Multidecadal Modulation of ENSO Teleconnection with Europe in Late Winter: Analysis of CMIP5 Models

Many studies point to a robust ENSO signature on the North Atlantic–European (NAE) sector associated with a downstream effect of Rossby wave trains. Some of these works also address a nonstationary behavior of the aforementioned link, but only few have explored the possible modulating factors. In this study the internal causes within the ocean–atmosphere coupled system influencing the tropospheric ENSO–Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection have been analyzed. To this aim, unforced long-term preindustrial control simulations from 18 different CMIP5 models have been used. A nonstationary impact of ENSO on Euro-Mediterranean rainfall, being spatially consistent with the observational one, is found. This variable feature is explained by a changing ENSO-related Rossby wave propagation from the tropical Pacific to the NAE sector, which, in turn, is modulated by multidecadal variability of the climatological jet streams associated with the underlying sea surface temperature (SST). The results, therefore, indicate a modulation of the ENSO–Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection by the internal (and multidecadal) variability of the ocean–atmosphere coupled system.This study was supported by the European project PREFACE (603521), and the Spanish projects TRACS (CGL2009-10285) and MULCLIVAR (CGL2012- 38923-C02-01).Peer reviewe

Coumarin: a novel player in microbial quorum sensing and biofilm formation inhibition

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat worldwide, causing serious problems in the treatment of microbial infections. The discovery and development of new drugs is urgently needed to overcome this problem which has greatly undermined the clinical effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. An intricate cell-cell communication system termed quorum sensing (QS) and the coordinated multicellular behaviour of biofilm formation have both been identified as promising targets for the treatment and clinical management of microbial infections. QS systems allow bacteria to adapt rapidly to harsh conditions, and are known to promote the formation of antibiotic tolerant biofilm communities. It is well known that biofilm is a recalcitrant mode of growth and it also increases bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics. The pharmacological properties of coumarins have been well described, and these have included several that possess antimicrobial properties. More recently, reports have highlighted the potential role of coumarins as alternative therapeutic strategies based on their ability to block the QS signalling systems and to inhibit the formation of biofilms in clinically relevant pathogens. In addition to human infections, coumarins have also been found to be effective in controlling plant pathogens, infections in aquaculture, food spoilage and in reducing biofouling caused by eukaryotic organisms. Thus, the coumarin class of small molecule natural product are emerging as a promising strategy to combat bacterial infections in the new era of antimicrobial resistance

Multidecadal modulation of ENSO teleconnection with Europe in late 2 winter: analysis of CMIP5 models

Many studies point to a robust ENSO signature on the North Atlantic-European (NAE) sector associated with a downstream effect of Rossby wave trains. Some of these works also address a nonstationary behavior of the aforementioned link, but only few have explored the possible modulating factors. In this study the internal causes within the ocean-atmosphere coupled system influencing the tropospheric ENSO-Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection have been analyzed. To this aim, unforced long-term preindustrial control simulations from 18 different CMIP5 models have been used. A nonstationary impact of ENSO on Euro-Mediterranean rainfall, being spatially consistent with the observational one, is found. This variable feature is explained by a changing ENSO- elated Rossby wave propagation from the tropical Pacific to the NAE sector, which, in turn, is modulated by multidecadal variability of the climatological jet streams associated with the underlying sea surface temperature (SST). The results, therefore, indicate a modulation of the ENSO-Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection by the internal (and multidecadal) variability of the ocean-atmosphere coupled system

