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The annual cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) in the eastern Pacific warm pool and its relation to Central America gap winds are examined in this study. Locally enhanced annual harmonics of SST are found underneath the regions where the Tehuantepec and Papagayo gap winds blow. The SSTs underneath the Tehuantepec gap wind undergo larger annual variations than those underneath the Papagayo gap wind. This suggests that the Tehuantepec gap wind has a stronger influence on the annual cycle of SST than the Papagayo gap wind. A series of ocean model experiments are performed to demonstrate the enhancement effect of the gap winds. Further heat budget analyses of the experiments show that the gap winds increase the amplitude of the SST annual cycle primarily by enhancing the vertical entrainment process in the ocean. The thermal forcing effect of the gap winds is less important in modulating the SST annual cycle.

The annual cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) in the eastern Pacific warm pool and its relation to Central America gap winds are examined in this study. Locally enhanced annual harmonics of SST are found underneath the regions where the Tehuantepec and Papagayo gap winds blow. The SSTs underneath the Tehuantepec gap wind undergo larger annual variations than those underneath the Papagayo gap wind. This suggests that the Tehuantepec gap wind has a stronger influence on the annual cycle of SST than the Papagayo gap wind. A series of ocean model experiments are performed to demonstrate the enhancement effect of the gap winds. Further heat budget analyses of the experiments show that the gap winds increase the amplitude of the SST annual cycle primarily by enhancing the vertical entrainment process in the ocean. The thermal forcing effect of the gap winds is less important in modulating the SST annual cycle.

The presented work is part of a study sponsored by the California Institute of Energy and Environment, in which the impact of the aimed increasing contribution of clean alternative energy sources in the next 30 years will be investigated. Due to the huge wind energy potential along the Californian coast, we will focus on the environmental impacts of large offshore wind farms which become feasible, since offshore turbine technology has matured significantly in the last decade.

Using a combination of dynamical and statistical downscaling techniques, we projected mid-21stcentury warming in the Los Angeles region at 2-km (1.2-mile) resolution. To account for uncertainty associated with the trajectory of future greenhouse gas emissions and other factors affecting the planet's energy balance, we examined projections for both "business-as-usual" (RCP8.5) and "mitigation" (RCP2.6) emissions scenarios of the Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. To account for the considerable uncertainty associated with choice of global climate model, we downscaled results for all available global models. For the business-as-usual scenario, we find that by the mid-21stcentury, the most likely warming is roughly 4.6°F averaged over the region's land areas, with a 95% confidence that the warming lies between 1.7 and 7.5°F. The high resolution of the projections reveals a pronounced spatial pattern in the warming: High elevations and inland areas separated from the coast by at least one mountain complex warm 20 to 50% more than the areas near the coast or within the Los Angeles basin. This warming pattern is especially apparent in summertime. The summertime warming contrast between the inland and coastal zones has a large effect on the most likely expected number of extremely hot days per year. Coastal locations and areas within the Los Angeles basin see roughly two to three times the number of extremely hot days, while high elevations and inland areas typically experience approximately three to five times the number of extremely hot days. Under the mitigation emissions scenario, the most likely warming and increase in heat extremes are somewhat smaller. However, the majority of the warming seen in the business-as-usual scenario still occurs at all locations in the most likely case under the mitigation scenario, and heat extremes still increase significantly. Therefore adaptation to a changing climate over the next few decades is likely to be inevitable in t

Using a combination of dynamical and statistical downscaling techniques, we projected mid-21stcentury warming in the Los Angeles region at 2-km (1.2-mile) resolution. To account for uncertainty associated with the trajectory of future greenhouse gas emissions and other factors affecting the planet's energy balance, we examined projections for both "business-as-usual" (RCP8.5) and "mitigation" (RCP2.6) emissions scenarios of the Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. To account for the considerable uncertainty associated with choice of global climate model, we downscaled results for all available global models. For the business-as-usual scenario, we find that by the mid-21stcentury, the most likely warming is roughly 4.6°F averaged over the region's land areas, with a 95% confidence that the warming lies between 1.7 and 7.5°F. The high resolution of the projections reveals a pronounced spatial pattern in the warming: High elevations and inland areas separated from the coast by at least one mountain complex warm 20 to 50% more than the areas near the coast or within the Los Angeles basin. This warming pattern is especially apparent in summertime. The summertime warming contrast between the inland and coastal zones has a large effect on the most likely expected number of extremely hot days per year. Coastal locations and areas within the Los Angeles basin see roughly two to three times the number of extremely hot days, while high elevations and inland areas typically experience approximately three to five times the number of extremely hot days. Under the mitigation emissions scenario, the most likely warming and increase in heat extremes are somewhat smaller. However, the majority of the warming seen in the business-as-usual scenario still occurs at all locations in the most likely case under the mitigation scenario, and heat extremes still increase significantly. Therefore adaptation to a changing climate over the next few decades is likely to be inevitable in t

The presented work is part of a study sponsored by the California Institute of Energy and Environment, in which the impact of the aimed increasing contribution of clean alternative energy sources in the next 30 years will be investigated. Due to the huge wind energy potential along the Californian coast, we will focus on the environmental impacts of large offshore wind farms which become feasible, since offshore turbine technology has matured significantly in the last decade.

The presented work is part of a study sponsored by the California Institute of Energy and Environment, in which the impact of the aimed increasing contribution of clean alternative energy sources in the next 30 years will be investigated. Due to the huge wind energy potential along the Californian coast, we will focus on the environmental impacts of large offshore wind farms which become feasible, since offshore turbine technology has matured significantly in the last decade.