Jenni L. Evans

Observed Variability and Trends in Extreme Climate Events: A Brief Review*

Variations and trends in extreme climate events have only recently received much attention. Exponentially increasing economic losses, coupled with an increase in deaths due to these events, have focused attention on the possibility that these events are increasing in frequency. One of the major problems in examining the climate record for changes in extremes is a lack of high-quality, long-term data. In some areas of the world increases in extreme events are apparent, while in others there appears to be a decline. Based on this information increased ability to monitor and detect multidecadal variations and trends is critical to begin to detect any observed changes and understand their origins.

An Introduction to Trends in Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Observations, Socioeconomic Impacts, Terrestrial Ecological Impacts, and Model Projections*

Weather and climatic extremes can have serious and damaging effects on human society and infrastructure as well as on ecosystems and wildlife. Thus, they are usually the main focus of attention of the news media in reports on climate. There are some indications from observations concerning how climatic extremes may have changed in the past. Climate models show how they could change in the future either due to natural climate fluctuations or under conditions of greenhouse gas-induced warming. These observed and modeled changes relate directly to the understanding of socioeconomic and ecological impacts related to extremes.

Trends in Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Issues Related to Modeling Extremes in Projections of Future Climate Change*

Projections of statistical aspects of weather and climate extremes can be derived from climate models representing possible future climate states. Some of the recent models have reproduced results previously reported in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Second Assessment Report, such as a greater frequency of extreme warm days and lower frequency of extreme cold days associated with a warmer mean climate, a decrease in diurnal temperature range associated with higher nighttime temperatures, increased precipitation intensity, midcontinent summer drying, decreasing daily variability of surface temperature in winter, and increasing variability of northern midlatitude summer surface temperatures. This reconfirmation of previous results gives an increased confidence in the credibility of the models, though agreement among models does not guarantee those changes will occur. New results since the IPCC Second Assessment Report indicate a possible increase of extreme heat stress events in a warm...

The Extratropical Transition of Tropical Cyclones: Forecast Challenges, Current Understanding, and Future Directions

Abstract A significant number of tropical cyclones move into the midlatitudes and transform into extratropical cyclones. This process is generally referred to as extratropical transition (ET). During ET a cyclone frequently produces intense rainfall and strong winds and has increased forward motion, so that such systems pose a serious threat to land and maritime activities. Changes in the structure of a system as it evolves from a tropical to an extratropical cyclone during ET necessitate changes in forecast strategies. In this paper a brief climatology of ET is given and the challenges associated with forecasting extratropical transition are described in terms of the forecast variables (track, intensity, surface winds, precipitation) and their impacts (flooding, bush fires, ocean response). The problems associated with the numerical prediction of ET are discussed. A comprehensive review of the current understanding of the processes involved in ET is presented. Classifications of extratropical transition ...

A Climatology of the Extratropical Transition of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones

Abstract A comprehensive climatology of extratropically transitioning tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin is presented. Storm tracks and intensities over a period from 1899 to 1996 are examined. More detailed statistics are presented only for the most reliable period of record, beginning in 1950. Since 1950, 46% of Atlantic tropical cyclones transitioned to the extratropical phase. The coastal Atlantic areas most likely to be impacted by a transitioning tropical cyclone are the northeast United States and the Canadian Maritimes (1–2 storms per year), and western Europe (once every 1–2 yr). Extratropically transitioning tropical cyclones represent 50% of landfalling tropical cyclones on the east coasts of the United States and Canada, and the west coast of Europe, combined. The likelihood that a tropical cyclone will transition increases toward the second half of the tropical season, with October having the highest probability (50%) of transition. Atlantic transition occurs from 24° to 55°N, with a muc...

