Regional rainfall response to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) across Great Britain

West, Harry; Quinn, Nevil; Horswell, Michael

Abstract

© IWA Publishing 2019. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been long studied as the primary teleconnection affecting the British and European climate. However, previous studies have focused on extremes or have been spatially and temporally limited. In recent years, our ability to predict the NAO has improved. Also, new research is emerging, suggesting that the NAO is a key driver of hydrological extremes. These factors mean that there is a renewed value in enhancing our understanding of how the NAO influences general rainfall patterns. In this study, we spatially analyse correlations between NAO indices and monthly rainfall data and the Standardised Precipitation Index. We also map mean monthly rainfall differences under NAO-positive and -negative conditions. Based on our results, we identify three main observations: (I) there is sensitivity in the rainfall patterns to the chosen NAO index; (II) there is a clear winter north/west and south/east divide in rainfall patterns; and (III) the NAO does have an effect on summer rainfall patterns, although the spatiality of these patterns is less distinctive than in winter. As far as we are aware, this is the first national scale, monthly NAO-rainfall analysis undertaken for a long period.

Citation

West, H., Quinn, N., & Horswell, M. (2019). Regional rainfall response to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) across Great Britain. Hydrology Research, 50(6), 1549-1563. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2019.015

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 9, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2020
• Journal: Hydrology Research
• Print ISSN: 0029-1277
• Electronic ISSN: 2224-7955
• Publisher: IWA Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1549-1563
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2019.015
• Keywords: British climate, North Atlantic Oscillation, rainfall patterns, teleconnections, wet/dry continuum
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/846658
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2019.015