Sources of Uncertainty in Multimodel Large Ensemble Projections of the Winter North Atlantic Oscillation

Projections of the winter North Atlantic circulation exhibit large spread. Coupled Model Intercomparison Project archives typically provide only a few ensemble members per model, rendering it difficult to quantify reducible model structural uncertainty and irreducible internal variability (IV) in projections. We estimate using the Multimodel Large Ensemble Archive that model structural differences explain two-thirds of the spread in late 21st century (2080-2099) projections of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). This estimate is biased by systematic model errors in the forced NAO response and IV. Across the North Atlantic, the NAO explains a substantial fraction of the spread in mean sea level pressure (MSLP) projections due to IV, except in the central North Atlantic. Conversely, the spread in North Atlantic MSLP projections associated with model differences is largely unexplained by the NAO. Therefore, improving understanding of the NAO alone may not constrain the reducible uncertainty in North Atlantic MSLP projections.

Automated summary

The study using the Multimodel Large Ensemble Archive found that two-thirds of the spread in late 21st century projections of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) can be explained by model structural differences, rather than by NAO itself. Therefore, improving understanding of the NAO alone may not constrain the reducible uncertainty in North Atlantic mean sea level pressure (MSLP) projections.