Climate

Variations in annual global precipitation (1979–2004), based on the Global Precipitation Climatology Project 2.5° analysis

  1. Thomas M. Smith1,2,
  2. Xungang Yin2,
  3. Arnold Gruber2

Article first published online: 18 MAR 2006

DOI: 10.1029/2005GL025393

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Smith, T. M., X. Yin, and A. Gruber (2006), Variations in annual global precipitation (1979–2004), based on the Global Precipitation Climatology Project 2.5° analysis, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L06705, doi:10.1029/2005GL025393.

Author Information

  1. 1

    National Climate Data Center, NOAA, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

  2. 2

    Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 MAR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 18 MAR 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 6 FEB 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 31 JAN 2006
  5. Manuscript Received: 2 DEC 2005

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[1] The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) has produced a combined satellite and in situ global precipitation estimate, beginning 1979. The annual average GPCP estimates are here analyzed over 1979–2004 to evaluate the large-scale variability over the period. Data inhomogeneities are evaluated and found to not be responsible for the major variations, including systematic changes over the period. Most variations are associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episodes. There are also tropical trend-like changes over the period, correlated with interdecadal warming of the tropical SSTs and uncorrelated with ENSO. Trends have spatial variations with both positive and negative values, with a global-average near zero.

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