It is being transferred downward, but is capable of influencing upper ocean temperature in a warming direction for observations over a sufficient interval — which is to say multiple decades. (judithcurry.com)
Tourre, Y. M., Y. Kushnir, and W. B. White, 1999: Evolution of interdecadal variability in sea level pressure, sea surface temperature, and upper ocean temperature over the Pacific Ocean. (usclivar.org)
White, W., and D. Cayan, 1998: Quasi-periodicity and global symmetries in interdecadal upper ocean temperature variability, J. Geophys. (usclivar.org)