What is the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)?

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is characterized as a long-term pattern in Pacific Ocean temperatures that influences climate across the North Pacific region and adjacent areas. It spans a period of approximately 10 to 30 years, which makes the identification of option B accurate. The PDO has two phases: a warm phase, characterized by warmer sea surface temperatures along the central and eastern Pacific, and a cool phase, marked by cooler temperatures. This oscillation affects marine ecosystems, climate variability, and weather patterns over extended time frames, distinguishing it from shorter climate cycles or seasonal phenomena. By understanding these long-term changes, scientists can better predict shifts in climate and ecological conditions in the region and beyond.