Science Source
Emori, S., Brown, S. J.
Geophysical Research Letters
Published date September 13, 2005

Dynamic and thermodynamic changes in mean and extreme precipitation under changed climate

  • Separates the ‘dynamic’ and ‘thermodynamic’ components of the mean and extreme precipitation changes projected in 6 climate model experiments
  • Finds the dynamic change is due to the change in atmospheric motion, while the thermodynamic change is due to the change in atmospheric moisture content
  • Model results show that there are areas with small change or decreases in the thermodynamic change for mean precipitation mainly over subtropics, while the thermodynamic change for extreme precipitation is an overall increase as a result of increased atmospheric moisture
  • Finds the dynamic changes play a secondary role in the difference between mean and extreme and are limited to lower latitudes
  • Results indicate over many parts of mid- to high latitudes, mean and extreme precipitation increase in comparable magnitude due to a comparable thermodynamic increase

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