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Forced summer stationary waves: the opposing effects of direct radiative forcing and sea surface warming

Abstract:
We investigate the opposing effects of direct radiative forcing and sea surface warming on the atmospheric circulation using a hierarchy of models. In large ensembles of three general circulation models, direct CO2 forcing produces a wavenumber 5 stationary wave over the Northern Hemisphere in summer. Sea surface warming produces a similar wave, but with the opposite sign. The waves are also present in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 ensemble with opposite signs due to direct CO2 and sea surface warming. Analyses of tropical precipitation changes and equivalent potential temperature changes and the results from a simple barotropic model show that the wave is forced from the tropics. Key forcing locations are the Western Atlantic, Eastern Atlantic and in the Indian Ocean just off the east coast of Africa. The stationary wave has a significant impact on regional temperature anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere summer, explaining some of the direct effect that CO2 concentration has on temperature extremes. Ultimately, the climate sensitivity and future changes in the land–sea temperature contrast will dictate the balance between the opposing effects on regional changes in mean and extreme temperature and precipitation under climate change.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1007/s00382-019-04786-1

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Atmos Ocean & Planet Physics
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-9562-3520
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Atmos Ocean & Planet Physics
Oxford college:
Pembroke College
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Climate Dynamics More from this journal
Volume:
53
Issue:
7-8
Pages:
4291-4309
Publication date:
2019-04-30
Acceptance date:
2019-04-22
DOI:
ISSN:
0930-7575


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:994568
UUID:
uuid:02a2d911-e5c9-4fb8-813f-dedc71ae645b
Local pid:
pubs:994568
Source identifiers:
994568
Deposit date:
2019-04-25

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