Preliminary study on decadal variations of EI Nino-associated adjustment in the tropical Pacific thermocline

Statistical analysis about ENSO index represented by SSTA in Nino3 with several datasets shows obviously decadal changes in the dominant period and amplitude of ENSO.Correlation analysis about the composite El Niño events before and after 1976 exhibits obviously decadal changes in the propagation and intensity of the oceanic anomaly related to the variation of SSTA in Nino3.In the composite El Niño before 1976,the coherence is relatively weak between the oceanic anomaly in the tropical Pacific and the SSTA in the Nino3 region; the area with significant correlation coefficient is relatively small; the oceanic anomaly related to Nino3 SSTA propagates faster.The above changes correspond well to the decadal changes of ENSO cycles.Some preliminary explanations are given based on the analysis of the decadal changes in the thermocline.The tropical thermocline shoals after 1976 except in the equatorial far East Pacific and the inclination of the tropical thermocline deep west and shallow east patterns weakens.Much of the oceanic anomaly from the relative higher latitude contributes to the slow propagation of the oceanic anomaly in the North Pacific.The air-sea coupling in the tropical Pack intensifies after 1976 corresponding to decadal change of the ENSO amplitude.Decadal adjustment of the thermocline may have influenced the propagalion and intensity of the oceanic anomaly related to the ENSO and intensity of air-sea interaction in the tropical Pacific,and changed the dominant period of ENSO and its amplitude.