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Drier Mediterranean soils due to greenhouse warming bring easterly winds over summertime central Europe
Author(s) -
Haarsma Reindert J.,
Selten Frank,
Hurk Bart vd,
Hazeleger Wilco,
Wang Xueli
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1029/2008gl036617
Subject(s) - environmental science , climatology , mediterranean climate , global warming , greenhouse gas , soil water , atmospheric sciences , climate change , geology , geography , oceanography , archaeology , soil science
Western European summers become more continental in simulations for the 21st century. Anomalously large summer warming over the Mediterranean area in concert with drier soils and a reduced surface pressure can explain this change. The warming is enhanced due to soil moisture depletion which limits the cooling of the land surface by evaporation. A large‐scale Mediterranean heat low develops, bringing easterly winds over Central Europe. Statistical analysis for present‐day conditions indicates that the same mechanism operates on intra‐seasonal timescales; dry Mediterranean soils in June are correlated with high temperature and low surface pressure in July‐August. Idealized simulations confirm the relation between the surface warming of the Mediterranean area and the development of a heat low. The development of a heat low in response to dry soils induces a positive feedback: drier Mediterranean soils in summer bring easterly winds over Europe and increase the continental character of Western European summer climate.