Climate and climate impact scenarios for Europe in a warmer world

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1983)022<1673:CACISF>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5150223

Lough, J M; Wigley, T M.L.; Palutikof, J P

Scenarios for Europe in a warmer world, such as may result from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, have been constructed using the early 20th century warming as an analogue. Mean temperature, precipitation and pressure patterns for the period 1934-53 were compared with those for 1901-20. These are the warmest and coolest twenty-year periods this century based on Northern Hemisphere annual mean surface air temperature data, differing by 0.4/sup 0/C. The climate scenarios show marked subregional scale differences from season to season, and individual season scenarios often show little similarity to the annual scenario. Temperature scenarios show warming for the annual mean and for spring, summer and autumn. The largest positive changes are found in higher latitudes. Winters over a large part of Europe are actually cooler and show greater interannual variability during the warmer period. These changes appear to be associated with a greater frequency of blocking activity. Precipitation changes occur in both directions in all seasons. There is, however, an overall tendency for spring and summer to be drier and autumn and winter to be wetter.

• Research Organization: Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ United Kingdom
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-79EV10098
• OSTI ID: 5150223
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Meteorol.; (United States) Vol. 22:10; ISSN JAMOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGRICULTURE
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
EUROPE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
INDUSTRY
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION