1. Teleconnections

2. AMS Glossary defines: teleconnection—1. A linkage between weather changes occurring in widely separated regions of the globe. 2. A significant positive or negative correlation in the fluctuations of a field at widely separated points. Most commonly applied to variability on monthly and longer timescales, the name refers to the fact that such correlations suggest that information is propagating between the distant points through the atmosphere.

3. Wikipedia…Teleconnection in atmospheric science refers to climate anomalies being related to each other at large distances (typically thousands of kilometers). The most emblematic teleconnection is that linking sea-level pressure at Tahiti and Darwin, which defines the Southern Oscillation.

4. Also… In the 1980's, improved observations allowed to detect teleconnections at larger distances throughout the troposphere. [1] Concomitantly, the theory emerged that such patterns could be understood through the dispersion of Rossby waves due to the spherical geometry of the Earth. [2] This is sometimes called the "proto-model" [3]. [1] [2] [3] [1]=Wallace & Gutzler, 1981; [2]=Hoskins & Karoly, 1981; [3]=Trenberth et al, 1998.

5. Our plan 1.Examine relevant theory. 2.Review some observational results (starting with some older stuff). 3.Focus on certain teleconnections (not sure which ones yet!)

6. Relevant theory 1.1-D propagation of Rossby waves in the vertical. Theory pretty much follows from 205A equations + linearization. Main paper usually quoted is Charney & Drazin (1961).

7. Relevant theory (2) 1.2-D propagation of Rossby waves in the vertical and meridional (y-z) plane. We look at the second half of Eliassen & Palm (1961). Main paper usually quoted is Matsuno (1970).

8. Relevant theory (3) 1.2-D propagation of Rossby waves in the horizontal (x-y) plane. Main paper usually quoted is Hoskins & Karoly (1981). For teleconnections, this is probably the most important part (so we will go thru (1) and (2) quickly).