TITLE:
Spatial-Temporal Variations in January Precipitation over the Period of 1950-2000 in Pakistan and Possible Links with Global Teleconnections: Geographical Perspective
AUTHORS:
Iftikhar Ahmad, Romana Ambreen, Shahzad Sultan, Zhaobo Sun, Weitao Deng
KEYWORDS:
Pakistan, January Precipitation, EOF Analysis, Spatial-Temporal Variability
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
11,
2014
ABSTRACT: Empirical
Orthogonal Function (EOF) was performed to investigate spatial variation in
January precipitation over Pakistan using ground observed mean monthly
precipitation data from 1950-2000 with a combination of gridded reanalysis data
of sea level pressure (SLP) and 500 hPa geopotential height. The leading EOF
mode captures 37.51% of the total variance and the spatial-temporal variability
of January precipitation was consistent in the study area. The temporal changes
explicate non-periodic interannual variability and some tacit interdecadal
variation. The anomalous condition is more prominent along the western
bordering mountains and northern high mountainous region than any other region
of Pakistan. Based on results the study reveals spatial-temporal variation in
January precipitation and possible links with global teleconnections located
both in the proximity as well as in the remote areas from the study locus.