Characteristic variations of sea surface temperature with multiple time scales in the North Pacific

Temporal evolution and spectral structure of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Pacific over the last 37 years are investigated on the three characteristic time scales: shorter than 24 months (HF), 24-60 months (ES), and longer than 60 months (DC). The leading empirical-orthogonal function (EOF) for the DC time scale is characterized by a zonally elongated monopole centered at around 40°N, 180°. The leading EOF for the HF time scale is somewhat similar to that for the DC time scale, although there are two centers of action with the same polarity at the mid and western Pafific. The leading EOF for the ES time scale, however, exhibits a different pattern whose center of action at the mid Pacific is located father southeastward. -from Authors