Showing papers on "Longitude published in 2015"

Location and variation of the summertime upper-troposphere temperature maximum over South Asia

Abstract: The upper-troposphere-temperature-maximum (UTTM) over South Asia is a pronounced feature in the Northern Hemisphere summer. Its formation mechanism is still unclear. This study shows that the latitude location of the upper-tropospheric warm-center (T) coincides with the subtropical anticyclone, and its longitude location is determined by the zonal distribution of vertical gradient of heating/cooling (Q z = ∂Q/∂z), which is different from the Gill’s model. Since both convective heating and radiation cooling decrease with height in the upper troposphere, the heating/cooling generates vertical northerly/southerly shear, leading to a warm/cold center being developed between heating in the east/west and cooling in the west/east. The location of the UTTM coincides with the South Asian High (SAH) and is between a radiation cooling in the west and the Asian-monsoon convection heating source in the east. The UTTM is sensitive to this convective heating: increased heating in the source region in a general circulation model causes intensification of both the SAH and UTTM, and imposing periodic convective heating there results in oscillations in the SAH, UTTM, and vertical motion to the west with the same period. Diagnoses of reanalysis indicate that such an inherent subtropical T–Q Z relation is significant at interannual timescale. During the end of the twentieth century, rainfall increase over South China is accompanied by an increasing northerly flow aloft and intensification in the SAH and UTTM to the west. Results demonstrate that the feedback of atmospheric circulation to rainfall anomalies is an important contributor to the regional climate anomaly pattern.

Westward shift of western North Pacific tropical cyclogenesis

Abstract: Tropical cyclones (TCs) in the western North Pacific or typhoons account for one third of all TCs in the world and the change of the mean TC genesis location can affect billions of people in Pacific islands and Asian countries. The annual mean TC genesis longitude is generally controlled by the east-west shift of the tropical upper tropospheric trough (TUTT). A pronounced westward shift in the TUTT is found in all of the available reanalysis data sets during 1979–2012, suppressing TC genesis in the eastern portion (east of 145°E) of the western North Pacific basin due to the enhanced vertical wind shear associated with the TUTT shift. As a result, the annual mean TC genesis longitude has significantly shifted westward since 1979. The westward shifting trends in the TUTT and TC genesis are associated with the enhanced tropical tropospheric warming, which is consistent with the response of the tropospheric temperature to global warming.

Impacts of solar activity on performance of the IRI-2012 model predictions from low to mid latitudes

Abstract: This study investigates the impacts of solar activity on the performance of the latest release of International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model version 2012 (IRI-2012) predictions during the ascending phase of solar activity from 2009 to 2013. The study is based on the data of total electron content (TEC) retrieved from the Global Positioning System (GPS) at Singapore (NTUS) (geographic latitude 01.34°N, longitude 103.67°E, geomagnetic latitude 8.4°S), Thailand (CUSV) (geographic latitude 13.73°N, longitude 100.54°E, geomagnetic latitude 3.96°N), China (KUNM) (geographic latitude 25.02°N, longitude 102.79°E, geomagnetic latitude 15.15°N), Mongolia (ULAB) (geographic latitude 47.67°N, longitude 107.05°E, geomagnetic latitude 37.73°S), and Russia (IRKM) (geographic latitude 52.21°N, 104.31°E, geomagnetic latitude 42.28°S). The GPS-TEC has been compared with the IRI-2012 model TEC for three different options, namely, IRI-NeQ, IRI01-corr, and IRI-2001, for topside Ne over all the above five stations lying at different latitudes from equatorial-equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) to mid-latitude regions but at around the same longitude line (104° ± 3°E). The study showed that the IRI model predictions for different topside options are different and significant in low-latitude region but insignificant in mid-latitude regions (except during winter season of high solar activity year 2012). During the period from 2009 to 2013, upon moving from low to high solar activity, the prediction nature (overestimation/underestimation) of IRI-2012 model changes significantly at EIA station KUNM of low-latitude region. The discrepancy in IRI-2012 model TEC as compared to GPS-TEC in low-latitude region is found to be larger and significant than in mid-latitude region (Mongolia and Russia). The discrepancy in the IRI-2012 model TEC with IRI-2001 topside is found to be maximum at equatorial station CUSV (RMSD 99%) during the solar minimum year 2009 and decreases moving towards high solar activity year. This suggests that significant improvements to the IRI-2012 model (hmF2 model) are required particularly in the equatorial regions taking the impacts of solar minimum year into account.

The influence of the Amundsen Sea Low on the winds in the Ross Sea and surroundings: Insights from a synoptic climatology

Abstract: The Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is an area of climatologically low atmospheric pressure situated over the Southern Ocean. The depth and location of this feature have significant effects on winds, temperature, moisture transport, and sea ice in its vicinity. In this article, we quantify the modulating effect of this feature on winds over the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf. We examine composites of surface winds sampled according to extrema in ASL depth, longitude, and latitude. We employ the output of a previously developed synoptic climatology to identify the explanatory synoptic-scale forcings. In autumn, winter, and spring (AWS) we find that the impact of the depth of the ASL is smaller than that of its location. The ASL moves eastward when it is deep, thereby reducing its influence on Ross Sea winds. When the ASL is northward, we find strongly enhanced southerly flows over the Ross Sea and Ice Shelf, forced by greater cyclonic activity in the north of the Ross Sea. In summer, we find increased cyclonic flow coinciding with a deeper ASL, despite the ASL being located in the Bellingshausen Sea at this time. The responses to the ASL longitude and latitude are profoundly different to those in AWS, suggesting that relationships are strongly dependent on the varying seasonal location of the low. We examine two metrics of the ASL depth and identify that the absolute mean sea level pressure (MSLP) has a more widespread response than that of the relative MSLP.

The Mopra Southern Galactic Plane CO Survey - Data Release 1

Abstract: We present observations of the first 10° of longitude in the Mopra CO survey of the southern Galactic plane, covering Galactic longitude l = 320–330° and latitude b = ±0.5°, and l = 327–330°, b = +0.5–1.0°. These data have been taken at 35-arcsec spatial resolution and 0.1 km s?1 spectral resolution, providing an unprecedented view of the molecular clouds and gas of the southern Galactic plane in the 109–115 GHz J = 1–0 transitions of 12CO, 13CO, C18O, and C17O. Together with information about the noise statistics from the Mopra telescope, these data can be retrieved from the Mopra CO website and the CSIRO-ATNF data archive.

Analysis of WRF-Simulated Diurnal Boundary Layer Winds in Eastern China Using a Simple 1D Model

Abstract: Thelow-leveldiurnalwindsfordifferentlocationsofeasternChinaare documentedusing theJune2006‐11 hourly model data simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model with a 9-km horizontal resolution. A simple 1D model, including both diurnal thermal forcing and diurnally varying boundary layer friction, is found to explain important features of the WRF-simulated diurnal boundary layer winds in eastern China. For example, in northeastern China, at a similar latitude, the maximum velocity parallel to the coastline at a longitude over the ocean occurs earlier than the maximum velocity parallel to the inlandchainofcoastline-parallelmountainsatalongitudeoverland.Thisdifferencecanbeidentifiedwiththe well-known Blackadar effect over the land. Off the eastern coast of China, the diurnal winds for different latitudes over the ocean vary in both phase and amplitude, consistent with expectations based on the simple 1D model.

TEC prediction performance of the IRI-2012 model over Ethiopia during the rising phase of solar cycle 24 (2009–2011)

Abstract: This paper discusses the performance of the latest version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2012) model for estimating the vertical total electron content (VTEC) variation over Ethiopian regions during the rising phase of solar cycle 24 (2009–2011). Ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) VTEC data, inferred from dual-frequency GPS receivers installed at Bahir Dar (geographic latitude 11.6°N and longitude 37.35°E, geomagnetic latitude 2.64°N and longitude 108.94°E), Nazret (geographic latitude 8.57°N and longitude 39.29°E, geomagnetic latitude −0.25°N and longitude 111.01°E), and Robe (geographic latitude 7.11°N and longitude 40.03°E, geomagnetic latitude −1.69°N and longitude 111.78°E), are compared to diurnal, monthly, and seasonal VTEC variations obtained with the IRI-2012 model. It is shown that the variability of the diurnal VTEC is minimal at predawn hours (near 0300 UT, 0600 LT) and maximal between roughly 1000 and 1300 UT (1300–1600 LT) for both the experimental data and the model. Minimum seasonal VTEC values are observed for the June solstice during the period of 2009–2011. Moreover, it is shown that the model better estimates diurnal VTEC values just after the midnight hours (0000–0300 UT, 0300–0600 LT). The modeled monthly and seasonal VTEC values are larger than the corresponding measured values during the period of 2009–2010 when all options for the topside electron density are used. An important finding of this study is that the overestimation of VTEC values derived from the model decreases as the Sun transitions from very low to high solar activity. Moreover, it is generally better to use the model with the NeQuick option for the topside electron density when estimating diurnal, monthly, and seasonal VTEC variations.

Why the Greenwich meridian moved

Abstract: In 1884, the International Meridian Conference recommended that the prime meridian “to be employed as a common zero of longitude and standard of time-reckoning throughout the globe” pass through the “centre of the transit instrument at the Observatory of Greenwich”. Today, tourists visiting its meridian line must walk east approximately 102 m before their satellite-navigation receivers indicate zero longitude. This offset can be accounted for by the difference between astronomical and geodetic coordinates—deflection of the vertical—in the east–west direction at Greenwich, and the imposed condition of continuity in astronomical time. The coordinates of satellite-navigation receivers are provided in reference frames that are related to the geocentric reference frame introduced by the Bureau International de l’Heure (BIH) in 1984. This BIH Terrestrial System provided the basis for orientation of subsequent geocentric reference frames, including all realizations of the World Geodetic System 1984 and the International Terrestrial Reference Frame. Despite the lateral offset of the original and current zero-longitude lines at Greenwich, the orientation of the meridian plane used to measure Universal Time has remained essentially unchanged.

A dipole‐like SST trend in the Somalia region during the monsoon season

Abstract: SST trends measured in the Somalia region during the southwest monsoon season over the period 1982–2013 have shown the existence of a warming-cooling dipole. The positive spot, with a warming trend on the order of 0.37°C dec−1, is centered around 5.1°N–50.3°E and the negative one, with a trend on the order of −0.43°C dec−1, around 11.1°N–52.2°E. The migration of the Great Whirl (GW) over the last three decades at a speed of −0.3°C dec−1 in longitude and −0.6°C dec−1 in latitude was considered as the possible origin of the SST dipole. The displacement of the GW produces changes in the geostrophic currents which, in turn, generate changes in the amount of advected water from and to coast.

On the solar activity variations of nocturnal F region vertical drifts covering two solar cycles in the Indian longitude sector

Abstract: A comprehensive analysis of the seasonal and solar cycle variabilities of nighttime vertical drift over the Indian longitude sector is accomplished using ionosonde data located at the magnetic equatorial location, Trivandrum (8.5°N, 76.5°E). The analysis extends over a span of two decades (1988–2008). The representative seasonal variations based on the extensive data of nocturnal vertical drift during three different solar activity epochs is arrived at, for the first time. Seasonally, it is seen that maximum post sunset Vd is obtained in vernal equinox (VE), followed by autumnal equinox (AE), winter solstice (WS), and summer solstice (SS) for high and moderate solar epochs, while for low solar epoch, maximum Vd occurs in WS followed by VE, AE, and SS. Further, the role of sunset times at the magnetic conjugate points in modulating the time and magnitude of peak drifts during different solar epochs is ascertained. The equinoctial asymmetry in peak Vd during high and moderate solar epochs is another significant outcome of this study. The solar activity dependence of vertical drift for a wide range of solar fluxes has been quantified for all the seasons. In the present era of GPS-based communication and navigation, these are important results that give a better handle in understanding essential factors that impact equatorial ionospheric phenomena.

Convective Rainfall in Amazonia and Adjacent Tropics

Abstract: Hourly rainfall estimates from integrated satellite data are used to build a dynamically based climatology of convectively generated rainfall across South America, including tropical, sub-tropical and oceanic regions. Herein, we focus on 0S to 15S, including greater Amazon and NE Brazil leeward of the South Atlantic Ocean. Emphasis is placed on rainfall resulting from organized convective regimes, which are known to produce the majority of seasonal rainfall in various parts of South America and other continents. The statistical characteristics of individual events are quantified and examined with respect to regional atmospheric conditions. Among the factors considered are steering winds and wind shear, convective available potential energy (CAPE), sea and land breezes, and the occurrence of transient disturbances such as Kelvin Waves and Easterly Waves. Forcing and convective triggering mechanisms are inferred from the diagnosis of systematic patterns as evidenced in the continental diurnal cycle and longer periods of natural variability. The episodes of organized convection are analyzed in terms of their duration, span, phase speed, starting and ending time, starting and ending longitude, month and year through frequency distribution analysis. Most episodes of organized convection tend to move westward across the Amazon Basin. Descriptive statistics indicate average phase speed of westward and eastward episodes of convection in the Amazon basin at -11.8 m.s-1 and 13.0 m.s-1, respectively. Eastward propagating systems are influenced by northeastward moving cold fronts in Southern South America and tend to trigger and to organize convection across the Amazon Basin. Hourly rainfall analyses indicate that convection over the Amazon region is often organized.

Hemispheric asymmetry of subauroral ion drifts: Statistical results

Abstract: A large database of more than 18,000 subauroral ion drift (SAID) events from DMSP observations from 1987 to 2012 is used to systematically investigate the features of SAID. SAID occurs mostly at ~62°/−60° magnetic latitude (MLAT) and ~22:15/22:45 magnetic local time (MLT) for geomagnetically quiet conditions and at ~58°/−56° MLAT and ~22:15/22:45 MLT for geomagnetically disturbed conditions in the North Hemisphere (NH)/South Hemisphere (SH), respectively. Significant north-south asymmetries in SAID occurrence, shape, and geomagnetic activity variations are found in this statistical study. The latitudinal width of a SAID is larger in the NH than in the SH. An interesting finding of this work is that the SAID occurrence probability peaks have an ~180° difference in longitude between the two hemispheres in the geographic coordinates for both geomagnetically quiet and disturbed conditions. The SAID width peaks in almost the same geomagnetic meridian zone with a geomagnetic longitude of ~80°–120° in both hemispheres. Significant hemispheric asymmetries and spike signatures with sharp dips are found in all the latitudinal profiles of the horizontal velocities of SAIDs. The SAID is highly correlated to geomagnetic activity, indicating that the location and evolution of the SAID might be influenced by global geomagnetic activity, auroral dynamics, and the dynamics of ring currents.

Storm‐enhanced plasma density and polar tongue of ionization development during the 15 May 2005 superstorm

Abstract: We investigate the ionosphere's global response to the 15 May 2005 superstorm in terms of storm evolution and ionospheric electrodynamics. Our aim is to study the global distribution of plasma and the resultant large-scale ionospheric features including the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), storm-enhanced density (SED), and polar tongue of ionization (TOI). We have combined multi-instrument ionospheric data, solar and terrestrial magnetic data, and polar convection maps. Results reveal the prompt penetration of the interplanetary electric field to the polar region and then to the equator with a dusk-to-dawn polarity during the initial phase and with a dawn-to-dusk polarity during the main phase. This drove during the initial phase a weak eastward equatorial electrojet (EEJ) in the American sector at nighttime and a weak westward EEJ in the Indian-Australian sector at daytime. During the main phase, these EEJs intensified and changed polarities. SED and polar TOI development was observed prior to and during the initial phase at evening-premidnight hours over North America and during the main phase in the south at afternoon-evening hours in the Australian sector. During the main phase and early in the recovery phase, the EIA-SED structure was well formed in the Asian longitude sector. Then, polar TOI development was absent in the north because of the long distance from the magnetic pole but was supported in the south because of the closeness of daytime cusp and magnetic pole. Thus, the EIA-SED-TOI structure developed twice but each time in a different longitude sector and with different characteristics.

Longitudinal variations of the nighttime E layer electron density in the auroral zone

Abstract: Longitudinal variations of the nighttime E layer electron density (21:00–03:00 magnetic local time) in the auroral zone are investigated, and their sources are discussed in terms of auroral precipitation and solar radiation. The electron density data used in this study are retrieved from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate radio occultation observations during 2006–2009 under quiet geomagnetic activity (Kp ≤ 3) and solar minimum conditions. The main conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) the nighttime E layer electron density had pronounced longitudinal variations in the auroral zone. These variations depended on season and had large hemispheric asymmetry for all seasons. In winter, relatively larger electron density was located in 120–310° magnetic longitude (MLON) in the northern hemisphere and in 170–360° MLON in the southern hemisphere, and greater maximum density occurred in the northern hemisphere than in the southern one. In summer and equinox, the longitudinal asymmetry was greater in the southern hemisphere. (2) The peaks of the E layer electron density along latitude generally occurred between 65° and 70° magnetic latitude in the auroral zone in all seasons for both hemispheres except for the sunlit sector of the southern summer. (3) The greater electron density in local winter in the auroral zone was generally associated with the more intense auroral precipitation intensity at roughly the same longitude, whereas the longitudinal patterns of the electron density were under the combined impact of both auroral precipitation and solar radiation in the local summer and equinoxes.

