The signature of Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation patterns in Antarctic precipitation

Marshall, Gareth J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8887-7314; Thompson, David W.J.; van den Broeke, Michiel R.. 2017 The signature of Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation patterns in Antarctic precipitation. Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (22). 11,580-11,589. 10.1002/2017GL075998

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Abstract/Summary

We provide the first comprehensive analysis of the relationships between large-scale patterns of Southern Hemisphere climate variability and the detailed structure of Antarctic precipitation. We examine linkages between the high spatial resolution precipitation from a regional atmospheric model and four modes of large-scale Southern Hemisphere climate variability: the southern baroclinic annular mode (BAM), the southern annular mode (SAM), and the two Pacific-South American (PSA) teleconnection patterns. Variations in all four modes influence the spatial patterns of precipitation over Antarctica, consistent with their signatures in high-latitude meridional moisture fluxes. They impact not only the mean but also the incidence of extreme precipitation events. Current coupled-climate models are able to reproduce all four patterns of atmospheric variability, but struggle to correctly replicate their regional impacts on Antarctic climate. Thus, linking these patterns directly to Antarctic precipitation variability may allow a better estimate of future changes in precipitation than using model output alone.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1002/2017GL075998
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Atmosphere, Ice and Climate
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Keywords:	Antarctica, precipitation, circulation, climate, mass balance
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology
Date made live:	15 Nov 2017 11:49 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517025

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1002/2017GL075998

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Atmosphere, Ice and Climate

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Keywords:

Antarctica, precipitation, circulation, climate, mass balance

NORA Subject Terms:

Meteorology and Climatology