THE RELATION OF NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION (NAO) AND NORTH SEA CASPIAN PATTERN (NCP) WITH CLIMATE VARIABLES IN MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

Abstract

North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO) and North Sea Caspian Pattern (NCP) is two of the atmosphericcirculations which are efficient on climate parameters. The purpose of thisstudy is determining the effects of NAO and NCP on the temperature andprecipitation regime of Mediterranean region in Turkey. In this regard, Pearsoncorrelation coefficients were calculated between respective atmospheric indices(NAO, NCP) and climate variables (temperature, precipitation) as annual andseasonal. The correlation results were assessed according to Student’s t-test.In this context, it was found that NAO is negatively correlated withtemperature in summer, winter seasons and annual, in addition, NCP hasremarkable negative correlation with temperature data especially in winter,autumn seasons and annual, as well. As for the linkage between precipitationand aforementioned atmospheric circulations, it was detected that NAO iscorrelated with autumn and winter precipitation negatively, whereas NCP hasnegative correlation with winter precipitation and positive correlation withsummer precipitation in some parts of the region. As a result, NAO and NCP haveremarkable influences on temperature and precipitation regime of Mediterraneanregion of Turkey for either seasonal or annual.