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Abstract Several regions of the world, including the east coast of Australia, are characterized by the occurrence of low‐pressure systems with a range of different dynamical structures, including tropical, extratropical, and hybrid cyclones. Future changes in the occurrence of cyclones are better understood if storms are classified according to their dynamical structure. Therefore, we apply a classification of cyclones according to their cold‐core or warm‐core structure to an ensemble of regional climate model simulations. First, we show that historical simulations reproduce well the reanalysis results in terms of cyclone classification. We then show that once cyclone classification is applied, projections of future cyclone activity become more robust, including a decrease in the occurrence of both cold‐core and warm‐core cyclones. Finally, we show that in a warmer climate warm‐core hybrid cyclone activity could increase close to the coast, while the associated rainfall and wind are projected to increase. , Plain Language Summary Cyclones in the tropics derive their energy from the temperature difference between warm ocean waters and the atmosphere and their interior is warmer than the environment (warm core), while cyclones in the midlatitudes derive their energy from differences in the atmospheric temperature and density at different locations and their interior is colder than the environment (cold core). In subtropical regions both types of cyclone can form. Also in those regions cyclones known as hybrid cyclones form, with mixed tropical‐extratropical features, such as a partial lower tropospheric warm core and a partial upper tropospheric cold core. This study is focused on cyclones along the eastern coast of Australia. Here we show that dividing cyclones in different classes according to their thermal structure provides a better framework to interpret changes in cyclone activity at subtropical latitudes. This study has two main results. First, classifying cyclones adds value to climate projection robustness. A large number of models agree on the decrease in the occurrence of both cold‐core and warm‐core cyclones. The study also indicates increased occurrence of hybrid cyclones close to the Australian coast. Second, the study shows evidence of future changes in cyclone‐related impacts, such as an increase in the associated rainfall. , Key Points A physically based classification of hybrid cyclones is applied to an ensemble of regional climate model simulations The cyclone classification method adds value to the projections of future cyclone activity, making them more robust Results indicate future changes (2060–2079) toward more intense impacts associated with hybrid cyclones

Abstract Like many western boundary currents, the East Australian Current (EAC) extension is projected to get stronger and warmer in the future. The CMIP5 multimodel mean (MMM) projection suggests up to 5°C of warming under an RCP85 scenario by 2100. Previous studies employed Sverdrup balance to associate a trend in basin wide zonally integrated wind stress curl (resulting from the multidecadal poleward intensification in the westerly winds over the Southern Ocean) with enhanced transport in the EAC extension. Possible regional drivers are yet to be considered. Here we introduce the NEMO‐OASIS‐WRF coupled regional climate model as a framework to improve our understanding of CMIP5 projections. We analyze a hierarchy of simulations in which the regional atmosphere and ocean circulations are allowed to freely evolve subject to boundary conditions that represent present‐day and CMIP5 RCP8.5 climate change anomalies. Evaluation of the historical simulation shows an EAC extension that is stronger than similar ocean‐only models and observations. This bias is not explained by a linear response to differences in wind stress. The climate change simulations show that regional atmospheric CMIP5 MMM anomalies drive 73% of the projected 12 Sv increase in EAC extension transport whereas the remote ocean boundary conditions and regional radiative forcing (greenhouse gases within the domain) play a smaller role. The importance of regional changes in wind stress curl in driving the enhanced EAC extension is consistent with linear theory where the NEMO‐OASIS‐WRF response is closer to linear transport estimates compared to the CMIP5 MMM. , Plain Language Summary In recent decades, enhanced warming, severe marine heatwaves, and increased transport by the East Australian Current have led to the invasion of nonnative species and the destruction of kelp forests east of Tasmania. The East Australian Current extension is projected to get stronger and warmer in the future. We seek to better understand coupled climate model projections for the Tasman Sea. This is difficult because there is large model diversity and considerable uncertainty as to how and where future changes will occur. In addition, little is known about the possible importance of regional versus large‐scale changes in surface time‐mean winds in driving future circulation changes. Here we use a single limited‐domain ocean‐atmosphere coupled model that takes the average model projections as its inputs and finds that changes in the regional wind stress are most important for the enhanced projected East Australian Current extension. We also find that these projected changes are consistent with simple linear theory and the simulated regional changes in wind stress. , Key Points NEMO‐OASIS‐WRF coupled regional climate model is evaluated and introduced as a new tool for analyzing Tasman Sea climate projections NEMO‐OASIS‐WRF projections suggest that local atmospheric changes drive 73% of the projected 12 Sv increase in EAC extension transport The importance of regional changes in wind stress curl driving the enhanced EAC extension is consistent with linear theory

