Dependence of Global Monsoon Response to Volcanic Eruptions on the Background Oceanic States

Both proxy data and climate modeling show divergent responses of global monsoon precipitation to volcanic eruptions. The reason is, however, unknown. Here, based on analysis of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Last Millennium Ensemble simulation, we show evidence that the divergent responses are dominated by the pre-eruption background oceanic states. We found that under El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral and warm-phase initial conditions, the Pacific favors an El Nino-like anomaly after volcanic eruptions, whereas La Nina-like SST anomalies tend to occur following eruptions under ENSO cold-phase initial conditions, especially after southern eruptions. The cold initial condition is associated with stronger upper-ocean temperature stratification and a shallower thermocline over the eastern Pacific Ocean than is normal. The easterly anomalies triggered by surface cooling over the tropical South American continent can generate changes in SST through anomalous advection and the ocean subsurface upwelling more efficiently, causing La Nina-like SST anomalies. Under a warm initial condition, in contrast, the easterly anomalies fail to develop and the westerly anomalies still play a dominant role, thus forming an El Nino-like SST anomaly. This SST response further regulates the monsoon precipitation changes through atmospheric teleconnection. The contribution of direct radiative forcing and indirect SST response to precipitation changes shows regional differences that will further affect the intensity and sign of precipitation response in submonsoon regions. Our results imply that attention should be paid to the background oceanic state when predicting the global monsoon precipitation responses to volcanic eruptions.

Automated summary

Both proxy data and climate modeling show divergent responses of global monsoon precipitation to volcanic eruptions. The reason lies in the background oceanic states, specifically in how El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions affect the Pacific Ocean's post-eruption SST anomalies, leading to either El Nino-like or La Nina-like responses in precipitation patterns.