Investigating the impact of cloud-radiative feedbacks on tropical precipitation extremes

Medeiros, Brian; Clement, Amy C.; Benedict, James J.; Zhang, Bosong

doi:10.1038/s41612-021-00174-x

Title: Investigating the impact of cloud-radiative feedbacks on tropical precipitation extremes

Journal Article · 17 March 2021 · npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-021-00174-x · OSTI ID:1833724

; Clement, Amy C.;

;

Abstract Although societally important, extreme precipitation is difficult to represent in climate models. This study shows one robust aspect of extreme precipitation across models: extreme precipitation over tropical oceans is strengthened through a positive feedback with cloud-radiative effects. This connection is shown for a multi-model ensemble with experiments that make clouds transparent to longwave radiation. In all cases, tropical extreme precipitation reduces without cloud-radiative effects. Qualitatively similar results are presented for one model using the cloud-locking method to remove cloud feedbacks. The reduced extreme precipitation without cloud-radiative feedbacks does not arise from changes in the mean climate. Rather, evidence is presented that cloud-radiative feedbacks enhance organization of convection and most extreme precipitation over tropical oceans occurs within organized systems. This result suggests that climate models must correctly predict cloud structure and properties, as well as capture the essence of organized convection in order to accurately represent extreme rainfall.

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Research Organization:: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89243018SSC000007

OSTI ID:: 1833724

Journal Information:: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, Journal Name: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 4; ISSN 2397-3722

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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