A Synoptic type catalog for Southwestern Canada and adjacent areas, 1948 to 1978

A catalog of daily 5OOmb synoptic types for southwestern Canada andadjacent areas is presented for the years 1946 to 1978. The 18 synoptictypes are categorized objectively by the application of the Kirchhofer sumsof squares technique to gridded data from the National Center for AtmosphericResearch. Small-scale, high-wavenumber types are used because they explainthe climate of the region better than larger, more generalized synopticscalepatterns

The Pacific/ North American Teleconnection Pattern and United States Climate. Part I: Regional Temperature and Precipitation Associations

The Pacific/ North American (PNA) teleconnection index, a measure of the strength and phase of the PNA teleconnection pattern, is related to the variations of the surface climate of the United States from 1947 through 1982 for the autumn, winter, and spring months when the PNA is a main mode of Northern Hemisphere mid-tropospheric variability. The results demonstrate that the PNA index is highly correlated with both regional temperature and precipitation. The strongest, most extensive correlations between the index and temperature are observed in winter, but large areas of the country show important associations during the spring and autumn as well. Although the centers of highest correlation migrate systematically with changes in the circumpolar vortex over the course of the annual cycle, the southeastern and northwestern parts of the United States possess consistently high index- temperature correlations. Correlations between the PNA index and precipitation are weaker and less extensive than those for temperature, but large coherent regions of high correlations are observed across the nation. Winter and early spring exhibit the strongest relationships because spatially coherent synoptic-scale systems, related to the long-wave pattern, control precipitation. The late spring and early autumn seasons have the least extensive and weakest correlations due to the importance of less organized smaller-scale convective rainfall events

Relationships Between Synoptic-Scale Atmospheric Circulation and Glacier Mass Balance in South-Western Canada During the International Hydrological Decade, 1965–74

The results demonstrate that the mass balance of Peyto and Sentinel Glaciers are related to the 500 mbar patterns. Synoptic types with cyclonic curvature favor glacier accumulation, while anticyclonic types inhibit build-up of the regional snow-pack. Ablation is suppressed by synoptic types associated with cloudy days and/or low temperatures, and is enhanced by types associated with warm, sunny days. -from Autho

The Pacific/ North American Teleconnection Pattern and United States Climate. Part I: Regional Temperature and Precipitation Associations

The Pacific/ North American (PNA) teleconnection index, a measure of the strength and phase of the PNA teleconnection pattern, is related to the variations of the surface climate of the United States from 1947 through 1982 for the autumn, winter, and spring months when the PNA is a main mode of Northern Hemisphere mid-tropospheric variability. The results demonstrate that the PNA index is highly correlated with both regional temperature and precipitation. The strongest, most extensive correlations between the index and temperature are observed in winter, but large areas of the country show important associations during the spring and autumn as well. Although the centers of highest correlation migrate systematically with changes in the circumpolar vortex over the course of the annual cycle, the southeastern and northwestern parts of the United States possess consistently high index- temperature correlations. Correlations between the PNA index and precipitation are weaker and less extensive than those for temperature, but large coherent regions of high correlations are observed across the nation. Winter and early spring exhibit the strongest relationships because spatially coherent synoptic-scale systems, related to the long-wave pattern, control precipitation. The late spring and early autumn seasons have the least extensive and weakest correlations due to the importance of less organized smaller-scale convective rainfall events

A Methodology to Inject Sea-Level-Rise-Enhanced Storm Surge Modeling into the Long-Range Comprehensive Plans of Coastal Communities

This project implemented a comprehensive vulnerability assessment framework that used mapping and stakeholder input to create long-range land-use plans that took into account sea-level rise. They compared regular storm surge maps with sea-level-rise-enhanced storm surge maps in Sarasota, Florida, which is in the county with the second oldest population in the nation. The researchers used the SLOSH model with sea-level rise to predict flood inundation. They found that the storm surge inundation area increased and doubled the number of vulnerable elderly people. When looking at mitigating and planning for the future, they found that a category five hurricane places the entire population of the county in the storm surge zone. Using tax parcel information, the researchers found that several communities would not be very resilient since most of the buildings are in the storm surge zone. The researchers separated focus groups into planners, engineers, environmental advocates and business managers, and assigned them the task of looking at the hazard and finding solutions. When the groups saw the storm surge maps, they concluded that location of development was not appropriate. Overall the groups felt that the current urban plan needed to be revised and that urban boundaries should be relaxed to encourage development in less hazardous zones. The community also needed to relocate infrastructure and develop alternative evacuation routes in response to the impacts expected from sea-level rise