Volume variability diagnostic for 4D datasets

[1] Recent advances in the compilation of the climate science databases, derived from observations and model simulations, help in estimating trends and variability of current and past atmospheric conditions. However, an exponential increase in the amount of information limits its comprehension. In this paper we present a simple diagnostic, named as “volume variability”, that allows for analysis of multidimensional fields of climate variables. The simplicity inherent in the new diagnostic, calculated as a product of variances along a set of directions, and its transparent interpretation thereof will enable its use as a metric for the quick and easy comparison of the 3D time series of models and observations. Using this diagnostic, we explore the evolution of the temperature and geopotential height fields over the Southern Hemisphere Cap region by way of four reanalysis systems. Citation: Andronova, N., and S. Boland (2011), Volume variability diagnostic for 4D datasets, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L10805, doi:10.1029/2011GL047193.