Summary
This narrative review examines the thermodynamic drivers of precipitation extremes and their evolution under climate warming. The authors synthesise three research threads: empirical relationships governing convective precipitation onset, modelled changes in extremes under warming, and fundamental processes determining precipitation distribution shapes. A key finding is that whilst water vapour increases follow the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship to temperature, precipitation extreme changes are more complex and can intensify more rapidly, particularly in tropical regions.
Regional applicability
The review addresses global climate processes with particular emphasis on tropical precipitation dynamics. Findings on how extreme precipitation scales with warming are relevant to United Kingdom climate projections and hydrological risk assessment, though the mechanisms identified (especially tropical convection dominance) may be most directly applicable to low-latitude regions.
Key measures
Scaling relationships between precipitation extremes and temperature; water vapour changes; Clausius-Clapeyron relationship; precipitation probability distributions
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises current understanding of how precipitation extremes relate to their thermodynamic environment (water vapour and temperature) and how these relationships change under warming scenarios in climate models.
Topic tags
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