A conceptual framework for time and space scale interactions in the climate system |
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Authors: | G A Meehl R Lukas G N Kiladis K M Weickmann A J Matthews M Wheeler |
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Institution: | (1) National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA E-mail: meehl@ncar.ucar.edu, US;(2) University of Hawaii, USA, US;(3) NOAA Aeronomy Lab, USA, US;(4) NOAA Climate Diagnostics Center, USA, US;(5) University of East Anglia,Norwich, UK, GB;(6) Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre, Australia, AU |
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Abstract: | Interactions involving various time and space scales, both within the tropics and between the tropics and midlatitudes, are
ubiquitous in the climate system. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding such interactions whereby longer time
scales and larger space scales set the base state for processes on shorter time scales and smaller space scales, which in
turn have an influence back on the longer time scales and larger space scales in a continuum of process-related interactions.
Though not intended to be comprehensive, we do cite examples from the literature to provide evidence for the validity of this
framework. Decadal time scale base states of the coupled climate system set the context for the manifestation of interannual
time scales (El Nino/Southern Oscillation, ENSO and tropospheric biennial oscillation, TBO) which are influenced by and interact
with the annual cycle and seasonal time scales. Those base states in turn influence the large-scale coupled processes involved
with intraseasonal and submonthly time scales, tied to interactions within the tropics and extratropics, and tropical–midlatitude
teleconnections. All of these set the base state for processes on the synoptic and mesoscale and regional/local space scales.
Events at those relatively short time scales and small space scales may then affect the longer time scale and larger space
scale processes in turn, reaching back out to submonthly, intraseasonal, seasonal, annual, TBO, ENSO and decadal. Global coupled
models can capture some elements of the decadal, ENSO, TBO, annual and seasonal time scales with the associated global space
scales. However, coupled models are less successful at simulating phenomena at subseasonal and shorter time scales with hemispheric
and smaller space scales. In the context of the proposed conceptual framework, the synergistic interactions of the time and
space scales suggest that a high priority must be placed on improved simulations of all of the time and space scales in the
climate system. This is particularly important for the subseasonal time scales and hemispheric and smaller space scales, which
are not well simulated at present, to improve the prospects of successfully forecasting phenomena beyond the synoptic scales.
Received: 3 April 2000/ Accepted: 6 November 2000 |
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