Trends and Variability in Long-term Precipitation over the Mississippi Region

Variations in precipitation over the Mississippi region including Gulf Coast are affected due to severe weather events and large-scale circulations throughout the year (example: flooding, sea-breeze circulations, tropical cyclones/hurricanes, QBO and ENSO events etc.). In the present study we investigate trends and variability in precipitation over the Mississippi region using long-term data for the period, 1871-2004. The study has pointed out a positive trend, seasonal and inter-annual variability in precipitation. The QBO and ENSO effects have also been noticed. The observed variations in precipitation are important for long-range forecasting and agricultural planning.