Title: Observed temperature extremes in Greece and their relation with North Atlantic Oscillation

Authors: S. Kolios; G. Antonatou; E. Zervas

Addresses: School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26 335, Patra, Greece ' School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26 335, Patra, Greece ' School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26 335, Patra, Greece

Abstract: This work studies the extreme high/low values (EHT/ELT, respectively) of air temperature in Greece using over 40-year time series of data for six stations. Furthermore, the possible relation of temperature extremes in Greece with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is examined in order to depict if/how this large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern can affect the behaviour of temperature extremes. The majority of the EHT cases is found during July and August, while those of ELT during January and February. In the majority of the stations examined, positive trends of EHT and ELT frequency of occurrence (statistically significant or not) are found, pronouncing an environment exposed more and more to extreme air temperatures. It is also found a negative relation of EHT and ELT frequency of occurrence with NAO monthly index values, which reveals under which mode of NAO could enhanced the frequency of occurrence for temperature extremes in Greece.

Keywords: temperature extremes; Greece; North Atlantic Oscillation; NAO; frequency of occurrence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2018.093746

International Journal of Global Warming, 2018 Vol.15 No.4, pp.392 - 412

Received: 01 Oct 2016
Accepted: 15 Jun 2017
Published online: 03 Aug 2018 *

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