Precipitation Extremes Under Climate Change

The response of precipitation extremes to climate change is considered using results from theory, modeling, and observations, with a focus on the physical factors that control the response. Observations and simulations with climate models show that precipitation extremes intensify in response to a warming climate. However, the sensitivity of precipitation extremes to warming remains uncertain when convection is important, and it may be higher in the tropics than the extratropics. Several physical contributions govern the response of precipitation extremes. The thermodynamic contribution is robust and well understood, but theoretical understanding of the microphysical and dynamical contributions is still being…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: AGS-1148594, 1148594
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• UO
  University of New South Wales
• NO
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration