Quantification and interpretation of the climate variability record
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- 1-s2.0-S0921818120302903-main
Final published version, 5.41 MB, PDF document
The spectral view of variability is a compelling and adaptable tool for understanding variability of the climate. In Mitchell (1976) seminal paper, it was used to express, on one graph with log scales, a very wide range of climate variations from millions of years to days. The spectral approach is particularly useful for suggesting causal links between forcing variability and climate response variability. However, a substantial degree of variability is intrinsic and the Earth system may respond to external forcing in a complex manner. There has been an enormous amount of work on understanding climate variability over the last decades. Hence in this paper, we address the question: Can we (after 40 years) update the Mitchell (1976) diagram and provide it with a better interpretation? By reviewing both the extended observations available for such a diagram and new methodological developments in the study of the interaction between internal and forced variability over a wide range of timescales, we give a positive answer to this question. In addition, we review alternative approaches to the spectral decomposition and pose some challenges for a more detailed quantification of climate variability.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 103399 |
Journal | Global and Planetary Change |
Volume | 197 |
Number of pages | 20 |
ISSN | 0921-8181 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2021 |
- Climate variability, Palaeoclimate, Climate forcing, Climate response, SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE, MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE TRANSITION, EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION, NORTHEAST ATLANTIC-OCEAN, ICE-SHEET, CHANGEPOINT DETECTION, SOLAR VARIABILITY, RECHARGE PARADIGM, TIME-SERIES, EL-NINO
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