Daily Temperature Records in a Warming Climate

Abstract:

The ratio of daily record high maximum temperatures to daily record low minimum temperatures in the first decade of the 21^st century was about 2 to 1. Previous model simulations also showed a comparable ratio, with projections of an increase in that ratio in the 21^st century. Here we relate record highs and record lows to changing surface conditions in 1 degree and 0.5 degree resolution global coupled climate models for 20^th and 21^st century climate to address the issue of model resolution in simulating past and future changes of temperature extremes as represented by daily record highs and lows.