Are climate-related changes to the character of global-mean precipitation predictable?
Are climate-related changes to the character of global-mean precipitation predictable?
复制标题
全球平均降水量特征与气候相关的变化是否可以预测？
DOI：
10.1088/1748-9326/5/2/025209
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发表时间：
2010
影响因子：
6.7
通讯作者：
Yongxiang Hu
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
G. Stephens;Yongxiang Hu
The physical basis for the change in global-mean precipitation projected to occur with the warming associated with increased greenhouse gases is discussed. The expected increases to column water vapor W control the rate of increase of global precipitation accumulation through its affect on the planet’s energy balance. The key role played by changes to downward longwave radiation controlled by this changing water vapor is emphasized. The basic properties of molecular absorption by water vapor dictate that the fractional rate of increase of global-mean precipitation must be significantly less that the fractional rate of increase in water vapor and it is further argued that this reduced rate of precipitation increase implies that the timescale for water re-cycling is increased in the global mean. This further implies less frequent precipitation over a fixed period of time, and the intensity of these less frequent precipitating events must subsequently increase in the mean to realize the increased global accumulation. These changes to the character of global-mean precipitation, predictable consequences of equally predictable changes to W, apply only to the global-mean state and not to the regional or local scale changes in precipitation.
