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A Relationship Between ITCZ Organization and Subtropical Humidity

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Abstract

Motivated by the results of idealized studies on the self-aggregation of convection, we investigate a potential relationship between the degree of organization of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and humidity based on reanalysis data. We focus on the Atlantic ITCZ and use the number of long convergence lines occurring per month to define the degree of organization. The latter shows a weak enhancement during June to August (JJA) and a large interannual variability. On an interannual time scale and particularly during JJA, a relationship exists between organization and humidity: Years with more organized ITCZs are associated with a moister ITCZ region and drier subtropics. Even though we cannot demonstrate any causality and cannot rule out the presence of another agent, we show that these moisture anomalies are not incompatible with an effect of organization. We also note that the annual cycle in sea surface temperature (SST) gradient may contribute to the intra-annual variability in organization.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2020GL088515
Number of pages8
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume47
Issue number16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • climate
  • convection
  • humidity
  • organization
  • self-aggregation

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  • ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes

    Pitman, A. J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Jakob, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Alexander, L. V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Reeder, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Roderick, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), England, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abramowitz, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Abram, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Arblaster, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bindoff, N. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dommenget, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Evans, J. P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McColl Hogg, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Holbrook, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Karoly, D. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lane, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sherwood, S. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Strutton, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ebert, E. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hendon, H. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hirst, A. C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Marsland, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Matear, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Protat, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Wang, Y. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Wheeler, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Best, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Brody, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Grabowski, W. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Griffies, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Gruber, N. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Gupta, H. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hallberg, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hohenegger, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Knutti, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Meehl, G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Milton, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), de Noblet-Ducoudre, N. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Or, D. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Petch, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Peters-Lidard, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Overpeck, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Russell, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Santanello, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Seneviratne, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Stephens, G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Stevens, B. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Stott, P. A. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Saunders, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))

    Monash University – Internal University Contribution, Monash University – Internal School Contribution, Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australian National University (ANU), University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) (Australia), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) (New South Wales)

    1/01/17 → 31/12/24

    Project: Research

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