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East Pacific Teleconnection Patterns from NOAA/Climate Prediction Center

Entry ID: NOAA_NWS_CPC_EP

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Summary

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

The EP pattern is evident in all months except August and September, and reflects a north-south dipole of height anomalies over the eastern North Pacific. The northern center is located in the vicinity of Alaska and the west coast of Canada, while the southern center is of opposite sign and is found near, or east of, Hawaii. ... During strong positive phases of the EP pattern, a deeper than normal trough is located in the vicinity of the Gulf of Alaska/ western North America, and positive height anomalies are observed farther south. This phase of the pattern is associated with a pronounced northeastward extension of the Pacific jet stream toward western North America, and with enhanced westerlies over the Pacific Northwest States, northern California, and sometimes southwestern British Columbia.

In contrast, strong negative phases of the EP pattern are associated with a pronounced split-flow configuration over the eastern North Pacific, and with reduced westerlies throughout the region. This circulation is accompanied by a confinement of the climatological mean Pacific trough to the western North Pacific, and possibly with a blocking flow configuration farther east.

The most persistent positive phase of the EP-Jet pattern occurred from 1973-1975, and the most persistent negative phase of the pattern occurred from early 1992 through mid-1993. This latter period was dominated by warm episode conditions in the equatorial Pacific, and by two distinct periods of mature ENSO conditions. During this period, the subtropical jet stream was generally stronger than normal and displaced well east of its climatological -mean position toward the southwestern United States. These conditions contributed to an end of prolonged drought conditions in California (Bell and Basist 1994), and brought abundant precipitation to the southwestern United States, particularly during the 1992/93 winter. These conditions were also associated with generally above-normal precipitation over the central United States during the year preceding the onset of the Midwest floods of June-July 1993 (Bell and Janowiak 1995, Chagnon 1996). This enhanced precipitation then contributed to above-normal soil moisture levels throughout the Midwest during the period, and to near-saturated soil conditions just prior to the onset of the floods.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: Access to EP documentation, graphs and data

Multimedia Sample

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Caption: Plotted historical EP Pattern

Description: Plotted historical EP Pattern

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 45.0

S: 0.0

E: -120.0

W: -180.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Mercator Ocean

Dataset Title: Medium-resolution Atlantic (PSY1V2)

Version: V2 (altimetry and in situ data assimilation)

Online Resource: http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/html/mod_actu/public/welcome_en.php3

Parent DIF

This data set description is a member of a collection. The collection is described in
MERCATOR

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 2001-01-17

Location Keywords

OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN

OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > TROPICS

Data Resolution

Latitude Resolution: 1/3 degrees (35 km at the equator)
Longitude Resolution: 1/3 degrees (35 km at the equator)
Vertical Resolution: 43 levels from surface to bottom (12-200m)
Temporal Resolution: daily, weekly

Science Keywords

OCEANS > OCEAN CIRCULATION > DIFFUSION

OCEANS > OCEAN CIRCULATION > OCEAN CURRENTS

ISO Topic Category

ELEVATION

OCEANS

Platform

ERS-2 > European Remote Sensing Satellite-2

GFO-1 > GEOSAT FOLLOW-ON-1

Instrument

ALTIMETERS

RADAR ALTIMETERS

Project

GODAE > Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment

MERSEA > Marine Environment and Security for the European Area

MERCATOR > MERCATOR OCEAN-Operational Oceanography

Access Constraints Mercator web real time image products (GIF format) are designed for a wide
audience (freely available, except zonal maps younger than 30 days need
authorized access), while numerical products are files for professional users
and are available on a remote server with authorized access.

Please, you must justify your request to these products. E-mail request to
products@mercator-ocean.fr or download the form

Ancillary Keywords

model assimilation

altimetry data

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

Data Center

MERCATOR OCEAN-Operational Oceanography, France

Data Center URL: http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/

Data Center Personnel
Name: GIP MERCATOR OCEAN USER SERVICES Phone: 33 5 61 39 38 02 Fax: 33 5 61 39 38 99 Email: products at mercator-ocean.fr Contact Address: Parc Technologique du Canal 8-10 rue Hermes City: Ramonville St Agne Postal Code: 31520 Country: FRANCE

Distribution

Distribution Media: Image Browse (public access), Remote Server (restricted access)

Distribution Format: GIF, NetCDF, CF/COARDS

Personnel

VINCENT TOUMAZOU

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Email: vincent.toumazou at mercator-ocean.fr

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2004-12-28

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-04-15

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