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Role of Mediterranean SST in enhancing the European heat wave of summer 2003
Author(s) -
Feudale L.,
Shukla J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl027991
Subject(s) - anticyclone , climatology , sea surface temperature , anomaly (physics) , mediterranean climate , mediterranean sea , heat wave , amplitude , environmental science , general circulation model , geology , atmospheric sciences , oceanography , physics , climate change , geography , quantum mechanics , condensed matter physics , archaeology
During summer 2003 Europe was affected by one of the driest and most persistent heat waves. During this event, the Mediterranean Sea surface temperature (SST) was exceptionally warm (SST anomalies of 2–4°C). We investigate the possible role of the Mediterranean SST in enhancing the amplitude of the heat wave. Several Atmospheric General Circulation Model (AGCM) sensitivity experiments were conducted with and without Mediterranean SST anomalies. First it was found that the AGCM was able to simulate the evolution and structure of the heat wave using observed global SST anomalies. The experiment with SST anomalies over the Mediterranean only was also able to simulate the upper level anticyclone over central Europe, even though it was weaker, and about half of the amplitude of the heat wave of the global SST anomaly experiment.