Dynamics of the Transient Negative Eddy Response to Zonal-Mean Zonal Wind Variations

Many studies have focused on the long-term positive feedback between annular mode zonal wind (U) perturbations and the eddy momentum fluxes (M). Lagged correlation analysis between U and M anomalies, however, shows that a transient period of negative eddy forcing follows the peak in zonal wind anomalies. This negative forcing is more ubiquitous than the positive feedback because it occurs for all U EOFs not just EOF1. It has been hypothesized that this response is either 1) an intrinsic feature of the eddies independent of the U or 2) caused by U-induced changes in Rossby wave reflection. Here it is shown that the response can be reproduced in a GCM by imposing a rapid change in U; therefore, mechanism 1 does not appear to be relevant. Furthermore, the transient response can be generated in a model when there are no turning latitudes; therefore, mechanism 2 does not appear to be relevant. Instead it is shown that the transient response is due to the adjustment of a preexisting eddy field to a change in the background wind. This transient effect is negative when the meridional scale of the U change is small enough compared to the waves, and vice versa. The sign of the initial response depends on the relative size of advection by U versus retrogression by the background vorticity gradient on the meridional tilt of the Rossby waves. Finally, it is shown that this transient response has a large damping effect on U variability.