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- Author or Editor: Mathew Barlow x
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Abstract
The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the closely related Arctic Oscillation (AO) strongly affect Northern Hemisphere (NH) surface temperatures with patterns reported similar to the global warming trend. The NAO and AO were in a positive trend for much of the 1970s and 1980s with historic highs in the early 1990s, and it has been suggested that they contributed significantly to the global warming signal. The trends in standard indices of the AO, NAO, and NH average surface temperature for December–February, 1950–2004, and the associated patterns in surface temperature anomalies are examined. Also analyzed are factors previously identified as relating to the NAO, AO, and their positive trend: North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs), Indo–Pacific warm pool SSTs, stratospheric circulation, and Eurasian snow cover.
Recently, the NAO and AO indices have been decreasing; when these data are included, the overall trends for the past 30 years are weak to nonexistent and are strongly dependent on the choice of start and end date. In clear distinction, the wintertime hemispheric warming trend has been vigorous and consistent throughout the entire period. When considered for the whole hemisphere, the NAO/AO patterns can also be distinguished from the trend pattern. Thus the December–February warming trend may be distinguished from the AO and NAO in terms of the strength, consistency, and pattern of the trend. These results are insensitive to choice of index or dataset. While the NAO and AO may contribute to hemispheric and regional warming for multiyear periods, these differences suggest that the large-scale features of the global warming trend over the last 30 years are unrelated to the AO and NAO. The related factors may also be clearly distinguished, with warm pool SSTs linked to the warming trend, while the others are linked to the NAO and AO.
Abstract
The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the closely related Arctic Oscillation (AO) strongly affect Northern Hemisphere (NH) surface temperatures with patterns reported similar to the global warming trend. The NAO and AO were in a positive trend for much of the 1970s and 1980s with historic highs in the early 1990s, and it has been suggested that they contributed significantly to the global warming signal. The trends in standard indices of the AO, NAO, and NH average surface temperature for December–February, 1950–2004, and the associated patterns in surface temperature anomalies are examined. Also analyzed are factors previously identified as relating to the NAO, AO, and their positive trend: North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs), Indo–Pacific warm pool SSTs, stratospheric circulation, and Eurasian snow cover.
Recently, the NAO and AO indices have been decreasing; when these data are included, the overall trends for the past 30 years are weak to nonexistent and are strongly dependent on the choice of start and end date. In clear distinction, the wintertime hemispheric warming trend has been vigorous and consistent throughout the entire period. When considered for the whole hemisphere, the NAO/AO patterns can also be distinguished from the trend pattern. Thus the December–February warming trend may be distinguished from the AO and NAO in terms of the strength, consistency, and pattern of the trend. These results are insensitive to choice of index or dataset. While the NAO and AO may contribute to hemispheric and regional warming for multiyear periods, these differences suggest that the large-scale features of the global warming trend over the last 30 years are unrelated to the AO and NAO. The related factors may also be clearly distinguished, with warm pool SSTs linked to the warming trend, while the others are linked to the NAO and AO.
Abstract
Sixteen historical simulations (1950–2014) from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) are compared to Northeast U.S. observed precipitation and extreme precipitation–related synoptic circulation. A set of metrics based on the regional climate is used to assess how realistically the models simulate the observed distribution and seasonality of extreme precipitation, as well as the synoptic patterns associated with extreme precipitation. These patterns are determined by k-means typing of 500-hPa geopotential heights on extreme precipitation days (top 1% of days with precipitation). The metrics are formulated to evaluate the models’ extreme precipitation spatial variations, seasonal frequency, and intensity; and for circulation, the fit to observed patterns, pattern seasonality, and pattern location of extreme precipitation. Based on the metrics, the models vary considerably in their ability to simulate different aspects of regional precipitation, and a realistic simulation of the seasonality and distribution of precipitation does not necessarily correspond to a realistic simulation of the circulation patterns (reflecting the underlying dynamics of the precipitation), and vice versa. This highlights the importance of assessing both precipitation and its associated circulation. While the models vary in their ability to reproduce observed results, in general the higher-resolution models score higher in terms of the metrics. Most models produce more frequent precipitation than that for observations, but capture the seasonality of precipitation intensity well, and capture at least several of the key characteristics of extreme precipitation–related circulation. These results do not appear to reflect a substantial improvement over a similar analysis of selected CMIP5 models.
Abstract
Sixteen historical simulations (1950–2014) from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) are compared to Northeast U.S. observed precipitation and extreme precipitation–related synoptic circulation. A set of metrics based on the regional climate is used to assess how realistically the models simulate the observed distribution and seasonality of extreme precipitation, as well as the synoptic patterns associated with extreme precipitation. These patterns are determined by k-means typing of 500-hPa geopotential heights on extreme precipitation days (top 1% of days with precipitation). The metrics are formulated to evaluate the models’ extreme precipitation spatial variations, seasonal frequency, and intensity; and for circulation, the fit to observed patterns, pattern seasonality, and pattern location of extreme precipitation. Based on the metrics, the models vary considerably in their ability to simulate different aspects of regional precipitation, and a realistic simulation of the seasonality and distribution of precipitation does not necessarily correspond to a realistic simulation of the circulation patterns (reflecting the underlying dynamics of the precipitation), and vice versa. This highlights the importance of assessing both precipitation and its associated circulation. While the models vary in their ability to reproduce observed results, in general the higher-resolution models score higher in terms of the metrics. Most models produce more frequent precipitation than that for observations, but capture the seasonality of precipitation intensity well, and capture at least several of the key characteristics of extreme precipitation–related circulation. These results do not appear to reflect a substantial improvement over a similar analysis of selected CMIP5 models.
Abstract
The leading pattern of precipitation for the Indian Ocean, one of the most intense areas of rainfall on the globe, is calculated for November–April 1979–2008. The associated regional circulation and thermodynamic forcing of precipitation over Asia are examined at both intraseasonal and interannual time scales. The leading pattern is determined using both empirical orthogonal function analysis of monthly precipitation data and a closely related index of daily outgoing longwave radiation filtered into intraseasonal (33–105 days) and interannual (greater than 105 days) components.
The leading pattern has a maximum in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, and is closely associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation at intraseasonal time scales and related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation at interannual time scales. Both time scales are associated with baroclinic Gill–Matsuno-like circulation responses extending over southern Asia, but the interannual component also has a strong equivalent barotropic circulation. Thermodynamically, both time scales are associated with cold temperature advection and subsidence over southwest Asia, with advection of the mean temperature by the anomalous wind more important at lower and midlevels and advection of the anomalous temperature by the mean wind more important at upper levels.
For individual months, the intraseasonal variability can overwhelm the interannual variability. Enhanced Indian Ocean convection persisted for almost the entire 2007/08 season in association with severe drought over southwest Asia, but a strong intraseasonal signal in January 2008 reversed the pattern, resulting in damaging floods in the midst of drought.
Abstract
The leading pattern of precipitation for the Indian Ocean, one of the most intense areas of rainfall on the globe, is calculated for November–April 1979–2008. The associated regional circulation and thermodynamic forcing of precipitation over Asia are examined at both intraseasonal and interannual time scales. The leading pattern is determined using both empirical orthogonal function analysis of monthly precipitation data and a closely related index of daily outgoing longwave radiation filtered into intraseasonal (33–105 days) and interannual (greater than 105 days) components.
The leading pattern has a maximum in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, and is closely associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation at intraseasonal time scales and related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation at interannual time scales. Both time scales are associated with baroclinic Gill–Matsuno-like circulation responses extending over southern Asia, but the interannual component also has a strong equivalent barotropic circulation. Thermodynamically, both time scales are associated with cold temperature advection and subsidence over southwest Asia, with advection of the mean temperature by the anomalous wind more important at lower and midlevels and advection of the anomalous temperature by the mean wind more important at upper levels.
For individual months, the intraseasonal variability can overwhelm the interannual variability. Enhanced Indian Ocean convection persisted for almost the entire 2007/08 season in association with severe drought over southwest Asia, but a strong intraseasonal signal in January 2008 reversed the pattern, resulting in damaging floods in the midst of drought.
Abstract
Deep tropical convection over the Indian Ocean leads to intense diabatic heating, a main driver of the climate system. The Northern Hemisphere circulation and precipitation associated with intraseasonal and seasonal-to-interannual components of the leading pattern of Indian Ocean convection are investigated for November–April 1979–2008. The leading pattern of Indian Ocean convection is separated into intraseasonal and seasonal-to-interannual components by filtering an index of outgoing longwave radiation at 33–105 days and greater than 105 days, yielding Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO)- and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-influenced patterns, respectively. Observations and barotropic Rossby wave ray tracing experiments suggest that Indian Ocean convection can influence the ENSO-related hemispheric teleconnection pattern in addition to the regional Asian teleconnection. Equivalent barotropic circulation anomalies throughout the Northern Hemisphere subtropics are associated with both seasonal-to-interannual Indian Ocean convection and ENSO. The hemispheric teleconnection associated with seasonal-to-interannual Indian Ocean convection is investigated with ray tracing, which suggests that forcing over the Indian Ocean can propagate eastward across the hemisphere and back to Asia. The relationship between the seasonal-to-interannual component of Indian Ocean convection and ENSO is investigated in terms of a gradient in sea surface temperatures (SST) over the equatorial western Pacific Ocean. When the western Pacific SST gradient is strong during ENSO, strong Maritime Continent precipitation extends further westward into the Indian Ocean, which is accompanied by enhanced tropospheric Asian circulation, similar to the seasonal-to-interannual component of Indian Ocean convection. Analysis of the three strongest interannual convection seasons shows that the strong Indian Ocean pattern of ENSO can dominate individual seasons.