A Review of ENSO Influence on the North Atlantic. A Non-Stationary Signal

ReviewThe atmospheric seasonal cycle of the North Atlantic region is dominated by meridional movements of the circulation systems: from the tropics, where the West African Monsoon and extreme tropical weather events take place, to the extratropics, where the circulation is dominated by seasonal changes in the jetstream and extratropical cyclones. Climate variability over the North Atlantic is controlled by various mechanisms. Atmospheric internal variability plays a crucial role in the mid-latitudes. However, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is still the main source of predictability in this region situated far away from the Pacific. Although the ENSO influence over tropical and extra-tropical areas is related to different physical mechanisms, in both regions this teleconnection seems to be non-stationary in time and modulated by multidecadal changes of the mean flow. Nowadays, long observational records (greater than 100 years) and modeling projects (e.g., CMIP) permit detecting non-stationarities in the influence of ENSO over the Atlantic basin, and further analyzing its potential mechanisms. The present article reviews the ENSO influence over the Atlantic region, paying special attention to the stability of this teleconnection over time and the possible modulators. Evidence is given that the ENSO–Atlantic teleconnection is weak over the North Atlantic. In this regard, the multidecadal ocean variability seems to modulate the presence of teleconnections, which can lead to important impacts of ENSO and to open windows of opportunity for seasonal predictability.We thank the Climatic Research Unit (CRU), the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the Met Office Hadley Centre and the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) for the Land Precipitation, reanalysis, SST and HURDAT2 datasets, respectively. Belen Rodríguez-Fonseca, Roberto Suárez-Moreno, Jorge López-Parages, Iñigo Gómara, Elsa Mohino, Teresa Losada and Antonio Castaño-Tierno are supported by the research projects PREFACE (EUFP7/2007-2013 Grant Agreement 603521) and MULCLIVAR (CGL2012-38923-C02-01-Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). Blanca Ayarzagüena is supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (grant number NE/M006123/1). Julián Villamayor is granted through a scholarship from the MICINN—Spanish government (BES-2013-063821

A Review of ENSO Influence on the North Atlantic. A Non-Stationary Signal

The atmospheric seasonal cycle of the North Atlantic region is dominated by meridional movements of the circulation systems: from the tropics, where the West African Monsoon and extreme tropical weather events take place, to the extratropics, where the circulation is dominated by seasonal changes in the jetstream and extratropical cyclones. Climate variability over the North Atlantic is controlled by various mechanisms. Atmospheric internal variability plays a crucial role in the mid-latitudes. However, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is still the main source of predictability in this region situated far away from the Pacific. Although the ENSO influence over tropical and extra-tropical areas is related to different physical mechanisms, in both regions this teleconnection seems to be non-stationary in time and modulated by multidecadal changes of the mean flow. Nowadays, long observational records (greater than 100 years) and modeling projects (e.g., CMIP) permit detecting non-stationarities in the influence of ENSO over the Atlantic basin, and further analyzing its potential mechanisms. The present article reviews the ENSO influence over the Atlantic region, paying special attention to the stability of this teleconnection over time and the possible modulators. Evidence is given that the ENSO–Atlantic teleconnection is weak over the North Atlantic. In this regard, the multidecadal ocean variability seems to modulate the presence of teleconnections, which can lead to important impacts of ENSO and to open windows of opportunity for seasonal predictability

Tropical North Atlantic Response to ENSO: Sensitivity to Model Spatial Resolution

In this study, the ENSO teleconnection with the tropical North Atlantic (TNA) sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in boreal spring is analyzed in ocean–atmosphere coupled global circulation models. To assess the role played by horizontal resolution of models on this teleconnection, we used a multimodel dataset that is the first to combine models with both low and high resolution. The TNA response to ENSO projects onto the most significant SST mode of the tropical Atlantic at interannual time scales, the Atlantic meridional mode (AMM). Its evolution is primarily driven by the wind– evaporation–SST (WES) feedback, which in turn is based on the development of an initial SST gradient. This study examines and quantifies the relative contribution of a dynamic-related (upwelling) and a thermodynamic-related (evaporation) process in triggering this gradient in the case of the ENSO–TNA teleconnection. While no major contribution is found with the evaporation, a consistent contribution from the coastal upwelling off northwest Africa is identified. This contribution is enhanced in high-resolution models and highlights the close link between the upwelling in winter and the development of the AMM in spring. It is further shown that high-resolution models present a thinner and more realistic ocean mixed layer within the upwelling area, which enhances the effect of surface winds on upwelling and SSTs. As a consequence, high-resolution models are more sensitive than low-resolution models to surface wind errors, thereby they do not ensure improved reliability or predictability of the TNA SST response to ENSO

Reinforcing Literacy Instruction in an ELL context

An analysis of the phonic method used for Literacy teaching in an ELL context, suggest that phonics instruction is essential but not enough in any effective Literacy program. Through phonics instruction children develop decoding skills, however, reading and writing require other important skills. The Whole Language Approach´s principles refer to the use of context when reading, highlighting the importance of developing comprehension skills. A two-school comparison based in the Literacy skills required enables us to demonstrate that isolated phonics instruction is not sufficient. In this way, a proposal of improvements to reinforce Literacy instruction in an ELL context is presented in order to achieve a more effective teaching of reading and writing

Multidecadal modulation of El Niño influence on the Euro-Mediterranean rainfall.

