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Associations of multi-decadal sea-surface temperature variability with US drought

January 1, 2008

Recent research suggests a link between drought occurrence in the conterminous United States (US) and sea surface temperature (SST) variability in both the tropical Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans on decadal to multidecadal (D2M) time scales. Results show that the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is the most consistent indicator of D2M drought variability in the conterminous US during the 20th century, but during the 19th century the tropical Pacific is a more consistent indicator of D2 M drought. The interaction between El Nin??o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the AMO explain a large part of the D2M drought variability in the conterminous US. More modeling studies are needed to reveal possible mechanisms linking low-frequency ENSO variability and the AMO with drought in the conterminous US. ?? 2007 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.

Publication Year 2008
Title Associations of multi-decadal sea-surface temperature variability with US drought
DOI 10.1016/j.quaint.2007.07.001
Authors G.J. McCabe, J.L. Betancourt, S.T. Gray, M.A. Palecki, H.G. Hidalgo
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Quaternary International
Index ID 70000159
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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