Tuning to the
seasonal cycle, or to the climatological average, or to the variance of some field — which can be well characterised from observations, is different to tuning to a transient change of over time — which is
often less well known.
«A climate pattern may come in the form of a regular
cycle, like the diurnal
cycle or the
seasonal cycle; a quasi periodic event, like El Niño; or a highly irregular event, such as a volcanic winter... A mode of variability is a climate pattern with identifiable characteristics, specific regional effects, and
often oscillatory behavior... the mode of variability with the greatest effect on climates worldwide is the
seasonal cycle, followed by El Niño - Southern Oscillation, followed by thermohaline circulation.»