Bell's Theorem, Non-Computability and Conformal Cyclic Cosmology: A Top-Down Approach to Quantum Gravity

ArXiv 2108.10902 (2021)

Projected Changes in Climate Extremes Using CMIP6 Simulations Over SREX Regions

Earth Systems and Environment Springer 5:3 (2021) 481-497

Authors:

Mansour Almazroui, Fahad Saeed, Sajjad Saeed, Muhammad Ismail, Muhammad Azhar Ehsan, M Nazrul Islam, Muhammad Adnan Abid, Enda O’Brien, Shahzad Kamil, Irfan Ur Rashid, Imran Nadeem

Abstract:

Abstract This paper presents projected changes in extreme temperature and precipitation events by using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) data for mid-century (2036–2065) and end-century (2070–2099) periods with respect to the reference period (1985–2014). Four indices namely, Annual maximum of maximum temperature (TXx), Extreme heat wave days frequency (HWFI), Annual maximum consecutive 5-day precipitation (RX5day), and Consecutive Dry Days (CDD) were investigated under four socioeconomic scenarios (SSP1-2.6; SSP2-4.5; SSP3-7.0; SSP5-8.5) over the entire globe and its 26 Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) regions. The projections show an increase in intensity and frequency of hot temperature and precipitation extremes over land. The intensity of the hottest days (as measured by TXx) is projected to increase more in extratropical regions than in the tropics, while the frequency of extremely hot days (as measured by HWFI) is projected to increase more in the tropics. Drought frequency (as measured by CDD) is projected to increase more over Brazil, the Mediterranean, South Africa, and Australia. Meanwhile, the Asian monsoon regions (i.e., South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia) become more prone to extreme flash flooding events later in the twenty-first century as shown by the higher RX5day index projections. The projected changes in extremes reveal large spatial variability within each SREX region. The spatial variability of the studied extreme events increases with increasing greenhouse gas concentration (GHG) and is higher at the end of the twenty-first century. The projected change in the extremes and the pattern of their spatial variability is minimum under the low-emission scenario SSP1-2.6. Our results indicate that an increased concentration of GHG leads to substantial increases in the extremes and their intensities. Hence, limiting CO 2 emissions could substantially limit the risks associated with increases in extreme events in the twenty-first century.

Machine learning emulation of gravity wave drag in numerical weather forecasting

Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems American Geophysical Union 13:7 (2021) e2021MS002477

Authors:

Matthew Chantry, Sam Hatfield, Peter Dueben, Inna Polichtchouk, Tim Palmer

Abstract:

We assess the value of machine learning as an accelerator for the parameterization schemes of operational weather forecasting systems, specifically the parameterization of nonorographic gravity wave drag. Emulators of this scheme can be trained to produce stable and accurate results up to seasonal forecasting timescales. Generally, networks that are more complex produce emulators that are more accurate. By training on an increased complexity version of the existing parameterization scheme, we build emulators that produce more accurate forecasts. For medium range forecasting, we have found evidence that our emulators are more accurate than the version of the parametrization scheme that is used for operational predictions. Using the current operational CPU hardware, our emulators have a similar computational cost to the existing scheme, but are heavily limited by data movement. On GPU hardware, our emulators perform 10 times faster than the existing scheme on a CPU.

Improving the QBO in climate models

The Stratosphere-troposphere Processes and their Role in Climate Office (2021) 12-17

Authors:

James Anstey, Neal Butchart, Kevin Hamilton, Scott Osprey, Andrew Bushell, Laura Holt, Yaga Richter, Anne Smith, Tim Stockdale

Dynamical mechanisms linking Indian monsoon precipitation and the circumglobal teleconnection

Climate Dynamics Springer 57:9-10 (2021) 2615-2636

Authors:

Jonathan Beverley, Steven Woolnough, Laura Baker, Stephanie Johnson, Antje Weisheimer, Christopher O'Reilly

Abstract:

The circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) is an important mode of circulation variability, with an influence across many parts of the northern hemisphere. Here, we examine the excitation mechanisms of the CGT in the ECMWF seasonal forecast model, and the relationship between the Indian summer monsoon (ISM), the CGT and the extratropical northern hemisphere circulation. Results from relaxation experiments, in which the model is corrected to reanalysis in specific regions, suggest that errors over northwest Europe are more important in inhibiting the model skill at representing the CGT, in addition to northern hemisphere skill more widely, than west-central Asia and the ISM region, although the link between ISM precipitation and the extratropical circulation is weak in all experiments. Thermal forcing experiments in the ECMWF model, in which a heating is applied over India, suggest that the ISM does force an extratropical Rossby wave train, with upper tropospheric anticyclonic anomalies over east Asia, the North Pacific and North America associated with increased ISM heating. However, this eastward-propagating branch of the wave train does not project into Europe, and the response there occurs largely through westward-propagating Rossby waves. Results from barotropic model experiments show a response that is highly consistent with the seasonal forecast model, with similar eastward- and westward-propagating Rossby waves. This westward-propagating response is shown to be important in the downstream reinforcement of the wave train between Asia and North America.