The Iceland–Lofotes pressure difference: different states of the North Atlantic low-pressure zone

The extended North Atlantic low-pressure zone exhibits two pressure minima in the long-term winter mean: the primary one west of Iceland and the secondary one near Norwegian Lofotes Islands. Based on the ERA-40 data set and on wintertime monthly sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies at both places, the states of co- and antivariability are investigated. The covariability represents states of a strongly or weakly developed North Atlantic low-pressure zone. The difference between these two states represents the NAO pattern. The antivariability is defined by an Iceland–Lofotes difference (ILD) index, which is positive (negative) when the anomaly in the Lofotes area is higher (lower) than that in the Iceland area. An ILD pattern is calculated as difference between SLP composites for high and low ILD indices. The ILD pattern extends horizontally beyond the two centers and affects other prominent Northern Hemisphere pressure centres: Aleutian low; Siberian high and Azores high. The pattern extends into the stratosphere and shows significant impacts on surface air temperature, Arctic sea ice concentration and sea ice motion.