The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is a climatological pattern that impacts sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic Ocean. Controversy exists regarding this mode’s influence on tropical development in the North Atlantic basin. Since vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures are key ingredients for tropical development, the hypothesis is that when the AMO index is positive, there is a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of tropical activity in the North Atlantic Ocean, and likewise, a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of tropical activity when the AMO index is negative. Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) is a measure of tropical cyclone activity where the kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity. However, the Hurricane Activity Index (HAX) is a simplified version of ACE and is calculated using the quantity of six-hour periods of hurricane and tropical storm strength. Statistical methods will use HAX to determine if there is a significant relationship between the AMO and the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean.
