Teleconnections between North Pacific SST anomalies and growing season extended dry spells on the canadian prairies

✍ Scribed by B. R. Bonsal; A. K. Chakravarti; R. G. Lawford

• Book ID: 102911270
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 980 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0899-8418
• DOI: 10.1002/joc.3370130805

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

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.