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Arctic Climate Change, Variability, and Extremes Read chapter Read first chapter

2021 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

2. Precipitation Characteristics and Changes

Authors : Hengchun Ye, Daqing Yang, Ali Behrangi, Svetlana L. Stuefer, Xicai Pan, Eva Mekis, Yonas Dibike, John E. Walsh

Published in: Arctic Hydrology, Permafrost and Ecosystems

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

Precipitation over the Arctic region plays a significant role in the water and energy cycle that sustains the Arctic’s unique ecosystem. Although a cold climate with strong seasonality in temperature and moisture predominates, there is large spatial variation due to the heterogeneity of the landscape and atmospheric processes that control local weather and climate. Long-term historical synoptic records exist for some regions providing very valuable information on how precipitation has been changing, yet there are many challenges to overcome. Inconsistency in instrumentation and measurement techniques, undercatch due to weather conditions and precipitation types, uneven spatial and temporal distribution of station locations, and the reliability of remote sensing products all have to be considered. Research on Arctic precipitation is mostly focused on a specific continent or geographical or political region using very diverse perspectives and approaches. Here we draw from many of these and remote sensing to piece together studies that illustrate a broader picture of Arctic precipitation conditions and reveal emerging and/or diverging patterns of change. This chapter will (1) introduce existing and forthcoming sources of data and their corresponding challenges across the Arctic; (2) describe the distribution of precipitation characteristics including total amount, intensity, and frequency over major land areas and the oceans; and (3) demonstrate past changes and future predictions in these precipitation characteristics and their extremes. This will provide a fairly comprehensive knowledge repository and a strong foundation to promote and inspire future research development on precipitation over the Arctic region.

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previous chapter Arctic Climate Change, Variability, and Extremes
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Metadata
Title
Precipitation Characteristics and Changes
Authors
Hengchun Ye
Daqing Yang
Ali Behrangi
Svetlana L. Stuefer
Xicai Pan
Eva Mekis
Yonas Dibike
John E. Walsh
Copyright Year
2021
Book
Arctic Hydrology, Permafrost and Ecosystems

Print ISBN: 978-3-030-50928-6

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-50930-9

Copyright Year: 2021

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50930-9_2