Variations
See also: North Atlantic Oscillation and Tropical upper tropospheric troughAn atypical displacement of the Bermuda-Azores High often leads to unusual tracks of tropical cyclones and wintertime extratropical cyclones. The ridge can be temporarily displaced by intense low pressure systems, and in cases when it is displaced to the north, can lead to devastating storm paths such as the one taken by the New England Hurricane of 1938.
Research into global warming suggests that it may be intensifying the Bermuda High in some years, independently of oscillations such as ENSO, leading to more precipitation extremes across the Southeastern United States. Latitudinal displacement of the ridge is also occurring, and computer models depict more westward expansion of the anticyclone in the future. However, during the winter of 2009–2010, the Azores High was smaller, displaced to the northeast and weaker than usual, allowing sea surface temperatures in the Central Atlantic to increase quickly.
Read more about this topic: Azores High
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