ABSTRACT High‐resolution reanalyses offer the potential to improve our understanding of midlatitude cyclones, particularly smaller‐scale systems and those with complex structures. However, previous studies have demonstrated large variations in the frequency and characteristics of Australian midlatitude cyclones between reanalyses when using their native resolution. In this paper we use satellite observations of winds and rainfall in order to evaluate the ability of the ERA‐Interim, JRA55, MERRA and CFSR reanalyses to reproduce Australian east coast cyclones. The MERRA reanalysis produces a large number of erroneous small‐scale lows without cyclonic wind patterns using a simple pressure‐difference‐based cyclone identification and tracking method. Consequently, we recommend the ERA‐Interim reanalysis when using such methods, or applying more complex tracking methods that are able to compensate for these issues.

Abstract Increased temperature will result in longer, more frequent, and more intense heat waves. Changes in temperature variability have been deemed necessary to account for future heat wave characteristics. However, this has been quantified only in Europe and North America, while the rest of the globe remains unexplored. Using late century global climate projections, we show that annual mean temperature increases is the key factor defining heat wave changes in most regions. We find that commonly studied areas are an exception rather than the standard and the mean climate change signal generally outweighs any influence from variability changes. More importantly, differences in warming across seasons are responsible for most of the heat wave changes and their consideration relegates the contribution of variability to a marginal role. This reveals that accurately capturing mean seasonal changes is crucial to estimate future heat waves and reframes our interpretation of future temperature extremes. , Key Points The influence of projected temperature variability changes on future heat waves varies across the globe Future heat waves are primarily controlled by annual mean changes, except in Europe and North America Mean seasonal warming is responsible for over 95% of projected heat wave changes in most region

Abstract This study evaluates the added value in the representation of surface climate variables from an ensemble of regional climate model (RCM) simulations by comparing the relative skill of the RCM simulations and their driving data over a wide range of RCM experimental setups and climate statistics. The methodology is specifically designed to compare results across different variables and metrics, and it incorporates a rigorous approach to separate the added value occurring at different spatial scales. Results show that the RCMs' added value strongly depends on the type of driving data, the climate variable, and the region of interest but depends rather weakly on the choice of the statistical measure, the season, and the RCM physical configuration. Decomposing climate statistics according to different spatial scales shows that improvements are coming from the small scales when considering the representation of spatial patterns, but from the large‐scale contribution in the case of absolute values. Our results also show that a large part of the added value can be attained using some simple postprocessing methods. , Key Points A rigorous methodology that allows evaluating the overall benefits of high‐resolution simulations The most reliable source of added value is the better representation of the spatial variability Substantial added value can also be attained using simple postprocessing methods

Abstract The east coast of Australia is regularly influenced by midlatitude cyclones known as East Coast Lows. These form in a range of synoptic situations and are both a cause of severe weather and an important contributor to water security. This paper presents the first projections of future cyclone activity in this region using a regional climate model ensemble, with the use of a range of cyclone identification methods increasing the robustness of results. While there is considerable uncertainty in projections of cyclone frequency during the warm months, there is a robust agreement on a decreased frequency of cyclones during the winter months, when they are most common in the current climate. However, there is a potential increase in the frequency of cyclones with heavy rainfall and those closest to the coast and accordingly those with potential for severe flooding. , Key Points Winter cyclones are projected to decrease on the Australian east coast Cyclones associated with heavy rainfall may increase in frequency Projections of warm season cyclones remain uncertain