Política de acceso abierto tomada de: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/19448007/about/open-access[1] El Niño influence on the Euro-Mediterranean Rainfall (EMedR) has changed along the 20th century, and the reasons for this lack of stationarity, which represents an important issue in the climate change context, are still unclear. Here, the causes of this changing relationship are studied at interannual timescales. To this aim the EMedR is analyzed using observations from 1900 to 2008. Results confirm the lack of stationarity, showing how the teleconnections with El Niño appear modulated by multidecadal oscillations of the anomalous Sea Surface Temperature (SST) over the Atlantic and Pacific basins. The study presents statistically significant evidences about how the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) seems to modulate El Niño teleconnection for late winter-spring, while modulation in fall could be controlled by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The results of this study have important implications in seasonal and decadal predictability, but they also represent a step forward in the understanding of the role of changes in the ocean mean state on the interannual teleconnections

Papel de las cascadas de las MAPKS (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases) en la transducción de señales de estrés ambiental en macrófitos intermareales y árticos.

Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo es que al tratarse de sistemas altamente fluctuantes y hostiles, los organismos que los ocupan están realmente estresados, aunque muy bien adaptados a esas condiciones, y sin duda, estos sistemas de control y respuesta han de estar bien desarrollados tanto en macrófitos intermareales como en macrófitos árticos. Los objetivos que se plantearon fueron los siguientes: 1. Desarrollar y poner a punto un método de extracción de proteínas fosforiladas eficiente en macroalgas, en el que se mantenga intacto el estado de fosforilación. 2. Determinar la presencia de proteínas MAPKs tipo-p38 y tipo-JNK en respuesta a factores ambientales tales como emersión y radiación en macrófitos intermareales en el Sur de España. 3. Detectar y analizar la actividad de proteínas MAPKs tipo-p38 y tipo-JNK en respuesta al aumento de temperatura y radiación ultravioleta en dos especies de Laminariales árticas. La Memoria de Tesis Doctoral, y sus tres capítulos principales conforman la actualidad en cuanto al papel que desarrollan las quinasas de proteínas tipo MAPKs en la transducción de señales de estrés ambiental en macrófitos. En ella se ha desarrollado un nuevo procedimiento para detectar la presencia de homólogos de MAPKs en varias especies de macrofitos (Capítulo I), se ha planteado la hipótesis que defiende la fosforilación y defosforilación de quinasas de proteínas como p38 y JNK que cíclicamente experimentan macrófitos intermareales del sur de España, en respuesta al estrés ambiental impuesto en situación de marea baja y de alta irradiancia (Capítulo II), y se ha demostrado la activación de dos proteínas tipo MAPKs similares a p38 y JNK de mamíferos en dos especies de kelps árticas, en respuesta a factores ambientales estresantes como: aumento de temperatura y radiación UV (Capítulo III). Las principales conclusiones obtenidas en esta Tesis doctoral son: 1. Se ha desarrollado y puesto a punto un método novedoso y eficiente para la extracción de fosfoproteínas de macroalgas que preserva intacto el estado de fosforilación de fosfoproteínas tipo MAPK. Este método constituye una valiosa herramienta en el estudio de la Ecología Molecular y la Proteómica de macroalgas. 2. Se ha detectado por primera vez la presencia y la activación de proteínas tipo MAPK tales como, p38 y JNK, en diferentes tipos de macrófitos. 3. Las proteínas tipo MAPK se encuentran involucradas en la respuesta al estrés ambiental en macrófitos intermareales de las costas del Sur de España. Se ha puesto de manifiesto la existencia de un ciclo de fosforilación/defosforilación de estas MAPKs tipo p38 y tipo JNK, de 40 y 42 kDa respectivamente, en respuesta a dos factores ambientales: la emersión y la radiación (PAR y UV). 4. La respuesta de fosforilación obtenida en el medio natural en ambas MAPKs (tipo p38 de 40 kDa y tipo JNK de 42 kDa) es diferente, y varía según el grupo de macrófitos. Las rodofíceas (Jania rubens y Corallina elongata) son las que presentan una respuesta más rápida, seguidas de las clorofíceas (Chaetomorpha area y Ulva rigida) y por último de las heterocontofíceas (Dilophus spiralis y Dictyota dichotoma), desde el inicio de la emersión. La fosforilación de la MAPK tipo p38 precede en el tiempo a la fosforilación de la MAPK tipo JNK. 5. Se ha demostrado por primera vez la presencia y la activación de dos MAPKs (tipo p38 y tipo JNK), en dos especies de Laminariales del Ártico en respuesta a estrés ambiental (aumento de la temperatura y radiación UV). La MAPK tipo p38 en Laminaria solidungula tiene un peso molecular de 40 KDa y de 42 KDa en Saccharina latissima, mientras que dos MAPKs tipo JNK se han detectado en ambas especies mostrando 42 y 36 KDa de peso molecular en Laminaria solidungula, y 40 y 36 KDa en Saccharina latissima. 6. La fosforilación de ambas MAPKs aumenta en respuesta al estrés ambiental. Existe una respuesta diferencial entre las especies de Laminariales árticas. S. latissima, que crece en la zona media sublitoral, muestra una mayor fosforilación a baja temperatura, mientras que en L. Solidungula, que crece a mayor profundidad, la fosforilación es mayor a la más alta de las temperaturas ensayadas. 7. La exposición bajo PAR+UVA+UVB induce una mayor fosforilación que bajo PAR+UVA en L. solidungula, especialmente a 7° C. En S. latissima esta respuesta ocurre únicamente en la MAPK tipo JNK, mientras que no se encuentran diferencias en el caso de la fosforilación de la MAPK tipo p38 entre PAR+UVA y PAR+UVA+UVB a ninguna temperatura. Fecha de Lectura de Tesis Doctoral: 21 de Septiembre de 2016.Las algas, al igual que las plantas vasculares, están frecuentemente expuestas a condiciones ambientales cambiantes. Para sobrevivir en estas situaciones han desarrollado una compleja red de señales bioquímicas que les permite percibir los cambios ambientales y desarrollar una respuesta que las proteja frente a los mismos. Cuando las plantas han de responder a una situación de estrés se pone en marcha una compleja red de fosforilaciones y defosforilaciones de quinasas de proteínas específicas denominadas MAP quinasas (Mitogen Acitvated Protein Kinases-MAPK), lo que lleva a la activación/desactivación de grupos de genes específicos. Estas proteínas constituyen tres cascadas bien descritas en células de mamíferos, en plantas y de manera escasa en algas. Los resultados esta Tesis Doctoral se han obtenido con especies de macrófitos procedentes de dos sistemas costeros muy diversos y que presentan peculiares características cada uno: el sistema intermareal de Punta Carnero (Algeciras) y el ecosistema costero Ártico de Ny Ålesund (Spitsbergen). La elección de estos ecosistemas no es banal, ya que se trata de medios extremadamente variables. Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo es que al tratarse de sistemas altamente fluctuantes y hostiles, los organismos que los ocupan están realmente estresados, aunque muy bien adaptados a esas condiciones, y sin duda, estos sistemas de control y respuesta han de estar bien desarrollados tanto en macrófitos intermareales como en macrófitos árticos. Los resultados esta Tesis Doctoral se han obtenido con especies de macrófitos procedentes de dos sistemas costeros muy diversos y que presentan peculiares características cada uno: el sistema intermareal de Punta Carnero (Algeciras) y el ecosistema costero Ártico de Ny Ålesund (Spitsbergen). La elección de estos ecosistemas no es banal, ya que se trata de medios extremadamente variables

