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.
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
2008
Kwon, Y.-O., C. Deser and C. Cassou, 2008: Winter Atmosphere - Mixed Layer Ocean Response to Geostrophic Ocean Heat Transport Variations along the Kuroshio Current Extension. Journal of Climate: submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures]
Bhatt, U.S. and co-authors, 2008: The Atmospheric Response to Realistic Reduced Summer Arctic Sea Ice Anomalies. AGU monograph Arctic Sea Ice Decline: Observations, Projections, Mechanisms, and Implications: submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]
Okumura, Y.M. and co-authors, 2008: North Pacific Climate Response to a Rapid Weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: Oceanic and Atmospheric Pathways. Journal of Climate: submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 8/1/08)]
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: submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]
Deser, Clara, and Adam S. Phillips, 2008: Atmospheric Circulation Trends, 1950-2000: The Relative Roles of Sea Surface Temperature Forcing and Direct Atmospheric Radiative Forcing. Journal of Climate: accepted. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 6/30/08)]
Deser, Clara, and Haiyan Teng, 2008: Recent Trends in Arctic Sea Ice and the Evolving Role of Atmospheric Circulation Forcing, 1979-2007. AGU Monograph "Arctic Sea Ice Decline: Observations, Projections, Mechanisms, and Implications", DeWeaver and Bitz, Editors: accepted. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 3/31/08)]
Hurrell, J.W. and C. Deser, 2008: North Atlantic Climate Variability. Journal of Marine Systems: in press. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 5/9/07)]
Ueyama, Rei and Clara 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. Journal of Climate: Vol 21, pp 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.: Vol 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.: Vol 113, D03102, doi:10.1029/2007JD008725. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version]
Deser, Clara, and Haiyan Teng, 2008: Evolution of Arctic Sea Ice Concentration Trends and the Role of Atmospheric Circulation Forcing, 1979-2007. Geophysical Research Letters: Vol 35, L02504, doi:10.1029/2007GL032023. [Abstract] [Print Version] [Supplemetary Material (.pdf)]
2007
Deser, Clara, Robert A. Tomas, and Shiling Peng, 2007: The Transient Atmospheric Circulation Response to North Atlantic SST and Sea Ice Anomalies. Journal of Climate:Vol 20, No. 18, 4751-4767, 2007. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Cassou, Christophe, Clara Deser, and Michael A. Alexander, 2007: Investigating the impact of reemerging sea surface temperature anomalies on the winter atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic. Journal of Climate: Vol 20, No. 14, 3510-3526, 2007. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)] [Supplementary Material]
Kwon, Young-Oh, and Clara Deser, 2007: North Pacific Decadal Variability in the Community Climate System Model Version 2. Journal of Climate: Vol 20, No. 11, 2416-2433, 2007. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Jochum, M., C. Deser, and A. Phillips, 2007: Tropical Atmospheric Variability Forced by Oceanic Internal Variability. Journal of Climate: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 765-771. [Abstract] [Complete Article (.pdf)]
2006
Park, Sungsu, Michael A. Alexander, and Clara Deser, 2006: The Impact of Cloud Radiative Feedback, Remote ENSO Forcing, and Entrainment on the Persistence of North Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies. Journal of Climate: Vol. 19, No. 23, pp. 6243-6261, 2006. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Deser, Clara, and Adam S. Phillips, 2006: Simulation of the 1976/1977 Climate Transition over the North Pacific: Sensitivity to Tropical Forcing. Journal of Climate:Vol. 19, No. 23, pp. 6170-6180, 2006. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Deser, Clara, Antonietta Capotondi, R. Saravanan, and Adam S. Phillips, 2006: Tropical Pacific and Atlantic Climate Variability in CCSM3. Journal of Climate (CCSM3 Special Issue): Vol. 19, No. 11, pp. 2451-2481, 2006. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures]
2005
