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Subseasonal Week 3–5 Surface Air Temperature Prediction During Boreal Wintertime in a GFDL Model
Author(s) -
Xiang Baoqiang,
Lin ShianJiann,
Zhao Ming,
Johnson Nathaniel C.,
Yang Xiaosong,
Jiang Xianan
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1029/2018gl081314
Subject(s) - climatology , madden–julian oscillation , predictability , northern hemisphere , environmental science , oscillation (cell signaling) , zonal and meridional , polar vortex , atmospheric sciences , stratosphere , forecast skill , arctic oscillation , mode (computer interface) , meteorology , geology , convection , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , operating system , biology , genetics
With a Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) coupled model, the subseasonal prediction of wintertime (December–February) surface air temperature (SAT) is investigated through the analysis of 11‐year hindcasts. Significant subseasonal week 3–5 correlation skill exists over a large portion of the global land domain, and the predictability originates primarily from the eight most predictable SAT modes. The first three modes, identified as the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation mode, the North Atlantic Oscillation mode, and the Eurasia Meridional Dipole mode, can be skillfully predicted more than 5 weeks in advance. The North Atlantic Oscillation and Eurasia Meridional Dipole modes are strongly correlated with the initial stratospheric polar vortex strength, highlighting the role of stratosphere in subseasonal prediction. Interestingly, the Madden‐Julian Oscillation is not essential for the subseasonal land SAT prediction in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics. The spatial correlation skill exhibits considerable intraseasonal and interannual fluctuations, indicative of the importance to identify the time window of opportunity for subseasonal prediction.