Madden-Julian oscillation

proper noun

The largest element of the intraseasonal variability in the tropical atmosphere: a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep convection, manifesting itself most clearly as anomalous rainfall.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Madden-Julian oscillation
  1. climatologyThe largest element of the intraseasonal variability in the tropical atmosphere: a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep convection, manifesting itself most clearly as anomalous rainfall.

Origin

Discovered in 1971 by Roland Madden and Paul Julian of the American National Center for Atmospheric Research.

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Cite this entry
APA

Madden-Julian oscillation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Madden-Julian%20oscillation

MLA

“Madden-Julian oscillation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Madden-Julian%20oscillation. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Madden-Julian oscillation,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Madden-Julian%20oscillation.

Source: Madden-Julian oscillation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.