Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on Long-Term Fluctuations of Climatic Indices in Lithuania

Abstract

The current article discusses the relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and hydrothermic regime in Lithuania – i.e. the NAO impact on long-term fluctuations of air temperature in 1864–2000 and the amount of precipitation in 1900–2000. The most informative NAO index of the three ones (NAO-1, NAO-2, and NAO-3), defining the influence of the North Atlantic atmospheric circulation processes on the climate of Lithuania, is being searched for. It has been determined that the dynamics of winter NAO indices reflects long-term winter air temperature fluctuations in Lithuania. Warm winters in Lithuania are related to the positive and cold ones – to the negative NAO phases. The NAO impact on the amount of precipitation manifests itself only in separate months, its seasonal differences being exhibited as well.