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Decadal and multi-year predictability of the West African monsoon and the role of dynamical downscaling

Paeth, Heiko; Paxian, Andreas; Sein, Dmitry V.; Jacob, Daniela; Panitz, Hans-Jürgen 1; Warscher, Michael 1; Fink, Andreas H. 1; Kunstmann, Harald 1; Breil, Marcus 1; Engel, Thomas 1; Krause, Andreas 1; Toedter, Julian; Ahrens, Bodo
1 Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung (IMK), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

West African summer monsoon precipitation is characterized by distinct decadal variability. Due to its well-documented link to oceanic boundary conditions in various ocean basins it represents a paradigm for decadal predictability. In this study, we reappraise this hypothesis for several sub-regions of sub-Saharan West Africa using the new German contribution to the coupled model intercomparison project phase 5 (CMIP5) near-term prediction system.In addition, we assume that dynamical downscaling of the global decadal predictions leads to an enhanced predictive skill because enhanced resolution improves the atmospheric response to oceanic forcing and land-surface feedbacks. Based on three regional climate models, a heterogeneous picture is drawn: none of the regional climate models outperforms the global decadal predictions or all other regional climate models in every region nor decade. However, for every test case at least one regional climate model was identified which outperforms the global predictions. The highest predictive skill is found in the western and central Sahel Zone with correlation coefficients and mean-square skill scores exceeding 0.9 and 0.8, respectively.


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000067488
Veröffentlicht am 13.11.2017
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1127/metz/2017/0811
Scopus
Zitationen: 11
Web of Science
Zitationen: 7
Dimensions
Zitationen: 13
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung – Atmosphärische Umweltforschung (IMK-IFU)
Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung Troposphärenforschung (IMKTRO)
KIT-Zentrum Klima und Umwelt (ZKU)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsjahr 2017
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 0941-2948, 1610-1227
urn:nbn:de:swb:90-674885
KITopen-ID: 1000067488
HGF-Programm 12.01.02 (POF III, LK 01) Proc.res.f.multisc.predictab.of weather
Erschienen in Meteorologische Zeitschrift
Verlag Borntraeger Science Publishers
Band 26
Heft 4
Seiten 363-377
Bemerkung zur Veröffentlichung Gefördert durch den KIT-Publikationsfonds
Schlagwörter decadal predictability, West Africa, monsoon rainfall, dynamical downscaling
Nachgewiesen in Dimensions
Web of Science
Scopus
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