Interannual variability of the integral water vapor in Europe, global circulation and El Niño

Abstract

© 2020 SPIE The variability of the time series of the atmospheric integral water vapor for the territory of Europe was studied according to the ERA5 reanalysis data. Irregular, but significant quasiperiodic fluctuations with periods from 2 to 12 years, coherent with the Arctic fluctuation and other circulation indices, were found. It is shown that the local wavelet correlation of these variations reaches 0.7-0.9. The alternating significant coherence of equatorial processes and the circulation of the northern hemisphere for quasiperiodic variations with scales of 2-6 years has been established. It can be concluded that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) makes a significant contribution to the interannual variability of moisture content in the European territory. Several modes of coherent variations in the range of 2 - 6 years have been established. However, the coherence of variations of ENSO and the surface partial pressure of water vapor is irregular. It is shown that during periods of coherence, the energy of oscillations of ENSO is transferred from the equator to the middle and polar latitudes in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere.