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Exceptional atmospheric circulation during the “Dust Bowl”
Author(s) -
Brönnimann S.,
Stickler A.,
Griesser T.,
Ewen T.,
Grant A. N.,
Fischer A. M.,
Schraner M.,
Peter T.,
Rozanov E.,
Ross T.
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 - 10.1029/2009gl037612
Subject(s) - troposphere , atmospheric circulation , climatology , atmospheric instability , convection , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , general circulation model , geology , circulation (fluid dynamics) , jet (fluid) , walker circulation , meteorology , oceanography , climate change , geography , el niño southern oscillation , physics , wind speed , thermodynamics
The three‐dimensional, regional and large‐scale atmospheric circulation during the “Dust Bowl” is analyzed based on newly available historical upper‐air data and reconstructed upper‐level fields. The Great Plains Low Level Jet, transporting moisture into the region, was weakened on its eastern side, shallower, and penetrated less far north than during wet years. Nocturnal convection was likely suppressed by increased stability. Strong mid‐tropospheric ridging was found over the Great Plains, and upper‐tropospheric flow anomalies extended from the North Pacific across North America to the Atlantic. These findings provide a dynamical view of the “Dust Bowl” droughts, some aspects of which are distinct from other droughts. It is demonstrated that this is important for assessing predictive capabilities of current modeling systems.