Damien Irving edited results_psa.tex  over 8 years ago

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\subsubsection{Influence on surface variables}   In order to assess the influence of the PSA pattern on regional climate variability, the composite mean surface air temperature anomaly, precipitation anomaly and sea ice concentration anomaly was calculated for both the positive and negative phase (Figure \ref{fig:surface_composites}). On the western flank of the central composite-mean streamfunction anomaly associated with positive phase activity, anomalously warm conditions were evident over the Ross Sea, Amundsen Sea and interior of West Antactica, particularly during autumn and winter. The northerly flow responsible for those warm conditions also induced large precipitation increases along the West Antarctic coastline and reduced sea ice in the Amundsen Sea. On the eastern flank, anomalously cool conditions were evident over the Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia and the Weddell Sea during all seasons (winter and spring especially), with the latter also experiencing large increases in sea ice. Anomalously dry conditions were also seen over the Antarcitc Antarctic  Peninsula in association with the weaker westerly flow. The anomalies associated with the negative phase of the PSA pattern were essentially the reverse of the positive phase (Figure \ref{fig:surface_composites}). It is also noteworthy that while the hemispheric composite-mean streamfunction anomaly associated with the PSA pattern gives the impression of a hemispheric zonal wavenumber three pattern, the phase of that pattern and the unremarkable anomalies either side of the Indian Ocean anomaly are inconsistent with the characteristics of the dominant SH zonal wavenumber three mode \citep[e.g.][]{Raphael2004,IrvingSimmonds2015}.