Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: A model study

Giorgi, F; Hurrell, J W; Marinucci, M R

doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0288:EDOTSC>2.0.CO;2

Title: Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: A model study

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Abstract

Results are presented from a present-day and a doubled CO{sub 2} experiment over the Alpine region with a nested regional climate model. The simulated temperature change signal shows a substantial elevation dependency, mostly during the winter and spring seasons, resulting in more pronounced warming at high elevations than low elevations. This is caused by a depletion of snowpack in doubled CO{sub 2} conditions and further enhanced by the snow-albedo feedback. This result is consistent with some observed temperature trends for anomalously warm years over the Alpine region and suggests that high elevation temperature changes could be used as an early detection tool for global warming. Changes in precipitation, as well as other components of the surface energy and water budgets, also show an elevation signal, which may have important implications for impact assessments in high elevation regions. 22 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.

Authors:

Giorgi, F; Hurrell, J W; Marinucci, M R ^[1]

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States); and others

Publication Date:: Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI Identifier:: 460084

Resource Type:: Journal Article

Journal Name:: Journal of Climate

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1997

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CLIMATIC CHANGE; DETECTION; ALBEDO; SURFACE ENERGY; CARBON DIOXIDE; SNOW; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; ALTITUDE; GREENHOUSE EFFECT

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                    Giorgi, F, Hurrell, J W, and Marinucci, M R. Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: A model study.  United States: N. p., 1997. 
        Web.  doi:10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0288:EDOTSC>2.0.CO;2.

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                    Giorgi, F, Hurrell, J W, & Marinucci, M R. Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: A model study.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0288:EDOTSC>2.0.CO;2

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                    Giorgi, F, Hurrell, J W, and Marinucci, M R. 1997.  
        "Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: A model study".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0288:EDOTSC>2.0.CO;2.

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@article{osti_460084,

  title        = {Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: A model study},

  author       = {Giorgi, F and Hurrell, J W and Marinucci, M R},

  abstractNote = {Results are presented from a present-day and a doubled CO{sub 2} experiment over the Alpine region with a nested regional climate model. The simulated temperature change signal shows a substantial elevation dependency, mostly during the winter and spring seasons, resulting in more pronounced warming at high elevations than low elevations. This is caused by a depletion of snowpack in doubled CO{sub 2} conditions and further enhanced by the snow-albedo feedback. This result is consistent with some observed temperature trends for anomalously warm years over the Alpine region and suggests that high elevation temperature changes could be used as an early detection tool for global warming. Changes in precipitation, as well as other components of the surface energy and water budgets, also show an elevation signal, which may have important implications for impact assessments in high elevation regions. 22 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.},

  doi          = {10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0288:EDOTSC>2.0.CO;2},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/460084},
  journal      = {Journal of Climate},
number       = 2,

  volume       = 10,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},

  month        = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}

}

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https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0288:EDOTSC>2.0.CO;2

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