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The eastern Mediterranean teleconnection pattern: identification and definition

  1. M. Hatzaki1,
  2. H. A. Flocas1,*,
  3. D. N. Asimakopoulos1,
  4. P. Maheras2

Article first published online: 10 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1002/joc.1429

Issue

International Journal of Climatology

International Journal of Climatology

Volume 27, Issue 6, pages 727–737, May 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hatzaki, M., Flocas, H. A., Asimakopoulos, D. N. and Maheras, P. (2007), The eastern Mediterranean teleconnection pattern: identification and definition. International Journal of Climatology, 27: 727–737. doi: 10.1002/joc.1429

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, Greece

  2. 2

    Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Faculty of Geology, University of Thessaloniki, Greece

*Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, Building PHYS-5, University of Athens, University campus, 157 84 Athens, Greece

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 APR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 10 OCT 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 17 AUG 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 31 JUL 2006
  5. Manuscript Received: 30 JUL 2005

Funded by

  • State Scholarships Foundation of Greece

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Keywords:

  • mediterranean;
  • seasonal and monthly geopotential heights;
  • teleconnection index;
  • correlation analysis;
  • principal component analysis

Abstract

In this study, an attempt is made to investigate possible teleconnection patterns of atmospheric circulation, centered over eastern Mediterranean (EM) with the aid of gridded NCEP/NCAR daily values of geopotential heights for the period 1958–2003. For this purpose, two approaches have been used: correlation analysis and rotated principal component analysis (PCA) on a seasonal and monthly basis. A teleconnection pattern between the EM and northeastern Atlantic was identified at 500 and 300 hPa in winter, which will be referred to as the Eastern Mediterranean Pattern (EMP), appearing as an independent mode of the upper circulation. The pattern also exists in autumn but is substantially weakened with its dipole centers being shifted eastwards. Significant monthly variations were found in the location, strength and structure of the pattern. The employment of a standardized index demonstrated that the negative phase of the EMP prevails throughout the year with the maximum frequency at wintertime. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society

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