North Atlantic Oscillation
q The NAO is the dominant
mode of winter climate
variability in the North
Atlantic region ranging from
central North America to
Europe and much into
Northern Asia.
q The NAO is a large scale
seesaw in atmospheric mass
between the subtropical high
and the polar low.
q The corresponding index
varies from year to year, but
also exhibits a tendency to
remain in one phase for
intervals lasting several
years.