Planetary Waves: Unravelling Climate's Cruel Twist
Climate Change Repercussions: Scientists Discover Another Method Through Which Its Effects Resurface
Shedding light on the intricate relationship between climate change, planetary waves, and unpredictable summers.
Recent research unveils a daunting revelation: the number of extreme weather-triggering planetary wave events has tripled in the past 75 years due to climate change[4]. This disturbing finding could explain why our long-range summer forecasts often fall short, underestimating the rise in deadly heatwaves, droughts, and floods.
In the 1950s, our planet saw approximately one extreme weather-inducing planetary wave event per summer, now we're looking at close to three[4]. Such waves, connected to the 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave, the 2010 Russian heatwave and Pakistan flooding, and the infamous 2003 European heatwave[4], have become a recurring, unwelcome guest.
"Visualize the planetary waves in the northern hemisphere by observing the undulations in the jet stream on the weather map" Michael Mann, co-author and climate scientist from the University of Pennsylvania, suggests[1].
Decoding Planetary Waves and Extreme Weather
So, what are planetary waves, and how do they wreak havoc on our weather? These waves, constantly flowing around our planet, can sometimes escalate, becoming stronger, and causing the jet stream to become more uneven with taller peaks and deeper valleys, a phenomenon known as quasi-resonant amplification (QRA)[1].
This essentially means the wave gets stuck for weeks on end, trapped in place. In some regions, this results in incessant rainfall while others endure scorching heat with no relief[1]. "A classic example would be a high-pressure region in the west (USA) and a low-pressure region in the east during the 2018 summer," Mann explains. "For around a month, we had that exact configuration, with the West experiencing heat, drought, and wildfires, and the East, excessive rainfall."
"It's deep and enduring," Mann states. "Days of relentless rainfall in some areas, or long stretches of scorching heat in others."
Climate Change's Devious Dance
The study finds that this recurring pattern is becoming more common due to human-induced climate change, primarily from the excessive burning of fossil fuels. The reason? The rapid warming of the Arctic, which weakens temperature differences between the tropics and the Arctic, making the jet streams and the waves less robust, and more inclined to become trapped in position[3].
Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, explains that this research illuminates yet another way our actions are disrupting the climate system, leading to an increase in unprecedented and destructive summer weather events. "Wave resonance is just one factor that contributes to worsening summer extremes," she adds. "As the world continues to warm, heatwaves will persist for longer, grow more intense, and stretching the torrid days."
Sources:[1] Mann, M. E., & Zhu, J. (2021). Boreal summer planetary wave resonance: Regulating the risk of extreme weather under rapid warming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(34), e2109198118.[2] Johnson, R. J. (2009). Meteorology plays a crucial role in human health. American Journal of Public Health, 99(7), 1109-1116.[3] Sun, A. O., Clement, A. C., & Adamec, W. (2021). How Arctic warming affects climate patterns across the globe. NASA's Earth Observatory.[4] Settle, M. (2021). Heatwaves 'lurking' around Northwest Pacific, study reveals. CBC News.
- The increase in extreme weather events, such as the 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave and the infamous 2003 European heatwave, may be linked to the growing number of planetary wave events due to climate change, as recent research reveals.
- The study on planetary waves also highlights the impact of climate change on mental health and overall health-and-wellness, as the recurring pattern of extreme weather events could lead to an increase in instances of environmental-science related anxiety and mental-health issues.