Objective indicators of the life cycle evolution of extratropical transition for Atlantic tropical cyclones

Abstract Forty-six percent of Atlantic tropical storms undergo a process of extratropical transition (ET) in which the storm evolves from a tropical cyclone to a baroclinic system. In this paper, the structural evolution of a base set of 61 Atlantic tropical cyclones that underwent extratropical transition between 1979 and 1993 is examined. Objective indicators for the onset and completion of transition are empirically determined using National Hurricane Center (NHC) best-track data, ECMWF 1.125° × 1.125° reanalyses, and operational NCEP Aviation Model (AVN) and U.S. Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) numerical analyses. An independent set of storms from 1998 to 2001 are used to provide a preliminary evaluation of the proposed onset and completion diagnostics. Extratropical transition onset is declared when the storm becomes consistently asymmetric, as measured by the 900–600-hPa thickness asymmetry centered on the storm track. Completion of the ET process is identified using a...

Sensitivity of Tropical Cyclone Intensity to Sea Surface Temperature

Abstract Increased occurrence of more intense tropical storms intruding further poleward has been foreshadowed as one of the potential consequences of global warming. This scenario is based almost entirely on the general circulation model predictions of warmer sea surface temperature (SST) with increasing levels of atmospheric C02 and some theories of tropical cyclone intensification that support the notion of more intense systems with warmer SST. Whether storms are able to achieve this theoretically determined more intense state depends on whether the temperature of the underlying water is the dominant factor in tropical cyclone intensification. An examination of the historical data record in a number of ocean basins is used to identify the relative importance of SST in the tropical cyclone intensification process. The results reveal that SST alone is an inadequate predictor of tropical cyclone intensity. Other factors known to affect tropical cyclone frequency and intensity are discussed.

Tropical cyclone frequencies inferred from Gray's yearly genesis parameter: Validation of GCM tropical climates

The Gray Yearly Genesis Parameter (YGP) is an empirical diagnostic tool used to infer regions in which necessary (but not sufficient) conditions exist for tropical cyclone development. This parameter is used here as a measure of the implied tropical cyclone frequency and area of occurrence in climate simulations generated by a General Circulation Model (GCM). In a simulation of the current climate, the CSIRO9 GCM shows reasonable agreement with the original Gray climatology. The YGP for a doubled CO2 simulation is presented.

Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Tropical Cyclogenesis: Diagnostics from Large-Scale Fields

Abstract Grays seasonal genesis parameter (SGP) is reassessed as a diagnostic quantity for both climatological and single-season tropical cyclogenesis. The SGP applied to global analyses from recent years is able to locate the regions of genesis activity during 1967–86. The SGP based on the climatology of a simulation by the CSIR09 atmospheric model using prescribed ocean temperatures for 1979–88 has similar skill. The SGP applied to single-season means is then assessed as a diagnostic for interannual variation of cyclogenesis. Increased cyclogenesis in the central Pacific during the 1982/83 El Nino coincides with increased SGP. CSIRO9 simulated similar variations in the SGP. Moderate correlations are found between the time series of the observed and inferred simulated cyclogenesis numbers in the central Pacific, eastern North Pacific, and North Atlantic regions during 1979–88. However, elsewhere the correlations were poor.

Synoptic Composites of the Extratropical Transition Life Cycle of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones: Factors Determining Posttransition Evolution

Abstract A 34-member ensemble-mean trajectory through the cyclone phase space (CPS) is calculated using Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) analyses for North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) undergoing extratropical transition (ET). Synoptic composites at four ET milestones are examined: 24 h prior to the beginning of ET (TB − 24), the beginning of ET (TB), the end of ET (TE), and 24 h after the end of ET (TE + 24). While the extratropically transitioning TC structure is tightly constrained in its tropical phase, it has a variety of evolutions after TE. Partitioning the ensemble based upon post-ET intensity change or structure discriminates among statistically significant ET precursor conditions. Compositing the various post-ET intensity regimes provides insight into the important environmental factors governing post-ET development. A TC that intensifies (weakens) after TE begins transition (t = TB) with a negatively (positively) tilted trough 1000 km (1500 km) upstream. The ne...