Variability of Turkish precipitation compared to El Nino events

Potential effects of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) warm extreme o n the Turkish monthly precipitation totals between 1931 and 1990 were inves tigated using precipitation data from more than one hundred and eight Turki sh meteorological stations. The data were normalized by using the annual to tal precipitation to minimize the probable topographical effects. A quiet s tandard annual variation was determined by month-by-month averaging for eac h annual month of the Neutral years. The anomalies in percent of the Turkis h precipitation data were then calculated by subtracting El Nino-year month ly percent precipitation from the corresponding quiet standard value. The o btained anomalies were sorted after the El Nino high ENSO index month and a nalyzed by superposed epoch. method. Distinct effects of high ENSO index mo nths were found so that a large part of the month-to-month variability may be attributed to El Nino event. Spatially coherent and statistically signif icant precipitation responses to El Nino were shown in some regions of Turk ey.