Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences

Two recently-available daily gridded datasets are used to investigate trends in Mediterranean temperature extremes since the mid-20th century. The underlying trends are found to be generally consistent with global trends of temperature and their extremes: cold extremes decrease and warm/hot extremes...

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Main Authors: D. Efthymiadis, C. M. Goodess, P. D. Jones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-08-01
Series:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/2199/2011/nhess-11-2199-2011.pdf
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author D. Efthymiadis
C. M. Goodess
P. D. Jones
author_facet D. Efthymiadis
C. M. Goodess
P. D. Jones
author_sort D. Efthymiadis
collection DOAJ
description Two recently-available daily gridded datasets are used to investigate trends in Mediterranean temperature extremes since the mid-20th century. The underlying trends are found to be generally consistent with global trends of temperature and their extremes: cold extremes decrease and warm/hot extremes increase. This consistency is better manifested in the western part of the Mediterranean where changes are most pronounced since the mid-1970s. In the eastern part, a cooling is observed, with a near reversal in the last two decades. This inter-basin discrepancy is clearer in winter, while in summer changes are more uniform and the west-east difference is restricted to the rate of increase of warm/hot extremes, which is higher in central and eastern parts of the Mediterranean over recent decades. Linear regression and correlation analysis reveals some influence of major large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns on the occurrence of these extremes – both in terms of trend and interannual variability. These relationships are not, however, able to account for the most striking features of the observations – in particular the intensification of the increasing trend in warm/hot extremes, which is most evident over the last 15–20 yr in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean.
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spelling doaj.art-1aff3ef200d640ec91d7f9ae4caa54cc2022-12-22T01:16:20ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812011-08-011182199221410.5194/nhess-11-2199-2011Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influencesD. EfthymiadisC. M. GoodessP. D. JonesTwo recently-available daily gridded datasets are used to investigate trends in Mediterranean temperature extremes since the mid-20th century. The underlying trends are found to be generally consistent with global trends of temperature and their extremes: cold extremes decrease and warm/hot extremes increase. This consistency is better manifested in the western part of the Mediterranean where changes are most pronounced since the mid-1970s. In the eastern part, a cooling is observed, with a near reversal in the last two decades. This inter-basin discrepancy is clearer in winter, while in summer changes are more uniform and the west-east difference is restricted to the rate of increase of warm/hot extremes, which is higher in central and eastern parts of the Mediterranean over recent decades. Linear regression and correlation analysis reveals some influence of major large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns on the occurrence of these extremes – both in terms of trend and interannual variability. These relationships are not, however, able to account for the most striking features of the observations – in particular the intensification of the increasing trend in warm/hot extremes, which is most evident over the last 15–20 yr in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/2199/2011/nhess-11-2199-2011.pdf
spellingShingle D. Efthymiadis
C. M. Goodess
P. D. Jones
Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
title Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences
title_full Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences
title_fullStr Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences
title_full_unstemmed Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences
title_short Trends in Mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large-scale circulation influences
title_sort trends in mediterranean gridded temperature extremes and large scale circulation influences
url http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/11/2199/2011/nhess-11-2199-2011.pdf
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