Earth System Dynamics (Aug 2023)
ESD Ideas: A 6-year oscillation in the whole Earth system?
Abstract
An oscillation of about 6 years has been reported in Earth's fluid core motions, magnetic field, rotation, and crustal deformations. Recently, a 6-year cycle has also been detected in several climatic parameters (e.g., sea level, surface temperature, precipitation, land hydrology, land ice, and atmospheric angular momentum). Here, we suggest that the 6-year oscillations detected in the Earth's deep interior, rotation, and climate are linked together and that the core processes previously proposed as drivers of the 6-year cycle in the Earth's rotation additionally cause the atmosphere to oscillate together with the mantle, inducing fluctuations in the climate system with similar periodicities.