Atmospheric blocking and weather extremes over the Euro-Atlantic sector – a review

Kautz, Lisa-Ann; Martius, Olivia; Pfahl, Stephan; Pinto, Joaquim G.; Ramos, Alexandre M.; Sousa, Pedro M.; Woollings, Tim (2022). Atmospheric blocking and weather extremes over the Euro-Atlantic sector – a review. Weather and climate dynamics, 3(1), pp. 305-336. Copernicus Publications 10.5194/wcd-3-305-2022

[img]
Preview
Text
wcd-3-305-2022.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY).

Download (1MB) | Preview

The physical understanding and timely prediction of extreme weather events are of enormous importance to society due to their associated impacts. In this article, we highlight several types of weather extremes occurring in Europe in connection with a particular atmospheric flow pattern, known as atmospheric blocking. This flow pattern effectively blocks the prevailing westerly large-scale atmospheric flow, resulting in changing flow anomalies in the vicinity of the blocking system and persistent conditions in the immediate region of its occurrence. Blocking systems are long-lasting, quasi-stationary and self-sustaining systems that occur frequently over certain regions. Their presence and characteristics have an impact on the predictability of weather extremes and can thus be used as potential indicators. The phasing between the surface and the upper-level blocking anomalies is of major importance for the development of the extreme event. In summer, heat waves and droughts form below the blocking anticyclone primarily via large-scale subsidence that leads to cloud-free skies and, thus, persistent shortwave radiative warming of the ground. In winter, cold waves that occur during atmospheric blocking are normally observed downstream or south of these systems. Here, meridional advection of cold air masses from higher latitudes plays a decisive role. Depending on their location, blocking systems also may lead to a shift in the storm track, which influences the occurrence of wind and precipitation anomalies. Due to these multifaceted linkages, compound events are often observed in conjunction with blocking conditions. In addition to the aforementioned relations, the predictability of extreme events associated with blocking and links to climate change are assessed. Finally, current knowledge gaps and pertinent research perspectives for the future are discussed.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) > MobiLab
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Physical Geography > Unit Impact
10 Strategic Research Centers > Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography > Physical Geography

UniBE Contributor:

Romppainen-Martius, Olivia

Subjects:

500 Science > 550 Earth sciences & geology
900 History > 910 Geography & travel
000 Computer science, knowledge & systems

ISSN:

2698-4016

Publisher:

Copernicus Publications

Funders:

[4] Swiss National Science Foundation

Language:

English

Submitter:

Lara Maude Zinkl

Date Deposited:

21 Feb 2023 08:42

Last Modified:

21 Feb 2023 23:27

Publisher DOI:

10.5194/wcd-3-305-2022

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/178984

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/178984

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback