Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation

Abstract The sixth assessment report of the IPCC indicates low-to-high confidence in trends of extreme rainfall with regional inconsistency in the tropics, where a key phenomenon causing intra-seasonal variations in weather is the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). It remains unknown how the MJO-induc...

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Main Authors: Shijing Liang, Dashan Wang, Alan D. Ziegler, Laurent Z. X. Li, Zhenzhong Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-08-01
Series:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00291-1
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author Shijing Liang
Dashan Wang
Alan D. Ziegler
Laurent Z. X. Li
Zhenzhong Zeng
author_facet Shijing Liang
Dashan Wang
Alan D. Ziegler
Laurent Z. X. Li
Zhenzhong Zeng
author_sort Shijing Liang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The sixth assessment report of the IPCC indicates low-to-high confidence in trends of extreme rainfall with regional inconsistency in the tropics, where a key phenomenon causing intra-seasonal variations in weather is the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). It remains unknown how the MJO-induced extreme rainfall and the societal exposure may change in response to global warming and climate mitigation attempts. Here, using eight CMIP6 models that capture the eastward-propagating MJO structure and amplitude, we detect a nearly 60% increase in extreme rainfall over tropical Asia and Australia by the end of the 21st century under the fossil-fueled warming scenario (SSP5-8.5); 84% of this change is associated with MJO-induced extreme rainfall. Extreme rainfall increases are modulated by the warming-induced asymmetric changes in MJO phase characteristics, occurring mostly over the lands with distinct zonal differences. The region that is most likely to be affected includes Malaysia, Indonesia, and northern Australia where 96.68 million people and 9.72 million km2 of urban areas are exposed to potential danger stemming from extreme rainfall. More than 95% (99%) of the population (urban) exposure can be potentially avoided under the “middle of the road” development (SSP2-4.5) scenario, whereby CO2 emissions hover around current levels before starting to fall mid-century.
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spelling doaj.art-9a6c7da33b004047867464aca55555342022-12-22T01:37:18ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222022-08-01511910.1038/s41612-022-00291-1Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigationShijing Liang0Dashan Wang1Alan D. Ziegler2Laurent Z. X. Li3Zhenzhong Zeng4School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologySchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyFaculty of Fisheries Technology and Aquatic Resources, Maejo UniversityLaboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole PolytechniqueSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyAbstract The sixth assessment report of the IPCC indicates low-to-high confidence in trends of extreme rainfall with regional inconsistency in the tropics, where a key phenomenon causing intra-seasonal variations in weather is the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). It remains unknown how the MJO-induced extreme rainfall and the societal exposure may change in response to global warming and climate mitigation attempts. Here, using eight CMIP6 models that capture the eastward-propagating MJO structure and amplitude, we detect a nearly 60% increase in extreme rainfall over tropical Asia and Australia by the end of the 21st century under the fossil-fueled warming scenario (SSP5-8.5); 84% of this change is associated with MJO-induced extreme rainfall. Extreme rainfall increases are modulated by the warming-induced asymmetric changes in MJO phase characteristics, occurring mostly over the lands with distinct zonal differences. The region that is most likely to be affected includes Malaysia, Indonesia, and northern Australia where 96.68 million people and 9.72 million km2 of urban areas are exposed to potential danger stemming from extreme rainfall. More than 95% (99%) of the population (urban) exposure can be potentially avoided under the “middle of the road” development (SSP2-4.5) scenario, whereby CO2 emissions hover around current levels before starting to fall mid-century.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00291-1
spellingShingle Shijing Liang
Dashan Wang
Alan D. Ziegler
Laurent Z. X. Li
Zhenzhong Zeng
Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
title Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
title_full Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
title_fullStr Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
title_full_unstemmed Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
title_short Madden–Julian Oscillation-induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
title_sort madden julian oscillation induced extreme rainfalls constrained by global warming mitigation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00291-1
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AT laurentzxli maddenjulianoscillationinducedextremerainfallsconstrainedbyglobalwarmingmitigation
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