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The 1998-2002 droughts spanning the United
States, southern Europe, and Southwest Asia were linked
through a common oceanicinfluence. Cold sea surface temperatures
(SSTs) in the easterntropical Pacific and warm SSTs in the western
tropical Pacificand Indian oceans were remarkably persistent
during this period.Climate models show that the climate signals forced
separatelyby these regions acted synergistically, each contributing to
widespreadmid-latitude drying: an ideal scenario for spatially
expansive,synchronized drought. The warmth of the Indian and west
Pacificoceans was unprecedented and consistent with greenhouse gas
forcing.Some implications are drawn for future drought.
1 Climate Diagnostics Center, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO 80305, USA.
2 Climate Prediction Center, NOAA,
Camp Springs, MD 20746, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
Martin.P.Hoerling{at}noaa.gov
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