npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (Sep 2023)

The ratio of mesoscale convective system precipitation to total precipitation increases in future climate change scenarios

  • Alex M. Haberlie,
  • Walker S. Ashley,
  • Victor A. Gensini,
  • Allison C. Michaelis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00481-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 1
pp. 1 – 5

Abstract

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Abstract Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are a substantial source of precipitation in the eastern U.S. and may be sensitive to regional climatic change. We use a suite of convection-permitting climate simulations to examine possible changes in MCS precipitation. Specifically, annual and regional totals of MCS and non-MCS precipitation generated during a retrospective simulation are compared to end-of-21st-century simulations based on intermediate and extreme climate change scenarios. Both scenarios produce more MCS precipitation and less non-MCS precipitation, thus significantly increasing the proportion of precipitation associated with MCSs across the U.S.