Global Climate Patterns: Not Just for El Nino Anymore

El Nino returns! These types of headlines often surface. They are meant to knock you upside the head with thoughts of extreme flooding, wildfires, and any other global climate catastrophe's that Hollywood could use as their next summer scorcher. El Nino and La Nina are swings in the ocean temperatures that in all likelihood were here before humans. Global climate patterns involve much more than the simplistic views of El Nino and La Nina often trumpeted by the media.

There are unsung heroes of global climate patterns. El Nino and La Nina are not the only players in the global oscillation teleconnection league. Some of these players can have a more dramatic affect on global climate patterns than a swing in the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Even NFL offensive lineman get shout outs now and again. So lets here it for a few other global climate players.

Arctic Oscillation

According to Wikipedia the Arctic Oscillation is "the dominant pattern of non-seasonal sea-level pressure (SLP) variations north of 20N". This oscillation is characterized by a swing between high pressure in the Polar Regions and a lower pressure in the mid-latitudes. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center higher pressure in mid-latitudes will bring drier air to the Western U.S. and warmer air to the entire U.S. Many studies have been done that show there are complex relationships between the El Nino circulation and the Arctic circulation that further affect global climate patterns.

Antarctic Oscillation

The Antarctic Oscillation (AO) is probably the least studied of the El Nino and La Nina like oscillations that affect global climate patterns. This is due to it originating in the Southern Hemisphere where there is less land and less people. Having said this, The Climate Prediction Center does keep track of this oscillation and its' affects on global climate patterns. It's the Southern Hemispheres version of the Arctic Oscillation.

North Atlantic Oscillation