Relationships of surface air temperature anomalies over Europe to persistence of atmospheric circulation patterns conducive to heat waves

Autor: J. Kyselý, R. Huth
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2008
Předmět:
Zdroj: Advances in Geosciences, Vol 14, Pp 243-249 (2008)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1680-7340
1680-7359
Popis: Heat waves are among natural hazards with the most severe consequences for human society, including pronounced mortality impacts in mid-latitudes. Recent studies have hypothesized that the enhanced persistence of atmospheric circulation may affect surface climatic extremes, mainly the frequency and severity of heat waves. In this paper we examine relationships between the persistence of the Hess-Brezowsky circulation types conducive to summer heat waves and air temperature anomalies at stations over most of the European continent. We also evaluate differences between temperature anomalies during late and early stages of warm circulation types in all seasons. Results show that more persistent circulation patterns tend to enhance the severity of heat waves and support more pronounced temperature anomalies. Recent sharply rising trends in positive temperature extremes over Europe may be related to the greater persistence of the circulation types, and if similar changes towards enhanced persistence affect other mid-latitudinal regions, analogous consequences and implications for temperature extremes may be expected.
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