An Observational and Modeling Study of the Relationships Between United States Precipitation and Pacific Sea Surface Temperature

The first part of the modeling study was to simulate summertime U.S. precipitation in response to prescribed North Pacific SST anomalies, related to Great Plains precipitation. Summer precipitation is enhanced throughout the U.S. due to SST anomalies. The increase in precipitation is caused by enhanced low-level moisture flux, strong upper-level cyclonic circulation and intensified zonal wind over the U.S. The second part was to assess U.S. precipitation variability in the model, forced by the observed time-varying SST (1950-1994). In both winter and summer, the response of U.S. precipitation to tropical SST is significant and similar to observations. The response to North Pacific SST is weak in winter. In summer, the North Pacific SST has few effects on U.S. precipitation, but has significant impacts on 500 mb height. The model results confirm the variability of U.S. precipitation associated with the tropical Pacific SST in both seasons and suggest some effects of North Pacific SST on the atmospheric circulation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Atmospheric Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Hui

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mingfang Ting

• Physics, Atmospheric Science

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9812801

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85982