American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article (file size: 275212 bytes)    Cited by

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 33, L21706, doi:10.1029/2006GL027671, 2006

Occurrence dates of North Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes: 2005 in perspective

Barry D. Keim

Department of Geography and Anthropology and Louisiana Office of State Climatology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA


Kevin D. Robbins

Department of Geography and Anthropology and Southern Regional Climate Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA


Abstract

This paper compares dates of the nth storm (1st, 2nd,…etc.) in sequence for all tropical storms and hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin from 1851–2005. The year 2005 stands out as a season that got off to an early start, remained active throughout the season, and set many records for earliest occurrence dates for the nth named storm. Exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures may help explain the record breaking season of 2005. Other seasons with storms with early dates of occurrence include 1887, 1933, 1936, and 1995. All of these seasons are associated with a positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.

Received 25 July 2006; accepted 9 October 2006; published 4 November 2006.

Keywords: tropical storms; hurricanes; Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.

Index Terms: 3309 Atmospheric Processes: Climatology (1616, 1620, 3305, 4215, 8408); 3305 Atmospheric Processes: Climate change and variability (1616, 1635, 3309, 4215, 4513); 1610 Global Change: Atmosphere (0315, 0325); 1630 Global Change: Impacts of global change (1225); 3374 Atmospheric Processes: Tropical meteorology.

Read Full Article (file size: 275212 bytes)    Cited by

Citation: Keim, B. D., and K. D. Robbins (2006), Occurrence dates of North Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes: 2005 in perspective, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L21706, doi:10.1029/2006GL027671.