A theoretical model that deconstructs vertical atmospheric movement into dry and moist components, representing large-scale airflow and small-scale convection, respectively, can capture the variability in extreme precipitation sensitivity generated by climate models, according to a study; the dry component is strong in middle and high latitudes, whereas the moist component is strong in low latitudes, offering a potential explanation for spatial variation in extreme precipitation responses to global warming.
Article #19-13584: "Dry and moist dynamics shape regional patterns of extreme precipitation sensitivity," by Ji Nie, Panxi Dai, and Adam H. Sobel.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ji Nie, Peking University, Beijing, CHINA; e-mail: jinie@pku.edu.cn
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences