Model Simulation of Soil Temperature Impacts on Regional Climate

Abstract:

Soil temperature has been found to be a predictor for regional seasonal precipitation. Modeling studies have indicated the synoptic impact on heavy rain events. However, at short-term climate time scales (e.g., seasonal), the mechanisms of how soil temperature would impact seasonal precipitation are not known. By using the Weather Research and Forecasting model that coupled with the Noah land surface model, a series of idealized modeling experiments are conducted to investigate at what extent and what temporal and spatial scales, soil temperature can impact seasonal precipitation. The modeling results analyses are focused on the spatial and temporal characteristics of regional seasonal precipitation changes due to the different patterns of soil temperature change and its strength of warming/cooling effect.