Reconstruction of Sea Level Pressure fields over the
eastern North Atlantic and Europe back to 1500
Reconstruction of Sea Level Pressure fields over the
eastern North Atlantic and Europe back to 1500
Climate Dynamics, 2002, 18, 545-561,
DOI 10.1007/s00382-001-0196-6.

J. Luterbacher 1, 2 , E. Xoplaki, R. Rickli, D. Gyalistras, C. Schmutz and H. Wanner 1
Institute of Geography, Climatology and Meteorology, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
1 Also NCCR Climate, Institute of Geography, Climatology and Meteorology, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
D. Dietrich
Institute of Mathematical Statistics, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
J. Jacobeit and C. Beck
Institute of Geography, University of W�rzburg, D-97074 W�rzburg, Germany

2 For further information contact Juerg Luterbacher juerg@giub.unibe.ch

ABSTRACT:
Spatially and temporally high-resolution estimates of past natural climate variability are important to assess recent significant climate trends. The mid-latitude atmospheric circulation is the dominant factor for regional changes in temperature, rainfall, and other climatic variables. Here we present reconstructions of gridded monthly sea level pressure (SLP) fields back to 1659 and seasonal reconstructions from 1500-1658 for the eastern North Atlantic-European region (30�W to 40�E; 30�N to 70�N). These were developed using principal component regression analysis based on the combination of early instrumental station series (pressure, temperature and precipitation) and documentary proxy data from Eurasian sites. The relationships were derived over the 1901-1960 calibration period and verified over 1961-1990. Under the assumption of stationarity in the statistical relationships, a transfer function derived over the 1901-1990 period was used to reconstruct the 500-year large-scale SLP fields. Systematic quality testing indicated reliable winter reconstructions throughout the entire period. Lower skill was obtained for the other seasons, although meaningful monthly reconstructions were available from around 1700 onwards, when station pressure series became available. The quality and the reconstructed SLP fields for two exceptionally cold years (1573, 1740) are discussed and climatologically interpreted. An EOF analysis of the 1500-1999 winter SLP revealed, firstly, a zonal flow pattern with pronounced decadal to centenial time scale variations, secondly, a monopole pattern over northwest Europe and thirdly, a pattern modulating the meridional flow component over Europe. These 500-year SLP reconstructions should be useful for modelling studies, particulary for analyses of low-frequency atmospheric variability and for circulation dynamics.

DATA:
Plot the reconstructions produced in this study using the
WDC Paleo Interactive Plotting tool

Download the numerical reconstruction grids produced in this study from the WDC Paleo Archive:
Monthly Sea Level Pressure (SLP) and 500 hPa Fields:
SLP 1659 A.D. to 1999 A.D. and 500 hPa 1659 A.D. to 1999 A.D.
Seasonal Sea Level Pressure (SLP) and 500 hPa Fields:
SLP 1500 A.D. to 1658 A.D. and 500 hPa 1500 A.D. to 1658 A.D.
Note: Large data files. Individual year data files can be selected using the Interactive Plotting Tool above.

DOCUMENTATION:
Reconstruction Description and File Formats

To read or view the full study, please visit the Springer website.
It was published in Climate Dynamics 18, 545-561, 2002 (online: 18 December 2001).

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21 December 2001