Synoptic climatology and the general circulation model

One of the main research directions of synoptic climatology in recent years has been its application to the output of general circulation models. These applications have spanned the wide array of synoptic techniques, from traditional ones such as correlation-based maps to more recently developed ones such as self-organizing maps and fuzzy clusters. Here, we review the main themes of recent articles, including assessments of the ability of GCMs to replicate historical circulation pattern frequency, as well as the incorporation of synoptic methods to assess GCM capability in producing estimates of precipitation and the likelihood of extreme events. Results from these articles are quite heterogeneous, suggesting that the selection of the GCM, the variables that are used to drive the categorization, and the specific methodology chosen are all important in determining the efficacy of the research and application.

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