Dynamic and Thermodynamic Contributions to Future Extreme‐Rainfall Intensification: A Case Study for Belgium

ABSTRACT Extreme precipitation is projected to become more frequent and more intense due to climate change and associated thermodynamical effects, but the local response of atmospheric circulation under future climate scenarios remains uncertain due mainly to dynamical differences. In this study, we outline a methodology for a regional assessment of future extreme precipitation based on the Lamb Weather Type classification and to evaluate future changes in weather patterns. Whilst anticyclonic days occur most frequently over Belgium, extreme rainfall is mostly associated with days of cyclonic, westerly and south‐westerly weather patterns. GCMs from CMIP6 are first selected based on their reliability in representing local atmospheric circulation patterns during days with extreme rainfall. It was found that for our case study over Belgium, the future (end‐of‐the‐century SSP3‐7.0) changes in intensity and likelihood of rainfall extremes can be primarily attributed to thermodynamic factors, with minimal contribution from changes in atmospheric dynamics. Both intensity and probability of extreme rainfall increase for all seasons. Whilst extreme‐rainfall probabilities mostly increase in fall and winter, the associated intensity increases are largest in fall. Additionally, the weather patterns that are historically associated with extreme rainfall, disproportionately contribute to these changes, especially to thermodynamic changes. More specifically, robust changes arise from an increased extreme‐rainfall occurrence probability in the case of cyclonic, south‐westerly and westerly circulation types.