Solar wind electric field modulation of the NAO: A correlation analysis in the lower atmosphere

Using geopotential height data we find a strong correlation between the electric field strength E of the solar wind and pressure variations in the stratosphere and troposphere. The large-scale evolution of E seems to influence the stratospheric pressure in both hemispheres with the exception of the polar regions. For the tropospheric pressure the influence is concentrated to an area in the northern Atlantic. Using pressure and temperature data at sea level, we conclude that the correlation with E resembles the action of the North Atlantic Oscillation with an area with negative pressure correlation in the Arctic, an area with positive pressure correlation in the subtropics, an area with negative temperature correlation over Greenland and northeast Canada, and an area with positive temperature correlation over Europe.