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ii The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific (inter) Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are evaluated as potential controls on climate change in the Northern Hemisphere. Each sea surface temperature anomaly index is correlated with near-surface air temperature over land surfaces north of the equator from 1901–2002. Additionally, a combined PDO+AMO index is constructed and analyzed. Overall results indicate that the AMO and the PDO have impacts on air temperature. A positive relationship exists between near-surface air temperatures and the AMO with the land bordering the western Atlantic and parts of northern Africa. The PDO has a strong positive effect o