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A framework to quantify the inter-annual variation in near-surface air temperature due to change in precipitation in snow-free regions

D. Yin,M. Roderick

Published 2020 in Environmental Research Letters

ABSTRACT

A negative correlation between near-surface air temperature (Ta) and precipitation (P) has long been recognized over many land regions, but a predictive quantitative relationship has not yet been established. In this study, we examine inter-annual variations in Ta with P and investigate how the Ta-P relationship varies with aridity in regions without snow coverage. The wetness index is used as a measure of aridity (defined as the ratio of mean annual P to Eo, with Eo the net radiation expressed as an equivalent depth of water), with wetness index more (less) than 1.0 used to define the wet (dry) regions. Results show that variations in Ta are independent of P in wet environments, while in dry environments the variations in Ta with P increase with aridity. We use that relationship to establish a quantitative framework to a priori predict the Ta-P relation based on aridity. The results highlight the importance of inter-annual variations in P in changing Ta in dry environments, since it has similar magnitude with the decadal global warming signals over land.

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