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Connection between the large-scale 500 hPa geopotential height fields and precipitation over Greece during wintertime

2000; Inter-Research Science Center; Volume: 14; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/cr014129

1616-1572

Elena Xoplaki, Jürg Luterbacher, R. Burkard, I. Patrikas, P. Maheras,

Cryospheric studies and observations

CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials CR 14:129-146 (2000) - doi:10.3354/cr014129 Connection between the large-scale 500 hPa geopotential height fields and precipitation over Greece during wintertime E. Xoplaki1,2,*, J. Luterbacher1, R. Burkard1, I. Patrikas3, P. Maheras2 1Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland 2Department of Meteorology and Climatology and 3Division of Hydraulics, Faculty of Technology, University of Thessaloniki, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece *E-mail: xoplaki@giub.unibe.ch ABSTRACT: The spatial distribution of the winter (December to February) precipitation over Greece was related to the eastern North Atlantic-European scale mid-tropospheric circulation fields by means of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA). The data used in this study are winter precipitation totals, of 23 stations, equally distributed over Greece, and winter mean 500 hPa geopotential heights (30 to 70°N, 30°W to 50°E) for the period 1958 to 1994. The Greek precipitation data were found to be homogeneous (Alexandersson test). A decrease of winter precipitation over the whole country was found, although significant (Mann-Kendall trend test) only over the northern and eastern parts and in the western mountainous regions. Three CCA patterns represent links that are very reasonable from a physical point of view. It is supposed that stronger westerlies over the eastern North Atlantic and the raising of the 500 hPa geopotential height (and also the sea level pressure) over continental Europe during the last few decades were connected with enhanced atmospheric stabilization and anomalous advection of cold and dry air from northerly directions. This led to the winter dryness over the eastern Mediterranean. The probable mechanisms and processes in the complex atmosphere-ocean system, leading to the regional anomalous climatic conditions, are discussed. KEY WORDS: Greece · Winter precipitation · 500 hPa geopotential height · Empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) · Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) · Atmospheric circulation Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in CR Vol. 14, No. 2. Online publication date: March 20, 2000 Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572 Copyright © 2000 Inter-Research.