Clara Deser, Senior Scientist

Research

I am a senior scientist in the Climate Analysis Section within the Climate and Global Dynamics Division at NCAR. My research interests include diagnostic analysis of observed climate variability in the coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice system, as well as future climate change. I am a co-chair of the CCSM Climate Variability Working Group.

Postdoctoral Opening

Education

  • Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, 1989, Dissertation title: "Meteorological Characteristics of the El Nino--Southern Oscillation Phenomenon"
  • B.S., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1982.

Papers

2010

Okumura, Y. M., C. Deser, 2010: Asymmetry in the Duration of El Niño and La Niña. J. Climate, submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Deser, C., M. A. Alexander, S. -P. Xie, and A. S. Phillips, 2010: Sea surface temperature variability: patterns and mechanisms. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci., 2010.2, 115-143, doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-120408-151453. [To request a copy, please send an email to cdeser(at)ucar.edu]

Ciasto, L. M., M. A. Alexander, C. Deser, and M. H. England, 2010: On the persistence of cold season SST anomalies associated with the Annular Modes. J. Climate, submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Solomon, A., L. Goddard, A. Kumar, J. Carton, C. Deser, I. Fukumori, A. Greene, G. Hegerl, B. Kirtman, Y. Kushnir, M. Newman, D. Smith, D. Vimont, T. Delworth, J. Meehl, and T. Stockdale, 2010: Distinguishing the roles of natural and anthropogenically forced decadal climate variability: Implications for prediction. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Kwon, Y.-O., C. Deser and C. Cassou, 2010: Coupled Atmosphere - Mixed Layer Ocean Response to Ocean Heat Flux Convergence along the Kuroshio Current Extension. Climate Dyn., submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures]

Anderson, B. T., J. R. Knight, M. A. Ringer, C. Deser, A. S. Phillips, J. -H. Yoon, and A. Cherchi, 2010: Climate forcings and climate sensitivities diagnosed from atmospheric global circulation models. Climate Dyn., submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Deser, C., R. Tomas, M. Alexander, and D. Lawrence, 2010: The seasonal atmospheric response to projected Arctic sea ice loss in the late 21st century. J. Climate, 23, 333-351, 10.1175/2009JCLI3053.1. [Complete Article (.html)]

2009

Xie, S. -P., C. Deser, G. A. Vecchi, J. Ma, H. Teng, A. T. Wittenberg, 2009: Global warming pattern formation: sea surface temperature and rainfall. J. Climate, 23, 966-986, doi:101175/2009JCLI3329.1. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Schubert, S., D. Gutzler, H. Wang, A. Dai, T. Delworth, C. Deser, K. Findell, R. Fu, W. Higgins, M. Hoerling, B. Kirtman, R. Koster, A. Kumar, D. Legler, D. Lettenmaier, B. Lyon, V. Magana, K. Mo, S. Nigam, P. Pegion, A. Phillips, R. Pulwarty, D. Rind, A. Ruiz-Barradas, J. Schemm, R. Seager, R. Stewart, M. Suarez, J. Syktus, M. Ting, C. Wang, S. Weaver, N. Zeng, 2009: A USCLIVAR project to assess and compare the responses of global climate models to drought-related SST forcing patterns: Overview and results.J. Climate, 22, 5251-5272, doi:10.1175/2009JCLI3060.1 [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Okumura, Y. M., C. Deser, A. Hu, A. Timmermann, and S. -P. Xie, 2009: North Pacific climate response to freshwater forcing in the subarctic North Atlantic: Oceanic and atmospheric pathways. J. Climate, 22, 1424-1445. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Hurrell, J. W., and C. Deser, 2009: North Atlantic climate variability: The role of the North Atlantic Oscillation. J. Mar. Syst., 78, No. 1, 28-41, doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2008.11.026.
[Complete Article (.html)]

Tsukernik, M., C. Deser, M. Alexander, and R. Tomas, 2009: Atmospheric forcing of Fram Strait sea ice export: A closer look. Climate Dyn., doi:10.1007/s00382-009-0647-z. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Lu, J., C. Deser, and T. Reichler, 2009: Cause of the widening of the tropical belt since 1958. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L03803, doi:10.1029/2008GL036076. [Complete Article (.html)]

