Recent biennial variability of meteorological features in the Eastern Highland Himalayas

With meteorological data from high altitude surface stations and gridded da taset from NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis, a biennial oscillation over the Eastern Hi ghland Himalayas from 1980 to 1998 is described. This variability concerns air temperature, precipitation, geopotential and wind speed. Evidence is gi ven on the connections between local data and large-scale circulation patte rns. The most remarkable oscillating features are found during winter and, in general, the signals are particularly marked on the southern slope of th e Himalayan Range. A possible mechanism is explained in terms of a periodic ity in surface heat and moisture fluxes. Finally, the peculiarity of the re gion as a climatic change observatory is underlined.