Model Resolution Effects on ENSO and its Teleconnections

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences climate on a global scale and is a source of long-range predictability. Accurate modelling of the impact of ENSO requires accurate representation of teleconnections as well as of ENSO itself. We consider a set of CMIP6 models and assess the effect of increasing model resolution on ENSO and its boreal winter teleconnections. The spatial structure, strength and asymmetry of both ENSO and its teleconnection to the extratropical North Pacific are considered. We find evidence of an improved El Niño teleconnection in high resolution models, but this effect is weaker for La Niña. We aim to establish whether ocean or atmospheric resolution is the primary driver of resolution-based trends, and we evaluate the relevance of mean state biases on these trends.