摘要：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 Niño Modoki, which is captured by the second mode, exists objectively and exhibits obvious differences from traditional El Niño, which is captured by the first mode, in terms of its spatial characteristics. Furthermore, the authors found that El Niño Modoki is linearly independent of traditional El Niño; hence, it cannot be described as part of the traditional El Niño evolution, and vice versa.
