A detailed examination of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) daily estimates, merging high-quality (HQ)/infrared (IR) precipitation from 1998 to 2009, revealed the modulating influence of convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCEWs), including Kelvin, n = 1 equatorial Rossby (ER), mixed Rossby-gravity (MRG), and tropical depression (TD)-type waves, on the variability of tropical precipitation. Consistent with inviscid β-plane shallow water theory, the wave-induced convergence zones are found to be an active location for precipitation. Modulated precipitation by ER waves exhibits slow westward phase progression of approximately −4.8 m s⁻¹, and it is distributed as a symmetric pair of off-equatorial maxima and a weak equatorial peak. MRG waves show an asymmetrically modulated precipitation distribution and a faster phase progression of about −16.1 m s⁻¹ followed by enhanced symmetrical gyres. Peak precipitation within TD-type waves originates in the trough axis of off-equatorial vortex trains and propagates to the west at approximately −9.5 m s⁻¹. Regarding Kelvin waves, typical positive precipitation anomalies travelling in the east–west direction occur in the maxima of low-level wind convergences, with an approximate phase progression of about 15.4 m s⁻¹. Variability of tropical precipitation due to CCEWs behaves relatively varied over different seasons and locations. TD-type waves exhibit more predominant impacts than other waves, with maximum impacts of up to 9.75 ± 4.54% of the total precipitation variance during boreal summer, which is three times higher than the MRG peak (2.90 ± 0.82%). On the other hand, Kelvin and n = 1 ER waves each have more prominent effects during boreal winter; up to 6.99 ± 3.30 % and 3.77 ± 1.79 %, respectively. On average, our results suggest that, although being less dominant than other tropical oscillations (e.g. ENSO, MJO), these four types of CCEWs can considerably affect precipitation by contributing up to 16–20% of the total intraseasonal (2.5–72 days) precipitation variance in the tropics.

Northern Hemisphere (NH) climate has experienced various coherent wintertime multidecadal climate trends in stratosphere, troposphere, ocean, and cryosphere. However, the overall mechanistic framework linking these trends is not well established. Here we show, using long-term transient forced coupled climate simulation, that large parts of the coherent NH-multidecadal changes can be understood within a damped coupled stratosphere/troposphere/ocean-oscillation framework. Wave-induced downward propagating positive stratosphere/troposphere-coupled Northern Annular Mode (NAM) and associated stratospheric cooling initiate delayed thermohaline strengthening of Atlantic overturning circulation and extratropical Atlantic-gyres. These increase the poleward oceanic heat transport leading to Arctic sea-ice melting, Arctic warming amplification, and large-scale Atlantic warming, which in turn initiates wave-induced downward propagating negative NAM and stratospheric warming and therefore reverse the oscillation phase. This coupled variability improves the performance of statistical models, which project further weakening of North Atlantic Oscillation, North Atlantic cooling and hiatus in wintertime North Atlantic-Arctic sea-ice and global surface temperature just like the 1950s–1970s.

The influence of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) on the precipitation extremes in Indonesia during the rainy season (October to April) has been evaluated using the daily station rain gauge data from 1987 to 2017 and the gridded Asian Precipitation–Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) from 1998 to 2015 for different phases of the MJO. The results show that MJO significantly modulates the frequency of extreme precipitation events in Indonesia, with the magnitude of the impact varying across regions. Specifically, the convectively active (suppressed) MJO increases (decreases) the probability of extreme precipitation events over the western and central parts of Indonesia by up to 70% (40%). In the eastern part of Indonesia, MJO increases (decreases) extreme precipitation probability by up to 50% (40%). We attribute the differences in the probability of extreme precipitation events to the changes in the horizontal moisture flux convergence induced by MJO. The results indicate that the MJO provides the source of predictability of daily extreme precipitation in Indonesia.

Rainfall extremes cause significant socioeconomic impacts in Indonesia, as they are often followed by disastrous events, such as floods and landslides. Of particular interest is Java Island, the most populated region in Indonesia, which is prone to damaging flooding as a result of heavy rainfall. The prediction of rainfall extremes in this region has mainly been focused on the effects of seasonal and intraseasonal variability, such as monsoons and the Madden–Julian Oscillation. Here, using an extensive station database from 1987 to 2017 and the gridded Asian Precipitation‐Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Toward Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) product from 1980 to 2007, we show that severe weather conditions associated with rainfall extremes in Java during the rainy season (November to April) can also be attributed to convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCEWs) that occur on a shorter time scale.Evidence is presented that CCEWs, including Kelvin, equatorial Rossby (ER), and mixed Rossby‐gravity (MRG) waves, significantly modulate daily rainfall extremes over Java Island. Of these three types, the Kelvin waves have the greatest influence on heavy rainfall over Java Island. The convectively active (suppressed) phases of Kelvin waves increase (decrease) the probability of extreme rain events over land regions by up to 60% (50%) of the baseline probability. On the other hand, the convectively active phases of ER (MRG) waves increase the probability by up to 45% (40%), while the suppressed phases decrease this by up to 40% (30%). In terms of the mechanism of rainfall extremes, CCEWs modulate moisture flux convergence, leading to the enhancement of local convection over the region. In addition, the analysis of multiple wave events indicates that positive (negative) interferences of the CCEWs lead to an amplification (suppression) of extreme rainfall probability. Overall, the results suggest that equatorial waves provide an important source of the predictability for daily extreme rainfall events over Java Island.

A record‐breaking extreme rainfall event, the highest amount recorded since 1866, hit Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, in early January 2020. This torrential rainfall was mainly caused by the convergence of moisture‐rich air due to an unusual blocking of cross‐equatorial northerly surge over Northwest Java by the southerly winds induced by a cyclonic flow over the Indian Ocean. This condition caused a local increase in the amount of water vapor over Jakarta that eventually led to the formation of clouds and heavy precipitation. In addition, the concurrent occurrences of convectively active phases of equatorial waves (Kelvin, TD‐type, and eastward propagating inertia‐gravity waves) and Madden‐Julian Oscillation during the event also partly contributed to the enhanced local moisture over the region by increasing low‐level moisture flux convergence. Together, these large‐scale dynamical drivers provided a convective environment that fostered the development of a massive rain‐producing mesoscale convective system and, consequently, extreme rainfall over the region.

The individual impact of North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Western Boundary Currents (OWBCs) on the tropospheric circulation has recently been studied in depth. However, their simultaneous role in shaping the hemisphere-scale wintertime troposphere/stratosphere-coupled circulation and its variability have not been considered. Through semi-idealized Atmospheric General-Circulation-Model experiments, we show that the North Atlantic and Pacific OWBCs jointly maintain and shape the wintertime hemispheric circulation and its leading mode of variability Northern Annular Mode (NAM). The OWBCs energize baroclinic waves that reinforce quasi-annular hemispheric structure in the tropospheric eddy-driven jetstreams and NAM variability. Without the OWBCs, the wintertime NAM variability is much weaker and its impact on the continental and maritime surface climate is largely insignificant. Atmospheric energy redistribution caused by the OWBCs acts to damp the near-surface atmospheric baroclinicity and compensates the associated oceanic meridional energy transport. Furthermore, the OWBCs substantially weaken the wintertime stratospheric polar vortex by enhancing the upward planetary wave propagation, and thereby affecting both stratospheric and tropospheric NAM-annularity. Whereas the overall impact of the extra-tropical OWBCs on the stratosphere results mainly from the Pacific, the impact on the troposphere results from both the Pacific and Atlantic OWBCs.