Warming Overwhelms the Efficacy of Wet Conditions to Moderate Extreme Heat and Atmospheric Aridity Across the Central Plains. Issue 7 (3rd April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiang, Felicia; Cook, Benjamin I.; McDermid, Sonali
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 50:Issue 7(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-04-03
• Subjects: Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2023GL102939
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: While the relationships between dry land surface conditions, heat, and aridity have been well‐established, few studies have addressed whether global warming will affect the ability of wet conditions to moderate high temperatures and atmospheric aridity. Using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 models, we demonstrate that absolute changes in the monthly maximum temperature distribution during Central North American summers strongly outweigh the historical cooling effect of high precipitation and soil moisture conditions. Although wet conditions nearly always prevent concurrent extreme temperatures in the baseline period, these conditions are 40%–48% and 96%–98% less effective at 1 and 2° of global warming, respectively. However, high precipitation and soil moisture partially retain the ability to constrain concurrent high vapor pressure deficit conditions below historical thresholds at 1–2° of warming. Our results highlight the growing vulnerability of Central North America to warmer temperatures and drier atmospheric conditions, even during periods of high precipitation and soil moisture. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we examine whether warming global temperatures will affect the ability of wet conditions, which we define with precipitation or soil moisture, to prevent the occurrence of concurrent high temperatures and dry atmospheric conditions. Focusing on the Central Plains region in North America, we show that even at 1° of global warming, high precipitation, and high soil moisture conditions already partially lose the ability to prevent high maximum temperatures in the summer months. In contrast, we show that high precipitation and high soil moisture conditions are able to better retain the ability to prevent dry atmospheric conditions even at 2° of global warming. Our results indicate that the Central Plains region will quickly become more exposed to warmer and drier climate conditions, even during periods with high precipitation and soil moisture, with potentially serious implications across public health, economic, and environmental sectors. Key Points: Absolute changes in the temperature distribution due to global warming outweigh cooling effects from wet conditions in the Central Plains Meanwhile, wet conditions can still partially constrain extreme atmospheric aridity below historical levels under global warming Differences in heat and aridity responses are mainly dependent on underlying changes in the temperature and aridity distributions