Active Longitude and Solar Flare Occurrences

Abstract: The aim of the present work is to specify the spatio-temporal characteristics of flare activity observed by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) satellites in connection with the behaviour of the longitudinal domain of enhanced sunspot activity known as active longitude (AL). By using our method developed for this purpose, we identified the AL in every Carrington Rotation provided by the Debrecen Photoheliographic Data (DPD). The spatial probability of flare occurrence has been estimated depending on the longitudinal distance from AL in the northern and southern hemispheres separately. We have found that more than the 60\% of the RHESSI and GOES flares is located within $\pm 36^{\circ}$ from the active longitude. Hence, the most flare-productive active regions tend to be located in or close to the active longitudinal belt. This observed feature may allow predicting the geo-effective position of the domain of enhanced flaring probability. Furthermore, we studied the temporal properties of flare occurrence near the active longitude and several significant fluctuations were found. More precisely, the results of the method are the following fluctuations: $0.8$ years, $1.3$ years and $1.8$ years. These temporal and spatial properties of the solar flare occurrence within the active longitudinal belts could provide us enhanced solar flare forecasting opportunity.

Extraction of Tide Constituents by Harmonic Analysis Using Altimetry Satellite Data in the Brazilian Coast

Abstract: This paper analyzes the sea surface height dataset from the TOPEX, Jason-1, and Jason-2 satellites of a 19-yr time series in order to extract the tide harmonic constituents for the region limited by latitude 5°N–35°S and longitude 55°–20°W. The harmonic analysis results implemented here were compared with the tidal constituents estimated by three classical tidal models [i.e., TOPEX/Poseidon Global Inverse Solution 7.2 (TPXO7.2), Global Ocean Tide 4.7 (GOT4.7), and Finite Element Solution 2102 (FES2102)] and also with those extracted from in situ measurements. The Courtier criterion was used to define the tide regimes and regionally they are classified as semidiurnal between the latitude range from approximately 5°N to 22°S, semidiurnal with diurnal inequality from 22° to about 29°S, and mixed southward of latitude 22°S. The comparison results among all tide approaches were done by analyzing the root-sum-square misfit (RSSmisfit) value. Generally, the RSSmisfit difference values are not higher than...

PCA analysis of the nighttime anomaly in far-from-geomagnetic pole regions from VTEC GNSS data

Abstract: The Weddell Sea Anomaly (WSA) is defined when the nighttime plasma density is greater than the daytime density in the area near the Weddell Sea, more specifically in the region limited by 50° S–70° S in latitude and 225° E–315° E in longitude. A similar ionospheric anomaly is also observed near the Okhotsk Sea in the northern hemisphere, and such a feature was named as Okhotsk Sea Anomaly (OSA). The objective of this work is to infer possible physical causes of the WSA and OSA phenomena. To that end, we applied the principal component analysis (PCA) technique to the vertical total electron content (VTEC) from global International GNSS Service (IGS) in order to analyze the temporal and spatial variations of the ionosphere during noon and night in far-from-magnetic pole regions, during a 3-year period at high (2000–2002) and low (2006–2008) solar activity conditions. The first mode of PCA applied on VTEC scattering represents on average the 93 % of the total VTEC variability. Thus, the PCA expansions up to mode 1 resulted enough to show WSA and OSA during summer solstices in both solar activity conditions, as well as WSA during spring equinox during low solar activity. Besides, the analysis of the temporal variations of these first modes should provide the interpretation of a probable physical explanation to the observed anomalies. We conclude that the main contributors to the anomalies should be a combination of the same physical mechanisms that explain annual variation and semiannual anomaly in that regions located far from the magnetic poles.