Sanchez-Lorenzo, A., J. Calbó, M. Brunetti, and C. Deser, 2009: Dimming/brightening over the Iberian Peninsula: Trends in sunshine duration and cloud cover and their relations with atmospheric circulation. J. Geophys. Res., 114, D00D09, doi:10.1029/2008JD011394. [Complete Article (.html)]

Zhou, T., R. Yu, J. Zhang, J. Li, X. Xin, H. Drange, C. Cassou, E. Sanchez-Gomez, C. Deser, Y. M. Okumura, D. L. Hodson, N. Keenlyside, 2009: Why the western Pacific subtropical high has extended westward since the late 1970s. J. Climate, 22, 2199-2215, doi: 10.1175/2008JCLI2527.1. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Deser, C., and A.S. Phillips, 2009: Atmospheric Circulation Trends, 1950-2000: The Relative Roles of Sea Surface Temperature Forcing and Direct Atmospheric Radiative Forcing. J. Climate, 22, 396-413, doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2453.1. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

2008

Bhatt, U. S., M. A. Alexander, C. Deser, J. E. Walsh, J. S. Miller, M. Timlin, J. D. Scott, and R. Tomas, 2008: The atmospheric response to realistic reduced summer Arctic sea ice anomalies. Arctic Sea Ice Decline: Observations, Projections, Mechanisms, and Implications, Geophys. Monogr. Ser., 180, E. T. DeWeaver, C. M. Bitz, and L. -B. Tremblay, Eds., AGU, 91-110. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Lawrence, D. M., A. G. Slater, R. A. Tomas, M. M. Holland, and C. Deser, 2008: Accelerated Arctic land warming and permafrost degradation during rapid sea ice loss. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L11506, doi:10.1029/2008GL033985. [Complete Article]

Deser, C., and H. Teng, 2008: Recent trends in Arctic sea ice and the evolving role of atmospheric circulation forcing, 1979-2007. Arctic Sea Ice Decline: Observations, Projections, Mechanisms, and Implications, Geophys. Monogr. Ser., 180, E. T. DeWeaver, C. M. Bitz, and L. -B. Tremblay, Eds., AGU, 7-26. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 3/31/08)]

Ueyama, R., and C. Deser, 2008: A climatology of diurnal and semidiurnal surface wind variations over the Tropical Pacific Ocean based on the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean moored buoy array. J. Climate, 21, 593-607, doi:10.1175/JCLI1666.1. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Alexander, M., A. Capotondi, A. Miller, F. Chai, R. Brodeur, and C. Deser, 2008: Decadal variability in the Northeast Pacific in a physical-ecosystem model: Role of mixed layer depth and trophic interactions. J. Geophys. Res., 113, C02017, doi:10.1029/2007JC004359. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version]

Zeng, Z, W. Randel, S. Sokolovskiy, C. Deser, Y. -H. Kuo, M. Hagan, J. Du, and W. Ward, 2008: Detection of migrating diurnal tide in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere using the Challenging Minisatellite Payload radio occultation data. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D03102, doi:10.1029/2007JD008725. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version]

Deser, C., and H. Teng, 2008: Evolution of Arctic sea ice concentration trends and the role of atmospheric circulation forcing, 1979-2007. Geophys. Res. Lett, 35, L02504, doi:10.1029/2007GL032023. [Abstract] [Print Version] [Supplemetary Material (.pdf)]

2007

Deser, C., R. A. Tomas, and S. Peng, 2007: The transient atmospheric circulation response to North Atlantic SST and sea ice anomalies. J. Climate, 20, 4751-4767. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Cassou, C., C. Deser, and M. A. Alexander, 2007: Investigating the impact of reemerging sea surface temperature anomalies on the winter atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic. J. Climate, 20, 3510-3526. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)] [Supplementary Material]

Kwon, Y. -O., and C. Deser, 2007: North Pacific decadal variability in the Community Climate System Model Version 2. J. Climate, 20, 2416-2433. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Jochum, M., C. Deser, and A. Phillips, 2007: Tropical atmospheric variability forced by oceanic internal variability.J. Climate, 20, 765-771. [Abstract] [Complete Article (.pdf)]

2006

Park, S., M. A. Alexander, and C. Deser, 2006: The impact of cloud radiative feedback, remote ENSO forcing, and entrainment on the persistence of North Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies. J. Climate, 19, 6243-6261. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., and A. S. Phillips, 2006: Simulation of the 1976/1977 climate transition over the North Pacific: Sensitivity to tropical forcing. J. Climate, 19, 6170-6180. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., A. Capotondi, R. Saravanan, and A. S. Phillips, 2006: Tropical Pacific and Atlantic climate variability in CCSM3. J. Climate, 19, 2451-2481. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures]

