Understanding multi-timescale precipitation variability and associated processes

This thesis seek to advance our knowledge in decadal precipitation variability of climate as well as its relationship to extremes. We do this by examining the cross timescale relationships between decadal mean precipitation and monthly-scale extremes; and how oceanic variability influences this relationship. Our key findings are as follows: 1. Decadal variability is most often regulated by changes in wet extremes, highlighting the need to focus more wet extreme to better understand decadal variability of precipitation. 2. The most recent CMIP6 climate models have shown only small improvements in some months in their ability to simulate regional precipitation variability over the African continent. 3. Sea surface temperature variability is a significant modulator of the relationship between decadal mean precipitation and monthly-scale precipitation extremes.