A mechanism for the multidecadal modulation of ENSO teleconnection with Europe.

https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/7889El Niño phenomenon is the main oceanic driver of the interannual atmospheric variability and a determi- nant source of predictability in the tropics and extratrop- ics. Several studies have found a consistent and statisti- cally significant impact of El Niño over the North Atlantic European Sector, which could lead to an improvement of the skill of current seasonal forecast systems over Europe. Nevertheless, this signal seems to be non-stationary in time and it could be modulated by the ocean at very low fre- quencies. Hence, the seasonal climate predictability based on El Niño could be variable and only effective for spe- cific time periods. This study considers the multidecadal changes in the ocean mean state as a possible modulator of ENSO-European rainfall teleconnection at interannual timescales. A long control simulation of the CNRM-CM5 model is used to substantiate this hypothesis and to assess if it can be relevant to explain the non-stationary behavior seen in the twentieth century. The model reproduces the leading rainfall mode over the Euro-Mediterranean region, and its non stationary link with El Niño. This teleconnec- tion has been identified in coincidence with changes of the zonal mean flow at upper levels, which influence the propagation of the waves from the tropics to extratropics through the atmosphere and, hence, to explain the changing impact over Europe. However, the non-stationary impact observed along the twentieth century could also be related to the observed changes in the interannual oceanic forcing signal itself. The results obtained suggest, for both hypoth- eses, an important role of the natural internal variability of the ocean at multidecadal timescales