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<p>The Walker Circulation is the largest tropical zonal circulation and is pivotal in climate. Joint analysis of the long-term (2006–2018) high-resolution vertical profiles of clouds observed using CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites provides a unique opportunity to investigate the mean vertical structure of the Walker circulation and its variability. Comparison of the monthly mean 3-dimensional distribution of clouds with ERA5 reanalysis data shows good agreement in reproducing all major circulation features. This study reveals that the Western Pacific Walker Cell, with its rising limb over the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool, is a split cell with rising branches located at the west of 110°&#xa0;E and the east of 135°&#xa0;E, which are separated by a subdued convective cloud zone (SCCZ) having 10° to 25° zonal width and centred at 120–130°&#xa0;E. Thick cirrus clouds spreading from convective outflows obstruct the detection of SCCZ using satellite-based infrared observations. Characteristics of the SCCZ and the adjoining rising branches on either side, their annual cycle, the associated cloud distribution, cloud water content, radiative heating, and the role of ENSO are investigated. The potential factors governing the genesis of SCCZ are proposed.</p>

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Structure of the Western Pacific Walker Cell, its splitting, genesis and annual cycle: new insights from over a decade of CloudSat and CALIPSO observations

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月2日

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  • R. S. Aswathy,
  • K. Rajeev

摘要

The Walker Circulation is the largest tropical zonal circulation and is pivotal in climate. Joint analysis of the long-term (2006–2018) high-resolution vertical profiles of clouds observed using CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites provides a unique opportunity to investigate the mean vertical structure of the Walker circulation and its variability. Comparison of the monthly mean 3-dimensional distribution of clouds with ERA5 reanalysis data shows good agreement in reproducing all major circulation features. This study reveals that the Western Pacific Walker Cell, with its rising limb over the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool, is a split cell with rising branches located at the west of 110° E and the east of 135° E, which are separated by a subdued convective cloud zone (SCCZ) having 10° to 25° zonal width and centred at 120–130° E. Thick cirrus clouds spreading from convective outflows obstruct the detection of SCCZ using satellite-based infrared observations. Characteristics of the SCCZ and the adjoining rising branches on either side, their annual cycle, the associated cloud distribution, cloud water content, radiative heating, and the role of ENSO are investigated. The potential factors governing the genesis of SCCZ are proposed.