Climatological Figures

Decadal 850 hPa Temperature Changes (2000-2009 minus 1970-1979)

1000-500 hPa Thickness Maps

Northern Hemisphere Mean Flow Patterns (1950-2009, except SON through 2008)

Southern Hemisphere Mean Flow Patterns (1950-2009, except SON through 2008)

Tropics Mean Flow Patterns (1950-2009, except SON through 2008), Note: OLR begins 1979

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.

Strong El Nino (JFM 1983 & 1998) and Strong La Nina (JFM 1989 & 1999) Comparison

Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)

Precipitable Water Figures

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

• Annual mean Rainfall
• January mean
• February mean
• March mean
• April mean
• May mean
• June mean
• July mean
• August mean
• September mean
• October mean
• November mean
• December mean

Drought (1988) vs. Wet Year (1993) Over the High Plains

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

• 1976 500 hPa mean heights
• 2007 500 hPa mean heights
• 1976 500 hPa height anomaly
• 2007 500 hPa height anomaly
• 1976 850 hPa temperature anomaly
• 2007 850 hPa temperature anomaly

Asiatic Summer (JJA) Monsoon (1950-2009)

• 200 hPa mean heights (m)
• 200 hPa mean vector wind (m/s)
• 850 hPa mean heights (m)
• 850 hPa mean zonal wind (m/s)
• 1000-500 hPa mean thickness (m)

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

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly

Midwest Record Heat 14-15 July 1954

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly

Midwest Record Cold 1-5 February 1996

• 850 hPa mean temperature
• 850 hPa temperature anomaly

Record Alaskan Cold 16-29 December 1961

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly
• 850 hPa mean temperature
• 850 hPa temperature anomaly

Record Western US Cold January 1949

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly

Record Central/Eastern US Cold January 1977

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly

Superstorm 13-14 March 1993

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly

La Reunion World Record Rains

• Topography
• SW Indian Ocean
• La Reunion Island


• 21-27 January 1980: TC Hyacinthe
• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly
• Mean PW
• Anomaly PW


• 24-28 February 2007: TC Gamede
• 200 hPa mean heights
• 200 hPa height anomaly
• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly
• 850 hPa mean heights
• 850 hPa height anomaly
• Mean PW
• Anomaly PW

Super Outbreak 3 April 1974

• 500 hPa mean heights
• 500 hPa height anomaly
• 850 hPa mean temperature
• 850 hPa temperature anomaly
• 300 hPa vector (total) wind
• 300 hPa meridional wind anomaly
• 850 hPa mean meridional wind
• 850 hPa meridional wind anomaly
• Mean PW
• Anomaly PW

CA Fires of 22-23 October 2007

Autumn (SON) 2009

• 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

Page last updated: 3 December 2009