Influence of the Arctic Oscillation on the variability of winter mean temperatures in Turkey

Observed changes and variability in winter (DJF) mean temperature series at the 70 stations of Turkey and the circulation types at 500-hPa geopotential height level were investigated to explain atmospheric controls of the temperature variations during the extreme and normal phases of the Arctic Oscillation Index (AOI). The analysis was performed with respect to relationships between winter (monthly and seasonal) mean temperatures and the AOI and the composite winter (monthly and seasonal) temperature changes corresponding to the various phases of the AOI. Main conclusions and evaluations of the study are as follows:

(1)

Negative relationships are found between year-to-year variability of normalized winter (seasonal and monthly) temperatures and the AOI winter (seasonal and monthly) indices at all stations. Correlation coefficients are statistically significant at the 1% level for the majority of stations.