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The relationships of the North Atlantic Oscillation to water temperature along the southern Baltic Sea coast
Author(s) -
Girjatowicz Józef Piotr
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.1618
Subject(s) - north atlantic oscillation , climatology , sea surface temperature , baltic sea , environmental science , insolation , index (typography) , geography , oceanography , physical geography , geology , world wide web , computer science
Abstract The present paper focuses on the relationships between the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) index and surface water temperature along the southern Baltic Sea coast. Monthly water temperature values from the period of 1951–2000 were measured in Świnoujście, Miȩdzyzdroje, Kołobrzeg, Mielno, Ustka, Władysławowo, Hel and Gdynia: sites which are located along the Polish coast. Correlation and regression methods were applied to calculate and analyse the relationships between the NAO index and water temperature. A statistically significant positive correlation between NAO index and the water temperature occurred in winter from December to March with the strongest relationships observed in January followed by February and March. The relationships between the NAO index and water temperature are usually statistically insignificant in the remaining part of the year (April–November). Various kinds of relationships were tested in this study. Our research revealed that asynchronous relationships are rather weak, although in winter they are also statistically significant. They are strongest for the January value of the NAO index combined with February water temperature. However, after three to four months they become statistically insignificant. They regain statistical significance only in late Autumn. It has also been shown that during the cold season, local factors, especially solar ones, weaken the NAO index relationships with the water temperature. This is clearly visible especially towards the turn of winter when insolation increases. During very mild winters the influence of the local factors may be significant beginning from mid‐winter. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society