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Article
Evaluation of precipitation in the Intermountain Region as simulated by the NARCCAP regional climate models
Geophysical Research Letters
  • Shih-Yu Wang, Utah State University
  • Robert R. Gillies, Utah State University
  • Eugene S. Takle, Iowa State University
  • William J. Gutowski, Jr., Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
6-1-2009
DOI
10.1029/2009GL037930
Abstract

We evaluated the precipitation climatology of the Intermountain Region (IR) as generated by the six regional climate models of the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP). A complex combination of the precipitation annual and semiannual cycles with their different phases form four major climate regimes over the IR. Each model produces systematic biases in the central IR where these different climate regimes meet. The simulated annual cycles are universally too strong, and the winter precipitation is too large. On the other hand, the semiannual cycles are relatively well produced. The strong annual cycles and the excess winter precipitation obscure the signals of spring/summer precipitation and may have led to false signals of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) found in the central IR. Therefore, caution is advised when interpreting the simulated NARCCAP precipitation for the IR.

Comments

This article is from Geophysical Research Letters 36 (2009): L11704, doi:10.1029/2009GL037930. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
American Geophysical Union
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Shih-Yu Wang, Robert R. Gillies, Eugene S. Takle and William J. Gutowski. "Evaluation of precipitation in the Intermountain Region as simulated by the NARCCAP regional climate models" Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 36 Iss. 11 (2009) p. L11704
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/william-gutowski/14/