Abstract
Deep tropical convection over the Indian Ocean leads to intense diabatic heating, a main driver of the climate system. The Northern Hemisphere circulation and precipitation associated with intraseasonal and seasonal-to-interannual components of the leading pattern of Indian Ocean convection are investigated for November–April 1979–2008. The leading pattern of Indian Ocean convection is separated into intraseasonal and seasonal-to-interannual components by filtering an index of outgoing longwave radiation at 33–105 days and greater than 105 days, yielding Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO)- and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-influenced patterns, respectively. Observations and barotropic Rossby wave ray tracing experiments suggest that Indian Ocean convection can influence the ENSO-related hemispheric teleconnection pattern in addition to the regional Asian teleconnection. Equivalent barotropic circulation anomalies throughout the Northern Hemisphere subtropics are associated with both seasonal-to-interannual Indian Ocean convection and ENSO. The hemispheric teleconnection associated with seasonal-to-interannual Indian Ocean convection is investigated with ray tracing, which suggests that forcing over the Indian Ocean can propagate eastward across the hemisphere and back to Asia. The relationship between the seasonal-to-interannual component of Indian Ocean convection and ENSO is investigated in terms of a gradient in sea surface temperatures (SST) over the equatorial western Pacific Ocean. When the western Pacific SST gradient is strong during ENSO, strong Maritime Continent precipitation extends further westward into the Indian Ocean, which is accompanied by enhanced tropospheric Asian circulation, similar to the seasonal-to-interannual component of Indian Ocean convection. Analysis of the three strongest interannual convection seasons shows that the strong Indian Ocean pattern of ENSO can dominate individual seasons.
Abstract
Severe drought over the past three years (1998–2001), in combination with the effects of protracted sociopolitical disruption, has led to widespread famine affecting over 60 million people in central and southwest (CSW) Asia. Here both a regional and a large-scale mode of climate variability are documented that, together, suggest a possible forcing mechanism for the drought. During the boreal cold season, an inverse relationship exists between precipitation anomalies in the eastern Indian Ocean and CSW Asia. Suppression of precipitation over CSW Asia is consistent with interaction between local synoptic storms and wave energy generated by enhanced tropical rainfall in the eastern Indian Ocean. This regional out-of-phase precipitation relationship is related to large-scale climate variability through a subset of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events characterized by an enhanced signal in the warm pool region of the western Pacific Ocean. Both the prolonged duration of the 1998–2001 cold phase ENSO (La Niña) event and unusually warm ocean waters in the western Pacific appear to contribute to the severity of the drought.
Abstract
Severe drought over the past three years (1998–2001), in combination with the effects of protracted sociopolitical disruption, has led to widespread famine affecting over 60 million people in central and southwest (CSW) Asia. Here both a regional and a large-scale mode of climate variability are documented that, together, suggest a possible forcing mechanism for the drought. During the boreal cold season, an inverse relationship exists between precipitation anomalies in the eastern Indian Ocean and CSW Asia. Suppression of precipitation over CSW Asia is consistent with interaction between local synoptic storms and wave energy generated by enhanced tropical rainfall in the eastern Indian Ocean. This regional out-of-phase precipitation relationship is related to large-scale climate variability through a subset of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events characterized by an enhanced signal in the warm pool region of the western Pacific Ocean. Both the prolonged duration of the 1998–2001 cold phase ENSO (La Niña) event and unusually warm ocean waters in the western Pacific appear to contribute to the severity of the drought.
