A new modeling concept, referred to as Modeling Surgery, has been recently developed at University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is specifically designed to diagnose coupled feedbacks between different climate components as well as climatic teleconnections within a specific component through systematically modifying the coupling configurations and teleconnec-tive pathways. It thus provides a powerful means for identifying the causes and mechanisms of low-frequency variability in the Earth’s climate system. In this paper, we will give a short review of our recent progress in this new area. A new modeling concept, referred to as Modeling Surgery, has been recently developed at University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is specifically designed to diagnose coupled feedbacks between different climate components as well as climatic teleconnections within a specific component through systematically modifying the coupling configurations and It has provided a powerful means for identifying the causes and mechanisms of low-frequency variability in the Earth’s climate system. In this paper, we will give a short review of our recent progress in this new area.