Tropical Convection and Extreme California Heat Waves (IMAGE)

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Tropical Convection and Extreme California Heat Waves

Caption

The research is featured on the latest cover of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. The cover image shows links between unusually strong tropical convection and extreme California heat waves. The outgoing longwave radiation anomaly is shaded blue for unusually cold temperatures at the tops of thunderstorms and red where clouds are suppressed and temperatures are unusually warm. Indian Ocean convection is strong on about 1/6 of all days within the two weeks before extreme California heat starts; that convection is measured by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) phases 2 and 3. Similarly, California heat waves follow convection west of Central America (MJO phases 8 and 1) on nearly 1/3 of those days.

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Advances in Atmospheric Sciences

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