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Development of a spatial synoptic classification scheme for western Europe

  1. Donna Bower1,†,
  2. Glenn R. McGregor1,*,
  3. David M. Hannah2,
  4. Scott C. Sheridan3

Article first published online: 22 MAR 2007

DOI: 10.1002/joc.1501

Issue

International Journal of Climatology

International Journal of Climatology

Volume 27, Issue 15, pages 2017–2040, December 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bower, D., McGregor, G. R., Hannah, D. M. and Sheridan, S. C. (2007), Development of a spatial synoptic classification scheme for western Europe. Int. J. Climatol., 27: 2017–2040. doi: 10.1002/joc.1501

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Geography, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK

  2. 2

    School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

  3. 3

    Department of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA

  1. †

    Halcrow, Burderop Park, Swindon, SN4 OQD, UK.

*Department of Geography, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 NOV 2007
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAR 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 9 JAN 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 3 JAN 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 23 FEB 2006

Funded by

  • NERC studentship. Grant Number: GTNER/S/A/2000/03936

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Keywords:

  • western Europe;
  • air-mass climatology;
  • climatic variability;
  • synoptic classification

Abstract

This paper presents a new spatial air-mass climatology for western Europe (WE) based upon the analysis of daily data for 48 climate stations for the period 1974–2000. Referred to as the spatial synoptic classification for western Europe (SSCWE), the new air-mass climatology not only facilitates the examination of both spatial and temporal climate variations but also provides, for the first time, a physically based synoptic classification for a wide variety of applications at the western European scale. The SSCWE is based on the philosophy of the spatial synoptic classification (SSC), which was first introduced to the synoptic climatological community in the mid-1990s and later refined as the SSC2 for application across North America. As for the SSC2, establishing the physical characteristics for six generic air masses is the basis of the SSCWE. In this paper, the procedures for identifying air-mass characteristics are described and an analysis of the spatial and temporal variation of the six generic air-mass types across western Europe is presented. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society

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