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Teleconnections between North Pacific SST anomalies and growing season extended dry spells on the canadian prairies
Author(s) -
Bonsal B. R.,
Chakravarti A. K.,
Lawford R. G.
Publication year - 1993
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.3370130805
Subject(s) - teleconnection , longitude , climatology , latitude , anomaly (physics) , geography , sea surface temperature , environmental science , dry season , geology , oceanography , el niño southern oscillation , physics , cartography , geodesy , condensed matter physics
This investigation documents the relationships between anomalous North Pacific sea‐surface temperatures (SSTs) and the occurrence of growing season extended dry spells on the Canadian Prairies. Results show a significant correlation between extended dry spells and a positive SST anomaly gradient in the east‐central North Pacific. The gradient exists between an area of anomalously cold water in the east‐central North Pacific in the area 30°N–40°N latitude and 165°W‐135°W longitude, and an area of anomalously warm water along the central west coast of North America in the area 45°N–55°N latitude and 130°W‐125°W longitude. A probability model shows that the longer this positive gradient persists, the greater the probability of a major extended dry spell on the Canadian Prairies.