Fig. 2: Equatorial Pacific zonal SST gradient trend during 1951-2010. | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

Fig. 2: Equatorial Pacific zonal SST gradient trend during 1951-2010.

From: On the future zonal contrasts of equatorial Pacific climate: Perspectives from Observations, Simulations, and Theories

Fig. 2

a Linear trends for 1951–2010 of the equatorial Pacific zonal SST gradient, defined as the eastern Pacific (180o-80oW, 5oS-5oN) SST minus the western Pacific (110oE-180o, 5oS-5oN) SST from six observational data sources (Obs), and 27 CMIP5 models. The S group (six models that show the largest magnitude of SST gradient strengthening) of CMIP5 models show a strengthening of the zonal SST gradient, and the W group (six models that show the largest magnitude of SST gradient weakening) of CMIP5 models show a weakening of the zonal SST gradient. b Probability density function of the 1951-2010 SST gradient trends in four large ensemble simulations indicated in the figure. The ensemble size is indicated in parentheses. Dots and bars in the left margin of b indicate the means and 5–95% ranges for the observations, CMIP5 models (one realization from each model) and combined large ensemble simulations. (Adapted from ref. 26).

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