The Relation of Monthly Sunshine Percentage to the 700 mb Height Field

Abstract

Monthly values of the anomaly of percent possible sunshine at 21 locations in the United States were related to the field of monthly mean 700 mb height anomaly by correlation and regression analysis. Data were generally for the 1950?69 period, grouped by seasons. Reduction in variance afforded by the derived multiple linear regression equations, averaged over all locations and seasons, was 0.47 for the development data sample. In general, results were best over the western half of the nation and poorest along the eastern seaboard. Correlation fields and multiple linear regression equations relating percent possible sunshine at Memphis, Tenn., to the field of monthly mean 700 mb height anomaly are discussed in detail.