Contrasting interannual impacts of European and Greenland blockings on the winter North Atlantic storm track

Abstract

Based on the daily reanalysis, the present study examines the interannual influences of the European blocking (EB) and Greenland blocking (GB) frequencies on the winter North Atlantic storm track (WNAST) intensity. There are contrasting relationships between the two types of atmospheric blockings and the WNAST. The EB and GB frequencies are significantly positively and negatively related to the WNAST intensity, respectively. Composite analysis shows a meridional dipole of the WNAST anomalies associated with both frequent EB and GB. The area of EB-related positive WNAST anomalies is obviously larger than that of the negative anomalies, which directly results in their in-phase relationship. However, the amplitudes of the GB-related negative WNAST anomalies that are larger than those of the positive anomalies directly lead to their out-of-phase relationship. The EB-related intensified WNAST is dependent on the enhanced baroclinic energy conversion and the strengthened atmospheric baroclinicity induced by the anomalous westerly winds on the northern side of the EB-related anticyclone. In contrast, the GB-related weakened WNAST is determined by the attenuated atmospheric baroclinicity and baroclinic energy conversion on the southern flank of the WNAST climatology.

Keywords

• European blocking
• Greenland blocking
• North Atlantic storm track
• interannual relationship