Large-scale atmospheric dynamics of the wet winter 2009–2010 and its impact on hydrology in Portugal

Andrade, C., Santos, J. A., Pinto, J. G. and Corte-Real, J. (2011) Large-scale atmospheric dynamics of the wet winter 2009–2010 and its impact on hydrology in Portugal. Climate Research, 46 (1). pp. 29-41. ISSN 0936-577X doi: 10.3354/cr00945

Abstract/Summary

The anomalously wet winter of 2010 had a very important impact on the Portuguese hydrological system. Owing to the detrimental effects of reduced precipitation in Portugal on the environmental and socio-economic systems, the 2010 winter was predominantly beneficial by reversing the accumulated precipitation deficits during the previous hydrological years. The recorded anomalously high precipitation amounts have contributed to an overall increase in river runoffs and dam recharges in the 4 major river basins. In synoptic terms, the winter 2010 was characterised by an anomalously strong westerly flow component over the North Atlantic that triggered high precipitation amounts. A dynamically coherent enhancement in the frequencies of mid-latitude cyclones close to Portugal, also accompanied by significant increases in the occurrence of cyclonic, south and south-westerly circulation weather types, are noteworthy. Furthermore, the prevalence of the strong negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) also emphasises the main dynamical features of the 2010 winter. A comparison of the hydrological and atmospheric conditions between the 2010 winter and the previous 2 anomalously wet winters (1996 and 2001) was also carried out to isolate not only their similarities, but also their contrasting conditions, highlighting the limitations of estimating winter precipitation amounts in Portugal using solely the NAO phase as a predictor.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/32769
Identification Number/DOI	10.3354/cr00945
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Uncontrolled Keywords	Winter 2010 · Precipitation · Large-scale dynamics · Water cycle · North Atlantic Oscillation · Portugal
Publisher	Inter Research
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