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Regional Intensification of the Tropical Hydrological Cycle During ENSO
Author(s) -
Stephens Graeme L.,
Hakuba Maria Z.,
Webb Mark J.,
Lebsock Matthew,
Yue Qing,
Kahn Brian H.,
HristovaVeleva Svetla,
Rapp Anita D.,
Stubenrauch Claudia J.,
Elsaesser Gregory S.,
Slingo Julia
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl077598
Subject(s) - climatology , coupled model intercomparison project , environmental science , water cycle , precipitation , climate model , satellite , atmospheric sciences , el niño southern oscillation , atmospheric model , radiative transfer , climate change , meteorology , geography , geology , physics , oceanography , ecology , astronomy , biology , quantum mechanics
This study provides observational evidence for feedbacks that amplify the short‐term hydrological response associated with the warm phase of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation. Our analyses make use of a comprehensive set of independent satellite observations collected over decades to show that much larger local changes to cloud (~50%/K) and precipitation (~60%/K) occur than would be expected from the guidance of Clausius‐Clapeyron theory (~7%/K). This amplification comes from atmospheric feedbacks involving shifts in the patterns of latent and radiative heating that mutually act on the dynamics enhancing changes to the hydrological cycle. We also confirm the existence of an opposing negative flux feedback at the ocean surface, driven largely by solar radiation changes, that opposes the surface warming. Estimates of the strength of this and other feedback factors associated with warming in the Niño3 region are provided from observations. These observations are also used to examine comparative processes and feedbacks in model experiments from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project.