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North Pacific Teleconnection Patterns from NOAA/Climate Prediction Center
Entry ID: NOAA_NWS_CPC_NP

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Summary

Abstract: [Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center, http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ ]

The North Pacific pattern is prominent from March through July. This pattern consists of a primary anomaly center which spans the central latitudes of the western and central North Pacific, and weaker anomaly region of opposite sign which spans eastern Siberia, Alaska and the intermountain region of North America. Overall, pronounced positive phases of the NP pattern are associated with a southward shift and intensification of the Pacific jet stream from eastern Asia to the eastern North Pacific, followed downstream by an enhanced anticyclonic circulation over western North America, and by an enhanced cyclonic circulation over the southeastern United States. Pronounced negative phases of the NP pattern are associated with circulation anomalies of opposite sign in these regions.

Bell and Janowiak (1995) recently noted that a positive phase of the NP pattern reflects one of the preferred responses of the extratropical atmospheric circulation to ENSO during the Northern Hemisphere spring. This response was particularly evident during the 1992 and 1993 spring seasons, when a prolonged positive phase of the NP pattern dominated the circulation.

Bell and Janowiak also note that the atmospheric circulation during the several month period prior to the onset of the Midwest floods of June-July 1993 was dominated by the most pronounced and persistent positive phase of the NP pattern in the historical record. Their study concluded that these conditions were indirectly important to the onset and overall magnitude of the floods, since they fostered an anomalously intense storm track over the midlatitudes of the North Pacific. Dramatic changes in this storm track during June then ultimately initiated the Midwest floods.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA
Description: Access to NP documentation, graphs and data

Geographic Coverage

N: 75.0 S: 45.0 E: -105.0 W: -180.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: NOAA/NWS/CPC
Dataset Title: North Pacific Teleconnection Pattern
Dataset Series Name: NOAA/NWS/CPC Indices and Forecasts
Dataset Release Date: ongoing
Dataset Release Place: Camp Springs, MD
Dataset Publisher: NOAA National Weather Service, Center for Climate Prediction
Online Resource: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/np.html

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1950-01-01

Location Keywords

OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > GULF OF ALASKA
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > CANADA
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
GEOGRAPHIC REGION > NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Data Resolution
Temporal Resolution: monthly, seasonal

Science Keywords

ATMOSPHERE >ALTITUDE >GEOPOTENTIAL HEIGHT    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE >OSCILLATIONS >NORTH PACIFIC PATTERN    [Definition]

ATMOSPHERE >ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE >PRESSURE ANOMALIES    [Definition]

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Keywords

North Pacific Pattern

climate index

climate indices

forecast indices

atmospheric circulation

climate change

teleconnections

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

NOAA/NWS/CPC

Data Center

Climate Prediction Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce [Information]
Data Center URL: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Dataset ID: North Pacific Pattern

Data Center Personnel

Name: ED O'LENIC
Email: Ed.Olenic at noaa.gov

Distribution

Distribution_Media: online www
Distribution_Format: ascii
Fees: none

Personnel

ED O'LENIC
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Email: Ed.Olenic at noaa.gov

SCOTT A. RITZ
Role: DIF AUTHOR
Phone: 301-614-5126
Fax: 301-614-5268
Email: Scott.A.Ritz at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory
City: Greenbelt
Province or State: Maryland
Postal Code: 20771
Country: USA

Publications/References

Bell, G. D., and J. E. Janowiak, 1995: Atmospheric circulation
associated with the Midwest floods of 1993. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., 5,
681-695.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2003-02-19

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-11-04

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