The present study revisited the first two leading modes of tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) during the period of 1979 2008.It is suggested that the so-called El Nio Modoki,which is captured by the second mode,exists objectively and exhibits obvious differences from traditional El Nio,which is captured by the first mode,in terms of its spatial characteristics.Furthermore,the authors found that El Nio Modoki is linearly independent of traditional El Nio;hence,it cannot be described as part of the traditional El Nio evolution,and vice versa.
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