Connection between the Solar Cycle and the QBO: The Missing Link

• DOI: 10.1175/1520-0442-13.2.328
• Publication Date: 2011-03-08T22:43:18Z
• Authors: Murry Salby; Patrick Callaghan
• Keywords: Quasi-biennial oscillation; Westerlies

Abstract Evidence of the solar cycle in stratospheric polar temperature rests on a connection to quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) equatorial wind. New evidence reported here establishes mechanism for how signature follows from QBO, which itself is shown vary with cycle. Equatorial westerlies below 30 mb systematically activity, as do easterlies above mb. Changes their duration introduce systematic drift into QBO's phase relative winter months, when vortex sensitive Corresponding changes polar-night are consistent observed wintertime records that have been stratified according QBO.