D'Arrigo, Rosanne, Rob Wilson, Clara Deser, Gregory Wiles, Edward Cook, Ricardo Villalba, Alexander Tudhope, Julia Cole, and Braddock Linsley, 2005: Tropical-North Pacific Climate Linkages over the Past Four Centuries. Journal of Climate: Vol. 18, No. 24, pp. 5253-5265, 2005. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Park, Sungsu, Clara Deser, and Michael A. Alexander, 2005: Estimation of the Surface Heat Flux Response to Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies over the Global Oceans. Journal of Climate: Vol. 18, No. 21, pp. 4582-4599, 2005. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Capotondi, Antonietta, Michael A. Alexander, Clara Deser, and Michael J. McPhaden, 2005: Anatomy and Decadal Evolution of the Pacific Subtropical-Tropical Cells (STCs). Journal of Climate: Vol. 18, No. 18, pp. 3739-3758, 2005. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Capotondi, Antonietta, Michael A. Alexander, Clara Deser, and Arthur J. Miller, 2005: Low-Frequency Pycnocline Variability in the Northeast Pacific. Journal of Physical Oceanography: Vol. 35, No. 8, pp. 1403-1420, 2005. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
2004
Cassou, Christophe, Clara Deser, Laurent Terray, James W. Hurrell, and Marie Drévillon , 2004: Summer sea surface temperature conditions in the North Atlantic and their impact upon the atmospheric circulation in early winter. Journal of Climate: Vol. 17, pp. 3349-3363. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Deser, Clara, Adam S. Phillips, and James W. Hurrell, 2004: Pacific Interdecadal Climate Variability: Linkages between the Tropics and North Pacific during boreal winter since 1900. Journal of Climate: Vol. 17, pp. 3109-3124. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures] [Tropical Index ascii file]
Magnusdottir, Gudrun, Clara Deser, and Ramalingam 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. Journal of Climate: Vol. 17, pp. 857-876. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Deser, Clara, Gudrun Magnusdottir, Ramalingam Saravanan, and Adam 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. Journal of Climate:Vol. 17, pp. 877-889. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Cassou, Christophe, Laurent Terray, James W. Hurrell, and Clara Deser, 2004: North Atlantic winter climate regimes: Spatial asymmetry, stationarity with time, and oceanic forcing. Journal of Climate: Vol. 17, pp. 1055-1068. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
2002-2003
Capotondi, Antonietta, Michael A. Alexander, and Clara Deser, 2003: Why are there Rossby Wave Maxima in the Pacific at 10°S and 13°N? Journal of Physical Oceanography: Vol. 33, No. 8, pp. 1549-1563. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Deser, Clara, Michael A. Alexander, and Michael S. Timlin, 2003: Understanding the Persistence of Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies in Midlatitudes. Journal of Climate: Vol. 16, No. 1, 57-72, 2003. [Abstract] [HTML Version] [Print Version (.pdf)]
Hu, Aixue, Claes Rooth, Rainer Bleck, and Clara Deser, 2002:
NAO influence on sea ice extent in the Eurasian coastal region.
Geophysical Research Letters: Vol 29, No. 22, 2053-2056, 2002.
Timlin, Michael S.,
Michael A. Alexander,
and Clara Deser, 2002:
On the Reemergence of North Atlantic SST Anomalies.
Journal of Climate: Vol 15, No. 18, 2707-2712, 2002.
Lysne, JoAnn and Clara Deser, 2002:
Wind-Driven Thermocline Variability in the Pacific: A Model/Data Comparison.
Journal of Climate: Vol 15, No. 8, 829-845, 2002.
Deser, Clara, Marika Holand, Gilles Reverdin, and
Michael S. Timlin, 2002:
Decadal Variations in Labrador Sea Ice Cover and North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures.
Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans: Vol 107, No. C5, 10.1029/2000JC000683, 2002.
2000-2001
Lietzke, Christopher E., Clara Deser, and Thomas H. Vonder Haar, 2001:
Evolutionary Structure of the Eastern Pacific double ITCZ based on Satellite Moisture Profile
Retrievals.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 743-751.
Joyce, Terrence M., Clara Deser, and Michael A. Spall, 2000:
The Relation between Decadal Variability of Subtropical Mode Water in the
North Atlantic and Large--Scale Patterns of Air-Sea Forcing.
Journal of Climate:Vol. 13, No. 14, pp.2550-2569.
Deser, Clara, 2000: On the Teleconnectivity of the "Arctic Oscillation".
Geophysical Research Letters:Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 779-782
Deser, Clara, Michael A. Alexander, and Michael 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".
