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Variability of Surface Pressure, Winds, and Clouds

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Polar Oceans from Space

Part of the book series: Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences Library ((ATSL,volume 41))

Abstract

The variability of sea level pressure and winds is studied using National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis monthly-average data from 1979 to 2008. Results of analyses of monthly distributions of pressures and winds indicate that on average the seasonal patterns are consistent and coherent, but large interannual variabilities in the locations of lows and highs are observed. For a given month the interannual changes in wind circulation patterns can be very large and thereby could affect the spatial distribution of surface temperature and sea ice cover. Cloud frequency distributions as derived from AVHRR data also show large interannual variability and a slight decadal decline in both hemispheres

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cryospheric Sciences Branch, Code 614.1, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA

    Josefino Comiso

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  1. Josefino Comiso
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Correspondence to Josefino Comiso .

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© 2010 United States Government as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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Comiso, J. (2010). Variability of Surface Pressure, Winds, and Clouds. In: Polar Oceans from Space. Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences Library, vol 41. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68300-3_5

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