Analysis of satellite and buoy measurements of sea
surface temperature (SST) have revealed a coherent
MJO cycle in the upper ocean, in quadrature with the
MJO surface flux anomalies. Warm SST anomalies follow
the calm, cloud-free, dry phase of the MJO, with its
increase in downward surface shortwave radiation and
reduction in evaporation and upward latent heat flux.
Similarly, cold SST anomalies follow the windy, cloudy,
wet phase of the MJO (Flatau et al. 1997; Shinoda et al.
1998, 1999; Woolnough et al. 2000; McPhaden 2002).
The observed MJO SST anomalies are largely reproducible
as the response to the observed MJO surface
flux anomalies in one-dimensional (vertical) thermodynamic
mixed layer models (e.g., Shinoda and Hendon
1998; Batstone et al. 2005), although zonal advection
is also important in the Pacific (Shinoda and Hendon
2001).