Flood Risk and Vulnerability Analysis Project - Atlantic Climate ...

Figure 3-25. Phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation from NCDC.
The negative phase of the NAO is associated with blocking events around southern Greenland.
This causes cyclones that move over Labrador and the Labrador Sea to stall in the area rather
than following their typical tracks towards the east. Warmer temperatures and somewhat higher
precipitation then occur in the province. The negative phase of the NAO is associated with the
unusually warm winters of 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 in Labrador.
The AO (Figure 3-26) refers to opposing atmospheric patterns in northern mid and high
latitudes. The positive phase of the AO sees relatively low pressure over the polar region and
relatively high pressure at mid latitudes. Newfoundland‟s exposure to ocean storms is then
increased as they are driven further north. Cold arctic air does not extend as far south in the
TA1112733 page 76