Quasi-biennial Oscillation

This plot presents a representation of the Quasi-biennial Oscillation (QBO) in terms of a time-pressure cross-section of the spatial average of equatorial zonal winds.

The spatial average of monthly-average equatorial (5°S to 5°N) zonal winds from the NCEP-NCAR Reanalysis data set between the 100 hPa and 10 hPa pressure levels is displayed on the plot for the past ten years, with time along the horizonal axis and pressure along the vertical axis. Shades of red indicate west winds, and shades of blue indicate east winds, in units of m/s.

Dataset Documentation

Quasi-biennial Oscillation

Data

NCEP-NCAR Reanalysis monthly zonal winds on a 2.5° lat/lon grid, between 5°S and 5°N and between 100 hPa and 10 hPa

Data Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) (NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis)

Analysis

Time-pressure cross-section of the spatial average of zonal winds

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