The Joint Influence of ENSO and NAO on US Landfalling Hurricanes and their Origination Points

Contingency tables were utilized in order to characterize the relationship between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Global atmospheric anomalies were then examined in addition to hurricane landfall and origination locations (i.e., the position hurricane strength is achieved) to see if atmospheric anomalies could account for relationships between ENSO and NAO or landfalling hurricanes and their formation regions. This research found a relationship exists between the ENSO and NAO throughout the full year, but this relationship is reduced during hurricane season alone. A connection between NAO+ and landfalling hurricanes along the east coast (minus Florida) is also found to exist, where NAO+ has a greater probability of hurricane landfall than NAO- conditions due to the changes in the position and intensity of the subtropical high. In agreement with other studies, ENSO- appears to be more conducive to hurricane formation in the North Atlantic than ENSO+ events. More research is needed to better comprehend joint ENSO/NAO combinations (e.g. ENSO-/NAO+; ENSO-/NAO-; etc.).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography (Arts and Sciences)

Grantor dc:publisher

Ohio University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Sheer, Emily B.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Fogt, Ryan

• Geography
• Meteorology
• ENSO
• NAO
• hurricanes

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1357322921

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ohiou1357322921