Figure 4. A schematic diagram showing the biennial cycle of the ENSO induced by the Atlantic capacitor effect.

Prominent biennial variability in the boreal winter Niño3.4, spring NTA SST, summer WPSH and NPSH existed in this Atlantic–Pacific-coupled process. The red arrow represents the ‘charging' process in which the preceding winter ENSO influences the spring NTA SST like a battery charges a capacitor via an atmospheric bridge mechanism, and the blue arrow is for the ‘discharging' process in which the NTA SST exerts its climatic influences on the following ENSO like a discharging capacitor via a subtropical teleconnection mechanism.