Figure 10.18. Changes in extremes based on multi-model simulations from nine global coupled climate models, adapted from Tebaldi et al. (2006). (a) Globally averaged changes in precipitation intensity (defined as the annual total precipitation divided by the number of wet days) for a low (SRES B1), middle (SRES A1B) and high (SRES A2) scenario. (b) Changes in spatial patterns of simulated precipitation intensity between two 20-year means (2080–2099 minus 1980–1999) for the A1B scenario. (c) Globally averaged changes in dry days (defined as the annual maximum number of consecutive dry days). (d) Changes in spatial patterns of simulated dry days between two 20-year means (2080–2099 minus 1980–1999) for the A1B scenario. Solid lines in (a) and (c) are the 10-year smoothed multi-model ensemble means; the envelope indicates the ensemble mean standard deviation. Stippling in (b) and (d) denotes areas where at least five of the nine models concur in determining that the change is statistically significant. Extreme indices are calculated only over land following Frich et al. (2002). Each model’s time series was centred on its 1980 to 1999 average and normalised (rescaled) by its standard deviation computed (after de-trending) over the period 1960 to 2099. The models were then aggregated into an ensemble average, both at the global and at the grid-box level. Thus, changes are given in units of standard deviations.