%0 Figure %A Dong, Buwen %A T Sutton, Rowan %A Woollings, Tim %A Hodges, Kevin %D 2013 %T Composite anomalies for (a) sea level pressure (hPa), (b) precipitation (mm d−1), (c) precipitation with intensity ranging from 1 to 20 mm d−1, and (d) rainy days with intensity ranging from 1 to 20 mm d−1 in JJA for high minus low PC1 of storm track density %U https://iop.figshare.com/articles/figure/_Composite_anomalies_for_a_sea_level_pressure_hPa_b_precipitation_mm_d_sup_1_sup_c_precipitation_wit/1011647 %R 10.6084/m9.figshare.1011647.v1 %2 https://iop.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/1479472 %K atmosphere %K extratropical storm track %K Summer North Atlantic Oscillation %K ocean influence %K Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation %K sea level pressure %K jja %K region %K storm track variability %K uk %K storm track density %K shift %K pc %K amo %K SNAO %K storm track %K summer storm track density variability %K Environmental Science %X

Figure 3. Composite anomalies for (a) sea level pressure (hPa), (b) precipitation (mm d−1), (c) precipitation with intensity ranging from 1 to 20 mm d−1, and (d) rainy days with intensity ranging from 1 to 20 mm d−1 in JJA for high minus low PC1 of storm track density. (e) Normalized time series precipitation indices averaged in two regions shown in (b). (f) as (e) but for England and Wales precipitation. Thick line in (a)–(d) outlines regions where anomalies are significant at 90% confidence level using the Student t-test.

Abstract

The summertime variability of the extratropical storm track over the Atlantic sector and its links to European climate have been analysed for the period 1948–2011 using observations and reanalyses. The main results are as follows. (1) The dominant mode of the summer storm track density variability is characterized by a meridional shift of the storm track between two distinct paths and is related to a bimodal distribution in the climatology for this region. It is also closely related to the Summer North Atlantic Oscillation (SNAO). (2) A southward shift is associated with a downstream extension of the storm track and a decrease in blocking frequency over the UK and northwestern Europe. (3) The southward shift is associated with enhanced precipitation over the UK and northwestern Europe and decreased precipitation over southern Europe (contrary to the behaviour in winter). (4) There are strong ocean–atmosphere interactions related to the dominant mode of storm track variability. The atmosphere forces the ocean through anomalous surface fluxes and Ekman currents, but there is also some evidence consistent with an ocean influence on the atmosphere, and that coupled ocean–atmosphere feedbacks might play a role. The ocean influence on the atmosphere may be particularly important on decadal timescales, related to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO).

%I IOP Publishing