Climatological Figures

Find Section
//Decadal 850 hPa Temperature Changes  // 1000-500 hPa Thickness   // NH Mean Flow Patterns  //
// SH Mean Flow Patterns   // Tropics Mean Flow Patterns   // Global Climo of 850 and 200 hPa Anticyclones  //
//Strong El Nino and Strong La Nina Comparison   // Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)   // Precipitable Water  //
//Global Rainfall Maps  // Drought vs. Wet Year over Plains  // Drought vs. Wet Year over UK  //
//Asiatic Summer Monsoon  // Record Heat in AZ/NM/OK June 1994  // Midwest Record Heat 14-15 Jul 1954
 // Midwest Record Cold 1-5 Feb 1996  // Alaskan Record cold 16-29 Dec 1961  //Record Western US Cold Jan 1949  //
//Record Central/Eastern US Cold Jan 1977  //Superstorm 13-14 Mar 1993  // La Reunion World Record Rains  //
//Super Outbreak 3 April 1974  // CA Fires of 22-23 Oct 2007  // NH July 2010 Circulation and Pakistan Floods  //
//Summer 2011  //Autumn 2010  // Autumnal Warming & Sea Ice Impacts in the NH //
//Recent Extreme Weather and Climate Events  // Albany's Longest Heatwaves  //

Decadal 850 hPa Temperature Changes (2006-2015 minus 1956-1965)
Northern Hemisphere: • DJF • JJA
Southern Hemisphere: • DJF • JJA
Tropics: • DJF • JJA


1000-500 hPa Thickness Maps and Climatology
DJF • 1956-1965 • 2006-2015 • (2006-2015) minus (1956-1965)
JJA • 1956-1965 • 2006-2015 • (2006-2015) minus (1956-1965)
Thickness Climatology •Atallah-Aiyyer Thickness climatology


Northern Hemisphere Mean Flow Patterns (1950-2015, except SON through 2014)
• 500 hPa Heights DJF • 500 hPa Heights MAM • 500 hPa Heights JJA • 500 hPa Heights SON
• SLP DJF • SLP MAM • SLP JJA • SLP SON
• 850 hPa Temperature DJF • 850 hPa Temperature MAM • 850 hPa Temperature JJA • 850 hPa Temperature SON
• 250 hPa Vector Winds DJF • 250 hPa Vector Winds MAM • 250 hPa Vector Winds JJA • 250 hPa Vector Winds SON
• 850 hPa Streamfunction DJF • 850 hPa Streamfunction JJA • 850 hPa Velocity Pot. DJF • 850 hPa Velocity Pot. JJA
• 200 hPa Streamfunction DJF • 200 hPa Streamfunction JJA • 200 hPa Velocity Pot. DJF • 200 hPa Velocity Pot. JJA


Southern Hemisphere Mean Flow Patterns (1950-2015, except SON through 2014)
• 500 hPa Heights DJF • 500 hPa Heights MAM • 500 hPa Heights JJA • 500 hPa Heights SON
• SLP DJF • SLP MAM • SLP JJA • SLP SON
• 850 hPa Temperature DJF • 850 hPa Temperature MAM • 850 hPa Temperature JJA • 850 hPa Temperature SON
• 250 hPa Vector Winds DJF • 250 hPa Vector Winds MAM • 250 hPa Vector Winds JJA • 250 hPa Vector Winds SON


Tropics Mean Flow Patterns (1950-2015, except SON through 2014)
• 500 hPa Heights DJF • 500 hPa Heights MAM • 500 hPa Heights JJA • 500 hPa Heights SON
• SLP DJF • SLP MAM • SLP JJA • SLP SON
• 850 hPa Temperature DJF • 850 hPa Temperature MAM • 850 hPa Temperature JJA • 850 hPa Temperature SON
• 300 hPa Vector Winds DJF • 300 hPa Vector Winds MAM • 300 hPa Vector Winds JJA • 300 hPa Vector Winds SON
• 200 hPa Vector Winds DJF • 200 hPa Vector Winds MAM • 200 hPa Vector Winds JJA • 200 hPa Vector Winds SON
• OLR DJF • OLR MAM • OLR JJA • OLR SON
• SST DJF • SST MAM • SST JJA • SST SON
• 200 hPa Streamfunction DJF • 200 hPa Streamfunction JJA • 200 hPa Velocity Pot. DJF • 200 hPa Velocity Pot. JJA
• 850 hPa Streamfunction DJF • 850 hPa Streamfunction JJA • 850 hPa Velocity Pot. DJF • 850 hPa Velocity Pot. JJA

Global Climatology of 850 and 200 hPa Closed Anticyclones

The following global climatology of closed anticyclones is taken from Galarneau et al. (2008). Closed anticyclones were defined by closed 162 dam and 1236 dam contours at 850 and 200 hPa, respectively. These closed contour values were chosen so as to maximize the likelihood of identifying closed anticyclones in subtropical and lower middle latitudes equatorward of the principal jet streams in both hemispheres.

• NH annual 850 hPa closed anticyclones • NH annual 200 hPa closed anticyclones
• NH DJF 850 hPa closed anticyclones • NH DJF 200 hPa closed anticyclones
• NH JJA 850 hPa closed anticylones • NH JJA 200 hPa closed anticyclones
• SH annual 850 hPa closed anticyclones • SH annual 200 hPa closed anticyclones
• SH DJF 850 hPa closed anticyclones • SH DJF 200 hPa closed anticyclones
• SH JJA 850 hPa closed anticyclones • SH JJA 200 hPa closed anticyclones


Strong El Nino (JFM 1983 & 1998) and Strong La Nina (JFM 1989 & 1999) Comparison: Means and Differences
• SST ('83 + '98) • SST ('89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• 1000-500 hPa thickness ('83 + '98) • 1000-500 hPa thickness ('89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• OLR ('83 + '98) • OLR ('89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• Anomalous OLR ('83 + '98) • Anomalous OLR ('89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
   
• Streamfunction (~850 hPa; '83 + '98) • Streamfunction (~850 hPa;'89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• Streamfunction (~200 hPa; '83 + '98) • Streamfunction (~200 hPa; '89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• Velocity Potential (~850 hPa; '83 + '98) • Velocity Potential (~850 hPa; '89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• Velocity Potential (~200 hPa; '83 + '98) • Velocity Potential (~200 hPa; '89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
   
• SLP ('83 + '98) • SLP ('89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• Tropics SLP ('83 + '98) • Tropics SLP ('89 + '99) • Tropics Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)
• 250 hPa winds ('83 + '98) • 250 hPa winds ('89 + '99) • Difference ('83 + '98) - ('89 + '99)


Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)
• Mean SSTs 1965-1985  JAS • Anomaly SSTs 1965-1985 JAS
• Mean SSTs 1995-2005  JAS • Anomaly SSTs 1995-2005 JAS


Precipitable Water Figures
• PW DJF • PW JJA
• PW (1957-1966)
• PW (2007-2016)
• PW JJA (2007-2016 minus 1957-1966)
• PW DJF (2007-2016 minus 1957-1966)
• PW_Annual (2007-2016 minus 1957-1966)


Global Rainfall Maps from the Sustainable Development Department (SD) of the UN (1961-1990)

Drought (1988) vs. Wet Year (1993) Over the High Plains
• 1988 JJA mean PW • 1993 JJA mean PW
• 1988 JJA PW anomaly • 1993 JJA PW anomaly
• 1988 JJA 850 hPa mean heights • 1993 JJA 850 hPa mean heights
• 1988 JJA 850 hPa height anomaly • 1993JJA 850 hPa height anomaly
• 1988 JJA 850 hPa mean winds • 1993 JJA 850 hPa mean winds
• 1988 JJA 850 hPa wind anomaly • 1993 JJA 850 hPa wind anomaly
• 1988 JJA 200 hPa mean heights • 1993 JJA 200 hPa mean heights
• 1988 JJA 200 hPa height anomaly • 1993 JJA 200 hPa height anomaly


Drought (1976) vs. Wet Year (2007) Over the United Kingdom

Asiatic Summer (JJA) Monsoon (1950-2015)

Record Heat in AZ/NM/OK 27-29 June 1994

Midwest Record Heat 14-15 July 1954

Midwest Record Cold 1-5 February 1996

Record Alaskan Cold 16-29 December 1961

Record Western US Cold January 1949

Record Central/Eastern US Cold January 1977

Superstorm 13-14 March 1993

La Reunion World Record Rains

Super Outbreak 3 April 1974

CA Fires of 22-23 October 2007
Mean SLP
• 20 October • 21 October • 22 October • 23 October • 24 October
850 hPa temperature
• 22 October • 23 October
850 hPa temperature anomaly
• 22 October • 23 October
850 hPa vector wind
• 22 October
850 hPa vector wind anomaly
• 22 October


NH July 2010 Circulation and Pakistan Floods
NH: July 2010
• 300 hPa Heights • 300 hPa Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Temperatures • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
U.S. July 2010 Precipitation
• U.S. Conus Monthly Percent of Normal Precip
Pakistan: 24-31 July 2010
• 200 hPa Vector Wind • 200 hPa Vector Wind Anomaly
• 850 hPa Vector Wind • 850 hPa Vector Wind Anomaly
• 200 hPa Heights • 200 hPa Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Heights • 850 hPa Height Anomales
• 300 hPa Temperatures • 300 hPa Temperature Anomalies
• 500 hPa Temperatures • 700 hPa Temperatures
• OLR • OLR Anomalies
• PWAT • PWAT Anomalies
Pakistan: 14-21 July 2011
• 850 hPa Heights • 850 hPa Height Anomalies
• 300 hPa Temperatures • 300 hPa Temperature Anomalies


