The Influence of Synoptic-Scale Forcing on Soil Moisture Over the Eastern Canadian Prairies
Date
1996
Authors
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Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the spatial and
temporal patterns of measured autumn soil moisture on the eastern
Canadian Prairies, and to relate the patterns to synoptic-scale
forcings such as sea surface temperature anomalies.
Spatial and temporal patterns of soil moisture were determined
using principal component analysis. The dominant pattern of the
average soil moisture principal component was found to be one in which
the entire region varied coherently, with the greatest amplitudinal
change occurring in central Manitoba. The second pattern had the
central area out of phase with the southeast and southwest. The third
principal component spatial pattern was a dipole with centres over
southern Manitoba and northeastern Saskatchewan.
Correlations were tested between the temporal principal
component patterns and seven potential synoptic-scale forcings. The
highest correlation was found with North Pacific sea surface
temperature (SST) anomalies: late spring/early summer SST anomalies
appear to influence autumn soil moisture the most. The other six
synoptic-scale forcings were found to have very weak correlations with
the soil moisture patterns.
The results of this study may assist in obtaining a better
understanding and allow for predictions of the causes of the spatial
and temporal soil moisture patterns in the eastern Canadian Prairies.
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Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Geography and Planning
Program
Geography and Planning