Abstract
Intense precipitation events (IPE; 99th percentile) in the southeastern United States from 1950 to 2016 were analysed temporally, spatially, and synoptically. The study area was partitioned into latitudinal and physiographic regions to identify subregions that experienced significant changes in IPE frequency or intensity. Furthermore, the spatial synoptic classification (SSC) was used to ascertain what surface weather types are associated with IPEs. Additionally, in conjunction with the SSC, surface forcing mechanisms for the 30 most extreme subregional IPEs were studied to uncover the surface synoptic conditions responsible for IPEs. Results revealed that IPEs increased in frequency and intensity on an annual basis for the southeastern United States. Seasonal results indicated that IPE frequency only increased in the fall. Subregional results reveal that latitudinally, IPEs became more common in the northern latitudes of the study area, while physiographically, significant increases in IPE frequency were most pronounced in areas inland from the Atlantic Coastal Plain. An increase in the annual number of IPEs associated with moist tropical (MT) days was identified across the study area, but was more prevalent in the central and north central latitudinal regions, and areas inland from the Atlantic Coastal Plain outside of the Appalachian Mountains. This MT increase was possibly caused by more common northwards and inland intrusion of these types of IPEs. While moist moderate (MM) and transitional (TR) days were most commonly associated with IPEs, these weather types did not have significant trends. The surface forcing mechanisms most commonly associated with the strongest IPEs were tropical events, followed by stationary fronts and concentric low‐pressure systems.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.