caa a22 4500 605472459 CHVBK 20210128100338.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00382-015-2537-x doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00382-015-2537-x Evaluation of large-scale meteorological patterns associated with temperature extremes in the NARCCAP regional climate model simulations [Elektronische Daten] [Paul Loikith, Duane Waliser, Huikyo Lee, J. Neelin, Benjamin Lintner, Seth McGinnis, Linda Mearns, Jinwon Kim] Large-scale meteorological patterns (LSMPs) associated with temperature extremes are evaluated in a suite of regional climate model (RCM) simulations contributing to the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program. LSMPs are characterized through composites of surface air temperature, sea level pressure, and 500hPa geopotential height anomalies concurrent with extreme temperature days. Six of the seventeen RCM simulations are driven by boundary conditions from reanalysis while the other eleven are driven by one of four global climate models (GCMs). Four illustrative case studies are analyzed in detail. Model fidelity in LSMP spatial representation is high for cold winter extremes near Chicago. Winter warm extremes are captured by most RCMs in northern California, with some notable exceptions. Model fidelity is lower for cool summer days near Houston and extreme summer heat events in the Ohio Valley. Physical interpretation of these patterns and identification of well-simulated cases, such as for Chicago, boosts confidence in the ability of these models to simulate days in the tails of the temperature distribution. Results appear consistent with the expectation that the ability of an RCM to reproduce a realistically shaped frequency distribution for temperature, especially at the tails, is related to its fidelity in simulating LMSPs. Each ensemble member is ranked for its ability to reproduce LSMPs associated with observed warm and cold extremes, identifying systematically high performing RCMs and the GCMs that provide superior boundary forcing. The methodology developed here provides a framework for identifying regions where further process-based evaluation would improve the understanding of simulation error and help guide future model improvement and downscaling efforts. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2015 Temperature extremes nationallicence Regional climate modeling nationallicence Large-scale meteorological patterns nationallicence North America nationallicence Model evaluation nationallicence Loikith Paul Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91101, Pasadena, CA, USA aut Waliser Duane Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91101, Pasadena, CA, USA aut Lee Huikyo Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91101, Pasadena, CA, USA aut Neelin J. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA aut Lintner Benjamin Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA aut McGinnis Seth Institute for Mathematical Applications to the Geosciences, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA aut Mearns Linda Institute for Mathematical Applications to the Geosciences, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA aut Kim Jinwon Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA aut Climate Dynamics Springer Berlin Heidelberg 45/11-12(2015-12-01), 3257-3274 0930-7575 45:11-12<3257 2015 45 382 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2537-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2537-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Loikith Paul Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91101, Pasadena, CA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Waliser Duane Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91101, Pasadena, CA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Lee Huikyo Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91101, Pasadena, CA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Neelin J. Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Lintner Benjamin Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- McGinnis Seth Institute for Mathematical Applications to the Geosciences, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Mearns Linda Institute for Mathematical Applications to the Geosciences, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Kim Jinwon Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Climate Dynamics Springer Berlin Heidelberg 45/11-12(2015-12-01), 3257-3274 0930-7575 45:11-12<3257 2015 45 382