2005

D'Arrigo, R., R. Wilson, C. Deser, G. Wiles, E. Cook, R. Villalba, A. Tudhope, J. Cole, and B. Linsley, 2005: Tropical-North Pacific climate linkages over the past four centuries. J. Climate, 18, 5253-5265. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Park, S., C. Deser, and M. A. Alexander, 2005: Estimation of the surface heat flux response to sea surface temperature anomalies over the global oceans. J. Climate, 18, 4582-4599. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Capotondi, A., M. A. Alexander, C. Deser, and M. J. McPhaden, 2005: Anatomy and decadal evolution of the Pacific Subtropical-Tropical Cells (STCs). J. Climate, 18, 3739-3758. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Capotondi, A., M. A. Alexander, C. Deser, and A. J. Miller, 2005: Low-frequency pycnocline variability in the Northeast Pacific. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 35, 1403-1420. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

2004

Cassou, C., C. Deser, L. Terray, J. W. Hurrell, and M. Drévillon, 2004: Summer sea surface temperature conditions in the North Atlantic and their impact upon the atmospheric circulation in early winter. J. Climate, 17, 3349-3363. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., A. S. Phillips, and J. W. Hurrell, 2004: Pacific interdecadal climate variability: Linkages between the tropics and North Pacific during boreal winter since 1900. J. Climate, 17, 3109-3124. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures] [Tropical Index ascii file]

Magnusdottir, G., C. Deser, and R. Saravanan, 2004: The effects of North Atlantic SST and sea-ice anomalies on the winter circulation in CCM3, Part I: Main features and storm-track characteristics of the response. J. Climate, 17, 857-876. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., G. Magnusdottir, R. Saravanan, and A. Phillips, 2004: The effects of North Atlantic SST and sea-ice anomalies on the winter circulation in CCM3, Part II: Direct and indirect components of the response. J. Climate, 17, 877-889. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Cassou, C., L. Terray, J. W. Hurrell, and C. Deser, 2004: North Atlantic winter climate regimes: Spatial asymmetry, stationarity with time, and oceanic forcing. J. Climate, 17, 1055-1068. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

2002-2003

Capotondi, A., M. A. Alexander, and C. Deser, 2003: Why are there Rossby Wave maxima in the Pacific at 10°S and 13°N? J. Phys. Oceanogr., 33, 1549-1563. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., M. A. Alexander, and M. S. Timlin, 2003: Understanding the persistence of sea surface temperature anomalies in midlatitudes. J. Climate, 16, 57-72. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Hu, A., C. Rooth, R. Bleck, and C. Deser, 2002: NAO influence on sea ice extent in the Eurasian coastal region. Geophys. Res. Lett.: 29, No. 2053-2056. [Abstract] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Timlin, M. S., M. A. Alexander, and C. Deser, 2002: On the reemergence of North Atlantic SST anomalies. J. Climate, 15, 2707-2712. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Lysne, J., and C. Deser, 2002: Wind-driven thermocline variability in the Pacific: A model/data comparison. J. Climate, 15, 829-845. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., M. Holand, G. Reverdin, and M. S. Timlin, 2002: Decadal variations in Labrador sea ice cover and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. J. of Geophys. Res., 107, C5, doi:10.1029/2000JC000683. [Abstract] [Print Version (.pdf) (.4MB)]

2000-2001

Lietzke, C. E., C. Deser, and T. H. Vonder Haar, 2001: Evolutionary structure of the Eastern Pacific double ITCZ based on satellite moisture profile retrievals.J. Climate, 14, 743-751. [Abstract] [ HTML Version] [ Print Version (.pdf)]

Joyce, T. M., C. Deser, and M. A. Spall, 2000: The relation between decadal variability of subtropical mode water in the North Atlantic and large-scale patterns of air-sea forcing. J. Climate, 13, 2550-2569. [Abstract] [ HTML Version] [ Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., 2000: On the teleconnectivity of the "Arctic Oscillation". Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 779-782. [Abstract]

Deser, C., M. A. Alexander, and M. S. Timlin, 2000: Reply to Drs. Latif and Ventzke comments on "Evidence for a wind-driven intensification of the Kuroshio Current Extension from the 1970s to the 1980s". J. Climate, 13, 1995-1995. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [ Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., M. Alexander, and M. Timlin, 2000: Re-emergence of winter SST anomalies in the North Atlantic. World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE), 2000 U.S. WOCE Report, 12, 32-35.

