Tropical influence on the summer Mediterranean climate

Abstract

Observational evidence shows that, during 1979-2001, the summer Atlantic Niño is related to an increase in the precipitation over the Central Mediterranean and a decrease in the west and east of the basin, a relation absent in previous decades. Using a set of integrations with a global climate model, this work investigates the dynamics underlying such change before and after the 1970s. We find that the post-1970's response depends on the interactions between the influences from different tropical regions, and that one needs to consider the different impacts of the tropical oceans for the correct prediction of summer Mediterranean climate. © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society.