Changes in Mean and Extreme Precipitation in Near-term Predictions up to the Year 2030

Abstract

We show the near-term predictions of mean and extreme precipitation up to the year 2030 by analyzing ten-member ensemble runs with perturbed initial conditions of the MIROC model. Mean and extreme precipitation increase in high latitudes and the tropics, and decrease in the subtropics in the ensemble mean. Uncertainty due to natural variability was also examined. Most of the ten runs predict positive anomalies in high latitudes and some parts of the tropics. Changes in parts of the subtropics are uncertain due to natural variability. Thermodynamic changes mainly explain robust total increases in mean precipitation in high latitudes and the tropics. Thermodynamic changes of mean precipitation are uncertain in the subtropics, resulting in a large uncertainty in total changes. It is suggested that small signal-to-noise rations of thermodynamic changes in the subtropics are induced by regional decreases in relative humidity at lower troposphere, which counteract the effects of increased column-integrated water vapor.