Monitoring the MJO this Autumn
/The chart below shows a weak pulse of the MJO in Phase 1 over Africa. Models are anticipating the MJO to run out of steam and go back into its shell. It is essentially buried among the broad-scale La Nina pattern still at play, making it difficult to track. Nothing much to see here.
The Madden – Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a tropical disturbance that moves eastward around the global tropics every 30-60 days and has proven to influence rainfall and temperature conditions. The strength of the MJO may increase or decrease as it progresses eastwards, affecting the level of convection and influence on both precipitation and temperature. The diagram below is used by scientists to track the path of the MJO showing predicted dates through various phases (see December MJO explainer). A short YouTube cartoon explaining the MJO can be found here
