Science Source

Changes in U.S. East Coast Cyclone Dynamics with Climate Change

Previous studies investigating the impacts of climate change on extratropical cyclones have primarily focused on changes in the frequency, intensity, and distribution of these events.
In contrast, this study investigates changes in the storm-scale dynamics of individual cyclones.
Precipitation associated with these events is projected to increase with warming owing to increased atmospheric water vapor content.
Precipitation increases at a rate slightly less than that dictated by the Clausius–Clapeyron relation with warming.
Increases in cyclone intensity are seen in the form of minimum sea level pressure decreases and a strengthened 10-m wind field.
Amplification of the low-level jet occurs because of the enhancement of latent heating.
Storm-relative potential vorticity diagnostics indicate a strengthening of diabatic potential vorticity near the cyclone center, thus supporting the hypothesis that enhanced latent heat release is responsible for this regional increase in future cyclone intensity.