Abstract
The spatial and temporal evolution of Middle East and southwest Asia (MESW) precipitation characteristics and the associated atmospheric circulation during times in which tropical eastern Indian Ocean precipitation is either enhanced or reduced associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is assessed. Using multiple estimates of both the observed precipitation and the MJO during 1981–2016, the evolution of MESW precipitation characteristics throughout November–April is examined in terms of monthly precipitation accumulation on precipitation days, the number of precipitation days, and the number of extreme precipitation days. MJO phases 2–4, during which eastern Indian Ocean precipitation is enhanced, and MJO phases 6–8, during which eastern Indian Ocean precipitation is reduced, are related, with significant decreases and increases in the number of precipitation days across MESW, respectively. The patterns of precipitation-day changes between MJO phases undergo noteworthy spatial and temporal evolutions across the boreal cold season that are influenced by the interaction between Rossby wave forcing by the MJO and seasonal changes in both the upper-level jet and moisture over the region. During December–January, the changes in precipitation days are found primarily over northern MESW, while during February–March, the changes in precipitation days are found primarily over southern MESW. Although the results identify an important sensitivity in the number of precipitation days over the MESW related to the MJO, the same sensitivity is not apparent in terms of the number of extreme precipitation days and, in particular, the amount of precipitation on a precipitation day.
Abstract
The spatial and temporal evolution of Middle East and southwest Asia (MESW) precipitation characteristics and the associated atmospheric circulation during times in which tropical eastern Indian Ocean precipitation is either enhanced or reduced associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is assessed. Using multiple estimates of both the observed precipitation and the MJO during 1981–2016, the evolution of MESW precipitation characteristics throughout November–April is examined in terms of monthly precipitation accumulation on precipitation days, the number of precipitation days, and the number of extreme precipitation days. MJO phases 2–4, during which eastern Indian Ocean precipitation is enhanced, and MJO phases 6–8, during which eastern Indian Ocean precipitation is reduced, are related, with significant decreases and increases in the number of precipitation days across MESW, respectively. The patterns of precipitation-day changes between MJO phases undergo noteworthy spatial and temporal evolutions across the boreal cold season that are influenced by the interaction between Rossby wave forcing by the MJO and seasonal changes in both the upper-level jet and moisture over the region. During December–January, the changes in precipitation days are found primarily over northern MESW, while during February–March, the changes in precipitation days are found primarily over southern MESW. Although the results identify an important sensitivity in the number of precipitation days over the MESW related to the MJO, the same sensitivity is not apparent in terms of the number of extreme precipitation days and, in particular, the amount of precipitation on a precipitation day.
Abstract
Southwestern Asia, defined here as the domain bounded by 20°–40°N and 40°–70°E, which includes the nations of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, is a water-stressed and semiarid region that receives roughly 75% of its annual rainfall during November–April. The November–April climate of southwestern Asia is strongly influenced by tropical Indo-Pacific variability on intraseasonal and interannual time scales, much of which can be attributed to sea surface temperature (SST) variations. The influences of lower-frequency SST variability on southwestern Asia climate during November–April Pacific decadal SST (PDSST) variability and the long-term trend in SST (LTSST) is examined. The U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability Program (CLIVAR) Drought Working Group forced global atmospheric climate models with PDSST and LTSST patterns, identified using empirical orthogonal functions, to show the steady atmospheric response to these modes of decadal to multidecadal SST variability. During November–April, LTSST forces an anticyclone over southwestern Asia, which results in reduced precipitation and increases in surface temperature. The precipitation and tropospheric circulation influences of LTSST are corroborated by independent observed precipitation and circulation datasets during 1901–2004. The decadal variations of southwestern Asia precipitation may be forced by PDSST variability, with two of the three models indicating that the cold phase of PDSST forces an anticyclone and precipitation reductions. However, there are intermodel circulation variations to PDSST that influence subregional precipitation patterns over the Middle East, southwestern Asia, and subtropical Asia. Changes in wintertime temperature and precipitation over southwestern Asia forced by LTSST and PDSST imply important changes to the land surface hydrology during the spring and summer.
Abstract
Southwestern Asia, defined here as the domain bounded by 20°–40°N and 40°–70°E, which includes the nations of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, is a water-stressed and semiarid region that receives roughly 75% of its annual rainfall during November–April. The November–April climate of southwestern Asia is strongly influenced by tropical Indo-Pacific variability on intraseasonal and interannual time scales, much of which can be attributed to sea surface temperature (SST) variations. The influences of lower-frequency SST variability on southwestern Asia climate during November–April Pacific decadal SST (PDSST) variability and the long-term trend in SST (LTSST) is examined. The U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability Program (CLIVAR) Drought Working Group forced global atmospheric climate models with PDSST and LTSST patterns, identified using empirical orthogonal functions, to show the steady atmospheric response to these modes of decadal to multidecadal SST variability. During November–April, LTSST forces an anticyclone over southwestern Asia, which results in reduced precipitation and increases in surface temperature. The precipitation and tropospheric circulation influences of LTSST are corroborated by independent observed precipitation and circulation datasets during 1901–2004. The decadal variations of southwestern Asia precipitation may be forced by PDSST variability, with two of the three models indicating that the cold phase of PDSST forces an anticyclone and precipitation reductions. However, there are intermodel circulation variations to PDSST that influence subregional precipitation patterns over the Middle East, southwestern Asia, and subtropical Asia. Changes in wintertime temperature and precipitation over southwestern Asia forced by LTSST and PDSST imply important changes to the land surface hydrology during the spring and summer.