Journal of Climate: Vol. 13, No. 11, pp. 1995-1995
Deser, Clara, Michael Alexander, and Michael Timlin, 2000: Re-emergence of Winter SST Anomalies in the North Atlantic. World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE), 2000 U.S. WOCE Report: Vol. 12, pp. 32-35
Alexander, Michael A., James D. Scott, and Clara Deser, 2000:
Processes that influence sea surface temperature and ocean mixed layer depth variability in a coupled model.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Vol. 105, No. C7, pp.16,823-16,842
Deser, Clara, John E. Walsh, Michael S. Timlin, 2000: Arctic Sea Ice variability in the Context
of Recent Atmospheric Circulation Trends. Journal of Climate: Vol. 13, No. 3, pp.617-633.
1997-1999
Alexander, Michael A., Clara Deser, Michael S. Timlin, 1999: The Reemergence of SST Anomalies
in the North Pacific Ocean. Journal of Climate: Vol. 12, No. 8, pp.2419-2433.
Deser, Clara, Michael A. Alexander, and Michael S. Timlin, 1999: Evidence for a wind-driven intensification
of the Kuroshio Current Extension from the 1970s to the 1980s.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 12, No. 6, pp.1697-1706.
Schneider, Niklas, Arthur J. Miller, Michael A. Alexander, and Clara Deser 1999:
Subduction of Decadal North Pacific Temperature Anomalies: Observations and Dynamics.
Journal of Physical Oceanography: Vol. 29, No. 5, pp.1056-1070..
Schneider, Niklas, Stephan Venzke, Arthur J. Miller, David W. Pierce, Tim P. Barnett,
Clara Deser, and Mojib Latif, 1999:
Pacific thermocline bridge revisited.
Geophsyical Research Letters: Vol. 26, No. 9, pp.1329-1332..
Dai, Aiguo and Clara Deser, 1999:
Diurnal and semidiurnal variations in global surface wind and divergence fields.
Journal of Geophysical Research Vol. 104, No. D24, pp.31109-31125.
Deser, Clara and Catherine Smith 1998:
Diurnal and semidiurnal variations of the surface wind field over the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 11, No. 7, pp.1730-1748.
Deser, Clara and Mike Timlin 1998:
Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction on Weekly Timescales in the North Atlantic and Pacific.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 10, No. 3, pp.393-408.
1994-1996
Deser, Clara, Michael A. Alexander, and Michael S. Timlin 1996:
Upper-Ocean Thermal Variations in the North Pacific during 1970-1991.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 9, No. 8, pp.1840-1855.
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, Clara and Maurice L. Blackmon, 1995: On the Relationship between Tropical and North Pacific
Sea Surface Temperature Variations. Journal of Climate: Vol. 8, No. 6, pp.1677-1680.
Alexander, Michael A., Clara Deser, 1995: A Mechanism for the Recurrence of Wintertime Midlatitude
SST Anomalies.
Journal of Physical Oceanography: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp.122-137.
Deser, Clara, 1994:
Daily surface wind variations over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Vol. 99, No. D11, pp.23071-23078..
1990-1993
Deser, Clara and Maurice L. Blackmon, 1993:
Surface Climate Variations over the North Atlantic Ocean during Winter: 1900-1989.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 6, No. 9, pp.1743-1753.
Deser, Clara, Susan Wahl, and John J. Bates, 1993:
The Influence of Sea Surface Temperature Gradients on Stratiform Cloudiness along the
Equatorial Front in the Pacific Ocean.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 1172-1180.
Deser, Clara, 1992: Diagnosis of the surface momentum balance over the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.64-74.
Deser, Clara, and John M. Wallace 1990: Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulation Features of Warm and Cold
Episodes in the Tropical Pacific.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 3, No. 11, pp.1254-1281.
1987-1989
Wallace, John M., Todd P. Mitchell, and Clara Deser 1989:
The Influence of Sea-Surface Temperature on Surface Wind in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific:
Seasonal and Interannual Variability.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 2, No. 12, pp.1492-1499.
Richey, Jeffrey E., Carlos Nobre, and Clara Deser 1989:
Amazon River Discharge and Climate Variability: 1903-1985.
Science: Vol. 246, Oct. 1989, pp.101-103.
Wright, Peter B., John M. Wallace, Todd P. Mitchell, and Clara Deser 1988:
Correlation Structure of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation Phenomenon.
Journal of Climate: Vol. 1, No. 6, pp. 609-625.
Deser, Clara, and John M. Wallace 1987:
El Nino events and their relationship to the Southern Oscillation: 1925-1986.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Vol. 92, No. C13, pp.14189-14196.
