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Interannual variability of winter precipitation in northern Iberian Peninsula

  1. Jon Sáenz1,*,
  2. Juan Zubillaga2,
  3. Concepción Rodríguez-Puebla3

Article first published online: 31 OCT 2001

DOI: 10.1002/joc.699

Issue

International Journal of Climatology

International Journal of Climatology

Volume 21, Issue 12, pages 1503–1513, December 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Sáenz, J., Zubillaga, J. and Rodríguez-Puebla, C. (2001), Interannual variability of winter precipitation in northern Iberian Peninsula. Int. J. Climatol., 21: 1503–1513. doi: 10.1002/joc.699

Author Information

  1. 1

    Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Spain

  2. 2

    Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, Spain

  3. 3

    Departamento de Física de la Atmósfera, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

*Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080-Bilbao, Spain

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 31 OCT 2001
  2. Article first published online: 31 OCT 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 JUN 2001
  4. Manuscript Revised: 6 JUN 2001
  5. Manuscript Received: 13 OCT 2000

Funded by

  • Plan Nacional de I+D, CICYT. Grant Number: CL198-0236
  • Servicio Vasco de Meteorología–Euskal Meteorologi Zerbitzua

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Keywords:

  • baroclinic activity;
  • Cantabrian;
  • Eady growth;
  • EOF analysis;
  • Iberian Peninsula;
  • Kolmogorov–Zurbenko filter;
  • winter precipitation

Abstract

Observational series of winter precipitation in the eastern part of the Cantabrian coast in the northern Iberian Peninsula are studied. This rather small area shows a clearly different interannual variability to the rest of the Peninsula. Series of winter precipitation for the whole area are defined using principal component (PC) analysis and they reflect the variability that can be attributed to changes in atmospheric circulation around the area. This variability is physically explained on the basis of the structure of baroclinic activity and vertically integrated moisture transports over the area derived from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis project. According to them, the leading PC of winter precipitation represents the overall precipitation over the area. Wet phases of this PC are associated to an increase of baroclinic activity leaving the eastern part of the Atlantic storm track and entering the Mediterranean basin. Conversely, dry phases show a strong reduction of baroclinic activity over the region. The second PC is linked to meridional water vapour transports over the area, which are affected by the topography of the region. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society

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