Summer (JJA) 2011
Northern Hemisphere
• 300 hPa Geopotential Heights • 300 hPa Geopotential Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Geopotential Heights • 850 hPa Geopotential Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Temperatures • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
• Precipitable Water • Precipitable Water Anomalies
North America
• 850 hPa Vector Wind • 850 hPa Vector Wind Anomalies
• MSLP • MSLP Anomalies
• SSTs • SST Anomalies


Autumn (SON) 2010
September
• 1000 hPa Geopotential Heights • 1000 hPa Geopotential Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Temperature • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
October
• 1000 hPa Geopotential Heights • 1000 hPa Geopotential Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Temperature • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
November
• 1000 hPa Geopotential Heights • 1000 hPa Geopotential Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Temperature • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
SON
• 1000 hPa Geopotential Heights • 1000 hPa Geopotential Height Anomalies
• 850 hPa Temperature • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies


Autumnal Warming & Sea Ice Impacts in the NH
1961-1970
• 850 hPa Temperature • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
2001-2010
• 850 hPa Temperature • 850 hPa Temperature Anomalies
(2001-2010) minus (1961-1970)
• 850 hPa Temperature


Albany's Longest Heat Waves
• Summary: Lance Bosart
27 Aug - 5 Sep (1953)
• Mean 500-hPa Geopotential Height
• Anomalous 500-hPa Geopotential Height
• Mean 850-hPa Temperature
• Anomalous 850-hPa Temperature
• Mean Sea Level Pressure
• Anomalous Sea Level Pressure
27 Aug - 5 Sep (1973)
• Mean 500-hPa Geopotential Height
• Anomalous 500-hPa Geopotential Height
• Mean 850-hPa Temperature
• Anomalous 850-hPa Temperature
• Mean Sea Level Pressure
• Anomalous Sea Level Pressure
3 Sep - 12 Sep (1983)
• Mean 500-hPa Geopotential Height
• Anomalous 500-hPa Geopotential Height
• Mean 850-hPa Temperature
• Anomalous 850-hPa Temperature
• Mean Sea Level Pressure
• Anomalous Sea Level Pressure

Recent Extreme Weather and Climate Events
March 2012 CONUS heat wave
• March 2012 ESRL Figures • Retrospective Maplist Post
• Friday Mapdiscussion Summary 31 Mar 2012 • Firday Map discussion Summary 13 Apr 2012
• Dole et. al. (2013): PDF on March 2012 CONUS Heatwave

September 2013 Colorado Floods
• Map Discussion Masterlink • Mean and Anomaly ESRL Plot Matrix

20-21 June 2013 Calgary, Canada Floods
• Flood Photos: Calgary Herald • News Article: Calgary Herald
• DT on Theta with Low-Level Rvort: Heather Archambault • Thickness / MSLP / PW / 250 hPa Wind: Heather Archambault
• 250 hPa Isotacs, PV, RH, 600-400 hPa layer average ascent, 300-200 hPa layer average irrotational wind: Heather Archambault • Water Vapor Satellite Animation: NOAA/NWS/SPC
• Infrared Satellite Animation: NOAA/NWS/SPC • NESDIS Operational Blended TPW over CONUS: OSPO/NOAA
• Observations at University of Calgary (SA10) • Maplist Posts

October 2012 Hurricane Sandy
• Hurricane Sandy Seminar Imagery and Links: ATM 639 Students and Faculty • Hurricane Sandy Maplist Masterlink

August 2011 Hurricane Irene
• Infrared Satellite Animation of Irene Making Landfall: CIMSS • Precipitation Verification Plots (Models and WPC): EMC/NCEP/NOAA
• Collection of Hurricane Irene Map Posts • Hurricane Irene Summary: Richard Grumm
• 250 hPa Wind / Height/ PW: Jared Klein
• 500 hPa Vorticity / Height/ Low-Level Fontogenesis: Jared Klein
• 1000-850 hPa ThetaE / Frontogenesis / PWAT: Jared Klein
• Precip + MSLP (1): Jared Klein
• Precip + MSLP (2): Jared Klein

November 2013 Mediterranean flooding in Sardinia
• Map discussion Summary: CIMSS • Map discussion Masterlink
• World record point precipitation measurements(HDSC - NWS - NOAA)

The Great Rains of May 2015 over the Southern Plains
• Map discussion Summary: Lance Bosart
• Mean 300-hPa Geopotential Height (4 May - 18 May 2015)
• Anomalous 300-hPa Geopotential Height (4 May - 18 May 2015)
• Mean 850-hPa Geopotential Height (4 May - 18 May 2015)
• Anomalous 850-hPa Geopotential Height (4 May - 18 May 2015)
• Mean 850-hPa Temperature (4 May - 18 May 2015)
• Anomalous 850-hPa Temperature (4 May - 18 May 2015)
• Anomalous Precipitable Water (4 May - 18 May 2015)


Last updated: 8 December 2015