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The Western Mediterranean Oscillation and rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula

  1. Javier Martin-Vide*,
  2. Joan-Albert Lopez-Bustins

Article first published online: 11 SEP 2006

DOI: 10.1002/joc.1388

Issue

International Journal of Climatology

International Journal of Climatology

Special Issue: Applications of Synoptic Climatological Classifications

Volume 26, Issue 11, pages 1455–1475, September 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Martin-Vide, J. and Lopez-Bustins, J.-A. (2006), The Western Mediterranean Oscillation and rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula. International Journal of Climatology, 26: 1455–1475. doi: 10.1002/joc.1388

Author Information

  1. Group of Climatology, University of Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac, s/n, 08028-Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

*Group of Climatology, University of Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac, s/n, 08028-Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 SEP 2006
  2. Article first published online: 11 SEP 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 APR 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 19 SEP 2005
  5. Manuscript Received: 24 MAY 2005

Funded by

  • Group of Climatology (Regional Catalan Government). Grant Number: 2001SGR 00040
  • Spanish IPIBEX Project. Grant Number: REN2001-2865-C02-01/CLI, CGL2005-07664-C02-01/CLI

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Keywords:

  • correlation;
  • Iberian Peninsula;
  • NAO;
  • frequency of a rainy day;
  • torrential rainfall;
  • Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO)

Abstract

Seasonal precipitation variability in the east of the Iberian Peninsula is weakly linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) during autumn and winter. For the purpose of improving the study of its performance, low-frequency variability patterns specific to the Mediterranean basin have been searched for. In this way, the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO) has been defined by means of the dipole composed, in its positive phase, by the anticyclone over the Azores and the depression over Liguria, and its index (WeMOi), as a result of the difference of the standardised values in surface atmospheric pressure in San Fernando (Spain) and Padua (Italy). This new index allows the detection of the variability relevant to the cyclogenesis next to the western Mediterranean basin, which determines in a predominant way the types of rainfall in the Gulf of Valencia. In this area, the WeMO is significantly better than the NAO to explain the monthly pluviometric anomalies during these seasons. Also, a daily resolution of the WeMOi can provide a useful tool to forecast torrential rainfall events in the north-western zones of the Mediterranean (eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula and the south of France), and such significantly daily rainfall frequencies for different thresholds. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society.

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