Potential of continental-scale circulation for the determination of local daily surface variables

This study deals with one aspect of statistical downscaling, viz. links between the continental-scale upper-air circulation and surface weather variables on a daily scale. The circulation-to-weather links are expressed in terms of multiple regression between either grid point values or intensities of circulation variability modes and weather elements, including temperature variables, relative humidity, cloudiness, sunshine duration, zonal and meridional wind components, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure. The upper-air circulation influences the surface pressure, temperature and zonal wind most strongly. The relative humidity, cloudiness and sunshine duration appear not to be connected with circulation in winter at all. The low-frequency part of circulation (i.e. processes with periods longer than 10 days) is most efficient in specifying surface weather variables. The circulation-to-weather links manifest considerable intra- and interdecadal variations, posing doubts on the applicability of the 'downscaling-from-circulation' method of constructing climate change scenarios.