The oceanic influence on the rainy season of Peninsular Florida

Abstract

In this study we show that the robust surface ocean currents around Peninsular Florida, namely, the Loop and the Florida Currents, affect the terrestrial wet season of Peninsular Florida. We show this through two novel regional coupled ocean‐atmosphere models with different bathymetries that dislocate and modulate the strength of these currents and thereby affect the overlying sea surface temperature (SST) and upper ocean heat content. This study show that a weaker current system produces colder coastal SSTs along the Atlantic coast of Florida that reduces the length of the wet season and the total seasonal accumulation of precipitation over Peninsular Florida relative to the regional climate model simulation, in which these currents are stronger. The moisture budget reveals that as a result of these forced changes to the temperature of the upper coastal Atlantic Ocean, overlying surface evaporation and atmospheric convection is modulated. This consequently changes the moisture flux convergence leading to the modulation of the terrestrial wet season rainfall over Peninsular Florida that manifests in changes in the length and distribution of daily rain rate of the wet season. The results of this study have implications on interpreting future changes to hydroclimate of Peninsular Florida owing to climate change and low‐frequency changes to the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation that comprises the Loop and the Florida Currents as part of its upper branch.

High‐resolution regional‐coupled ocean–atmosphere simulation of the Indian Summer Monsoon

“…This model has been used for several other climate simulation studies (e.g. Li et al ., , , ; Li and Misra, ; Misra et al ., ; Misra and Mishra, ). The RSM was first introduced in Juang and Kanamitsu ().…”

The potential role of land cover on secular changes of the hydroclimate of Peninsular Florida

“…There are some studies, which do allude to regional increase in summer temperatures and decrease in precipitation due to conversion of land surface from agricultural land to urban land form. 11,12,28,32 In a more recent study Misra and Mishra 32 conducted a detailed moisture budget on model simulations of Florida's wet season that indicated moisture flux convergence is dominant at the time of the onset of the wet season, while local recycling of moisture becomes equally important in the rest of the wet season. Therefore, changes in boundary layer convergence from changes to roughness length in land-surface type could trigger such impacts on the wet season as seen in this paper.…”

Health and Establishment of Highway Plantings in Florida (United States)

“…0% missing, stumps, or standing dead) were excluded from establishment analysis. Given regional differences across Florida, planting season was determined based on the project location's wet season onset and demise observation dates [73]. Potential replacement trees were included in all analyses.…”