Rainfall sustains multiyear La Nina.

ABSTRACT: Historical observations and climate models indicate that multiyear La Niña events are growing more frequent. These prolonged events cumulatively alter tropical Pacific rainfall, which in turn affects regional mixed-layer salinity (MLS). However, how cumulative rainfall anomalies modulate multiyear La Niña through salinity effects remains unclear. Here, using observations and model experiments, we show that the positive MLS anomalies in the western-central equatorial Pacific-driven initially by oceanic dynamical processes and later by rainfall deficits during multiyear La Niña-reinforce these prolonged La Niña events. Quantitatively, the rainfall reduction enhances La Niña amplitude by 14% in the first year and 32% in the second year. MLS anomalies in the western-central equatorial Pacific

SUBMITTER: Tian F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12913976 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature