Statistical relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation and the climate of Turkey

Abstract

Over the middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, roughly a dozen distinct teleconnection patterns can be identified. One of the most prominent is the North Atlantic Oscillation, which refers to changes in the atmospheric sea level pressure difference between the Arctic and the subtropical Atlantic. Although it is the only teleconnection pattern evident throughout the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the climate anomalies associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation are largest during the boreal winter months when the atmosphere is dynamically the most active. If we can predict the changes occur on the North Atlantic Oscillation, we can also make better predictions about the climate change observed in our country. In this thesis, the station data of temperature and precipitation belong to 1980-2000, the station based and calculated NAO indices, and the results derived from RegCM (Regional Climate Model) for the same period were used to reveal the effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation on Turkey’s temperature and precipitation regime. The statistical relationship between the NAO and the temperature and precipitation variables of Turkey was also investigated.