Datensatz

Zusammenfassung

We extended a recently developed index of accumulated severe winter weather for stations in the United States only to the entire Northern Hemisphere. Utilizing this index of severe winter weather, we explore the relationship of Arctic temperatures and geopotential heights with the probability of severe winter weather across the mid-latitudes. This index shows a direct and linear relationship between Arctic temperatures and severe winter weather across the mid-latitudes. We also explore trends and identify those regions where the Arctic warming trend could be contributing to an increase in severe winter weather which is superimposed on the overall global warming trend. Besides focusing on pan-Arctic trends we also identify the relationship between regional Arctic temperatures with more regionalized severe winter weather. We also analyze the relationship between polar vortex variability and the occurrence of severe winter weather in Europe, Asia and North America.