The influence of mid-latitude storm tracks on hot, cold, dry and wet extremes.

ABSTRACT: Changes in mid-latitude circulation can strongly affect the number and intensity of extreme weather events. In particular, high-amplitude quasi-stationary planetary waves have been linked to prolonged weather extremes at the surface. In contrast, analyses of fast-traveling synoptic-scale waves and their direct influence on heat and cold extremes are scarce though changes in such waves have been detected and are projected for the 21st century. Here we apply regression analyses of synoptic activity with surface temperature and precipitation in monthly gridded observational data. We show that over large parts of mid-latitude continental regions, summer heat extremes are associated with low storm track activity. In winter, the occurrence of cold spells is related to low storm track activity ov

SUBMITTER: Lehmann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4675986 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature