Drivers and Mechanisms of the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heatwave

• Published in: Earth's future Vol. 10; no. 12
• Main Authors: Schumacher, D. L., Hauser, M., Seneviratne, S. I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.12.2022; Wiley
• Subjects: Anomalies; Anticyclonic circulation; Arid climates; Atmospheric boundary layer; Atmospheric circulation; Boundary layers; Climate; Earth surface; Enthalpy; Heat; Heat transfer; Heat waves; Hot climates; Latent heat; Latent heat release; Moisture effects; Potential energy; Sensible heat; Simulation; Soil moisture; Surface temperature; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Troposphere; North America; Pacific Northwest

In late June 2021, western North America, and in particular the Pacific Northwest experienced a heatwave with temperatures usually only encountered in hot desert climates. Using a blend of reanalysis data and Earth System Model (ESM) simulations, we disentangle the physical drivers underlying this e...