Open AccessRecent ENSO–PDO precipitation relationships in the Mediterranean California border region
Author(s) -
Pavia Edgar G.,
Graef Federico,
FuentesFranco Ramón
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.656
Subject(s) - el niño southern oscillation , climatology , mediterranean climate , precipitation , environmental science , multivariate enso index , pacific decadal oscillation , stratification (seeds) , southern oscillation , geography , geology , meteorology , biology , seed dormancy , germination , archaeology , dormancy , botany
The Mediterranean California Border Region ( MCBR ) rainfall's relationship with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation ( ENSO ) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation ( PDO ) is reexamined for the period 1951–2014. When stratifying data by ENSO events we found that strong events of either sign yield the highest ENSO –rainfall correlation; but when the stratification was done by rainfall the wet seasons yield the highest ENSO –rainfall correlation. Most strong ENSO events have the same sign as PDO ; but the ENSO –rainfall correlation for all ENSO–PDO same‐sign events is almost undistinguishable from the full‐record's correlation. Timewise stratification shows that 30‐year climatological values ( MCBR precipitation, PDO and ENSO ) and ENSO –rainfall correlations have decreased in recent years.