An improved coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model and its numerical simulation

A global atmospheric general circulation model is coupled to a free surface tropical pacific oceanic general circulation model with the so-called 'lin ear statistical correction' synchronously coupling scheme. There is no obvi ous 'climate drift' in the coupled model, and the annual mean state and ann ual cycle are reasonable. It is shown that the simulated interannual variab ility of sea temperature reaches its maximum values in the subsurface Inste ad of sea surface and it propagates eastward along the equator and westward off the equator. The quasi-period of about three to five years is similar to that of the observed El Nino/Southern Oscillation.