Changes in the frequency and air pressure of cyclones that enter or are formed within the Arctic basin are herein examined by applying the database of cyclones created using NCEP/NCAR re-analysis. The Arctic basin is defined as the area north of latitude 68 • N. Deep cyclones with a mean sea level pressure (SLP) of below 1,000 hPa, were analysed separately from shallow cyclones. Changes in the variables in the first, last, deepest and northernmost points of cyclones were studied. The cyclones were grouped into sectors by using the point on latitude 68 • N at which the cyclone entered the Arctic region. The analysis described herein shows that the frequency of incoming cyclones, i.e. those that entered the Arctic basin, increased significantly during the period 1948-2002, but that the frequency of Arctic cyclones formed within the Arctic basin did not. The frequency of deep cyclones that entered the Arctic basin, as well as the frequency of cyclones that formed within it, clearly increased, while the frequency of shallow Arctic cyclones decreased. The most significant changes in the seasonal parameters associated with the cyclones occurred in winter. The mean annual SLP of deep cyclones decreased significantly, particularly for deep Arctic cyclones. The frequency of incoming cyclones showed an increase in the Bering Strait, Alaskan, Baffin Sea, and East Siberian sectors.
The objective of this study is to analyse relationships between the start dates of spring phenological phases and largescale atmospheric circulation patterns. The timing of phenological phases in temperate zones is driven by temperature, and temperature regime is generally determined by atmospheric circulation. The database analysed consists of the first dates of flowering of coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.), of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) leaf unfolding and of flowering of lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.); the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic oscillation (AO) indices, frequencies of the circulation forms classified by Vangengeim and Girs, and of the groups of Grosswetterlagen presented by Hess and Brezowsky. The study area covers central and eastern Europe, and the period considered is 1951-98.The results show that the influence of the westerly airflow is more pronounced in the winter half-year, and weakens and even disappears as spring advances. Phases have the highest correlation with NAO and AO indices during winter (December-March) and the first three months of the year (January-March), which have correlations stronger than −0.5 in the Baltic Sea region. Among the phenological phases, flowering of coltsfoot is the most strongly correlated with the NAO and AO indices, followed by leafing of birch and flowering of lilac. Airflow from the north and from the east has a greater influence in springtime, particularly in the northernmost and southernmost regions of the study area.
Changes in the number of cyclones and cyclone trajectories in Central and Northern Europe during 1948–2000 are analysed using a database of cyclones. Two hypotheses are advanced. Firstly, the number of cyclones reaching Northern Europe has increased, causing a transition to a more maritime climate. Secondly, the trajectories of cyclones have moved northward, causing the advection of warm and moist air to Northern Europe and decreasing precipitation in Central Europe. These advances were confirmed by data analysis. A linear trend and its statistical significance (P<0.05) for the frequency of cyclones in the Atlantic–European sector (30°W–45°E, 35–75°N) were calculated. Circles with radii of 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 km with centre coordinates 60°N and 22.5°E were generated. All the cyclones whose centres were located within these circles were counted. Also two meridians −5°E and 20°E – were selected and all the cyclones were counted whose centres crossed the meridians from west to east in the interval of 45–75°N. Changes in the frequency of long-term cyclones were analysed. The number of cyclones reaching Northern Europe has increased in the period 1948–2000. The number of cyclones over the Baltic Sea has increased, especially in the winter. In Central Europe, the number of cyclones has decreased, especially in the warm half-year. The number of long cyclones has increased over the Baltic Sea, especially in the cold half-year.
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