Influence of atmospheric teleconnection patterns on airborne pollen levels in the NE Iberian Peninsula

Using 22 pollen taxa collected at 6 localities in Catalonia (NE Spain) during the period 1994-2011, we show that climate variability associated with Northern Hemisphere teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation and Western Mediterranean Oscillation) affects both seasona...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Izquierdo Miguel, Rebeca, Alarcón Jordán, Marta|||0000-0002-0938-6873, Majeed, Husam T., Periago Oliver, M. Cristina|||0000-0002-4858-7926, Belmonte, Jordina
Format: article
Publication Date:2015
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/81715
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/81715
https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01341
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Climatic changes
NAO · AO · WeMO · Seasonal Pollen Index · Pollination · Western Mediterranean
Pol·len
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física::Impacte ambiental
Description
Summary:Using 22 pollen taxa collected at 6 localities in Catalonia (NE Spain) during the period 1994-2011, we show that climate variability associated with Northern Hemisphere teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation and Western Mediterranean Oscillation) affects both seasonal pollen production and the timing of the airborne pollen season. For most of the studied pollen taxa, positive phases of the 3 climatic indices were related to a decrease in the seasonal pollen index and an advance and enlargement of the pollen season. Furthermore, for most taxa, negative phases of the climatic indices were linked to higher pollen production via an increase in rainfall. A clear relationship between climatic indices and the end of the pollen season was not observed. Since pollen parameters correlate more strongly with the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index (WeMOi) than other indices, the WeMOi negative trend observed over the last decades needs to be confirmed to properly identify its effect on ecosystems and public health in the western Mediterranean basin.