Talk:North Atlantic oscillation

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[edit] More Logical Presentation?

I propose a few changes:

  • Say what the NAO actually is: a complex climatic phenomenon - we could've guessed that. How about:
Westerly winds blowing across the Atlantic into Europe, bring warm, moist air and in years when westerlies are strong, summers are cool, winters are mild and rain is frequent. If westerlies are suppressed, the temperature is more extreme in summer and winter leading to heatwaves and deep freezes and rainfall is less. A permanent low-pressure system over Greenland and a permanent high-pressure system over the Azores control the direction and strength of westerly winds into Europe. The relative strengths and positions of these systems vary from year to year and this variation is known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). A large difference in the pressure at the two stations (a high index year, denoted NAO+) leads to increased westerlies and, consequently, cool summers and mild & wet winters in Europe. In contrast, if the index is low (NAO-), westerlies are suppressed and winters are cold.
  • Correct errors: fluctuations of climate between Iceland and the Azores Surely, fluctuations in pressure or weather but not climate.
  • Simplify: ...as far east as northern sections of central Asia Where is that? How about just North Atlantic and surrounding continents?
  • Remove fluff: A great deal however is not known,... - true of any subject. This last sentence adds nothing and is strangely out of place.

--Oscar Bravo 07:14, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

Sounds fair enough William M. Connolley 07:31, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Greenland - Denmark

Having lived in both countries, I am wondering if this is the explanation for why the weather is always (or nearly so) opposite in those countries (and presumably in the rest of Scandinavia)? Whenever Greenland has a mild winter, Denmark has a hard one, and the opposite applies, and also for the summer season. -- Fyslee/talk 07:17, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

The Answer is both yes and no, if you are talking about a span over a couple of months then probably no and it has to do with the position of the jet stream but if it is over a period of a couple of weeks then probably yes because the NAO fluctuates over a period of a weeks not months. -WxHalo (talk) 18:16, 9 December 2007 (UTC)