Synoptic view of the North Atlantic Oscillation

Benedict et al investigate the synoptic characteristics of individual North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) events by examining the daily evolution of the potential temperature field on the nominal tropopause (the 2-PVU surface). The quantity is obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Predic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the atmospheric sciences 2004-01, Vol.61 (2), p.121-144
Main Authors: BENEDICT, James J, SUKYOUNG LEE, FELDSTEIN, Steven B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmosphere
Atmospheric circulation
Atmospheric research
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Meteorology
Surface acoustic waves
Temperature
Tropopause
Wind
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Summary:Benedict et al investigate the synoptic characteristics of individual North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) events by examining the daily evolution of the potential temperature field on the nominal tropopause (the 2-PVU surface). The quantity is obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis dataset for the winter season. The data indicate that for both phases, the NAO is found to originate from synoptic-scale waves. As the waves evolve into the low-frequency NAO pattern, they break anticyclonically for the positive phase and cyclonically for the negative phase. The results of the analysis suggest that it is the remnants of the breaking waves that form the physical entity of the NAO.
ISSN:0022-4928
1520-0469
DOI:10.1175/1520-0469(2004)061<0121:svotna>2.0.co;2