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Ocean and land forcing of the record-breaking Dust Bowl heatwaves across central United States

Earth Sciences

Ocean and land forcing of the record-breaking Dust Bowl heatwaves across central United States

T. Cowan, G. C. Hegerl, et al.

Explore the riveting insights of Tim Cowan and colleagues as they unveil how the 1930s Dust Bowl's drought and extreme heatwaves were intensified by both natural phenomena and human activities. This research reveals critical connections between atmospheric conditions and vegetation feedbacks, signaling potential challenges in a warming world.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
The severe drought of the 1930s Dust Bowl decade coincided with record-breaking summer heatwaves that contributed to the socio-economic and ecological disaster over North America's Great Plains. This study uses an atmospheric-only model to show that anomalously warm North Atlantic SSTs enhanced heatwave activity through drier spring conditions. Model devegetation simulations suggest human activity fueled stronger and more frequent heatwaves through greater evaporative drying. The study highlights the potential for amplification of naturally occurring extreme events by vegetation feedbacks, creating more extreme heatwaves in a warmer world.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Jun 08, 2020
Authors
Tim Cowan, Gabriele C. Hegerl, Andrew Schurer, Simon F. B. Tett, Robert Vautard, Pascal Yiou, Aglaé Jézéquel, Friederike E. L. Otto, Luke J. Harrington, Benjamin Ng
Tags
Dust Bowl
heatwaves
drought
North Atlantic SSTs
vegetation feedbacks
climate change

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