Abstract
While there is growing evidence that the main contribution to trends in U.S. precipitation occurs during fall, most studies of seasonal precipitation have focused on winter or summer. Here, the leading mode of fall precipitation variability over North America is isolated from multiple data sources and connected to a hemispheric-scale circulation pattern. Over North America, the leading mode of fall precipitation variability in both station-based and satellite-blended data is a tripole that links fall precipitation anomalies in southern Alaska, the central United States, and eastern Canada. This mode is part of a larger pattern of alternating wet and dry anomalies stretching from the western Pacific to the North Atlantic. Dynamically, the precipitation anomalies are closely associated with changes to regional-scale moisture transport that are, in turn, linked to two independently identified hemispheric-scale wave patterns that are one-quarter wavelength out of phase (i.e., in quadrature) and resemble the circumglobal teleconnection.
Abstract
While there is growing evidence that the main contribution to trends in U.S. precipitation occurs during fall, most studies of seasonal precipitation have focused on winter or summer. Here, the leading mode of fall precipitation variability over North America is isolated from multiple data sources and connected to a hemispheric-scale circulation pattern. Over North America, the leading mode of fall precipitation variability in both station-based and satellite-blended data is a tripole that links fall precipitation anomalies in southern Alaska, the central United States, and eastern Canada. This mode is part of a larger pattern of alternating wet and dry anomalies stretching from the western Pacific to the North Atlantic. Dynamically, the precipitation anomalies are closely associated with changes to regional-scale moisture transport that are, in turn, linked to two independently identified hemispheric-scale wave patterns that are one-quarter wavelength out of phase (i.e., in quadrature) and resemble the circumglobal teleconnection.
Abstract
The ability of six CMIP6 models to reproduce the observed cold season teleconnection between tropical Indo-Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and precipitation in Southwest Asia, the coastal Middle East (CME), and northern Pakistan and India (NPI) is examined. The 1979–2014 period is analyzed to maximize observations over both the tropical ocean and the regions. Nine historical simulations for the same period are examined for each model to account for the internal variability of the coupled system. The teleconnection is examined in terms of SSTs, precipitation, 200-hPa geopotential heights, and derived quantities. All the models capture some of the broadest features of the teleconnections, but there is a wide range in the ability of the models to reproduce the magnitude and details. The differences appear related to both the models’ ability to capture the details of the tropical variability, including the position and strength of the precipitation anomalies in the Indo-west Pacific, and the models’ ability to accurately propagate the tropically forced response into the region. The teleconnections to the CME and NPI regions on the eastern and western margins, respectively, of the strongest signal are very similar in structure and have similar results, except that the models’ ability to reproduce the strength and details of the teleconnection is even more limited, consistent with their marginal locations and known influence of other modes of variability. For all three areas, the wide range in model ability to capture the leading teleconnection suggests caution in interpreting climate regional projections.
Abstract
The ability of six CMIP6 models to reproduce the observed cold season teleconnection between tropical Indo-Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and precipitation in Southwest Asia, the coastal Middle East (CME), and northern Pakistan and India (NPI) is examined. The 1979–2014 period is analyzed to maximize observations over both the tropical ocean and the regions. Nine historical simulations for the same period are examined for each model to account for the internal variability of the coupled system. The teleconnection is examined in terms of SSTs, precipitation, 200-hPa geopotential heights, and derived quantities. All the models capture some of the broadest features of the teleconnections, but there is a wide range in the ability of the models to reproduce the magnitude and details. The differences appear related to both the models’ ability to capture the details of the tropical variability, including the position and strength of the precipitation anomalies in the Indo-west Pacific, and the models’ ability to accurately propagate the tropically forced response into the region. The teleconnections to the CME and NPI regions on the eastern and western margins, respectively, of the strongest signal are very similar in structure and have similar results, except that the models’ ability to reproduce the strength and details of the teleconnection is even more limited, consistent with their marginal locations and known influence of other modes of variability. For all three areas, the wide range in model ability to capture the leading teleconnection suggests caution in interpreting climate regional projections.
