Identificador: TDX:388
Autors: Sigró Rodriguez, Francisco Javier
Resum:
This PhD has a double general aim. First, to assess Catalonian temperature's evolutions during the second half of the 20th century, tending to characterize its spatial and temporal patterns by establishing the spatial patterns of Catalonian temperature change; and second, to examine coupled modes of temperature variability in order to establish meaningful relationships between Catalonian temperature variability and large-scale atmospheric anomaly patterns. In order to reach these aims, I used the NESATv2 (Northeastern Spain Adjusted Temperature) dataset, which includes homogenized monthly values of maximum and minimum temperatures for the 23 longest and available Catalonian stations records. To this data, I applied a Rotated Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) for identifying areas with a homogeneous time signal of temperature. This analysis has been completed using a Cluster Analysis with the Principal Components obtained, in order to identify monthly variability of these spatial temperature patterns. To evaluate the temperature and teleconnections relationship, I employed, first, Pearson correlations between monthly principal components time-series of temperature and monthly time-series of teleconnections indices for the same month and for the 1st and 2nd former months, for testing any relationship lag. And second, a Multiple Regression Analysis is performed between those atmospheric patterns that present the largest and significant correlation with their corresponding Catalonian temperature series, in order to quantify the magnitude of this relationship.The main results of this work highlight the existence of 4 temperature's spatial patterns (Littoral, Mountain, North-western, and Western Basin), which identify areas with a homogeneous inter-annual evolution; at the same time, they present a different intraannual variability.During summer's months two patterns reach a prominent representation differ: the Littoral's pattern and the Noroccidental one. The largest contribution to the regional warming during summertime is due to the Littoral's pattern, especially for August; meanwhile over the so-called North-western's pattern, which is integrated by the most northwestern part of Catalonia, its contribution, although it also takes place, is much more moderate. Catalonian summer's temperature variability is mainly associated to the Western Mediterranean Basin's sea surface temperature evolution, as well as influenced by leading modes of atmospheric variability like the East Atlantic-Jet pattern and Asian Summer pattern.For November, December and January two main temperature's patterns are identified: the Mountain's pattern and the Western Basin's pattern. The Mountain's pattern integrates areas of mid and high Mediterranean mountains, whereas the Western Basin's pattern principally includes inland lowlands of the Ebro River's western basin and the southernmost coastal areas. These temperature patterns are mainly related to evolution of East Atlantic/Western Russia pattern and North Atlantic Oscillation.During February and May, as well as for September and October a transition takes place between characteristics attributed to summer temperature's spatial patterns and those established for winter, as well as in the teleconnection indices that exercise the largest influence on the temporal temperature's behavior.
Repositori URV