Large-Scale Ocean Atmospheric Variability Associated with Hydrological Extremes in Western North America

摘要

Research in the project, centered around the effects of Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation on precipitation and streamflow in North America from monthly to several year time scales, and a diagnosis of numerical predictions of precipitation from the U.S. National Meteorological Center's medium and extended range model on weekly and monthly time scales. Monthly and seasonal northern hemisphere atmospheric flow patterns provided insight in diagnosing the great continental drought over the United States during Summer 1988, effects of atmospheric anomalies on the record-breaking rise in the Great Salt Lake in 1981-1986, the effect of Pacific Ocean surface conditions and atmospheric circulation on streamflow variability and stream chemistry in western North America, and the identification of extreme southerly displaced North Pacific storms which cause flooding in the San Bernadino Mountains and the Mojave River watershed. To evaluate extended range precipitation forecasts (2-10 days lead), an extensive comparison of medium and extended range National Meteorological Center Model forecasts was made with observations.