The influence of synoptic airflow on UK daily precipitation extremes. Part 1: Observed spatio-temporal relationships

Maraun, Douglas, Osborn, Timothy J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8425-6799 and Rust, Henning W. (2011) The influence of synoptic airflow on UK daily precipitation extremes. Part 1: Observed spatio-temporal relationships. Climate Dynamics, 36 (1). pp. 261-275.

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Abstract

We study the influence of synoptic scale atmospheric circulation on extreme daily precipitation across the United Kingdom, using observed time series from 689 rain gauges. To this end we employ a statistical model, that uses airflow strength, direction and vorticity as predictors for the generalised extreme value distribution of monthly precipitation maxima. The inferred relationships are connected with the dominant westerly flow, the orography, and the moisture supply from surrounding seas. We aggregated the results for individual rain gauges to regional scales to investigate the temporal variability of extreme precipitation. Airflow explains a significant fraction of the variability on subannual to decadal time scales. A large fraction of the especially heavy winter precipitation during the 1980s and 1990s in north Scotland can be attributed to a prevailing positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. Our statistical model can be used for statistical downscaling and to validate regional climate model output.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climatic Research Unit
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Depositing User: Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited: 26 Jan 2011 14:35
Last Modified: 24 Sep 2024 09:04
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/19921
DOI: 10.1007/s00382-009-0710-9

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