Search

Quantitative methods to pinpoint the origin of atmospheric temperature anomalies (T′) associated with heatwaves are pivotal for the construction of physically plausible synoptic storylines of heatwave formation and their evaluation in models. Here, we combine a Lagrangian T′ decomposition with concepts from moisture tracking techniques to identify where and when the principal physical processes generate T′ and to attribute these sources to synoptic weather systems. Applying this framework to near‐surface and free‐tropospheric T′ associated with the record‐shattering 2021 heatwave in the Pacific Northwest shows that ascending, diabatic air streams in North Pacific cyclones contribute more than 50% of free‐tropospheric T′, whereas near‐surface T′ is mainly produced by local subsidence and diabatic heating with only marginal upstream contributions. Since free‐tropospheric T′ facilitates near‐surface accumulation of locally produced T′ by rendering the atmosphere stable to moist convection, our findings corroborate the notion of top‐down induced heatwave formation fueled by upstream diabatic processes. Plain Language Summary: Heatwaves, characterized by strongly above normal air temperatures, are amongst the most severe weather related threats to human lives and economic activities. Understanding the processes causing heatwaves and evaluating their representation in climate models requires suitable quantitative methods to diagnose the process' contributions to temperature anomalies. While it is well established which physical processes can create positive temperature anomalies, that is, transport of air from climatologically warmer regions, warming of air as it is compressed in sinking motion, and heating, for example, by a hot surface, it remains challenging to diagnose where and when these processes create temperature anomalies. Here, we present a quantitative framework based on the tracking of air parcels that allows us to obtain this kind of information. Applying this method to a recent devastating heatwave in the Pacific Northwest, we show that even though the air at the surface acquired its temperature anomaly mainly by local heating, storms over the North Pacific contributed substantially to warming the air aloft. This anomalously warm air aloft, in turn, was a pre‐requisite for the extreme accumulation of heat near the surface by suppressing the formation of thunderstorms, which would have had a cooling effect. Key Points: Novel diagnostic framework quantifies sources of atmospheric temperature anomalies (T′) generated by principal physical processesUpstream warm conveyor belts (WCBs) contributed >50% of free‐tropospheric T′ and <15% of near‐surface T′ to the 2021 Pacific Northwest (PNW) heatwaveImportance of upstream sources of free‐tropospheric T′ corroborate top‐down induced formation of PNW heatwave fueled by WCBs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Quantitative methods to pinpoint the origin of atmospheric temperature anomalies (T′) associated with heatwaves are pivotal for the construction of physically plausible synoptic storylines of heatwave formation and their evaluation in models. Here, we combine a Lagrangian T′ decomposition with concepts from moisture tracking techniques to identify where and when the principal physical processes generate T′ and to attribute these sources to synoptic weather systems. Applying this framework to near‐surface and free‐tropospheric T′ associated with the record‐shattering 2021 heatwave in the Pacific Northwest shows that ascending, diabatic air streams in North Pacific cyclones contribute more than 50% of free‐tropospheric T′, whereas near‐surface T′ is mainly produced by local subsidence and diabatic heating with only marginal upstream contributions. Since free‐tropospheric T′ facilitates near‐surface accumulation of locally produced T′ by rendering the atmosphere stable to moist convection, our findings corroborate the notion of top‐down induced heatwave formation fueled by upstream diabatic processes.

The origin of the Mediterranean Outflow is investigated by deploying six millions virtual Lagrangian parcels at the Strait of Gibraltar, and tracing them backward in time using velocity estimates from an eddy‐permitting reanalysis. The Lagrangian parcels are followed until they intercept one of three sections. The hypothesis is that each section is associated with distinct water masses: the Gulf of Lions, related to Western Mediterranean Deep Water and Western Intermediate Water, carries 86% of the Outflow's transport; the Northern Tyrrhenian, related to Tyrrhenian Deep and Intermediate Waters, carries 1% of the transport; the Strait of Sicily, related to Levantine Intermediate Waters, carries 13% of the transport. The median transit times from the sections to the Strait of Gibraltar range from 5 years (Gulf of Lions) to 8 years (Strait of Sicily). Plain Language Summary: Parcel trajectories are used to trace water masses from the Western Mediterranean Sea to the Mediterranean Sea outflow at the Strait of Gibraltar. The velocity advecting the parcels is an estimate combining observations with an ocean circulation model that conserves mass, momentum, temperature and salinity. It is found that 86% of the parcels in the Mediterranean Sea outflow originate from the Gulf of Lions, typically taking 5 years for the journey, while 13% originates from the Strait of Sicily, typically taking 8 years to complete the trip. Key Points: Eighty‐six percent of Mediterranean outflow originates from the Gulf of Lions, and 13% originates from the Strait of SicilyThese two components of the outflow have distinct T‐S distributions at the origin, but the distinction is lost when Gibraltar is reachedMedian transit times to the Strait of Gibraltar are 5 years from the Gulf of Lions and 8 years from the Strait of Sicily [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The origin of the Mediterranean Outflow is investigated by deploying six millions virtual Lagrangian parcels at the Strait of Gibraltar, and tracing them backward in time using velocity estimates from an eddy‐permitting reanalysis. The Lagrangian parcels are followed until they intercept one of three sections. The hypothesis is that each section is associated with distinct water masses: the Gulf of Lions, related to Western Mediterranean Deep Water and Western Intermediate Water, carries 86% of the Outflow's transport; the Northern Tyrrhenian, related to Tyrrhenian Deep and Intermediate Waters, carries 1% of the transport; the Strait of Sicily, related to Levantine Intermediate Waters, carries 13% of the transport. The median transit times from the sections to the Strait of Gibraltar range from 5 years (Gulf of Lions) to 8 years (Strait of Sicily).

Kinematic backward trajectories are used to globally quantify the contributions of temperature advection, adiabatic compression and diabatic processes to near‐surface temperature anomalies (hereafter T′ ${T}^{\prime }$) during the coldest day of each year (TN1day events) based on ERA5. Diabatic cooling dominates TN1day anomalies in the climatologically coldest regions, while advection forms TN1day anomalies over most ocean regions. Over most extratropical land masses, TN1day anomalies arise from a combination of both processes. The mean age and formation distance of TN1day anomalies vary strongly in space, from one to 8 days, and 500–5,500 km, respectively. Five distinct types of TN1day events are identified from these physical and spatio‐temporal characteristics, and their geographical occurrence is investigated. Furthermore, advective, adiabatic and diabatic contributions typically cancel each other partially, but less so for the most intense TN1day events, which occur when the atmosphere's ability to dampen near‐surface temperature anomalies is limited. Plain Language Summary: This study globally quantifies the relative importance of the two physical processes that lead to large negative temperature anomalies during cold extremes at the Earth's surface. These are, first, cold air advection, that is, the transport of air from climatologically cold to warmer regions and, second, so‐called diabatic cooling which refers to cooling of the air by radiation, turbulence and processes related to phase changes of water in the air. Here, their relative importance is quantified by tracing roughly 250'000'000 air parcels contributing to cold extremes backwards in time. Cold air advection is globally the dominant process for cold extreme formation, in particular over ocean regions. Over land regions, however, the importance of diabatic cooling gradually increases toward the climatologically coldest regions. The temporal and spatial scales over which these anomalies form vary from less than a day (in tropical Africa) to more than 8 days (in Siberia), and from less than 500 km (in tropical Africa) to more than 5,000 km (in subtropical regions), respectively. The results of this study for the first time provide a global picture of how cold extremes form and will enable us to better evaluate climate models with regard to cold extreme formation. Key Points: Using kinematic backward trajectories, the physical processes contributing to near‐surface cold extremes are quantified globallyAdvection dominates over oceans, and over land the importance of diabatic cooling increases toward the climatologically coldest regionsThe most intense cold extremes form in situations with a limited ability of the atmosphere to dampen negative temperature anomalies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Kinematic backward trajectories are used to globally quantify the contributions of temperature advection, adiabatic compression and diabatic processes to near‐surface temperature anomalies (hereafter T′) during the coldest day of each year (TN1day events) based on ERA5. Diabatic cooling dominates TN1day anomalies in the climatologically coldest regions, while advection forms TN1day anomalies over most ocean regions. Over most extratropical land masses, TN1day anomalies arise from a combination of both processes. The mean age and formation distance of TN1day anomalies vary strongly in space, from one to 8 days, and 500–5,500 km, respectively. Five distinct types of TN1day events are identified from these physical and spatio‐temporal characteristics, and their geographical occurrence is investigated. Furthermore, advective, adiabatic and diabatic contributions typically cancel each other partially, but less so for the most intense TN1day events, which occur when the atmosphere's ability to dampen near‐surface temperature anomalies is limited.

In oligotrophic gyres of the tropical ocean, islands can enhance phytoplankton biomass and create hotspots of productivity and biodiversity. This "island mass effect" (IME) is typically identified by increased chlorophyll concentrations next to an island. Here we use a simple plankton model in a Lagrangian framework to represent an unexplained open ocean bloom, demonstrating how islands could have triggered it remotely. This new type of IME, termed "delayed IME," occurs when nitrate is limiting, N:P ratios are low, and excess phosphate and iron remain in water masses after an initial bloom associated with a "classical" IME. Nitrogen fixers then slowly utilize leftover phosphate and iron while water masses get advected away, resulting in a bloom decoupled in time (several weeks) and space (hundreds of kilometers) from island‐driven nutrient supply. This study suggests that the fertilizing effect of islands on phytoplankton may have been largely underestimated. Plain Language Summary: In the poor and nutrient‐depleted waters of the tropical Pacific, islands act as sources of nutrients fertilizing nearby waters. These nutrients are consumed by microscopic photosynthesizing algae, the phytoplankton. The resulting phytoplankton enrichments (blooms) in turn support productive ecosystems. This phenomenon, termed the "island mass effect," has been known for 60 years and is classically defined by increased chlorophyll (representing phytoplankton biomass) next to an island. Blooms also occur in the open ocean and are usually attributed to vertical processes such as mixing or uplifting that locally supply nutrients from subsurface reservoirs. In this paper, we demonstrate that a different type of island mass effect exists, where the phytoplankton response is delayed because they grow very slowly. These blooms are supported by the nitrogen fixer Trichodesmium. Since phytoplankton get carried away from islands by oceanic currents while they grow, this can lead to a bloom located hundreds of kilometers away with no apparent connection to the islands. Nutrient inputs by islands followed by advection can thus trigger remote blooms in the open ocean. Our study suggests that the fertilizing effect of islands may currently be largely underestimated, particularly in the warm waters of the tropical Pacific where Trichodesmimum is common. Key Points: Previously undescribed delayed island mass effects can generate intense blooms decoupled from island fertilization both in time and in spaceThese occur when diazotrophs slowly utilize excess phosphate and iron after a classical island effect while being advected away from islandsThe fertilizing impact of islands on phytoplankton may thus currently be largely underestimated in the oligotrophic ocean [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]