Spatial and temporal patterns of annual precipitation variability over the Iberian Peninsula

In this study we have examined the spatial and temporal variability of the annual precipitation observations over the Iberian Peninsula (IP) for 47 years and 51 stations. Empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) were obtained in order to characterise the variability. Four regional precipitation regimes have been identified and the corresponding principal components (PCs) were subjected to spectral analysis in order to obtain the structure of the temporal variations. The relationship between the precipitation and circulation patterns is also investigated. The four leading PCs of annual precipitation are associated with the following patterns: East Atlantic (EA); North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO); Southern Oscillation Index (SOI); Scandinavia (SCAND). The spectra of the precipitation PCs show statistically significant oscillations coherent with those found in the time series of the teleconnection indices. A reconstruction of the time series as a function of the PCs is provided in order to obtain a characterisation of precipitation climatology over the IP. © 1998 Royal Meteorological Society.

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