Southern Oscillation

noun

climatology
: a periodic seesaw fluctuation in sea-level atmospheric pressures over the southern Pacific and Indian oceans that is believed to be linked to El Niño and La Niña events compare arctic oscillation, north atlantic oscillation

Examples of Southern Oscillation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The most influential one that forecasters look at is the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025 What To Know La Niña is the cool phase of a natural, recurring climate cycle known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Southern Oscillation was in 1923

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southern Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Southern%20Oscillation. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!