Snow cover occurrence in central European lowlands under Northern Hemisphere circulation patterns
Four circulation patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation NAO, East Atlantic pattern EA, East Atlantic/Western Russia EATLAVRUS and Scandinavia SCAND) persistent in the Euroatlantic region are taken into consideration and their influence on snow cover occurrence in 35 Central European lowland stations i...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | Hungarian English |
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2009
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| Online Access: | http://acta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/16916/ http://acta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/16916/1/climatologica_042_043_017-028.pdf |
| Summary: | Four circulation patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation NAO, East Atlantic pattern EA, East Atlantic/Western Russia EATLAVRUS and Scandinavia SCAND) persistent in the Euroatlantic region are taken into consideration and their influence on snow cover occurrence in 35 Central European lowland stations is investigated. The correlation coefficient (r) between the monthly number of days with snow cover and monthly circulation indices is computed and mapped. Anomalies in the monthly number of days with snow cover at positive/negative extremes of each circulation pattern are calculated and tested. The most significant negative relationships are found between the NAO index and snow cover duration (r up to -0.7 or even -0.8 in northwest Poland and northeast Germany). The difference between the number of days with snow cower during positive and negative NAO extremes is statistically significant and reaches 18 days in January. Three remaining circulation patterns have much less impact on snow cover. Some significant positive snow signals are found for the negative phase of EA in January and February, and for negative phase of EATLAVRUS in December. The Scandinavian anticyclone in the SCAND positive phase is favourable for snow cover duration in February and March, but only in the north eastern edge of the studied area. |
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