Decadal Variability of Southeast US Rainfall in an Eddying Global Coupled Model

Zhang, Wei; Kirtman, Ben; Siqueira, Leo; Xiang, Baoqiang; Infanti, Johnna; Perlin, Natalie

doi:10.1029/2021GL096709

Title: Decadal Variability of Southeast US Rainfall in an Eddying Global Coupled Model

Journal Article · 28 December 2021 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL096709 · OSTI ID:1837715

^[1];

^[2];

^[3]; Infanti, Johnna ^[4]; Perlin, Natalie ^[2]

Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USA, NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USA, NOAA/OAR/ESRL/Global Systems Laboratory Boulder Colorado USA
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Miami FL USA
NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USA, Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USA
NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Climate Prediction Center College Park, Innovim, LLC, Greenbelt MD USA

Abstract Ocean variability is a dominant source of remote rainfall predictability, but in many cases the physical mechanisms driving this predictability are not fully understood. This study examines how ocean mesoscales (i.e., the Gulf Stream SST front) affect decadal Southeast US (SEUS) rainfall, arguing that the local imprint of large‐scale teleconnections is sensitive to resolved mesoscale features. Based on global coupled model experiments with eddying and eddy‐parameterizing ocean, we find that a resolved Gulf Stream improves localized rainfall and remote circulation response in the SEUS. The eddying model generally improves the air‐sea interactions in the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Subtropical High that modulate SEUS rainfall over decadal timescales. The eddy‐parameterizing simulation fails to capture the sharp SST gradient associated with the Gulf Stream and overestimates the role of tropical Pacific SST anomalies in the SEUS rainfall.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Miami, FL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0019433

OSTI ID:: 1837715

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 49; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Gulf Stream
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air-sea interactions
decadal variability
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Title: Decadal Variability of Southeast US Rainfall in an Eddying Global Coupled Model

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