Firstly, thanks for this research and it offers a valid theory for the current state of affairs. I agree with in principle with your findings, but want to know (and so do many colleagues I've shared this with) as to the continued feedback from the atmosphere to the ocean, i.e. that once the pressure anomalies occur, there is another set of feedbacks due to the winds at sea level due to initial feedback from the ocean to the atmosphere. Typically, stronger surface highs over the eastern N. Pacific will cause upwelling and cooler SST's owing to northerly winds along the West Coast, esp. of California. However, I do believe it's all related to the exact positioning of the surface high pressure, known locally as the RRR, or Ridiculous Resilient Ridge over the western United States. Also, how to explain the massively above average rainfall of DEC 2014 (int he SF Bay area at least - 18.47" in Sausalito in Marin Co.) under this regime? Is it a case of a massive breakdown and breakthrough of the jetstream associated atmospheric river events? The last 2 winters have seen 4 atmospheric River events, which appears statistically above normal, and seemingly associated with the highly positive NPM. There was another AT even in FEB 2015. late 2013 and Feb 2014 both had AR events under this highly positive NPM regime. Your thoughts would be welcome. Thanks!