Interactions between synoptic-scale eddies and the large-scale flow during the development of blocking over the North Atlantic Ocean

Earlier studies of blocking are extended by examining the interactions that occur between the synoptic-scale eddies and the large-scale flow during the development of wintertime blocking events over the North Atlantic Ocean. In particular, attention is given to the change of synoptic-scale eddy activity during the development of blocking and to the role of anomalous forcing by synoptic-scale eddies in the development of large-scale flow anomalies. The dynamical mechanisms accounting for the observed variations in eddy activity are identified.