Climate of the Past www.clim-past.net 1814-9324 1814-9332 5 2 2009 10.5194/cp-5-259-2009 http://www.clim-past.net/5/259/2009/ http://www.clim-past.net/5/259/2009/cp-5-259-2009.html http://www.clim-past.net/5/259/2009/cp-5-259-2009.pdf 259 267 2009-06-25 The influence of the circulation on surface temperature and precipitation patterns over Europe P. D. Jones D. H. Lister Climatic Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK Invited contribution by P. D. Jones, recipient of the Hans Oeschger Medal 2002. The atmospheric circulation clearly has an important influence on variations in surface temperature and precipitation. In this study we illustrate the spatial patterns of variation that occur for the principal circulation patterns across Europe in the standard four seasons. 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