Climate

The impact of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation on maximum temperature extremes

  1. Julie M. Arblaster1,2,*,
  2. Lisa V. Alexander3,4

Article first published online: 16 OCT 2012

DOI: 10.1029/2012GL053409

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume 39, Issue 20, 28 October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Arblaster, J. M., and L. V. Alexander (2012), The impact of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation on maximum temperature extremes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L20702, doi:10.1029/2012GL053409.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

  2. 2

    National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  3. 3

    Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  4. 4

    Centre of Excellence for Climate Systems Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

*Corresponding author: J. M. Arblaster, Center for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia. (j.arblaster@bom.gov.au)

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 OCT 2012
  2. Article first published online: 16 OCT 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 SEP 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 6 SEP 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 31 JUL 2012

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Keywords:

  • El Nino Southern Oscillation;
  • climate change;
  • future projections;
  • model validation;
  • temperature extremes

[1] The impact of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on temperature extremes is examined in both observations and coupled climate model simulations. HadEX2, a newly developed observed gridded dataset of climate extremes indices shows marked contrasts in seasonal composites of the monthly maximum value of daily maximum temperature during the cold and warm phases of ENSO. Extreme maximum temperatures are significantly cooler over Australia, southern Asia, Canada and South Africa during strong La Niña events compared to El Niño events and significantly warmer over the contiguous United States and southern South America. Two climate models are contrasted for their ability to capture these relationships given their very different simulations of ENSO. While both models capture some aspects of the observed patterns, the fidelity of the ENSO simulation appears to be crucial for simulating the magnitude and sign of the extreme maximum temperature relationships. The impact of future climate change on these patterns is also investigated.

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