Distinct Surface Warming Response Over the Western and Eastern Equatorial Pacific to Radiative Forcing

This study examines regional characteristics of atmospheric and oceanic feedback processes in the western eastern equatorial Pacific, by applying a localized surface heating respective region hierarchy climate models. A Pacific forcing is largely offset negative shortwave cloud radiative effect damping via wind-evaporation-SST feedback. In contrast, an forcing, while being partially compensated for ocean dynamical adjustments, induces amplified warming extending to central due weak local mechanisms. As inter-model spread future tropical pattern, heat uptake response east can explain much both on fast (<5 years) slow (>100 timescales. Our results suggest that “El Niño-like” pattern probable increasing greenhouse gases owing strong intrinsic Pacific.