Interdecadal sea surface temperature–sea level pressure coupled variability in the South Pacific Ocean

The main coupled sea surface temperature (SST)‐sea level pressure (SLP) variability at interdecadal timescale in the South Pacific is studied by means of correlation and combined complex empirical orthogonal function (CCEOF) analyses. The SST‐SLP coupled variability presents a bidecadal cycle from mid‐1950s to 1970s and a decadal cycle from 1980s to early 1990s, reproducing the ENSO‐like interdecadal oscillation. Particularly, the first SST‐SLP CCEOF mode describes the bidecadal cycle characterized by westward progression of SST and SLP anomalies along the tropical Pacific, while the second SST‐SLP CCEOF mode shows the decadal cycle with eastward development. During both bidecadal and decadal cycles the SST fluctuations in the eastern equatorial Pacific and along the western coast of South America are primarily forced by equatorial zonal wind variability. Specially during the bidecadal cycle, the alongshore SST variability south of 30°S is maintained and reinforced by meridional coastal wind fluctuations associated with a stationary SLP pattern off southern Chile. This stationary SLP pattern appears connected to SST fluctuations in the central tropical Pacific.