Global Contributions of Incoming Radiation and Land Surface Conditions to Maximum Near-Surface Air Temperature Variability and Trend


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Date

2018-05

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

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Data

Abstract

The evolution of near‐surface air temperature is influenced by various dynamical, radiative, and surface‐atmosphere exchange processes whose contributions are still not completely quantified. Applying stepwise multiple linear regression to Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) model simulations and focusing on radiation (diagnosed by incoming shortwave and incoming longwave radiation) and land surface conditions (diagnosed by soil moisture and albedo) about 79% of the interannual variability and 99% of the multidecadal trend of monthly mean daily maximum temperature over land can be explained. The linear model captures well the temperature variability in middle‐to‐high latitudes and in regions close to the equator, whereas its explanatory potential is limited in deserts. While radiation is an essential explanatory variable over almost all of the analyzed domain, land surface conditions show a pronounced relation to temperature in some confined regions. These findings highlight that considering local‐to‐regional processes is crucial for correctly assessing interannual temperature variability and future temperature trends.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

45 (10)

Pages / Article No.

5034 - 5044

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

temperature variability; temperature trend; linear regression; radiation; soil moisture; albedo

Organisational unit

03778 - Seneviratne, Sonia / Seneviratne, Sonia check_circle

Notes

Funding

617518 - Land-Climate Interactions: Constraints for Droughts and Heatwaves in a Changing Climate (EC)

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