Alexander, M. A., J. D. Scott, and C. Deser, 2000: Processes that influence sea surface temperature and ocean mixed layer depth variability in a coupled model. J. Geophys. Res, 105, C7, 16823-16842. [Abstract] [Print Version (ps)] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., J. E. Walsh, M. S. Timlin, 2000: Arctic sea ice variability in the context of recent atmospheric circulation trends. J. Climate, 13, 617-633. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

1997-1999

Alexander, M. A., C. Deser, M. S. Timlin, 1999: The reemergence of SST anomalies in the North Pacific Ocean. J. Climate, 12, 2419-2433. [Abstract] [ HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Alexander, M. A., C. Deser, M. S. Timlin, 1999: Evidence for a wind-driven intensification of the Kuroshio Current Extension from the 1970s to the 1980s. J. Climate, 12, 1697-1706. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Schneider, N., A. J. Miller, M. A. Alexander, and C. Deser 1999: Subduction of decadal North Pacific temperature anomalies: Observations and dynamics. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 29, 1056-1070. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Schneider, N., S. Venzke, A. J. Miller, D. W. Pierce, T. P. Barnett, C. Deser, and M. Latif, 1999: Pacific thermocline bridge revisited. Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 1329-1332.. [Abstract]

Dai, A., and C. Deser, 1999: Diurnal and semidiurnal variations in global surface wind and divergence fields. J. Geophys. Res., 104, D24, 31109-31125. [Abstract]

Deser, C. and C. Smith, 1998: Diurnal and semidiurnal variations of the surface wind field over the Tropical Pacific Ocean. J. Climate, 11, 1730-1748. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., and M. Timlin, 1998: Atmosphere-ocean interaction on weekly timescales in the North Atlantic and Pacific. J. Climate, 10, 393-408. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

1994-1996

Deser, C., M. A. Alexander, and M. S. Timlin, 1996: Upper-Ocean Thermal Variations in the North Pacific during 1970-1991. J. Climate, 9, 1840-1855. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., and M. L. Blackmon, 1995: Surface climate variations over the North Atlantic Ocean during winter: 1900-89. National Academy of Sciences Symposium on Natural Variability of the Climate System on 10-100 Year Time Scales. National Academy Press.

Deser, C. and M. L. Blackmon, 1995: On the relationship between Tropical and North Pacific sea surface temperature variations. J. Climate, 8, 1677-1680. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Alexander, M. A., C. Deser, 1995: A mechanism for the recurrence of wintertime midlatitude SST anomalies. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 25, 122-137. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., 1994: Daily surface wind variations over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 99, D11, 23071-23078. [Abstract]

1990-1993

Deser, C. and M. L. Blackmon, 1993: Surface climate variations over the North Atlantic Ocean during winter: 1900-1989. J. Climate, 6, 1743-1753. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., S. Wahl, and J. J. Bates, 1993: The influence of sea surface temperature gradients on stratiform cloudiness along the equatorial front in the Pacific Ocean. J. Climate, 6, 1172-1180. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., 1992: Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean. J. Climate, 6, 64-74. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (pdf)]

Deser, C., and J. M. Wallace 1990: Large-scale atmospheric circulation features of warm and cold episodes in the Tropical Pacific. J. Climate, 3, 1254-1281. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

1987-1989

Wallace, J. M., T. P. Mitchell, and C. Deser 1989: The influence of sea-surface temperature on surface wind in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific: Seasonal and interannual variability. J. Climate, 2, 1492-1499. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Richey, J. E., C. Nobre, and C. Deser 1989: Amazon River discharge and climate variability: 1903-1985. Science, 246, (Oct. 1989), 101-103. [Abstract]

Wright, P. B., J. M. Wallace, T. P. Mitchell, and C. Deser 1988: Correlation structure of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon. J. Climate, 1, 609-625. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]

Deser, C., and J. M. Wallace 1987: El Nino events and their relationship to the Southern Oscillation: 1925-1986. J. of Geophys. Res., 92, C13, 14189-14196. [Abstract]