The Pattern of South Equatorial Current and Primary Productivity in South Java Seas

Abstract: South Equatorial Current flows throughout the year and be strong in The East Monsoon between latitudes 10 o LS-20 o LS, focus of this study lies at the changing patterns of SEC associated with water mass around it. The aim of this research is to knowing the correlation between SEC with the distribution of phytoplankton in these waters. The observation was conducted by looking at the conditions of horizontal and vertical of the data main (the current and phytoplankton) and supporting data (temperature and salinity) in time series during 2014 using INDESO's data. Result from this observation showed that the correlation between SEC and primary productivity exists although known as a weak correlation. Other than that, SEC is known have some spatial and temporal variations in every season as well, which is located at the northern latitude during Eastern Monsoon in a range 5 o S-15 o S for latitude and 90 o E-113 o E for longitude, and SEC will be located at the southern latitude during First Transitional Season with range 8 o S-18 o S for latitude and 90 o E-115 o E for longitude.

Solar cycle influence on troposphere and middle atmosphere via ozone layer in the presence of planetary waves: Simulation with ARM

Abstract: Global circulation model of the Troposphere-Middle Atmosphere-Lower Thermosphere ARM (Atmospheric Research Model) is used to simulate the thermal and wind response to solar cycle-induced UV variations. ARM covers altitudes from 1 to 135 km and has corresponding spatial resolution: 1 km in altitude; 11.25° in longitude; 5° in latitude. Internal Gravity Waves parameterization and planetary waves (PWs) structure on the basis of observations are determined at the lower boundary of the model. Changes in UV radiation, which is absorbed by ozone and molecular oxygen, are introduced into the model to find the corresponding global wind and temperature response. Stationary PWs with zonal wave numbers 1–3 are included at lower boundary in model runs. The simulations show that atmospheric response to solar cycle has a visible nonzonal character with the amplitude of about 5 K in the troposphere for the winter season. The effect is rather smaller for summer due to the trapping PWs at lower altitudes. So, in accordance with the results of simulations, the link between the solar UV variability and the middle and low atmosphere strongly depends on the ozone and PWs activity.

Dead-reckoning navigation positioning method and system for acquiring longitude and latitude of automobile by using speedometer

Abstract: The invention provides a dead-reckoning navigation positioning method for acquiring the longitude and the latitude of an automobile by using a speedometer. The dead-reckoning navigation positioning method comprises the following steps: (1) differing running distance acquired by the speedometer so as to acquire the running speed and the orientation angle of the automobile; (2) reckoning the longitude and the latitude of the automobile according to the running speed and the orientation angle; (3) outputting the running speed, the orientation angle, the longitude and the latitude. According to the dead-reckoning navigation positioning method for acquiring the longitude and the latitude of the automobile by using the speedometer, only the automobile-mounted speedometer is adopted as a data source for acquiring the longitude and the latitude of the automobile, and with the combination of the present running speed and the orientation angle which are used as the output of a dead-reckoning system and not only a coordinate of a rectangular plane coordinate system, a dead-reckoning navigation positioning system which can directly provide the longitude and the latitude of the automobile is achieved; inertia devices such as a gyroscope and an accelerometer are not needed, so that the achieved dead-reckoning navigation positioning system which can directly provide the longitude and the latitude of the automobile is relatively low in cost. The invention further provides the dead-reckoning navigation positioning system.

The Impact of Trends in the Large Scale Atmospheric Circulation on Mediterranean Surface Turbulent Heat Fluxes

Abstract: Interannual variations of latent heat fluxes (LHF) and sensible heat fluxes (SHF) over the Mediterranean for the boreal winter season (DJF) show positive trends during 1958-2011. Comparison of correlations between the heat fluxes and the intensity and location of the Azores High (AH), and the NAO and East Atlantic-West Russia (EAWR) teleconnections, along with analysis of composites of surface temperature, humidity and wind fields for different teleconnection states, demonstrates that variations of the AH are found to explain the heat flux changes more successfully than the NAO and the EAWR. Trends in sea level pressure and longitude of the Azores High during DJF show a strengthening, and an eastward shift. DJF Azores High pressure and longitude are shown to co-vary such that variability of the Azores High occurs along an axis defined by lower pressure and westward location at one extreme, and higher pressure and eastward location at the other extreme. The shift of the Azores High from predominance of the low/west state to the high/east state induces trends in Mediterranean Sea surface winds, temperature and moisture. These, combined with sea surface warming trends, produce trends in wintertime Mediterranean Sea sensible and latent heat fluxes.