
Open access
Date
2020-05-16Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 18 times in
Web of Science
Cited 20 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
The frequency and intensity of heat waves in the United States is projected to increase in the 21st century. We investigate dry and humid heat waves in a pair of high‐resolution model simulations that constrain large‐scale atmospheric circulation, to isolate the thermodynamic impacts on characteristics of present and future heat waves over the United States. The two kinds of heat waves show differences in mean intensity, amplitude, duration, and frequency over the Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest, while their characteristics are largely similar in the drier central and western United States. In a warmer climate, relative humidity is projected to decrease during dry heat waves, whereas it remains unchanged during humid heat waves. However, the overall increase in daily maximum temperature intensifies the heat stress during future humid and dry heat waves across all regions. With large‐scale circulation constrained, these simulations emphasize the importance of thermodynamic drivers in determining future heat wave characteristics. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000415873Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Geophysical Research LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
WileyMore
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Citations
Cited 18 times in
Web of Science
Cited 20 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics