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Title: Changes in Precipitation From North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Under RCP Scenarios in the Variable-Resolution Community Atmosphere Model

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019gl086930· OSTI ID:1803079

Abstract Decreasing climate models' grid spacing improves the representation of tropical cyclones at decadal time scales. In this study, a variable‐resolution (VR) version of the Community Atmosphere Model 5 (CAM5‐VR) is utilized to study North Atlantic tropical cyclone climatology in ensemble historical climate simulations and under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) projections (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Basin‐wide tropical cyclone counts decrease in the RCP simulations, although landfalling storm counts do not show as straightforward of a pattern, especially when focusing on regional changes. Lifetime maximum intensity metrics suggest that tropical cyclones increase in strength in the RCP ensembles. However, despite increases in tropical cyclone‐related precipitation rates and the amount of precipitation produced per storm with warming, the annual average Rx5day from tropical cyclones over the eastern United States decreases due to less landfalling storms. This work is part of a continued effort to quantify how tropical cyclone‐induced hazards may change in future climates.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0016605; AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1803079
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1633391
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 47, Issue 12; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 14 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (4)