Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany

Correlations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) with climate variables in Europe are strong in the north and the south of Europe but there is a zone of statistically not significant correlations in between. This paper presents evidence that the impact of NAO can be ascertained more clearly by d...

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Main Authors: Syed M. F. Riaz, M. J. Iqbal, Sultan Hameed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stockholm University Press 2017-01-01
Series:Tellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000870.2017.1406263
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author Syed M. F. Riaz
M. J. Iqbal
Sultan Hameed
author_facet Syed M. F. Riaz
M. J. Iqbal
Sultan Hameed
author_sort Syed M. F. Riaz
collection DOAJ
description Correlations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) with climate variables in Europe are strong in the north and the south of Europe but there is a zone of statistically not significant correlations in between. This paper presents evidence that the impact of NAO can be ascertained more clearly by decomposing it into its constituent centres of action (COA), the Azores High (AZH) and the Icelandic Low (IL), each of which varies continuously in intensity as well as position. Monthly values of intensity and latitude and longitude positions for each COA are estimated from sea level pressure data. These are used to analyse their impact on interannual variations of winter precipitation and climate of Germany. Correlation of NAO with winter precipitation is weak but statistically significant in north Germany and not significant in south Germany. By separately calculating correlations with the AZH and the IL, it is found that the primary influence on the interannual variations of winter precipitation and surface temperature over both north and south Germany is the zonal migration of the IL. When the IL is situated east of its mean location, there is above normal precipitation and warmer temperatures over Germany and in winters when the IL is situated west of its mean longitudinal position, drier and colder conditions occur over Germany. The impact of this teleconnection is greater in north Germany than in the south, presumably because of the mountainous topography in the south which hinders wind flow.
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spelling doaj.art-a8a7681629d24b21a77c190a0db58ecd2022-12-22T02:30:34ZengStockholm University PressTellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography1600-08702017-01-0169110.1080/16000870.2017.14062631406263Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of GermanySyed M. F. Riaz0M. J. Iqbal1Sultan Hameed2National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST)University of KarachiStony Brook UniversityCorrelations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) with climate variables in Europe are strong in the north and the south of Europe but there is a zone of statistically not significant correlations in between. This paper presents evidence that the impact of NAO can be ascertained more clearly by decomposing it into its constituent centres of action (COA), the Azores High (AZH) and the Icelandic Low (IL), each of which varies continuously in intensity as well as position. Monthly values of intensity and latitude and longitude positions for each COA are estimated from sea level pressure data. These are used to analyse their impact on interannual variations of winter precipitation and climate of Germany. Correlation of NAO with winter precipitation is weak but statistically significant in north Germany and not significant in south Germany. By separately calculating correlations with the AZH and the IL, it is found that the primary influence on the interannual variations of winter precipitation and surface temperature over both north and south Germany is the zonal migration of the IL. When the IL is situated east of its mean location, there is above normal precipitation and warmer temperatures over Germany and in winters when the IL is situated west of its mean longitudinal position, drier and colder conditions occur over Germany. The impact of this teleconnection is greater in north Germany than in the south, presumably because of the mountainous topography in the south which hinders wind flow.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000870.2017.1406263Germanywinter climateNorth Atlantic Oscillation
spellingShingle Syed M. F. Riaz
M. J. Iqbal
Sultan Hameed
Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany
Tellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
Germany
winter climate
North Atlantic Oscillation
title Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany
title_full Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany
title_fullStr Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany
title_full_unstemmed Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany
title_short Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter climate of Germany
title_sort impact of the north atlantic oscillation on winter climate of germany
topic Germany
winter climate
North Atlantic Oscillation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16000870.2017.1406263
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