Graphical Abstract

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Ren, H.-L., F.-F. Jin, M. Stuecker, and R. Xie, 2013: ENSO regime change since the late 1970s as manifested by two types of ENSO. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 91, 835–842.
https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2013-608
Graphical Abstract

Highlights:

• This study aimed to develop a deep understanding of the ENSO regime change in the late 1970s by linking new observational evidence with previous studies, not only regarding the change in ENSO properties, but also the change in ENSO types (or ENSO mode stability).
• The ENSO regime change is predominantly manifested by the two types of ENSO: The dramatic changes of the CT ENSO properties such as amplitude, dominant ENSO period, and SST anomaly propagation characteristics (Fig. 1), and the frequent occurrence of the WP ENSO events.
• Observations strongly suggest that the WP and CT ENSO are independent quasi-biennial and quasi-quadrennial modes, respectively, of the tropical Pacific climate variability, and also suggest that these two ENSO modes have coexisted actively since the late 1970s when either El Niño or La Niña can be separated into the two modes (Fig. 2).