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 Project Description
Postdoctoral Job Description (coming soon)

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

2009

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, 2009: 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, 2009: Coupled Atmosphere - Mixed Layer Ocean Response to Ocean Heat Flux Convergence along the Kuroshio Current Extension. Climate Dyn., submitted. [Complete Article (.pdf)] [Supplementary Figures]

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, accepted. [Complete Article (.pdf)]

Deser, C., M. A. Alexander, S. -P. Xie, and A. S. Phillips, 2009: Sea surface temperature variability: patterns and mechanisms. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci., in press. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 9/11/09)]

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)]

Anderson, B. T., J. R. Knight, M. A. Ringer, C. Deser, A. S. Phillips, J. -H. Yoon, and A. Cherchi 2009: Climate forcings and climate sensitivities diagnosed from atmospheric global circulation models. Climate Dyn., submitted. [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., in press. [Complete Article (.pdf, revised 7/3/09)]

Deser, C., R. Tomas, M. Alexander, and D. Lawrence, 2009: The seasonal atmospheric response to projected Arctic sea ice loss in the late 21st century. J. Climate, in press. [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]