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Response to comments on ‘Influences of the Bermuda High and atmospheric moistening on changes in summer rainfall in the Atlanta, Georgia region, the United States’
Author(s) -
Diem Jeremy E.
Publication year - 2013
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.3654
Subject(s) - ridge , climatology , latitude , western europe , geology , geography , physical geography , cartography , geodesy , european union , business , economic policy
ABSTRACT Researchers have come to differing conclusions about multi‐decadal changes in the position of the western ridge of the Bermuda High during the summer. This communication examines trends for 72 periods within the entire period of record (1948–2012), while also comparing variances in the Western Bermuda High Index ( WBHI ) and the latitudinal position of the western ridge. The western ridge has not moved significantly eastward or westward over either 1948–2012 or the past 60 years. The western ridge underwent a major westward shift from 1976 to 1977, but it did not stay in that western position during subsequent decades. Over the past 30–40 years, the western ridge has moved significantly eastwards and southwards. Finally, the WBHI , rather than the latitude of the western ridge, has had a definitive increase in variance over time and is the likely cause of increased summer rainfall variability in the southeastern United States.