loading page

How is spatial homogeneity in precipitation extremes changing globally?
  • +1
  • Ankit Ghanghas,
  • Ashish Sharma,
  • Sayan Dey,
  • Venkatesh Mohan Merwade
Ankit Ghanghas
Purdue University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Ashish Sharma
University of New South Wales
Author Profile
Sayan Dey
Purdue University
Author Profile
Venkatesh Mohan Merwade
Purdue University
Author Profile

Abstract

The effect of climate change on precipitation intensity is well documented. However, findings regarding changes in spatial extent of extreme precipitation events are still ambiguous as previous studies focused on particular regions and time domains. This study addresses this ambiguity by investigating the pattern of changes in the spatial extent of short duration extreme precipitation events globally. A grid-based indicator termed Spatial-Homogeneity (SH) is proposed and used to assess the changes of spatial extent in Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) records. This study shows that i) rising temperature causes significant shrinking of precipitation extent in tropics, but an expansion of precipitation extent in arid regions, ii) storms with higher precipitation intensity show a faster decrease in spatial extent, iii) larger spatial extent storms are associated with higher total precipitable water. Results imply that in a warming climate, tropics may experience severe floods as storms may become more intense and spatially concentrated.
28 Aug 2023Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 50 issue 16. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103233