Teleconnection of Siberian High with wintertime temperature variability in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the Siberian High on wintertime temperature variability in Sri Lanka. The study uses area-weighted pressure and area-weighted latitudinal and longitudinal displacements to show that the meridional movement of the Siberian High pressure has a significant correlation with wintertime temperature. The study finds that the latitudinal index of the Siberian High explains 31% of the variability in regional wintertime temperature, while El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) explains only 12%. A linear model is constructed using the pressure index of the Siberian High, which explains the variability of wintertime temperature over the region. Composite maps are plotted using NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis, and physical justifications are given to support the statistical findings. The study concludes that including the Siberian High pressure with ENSO increases the explanation of variability of wintertime temperature in the region under consideration.

Keywords:Wintertime temperature, Center of Action, Siberian High