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Northern hemisphere extratropical circulation anomalies and recent January land surface temperature trends

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL00509· OSTI ID:6296007

The authors follow up on a strong case made by Trenberth for the importance of low-frequency tropical and extratropical circulation variations being a major factor in determining decade scale temperature variations observed in the northern hemisphere. They use the rotated principal components analysis to model mid-tropospheric circulation variations, because this scheme is able to deal with major low-frequency modes. Their objective is to show how dynamics in the atmosphere are able to drive surface temperature changes. The objective is to try to explain why observations do not support general model conclusions that the increasing abundance of greenhouse gases should result in increasing surface temperatures. The conclusions support the importance of such circulations in determining surface temperatures, point out the need to include such circulational effects in global circulation models, and highlight how complex it is to simply measure or observe global climate changes based upon only one parameter change.

OSTI ID:
6296007
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 20:9; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English