Precipitation Fluctuations over Northern Hemisphere Land Areas Since the Mid-19th Century

Abstract

An extensive array of measurements extending back to the mid-19th century was used to investigate large-scale changes in precipitation over Northern Hemisphere land areas. Significant increases in mid-latitude precipitation and concurrent decreases in low-latitude precipitation have occurred over the last 30 to 40 years. Although these large-scale trends are consistent with general circulation model projections of precipitation changes associated with doubled concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, they should be viewed as defining large-scale natural climatic variability. Additional work to refine regional variations and address potential network inhomogeneities is needed. This study attempts to show secular precipitation fluctuations over hemispheric- and continental-scale areas of the Northern Hemisphere.