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Brown, Josephine R., Lengaigne, Matthieu, Lintner, Benjamin R., Widlansky, Matthew J., van der Wiel, Karin, Dutheil, Cyril, Linsley, Braddock K., Matthews, Adrian J. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0492-1168 and Renwick, James
(2020)
South Pacific Convergence Zone dynamics, variability and impacts in a changing climate.
Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 1 (10).
530–543.
ISSN 2662-138X
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Abstract
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) is a diagonal band of intense rainfall and deep atmospheric convection extending from the equator to the subtropical South Pacific. Displacement of the SPCZ causes variability in rainfall, tropical-cyclone activity and sea level that affects South Pacific island populations and surrounding ecosystems. In this Review, we synthesize recent advances in understanding the physical mechanisms responsible for the SPCZ location and orientation, its interactions with the principal drivers of tropical climate variability, regional and global effects of the SPCZ and its response to anthropogenic climate change. Emerging insight is beginning to provide a coherent description of the character and variability of the SPCZ over synoptic, intraseasonal, interannual and longer timescales. For example, the diagonal orientation of the SPCZ and its natural variability are both the result of a subtle chain of interactions between the tropical and extratropical atmosphere, forced and modulated by the underlying sea surface temperature gradients. However, persistent biases in, and deficiencies of, existing models limit confidence in future projections. Improved climate models and new methods for regional modelling might better constrain future SPCZ projections, aiding climate change adaptation and planning among vulnerable South Pacific communities.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | atmospheric science,earth-surface processes,nature and landscape conservation,pollution,sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1902 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Mar 2020 01:33 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Mar 2023 08:34 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/74612 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s43017-020-0078-2 |
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