Overview of Observed Clausius-Clapeyron Scaling of Extreme Precipitation in Midlatitudes

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of recent observational studies on the Clausius-Clapeyron precipitation-temperature (P-T) scaling in midlatitudes. As the capacity of air to hold moisture increases in connection with increasing temperature, extreme precipitation events may become more abundant and intense. The capacity of air to hold moisture is governed by the Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) relation, approximately 7% per °C. Departures from this, so called super-CC scaling and sub-CC scaling, are consequences of different factors (moisture availability, type of precipitation, annual cycle, the percentile of precipitation intensity and regional weather patterns). Since the moisture availability and enhanced convection were considered as the most important drivers governing the P-T scaling, dew point temperature as a scaling variable is discussed in detail and methods of disaggregation of precipitation events into convective and non-convective are also reviewed.

Keywords

• Clausius-Clapeyron scaling
• precipitation extremes
• midlatitudes