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Interannual variations and future change of wintertime extratropical cyclone activity over North America in CCSM3

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Abstract

Climatology and interannual variations of wintertime extratropical cyclone frequency in CCSM3 twentieth century simulation are compared with the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis during 1950–1999. CCSM3 can simulate the storm tracks reasonably well, although the model produces slightly less cyclones at the beginning of the Pacific and Atlantic storm tracks and weaker poleward deflection over the Pacific. As in the reanalysis, frequency of cyclones stronger than 980 hPa shows significant correlation with the Pacific/North America (PNA) teleconnection pattern over the Pacific region and with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in the Atlantic sector. Composite maps are constructed for opposite phases of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the NAO and all anomalous patterns coincide with observed. One CCSM3 twenty-first century A1B scenario realization indicates there is significant increase in the extratropical cyclone frequency on the US west coast and decrease in Alaska. Meanwhile, cyclone frequency increases from the Great Lakes region to Quebec and decreases over the US east coast, suggesting a possible northward shift of the Atlantic storm tracks under the warmer climate. The cyclone frequency anomalies are closely linked to changes in seasonal mean states of the upper-troposphere zonal wind and baroclinicity in the lower troposphere. Due to lack of 6-hourly outputs, we cannot apply the cyclone-tracking algorithm to the other eight CCSM3 realizations. Based on the linkage between the mean state change and the cyclone frequency anomalies, it is likely a common feature among the other ensemble members that cyclone activity is reduced on the East Coast and in Alaska as a result of global warming.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the valuable suggestions that have been provided by Jeffrey Yin. We would also like to thank the reviewers for their helpful comments. This research was supported by the Office of Science (BER), US Department of Energy, Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC02–97ER62402. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO, 80307, USA

    Haiyan Teng, Warren M. Washington & Gerald A. Meehl

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  1. Haiyan Teng
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  2. Warren M. Washington
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  3. Gerald A. Meehl
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Correspondence to Haiyan Teng.

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Teng, H., Washington, W.M. & Meehl, G.A. Interannual variations and future change of wintertime extratropical cyclone activity over North America in CCSM3. Clim Dyn 30, 673–686 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0314-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0314-1

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