that the atmospheric internal variability in the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere may significantly influence ENSO variability. However, this surprising relationship is observed only during recent decades, after the so-called 1976/1977 climate regime shift, suggesting a possible linkage with global warming or decadal fluctuations of the climate system.     

1951—2015年进入东海的台风频数及登陆点的变化

利用日本气象厅提供的西北太平洋台风最佳路径观测资料,选取东海海区为研究范围,统计处理1951—2015年台风各要素资料,研究进入东海海区的台风频数、台风登陆点位置、台风频数及登陆点位置与太平洋年代际振荡（Pacific Decadal Oscillation,PDO）及ENSO的关系、影响台风生成和移动的因素等。结果表明：1）每年的7—9月为东海海区的台风高发季,其中8月最高,登陆台风也有相似趋势。2）进入东海海域的台风频数存在较明显的年际和年代际变化趋势。当PDO处于暖位相时,台风频数较小且有上升趋势,反之亦然。El Niño年进入东海海区的台风频数较常年减少,反之亦然。Niño3.4指数与台风频数整体上为负相关关系,相关系数为-0.32且通过90%置信度检验。3）进入东海海域的台风登陆点纬度变化较大,处于24~36°N之间,且有年代际变化特征。当PDO处于暖（冷）位相时,台风登陆点偏北（偏南）且有向北（南）移动的趋势。而登陆点纬度与ENSO的关系较为复杂。4）西北太平洋副热带高压的位置和强度是引起台风频数及登陆点位置变化的主要原因之一。当PDO处于冷位相时,西北太平洋副热带高压强度偏弱,且副高中心向东向北方向移动,导致进入东海的台风频数偏多,且台风登陆点偏北,反之亦然。     

ACTIONS OF TYPHOONS OVER THE WESTERN PACIFIC (INCLUDING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA) AND EL NINO

According to me lime cross-section or SSI in me equatorial eastern racing and me historical data on typhoon actions over the western Pacific (including the South China Sea), a composite analysis of the actions of typhoon over the western Pacific in El Nino year (SST in the equatorial eastern Pacific are continuously higher than normal) and in the inverse El Nino year (there are continuative negative anomalies of SST in the equatorial eastern Pacific) is carried out. The results show that the actions of typhoon are in close relation with El Nino: The annual average number of typhoons over the western Pacific and South China Sea is less than normal in El Nino year and more in the inverse El Nino year; The annual average number of the landing typhoon on the continent of China bears the same relationship with El Nino; The anomalies of typhoon actions mainly occur during July-November and their starting are behind the anomaly of SST in the equatorial eastern Pacific.Based on the generation and development co     

2019年西北太平洋和南海台风活动概述

应用中央气象台业务实时资料和中国气象局台风最佳路径资料对2019年发生在西北太平洋和南海的台风活动主要特征以及主要影响我国的台风路径、强度及风雨情况进行了统计分析和论述。2019年西北太平洋和南海共有29个台风生成,较多年平均值偏多2个;秋季台风异常活跃,生成数较常年明显偏多;台风整体强度偏弱,超强台风数与常年持平;有5个台风登陆我国,较多年平均值略偏少;登陆台风平均强度较多年平均值明显偏弱,但台风“利奇马”登陆强度强、风雨影响重。     

Comparison of Wintertime North American Climate Impacts Associated with Multiple ENSO Indices

This analysis compares the climate impacts over North America during winter associated with various El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices, including the Niño 3.4 index, the leading tropical Pacific outgoing longwave radiation and sea surface temperature (OLR-SST) covariability, and the eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) types of ENSO identified from both partial-regression–empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and regression–EOF approaches. The traditional Niño 3.4 SST index is found to be optimal for monitoring the tropical Pacific OLR-SST covariability and for the tropical SST impact on North America. The circulation anomalies associated with the Niño 3.4 index project on both the Pacific/North American (PNA) and Tropical/Northern Hemisphere (TNH) patterns. The ENSO associated with the PNA tends to come from both the EP and CP ENSOs, whereas that associated with the TNH comes more from the EP ENSO. The variability of ENSO significantly affects North American temperature and precipitation, as well as temperature and precipitation extremes. For either the EP or CP types of ENSO, qualitatively similar patterns of climate and climate extreme anomalies are apparent associated with the indices identified by the two EOF approaches, with differences mainly in the anomalous amplitude. The anomalous patterns are generally field significant over North America for the EP ENSO but not field significant for the CP ENSO.

The circulation anomalies associated with ENSO are reinforced and maintained by synoptic vorticity fluxes in the upper troposphere. The anomalous surface temperature is mainly determined by the anomalies in surface radiative heating in the face of upward surface longwave radiative damping. The precipitation anomalies are supported by the vertically integrated moisture transport. The differences in atmospheric circulation, surface temperature, and precipitation among the various ENSO indices, including the intensity and spatial structure of the fields, can be attributed to the corresponding differences in synoptic eddy vorticity forcing, surface radiative heating, and vertically integrated moisture transport.     

Precipitation interannual variability in South America from the WCRP-CMIP3 multi-model dataset

The ability of coupled climate models from the WCRP-CMIP3 multi-model dataset to reproduce the interannual seasonal variability of precipitation in South America and the influence of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on such variability is examined. Models are able to reproduce the northward migration of the precipitation variability maximum during autumn and winter and its later return towards the south during spring and summer as well as the high variability throughout the year in southern Chile. Nevertheless, most of them have problems in representing accurately the variability associated with the South Atlantic convergence zone during summer and the typical maximum of variability in the subtropical continent during autumn and winter. The annular-like structure characteristic of the SAM influence on the Southern Hemisphere circulation is basically simulated by all models, but they have serious deficiencies in representing the observed relationship between SAM and both precipitation and circulation anomalies in South America. In addition, most of the models are not able to reproduce the typical wavetrains observed in the circulation anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere associated to ENSO. Only few models, previously identified as those with reasonable ENSO representation at the equatorial Pacific, have evidences of such wavetrains. Coherently, they exhibit the best representation of the ENSO signal in the South American precipitation. Results show that considerable improvement in the model representation of the climate variability in South America and in the associated large-scale teleconnections is still needed.     

Seasonal prediction skill of ECMWF System 4 and NCEP CFSv2 retrospective forecast for the Northern Hemisphere Winter

The seasonal prediction skill for the Northern Hemisphere winter is assessed using retrospective predictions (1982–2010) from the ECMWF System 4 (Sys4) and National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) CFS version 2 (CFSv2) coupled atmosphere–ocean seasonal climate prediction systems. Sys4 shows a cold bias in the equatorial Pacific but a warm bias is found in the North Pacific and part of the North Atlantic. The CFSv2 has strong warm bias from the cold tongue region of the eastern Pacific to the equatorial central Pacific and cold bias in broad areas over the North Pacific and the North Atlantic. A cold bias in the Southern Hemisphere is common in both reforecasts. In addition, excessive precipitation is found in the equatorial Pacific, the equatorial Indian Ocean and the western Pacific in Sys4, and in the South Pacific, the southern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific in CFSv2. A dry bias is found for both modeling systems over South America and northern Australia. The mean prediction skill of 2 meter temperature (2mT) and precipitation anomalies are greater over the tropics than the extra-tropics and also greater over ocean than land. The prediction skill of tropical 2mT and precipitation is greater in strong El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) winters than in weak ENSO winters. Both models predict the year-to-year ENSO variation quite accurately, although sea surface temperature trend bias in CFSv2 over the tropical Pacific results in lower prediction skill for the CFSv2 relative to the Sys4. Both models capture the main ENSO teleconnection pattern of strong anomalies over the tropics, the North Pacific and the North America. However, both models have difficulty in forecasting the year-to-year winter temperature variability over the US and northern Europe.