The influence of tropical cyclones on heat waves in Southeastern Australia

Parker, Tess; Berry, Gareth; Reeder, Michael J.

doi:10.1002/2013gl058257

Cited by 66 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…A heat wave is similarly defined using the 90th percentile temperatures. This definition identifies 76 hot events in Victoria, of which 32 are heat waves [see Parker et al, 2013Parker et al, , 2014.…”

Section: Methodology and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The band of enhanced precipitation from the tropics in the NW toward the upper level anticyclone in the SE seen in phases 3-6 of the MJO (Figure 2a) indicates that the interaction of tropical convection with the midlatitude flow discussed in Parker et al [2013] may lead to the reinforcement of the upper level anticyclone during some phases of the MJO. This band of enhanced precipitation is also present on the first day of all heat waves in Victoria [Parker et al, 2014].…”

Section: 1002/2014gl061736mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Given the importance of tropical convection in determining the intensity of heat waves in southeastern Australia, the current study builds on the work of Parker et al [2013] and seeks to establish the relationship (if any) between heat waves, rainfall, and the three modes of climate variability: ENSO, MJO, and SAM. In particular, this research seeks to answer three questions:…”

Section: 1002/2014gl061736mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A band of enhanced rainfall links the tropics on the NW coast of the continent to the extratropics in the southeast (SE) in both phase groups, although the pattern is more developed in phases 3-6 (Figure 2c). The typical PV-Θ structure of heat waves in Victoria consists of an upper level anticyclonic PV anomaly over the southeast of Australia, with a band of cyclonic anomaly wrapping around it [Parker et al, 2013[Parker et al, , 2014. During phases 3-6 the anticyclone is dominant, forming a monopole pattern (Figure 2a).…”

Section: Madden-julian Oscillationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, southeastern Australia warms in association with clear skies and enhanced solar radiation in regions of descent [Gupta and England, 2006;Gillett et al, 2006]. Parker et al [2013] examined the role of tropical convection (in particular, tropical cyclones) in determining the strength of heat waves in southeastern Australia in summer (December to February, DJF). Heat waves in this region are associated with upper level anticyclonic PV anomalies, which form as a result of Rossby PARKER ET AL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modes of climate variability and heat waves in Victoria, southeastern Australia

Parker

Berry

Reeder

et al. 2014

Geophysical Research Letters

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Summertime heat waves in the southeastern state of Victoria, Australia, are associated with broad anticyclonic upper level potential vorticity (PV) anomalies. The current research establishes the relationship between heat waves, precipitation, and three modes of climate variability of importance for rainfall in Australia: the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), and Southern Annular Mode (SAM). Heat waves in Victoria in summer are more common during phases 3-6 of the MJO (when convection is enhanced over the eastern Indian Ocean, Maritime Continent, and western Pacific Ocean) and La Niña phases of ENSO. The PV-Theta (Θ) structure of the heat wave and pattern of convection varies with the phase of each mode of variability. Enhanced tropical convection results in a heat wave characterized by a monopole of anticyclonic PV, whereas suppressed convection is associated with a dipole of anticyclonic and cyclonic PV.

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Section: Methodology and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 1002/2014gl061736mentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: 1002/2014gl061736mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Madden-julian Oscillationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modes of climate variability and heat waves in Victoria, southeastern Australia

Parker

Berry

Reeder

et al. 2014

Geophysical Research Letters

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Rossby waves, extreme fronts, and wildfires in southeastern Australia

Reeder

Spengler

Musgrave

2015

Geophysical Research Letters

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The most catastrophic fires in recent history in southern Australia have been associated with extreme cold fronts. Here an extreme cold front is defined as one for which the maximum temperature at 2 m is at least 17°C lower on the day following the front. An anticyclone, which precedes the cold front, directs very dry northerlies or northwesterlies from the interior of the continent across the region. The passage of the cold front is followed by strong southerlies or southwesterlies. European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts ERA‐Interim Reanalyses show that this regional synoptic pattern common to all strong cold fronts, and hence severe fire conditions, is a consequence of propagating Rossby waves, which grow to large amplitude and eventually irreversibly overturn. The process of overturning produces the low‐level anticyclone and dry conditions over southern Australia, while simultaneously producing an upper level trough and often precipitation in northeastern Australia.

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Relationships between climate variability, soil moisture, and Australian heatwaves

2015

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While it is established that low-frequency climate variability modes have a dominant role on Australia's climate, limited work to date has focused on relationships between climate variability and Australian heatwaves. Moreover, heatwaves are a distinctive type of extreme weather that can be classified by multiple characteristics, such as intensity, frequency, duration, and timing. This study identifies the relationships between known modes of climate variability that influence Australian climate, and discrete seasonal characteristics of the intensity, frequency, duration, and timing of heatwaves. The large-scale seasonal modes of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) are investigated for extended Austral summers commencing between the years 1911 and 2012. While ENSO is found to have the strongest relationship with Australian heatwave characteristics, this study finds that ENSO's influence differs between heatwave frequency, duration, intensity, and timing. Regions dominated by ENSO experience more, longer lasting and hotter heatwaves combined with an earlier commencement of the heatwave season during El Niño phases. The exception to this is southeast Australia, where SAM is generally more dominant. In contrast, the IOD provides little indication of seasonal heatwave characteristics due to its relative inactivity during the Austral summer months. Lastly, we show that antecedent soil moisture has varying strengths of relationships with Australian heatwave characteristics, exhibiting relationships with heatwave intensity and timing over some regions where none are detected between large-scale modes. However, while significant relationships between dry antecedent soil moisture and extreme heatwaves do exist over Australia, these appear to be slightly weaker than similar relationships over Europe reported in other studies.

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The influence of tropical cyclones on heat waves in Southeastern Australia

Cited by 66 publications

References 17 publications

Modes of climate variability and heat waves in Victoria, southeastern Australia

Modes of climate variability and heat waves in Victoria, southeastern Australia

Rossby waves, extreme fronts, and wildfires in southeastern Australia

Relationships between climate variability, soil moisture, and Australian heatwaves

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