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The Structure of Climate Variability Across Scales
Author(s) -
Franzke Christian L. E.,
Barbosa Susana,
Blender Richard,
Fredriksen HegeBeate,
Laepple Thomas,
Lambert Fabrice,
Nilsen Tine,
Rypdal Kristoffer,
Rypdal Martin,
Scotto Manuel G,,
Vannitsem Stéphane,
Watkins Nicholas W.,
Yang Lichao,
Yuan Naiming
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/2019rg000657
Subject(s) - scaling , autocorrelation , temporal scales , precipitation , statistical physics , environmental science , climatology , spatial ecology , climate change , spatial variability , atmospheric sciences , geology , physics , mathematics , meteorology , statistics , ecology , geometry , oceanography , biology
One of the most intriguing facets of the climate system is that it exhibits variability across all temporal and spatial scales; pronounced examples are temperature and precipitation. The structure of this variability, however, is not arbitrary. Over certain spatial and temporal ranges, it can be described by scaling relationships in the form of power laws in probability density distributions and autocorrelation functions. These scaling relationships can be quantified by scaling exponents which measure how the variability changes across scales and how the intensity changes with frequency of occurrence. Scaling determines the relative magnitudes and persistence of natural climate fluctuations. Here, we review various scaling mechanisms and their relevance for the climate system. We show observational evidence of scaling and discuss the application of scaling properties and methods in trend detection, climate sensitivity analyses, and climate prediction.