Publication Abstracts

Chen et al. 2002

Chen, J., B.E. Carlson, and A.D. Del Genio, 2002: Evidence for strengthening of the tropical general circulation in the 1990s. Science, 295, 838-841, doi:10.1126/science.1065835.

Satellite observations suggest that the thermal radiation emitted by Earth to space has increased by > 5 W m-2, while reflected sunlight has decreased by < 2 W m-2, in the tropics over the period 1985-2000, with most of the increase occurring after 1990. By analyzing temporal changes in the frequency of occurrence of emitted thermal and reflected solar fluxes, the effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are minimized and an independent longer time scale variation of the radiation budget is identified. Similar analyses of upper tropospheric humidity, cloud amount, surface air temperature and vertical velocity confirm that these flux changes are associated with a decadal time scale strengthening of the tropical Hadley and Walker circulations. Equatorial convective regions have intensified in upward motion and moistened, while both the equatorial and subtropical subsidence regions have become drier and less cloudy.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ch02100q,
  author={Chen, J. and Carlson, B. E. and Del Genio, A. D.},
  title={Evidence for strengthening of the tropical general circulation in the 1990s},
  year={2002},
  journal={Science},
  volume={295},
  pages={838--841},
  doi={10.1126/science.1065835},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ch02100q
AU  - Chen, J.
AU  - Carlson, B. E.
AU  - Del Genio, A. D.
PY  - 2002
TI  - Evidence for strengthening of the tropical general circulation in the 1990s
JA  - Science
JO  - Science
VL  - 295
SP  - 838
EP  - 841
DO  - 10.1126/science.1065835
ER  -

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