Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming

Abstract Based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 multimodel simulations, this paper investigates the future changes in extreme wet‐bulb temperatures (TWs) and extreme dry‐bulb temperatures (Ts) globally under both low‐emission and high‐emission scenarios (Representative Concentrat...

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Main Authors: Pinya Wang, Yang Yang, Jianping Tang, L. Ruby Leung, Hong Liao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091462
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author Pinya Wang
Yang Yang
Jianping Tang
L. Ruby Leung
Hong Liao
author_facet Pinya Wang
Yang Yang
Jianping Tang
L. Ruby Leung
Hong Liao
author_sort Pinya Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 multimodel simulations, this paper investigates the future changes in extreme wet‐bulb temperatures (TWs) and extreme dry‐bulb temperatures (Ts) globally under both low‐emission and high‐emission scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways of 4.5 [RCP4.5] and 8.5 [RCP8.5]). Under a warming climate, T and TW exhibit a higher absolute increase in their mean values over the mid–high latitudes while they show higher relative increases in their mean values and variability over tropics. Humid and dry heat events which consist of consecutive extreme TWs and Ts show higher occurrences over tropics, governed by the joint increases in mean values and variability of TW and T therein. Humid heat events show intensifications to dry heat events with higher frequency, duration, and intensity, driven by the lower variability of TW than T. In the mid–high latitudes, heat events will start earlier and last longer in warm season under RCP8.5 than RCP4.5, motivating the need for global warming mitigation.
format Article
id doaj-art-1311c3b1ed764d78aeac8d19dff14d27
institution DOAJ
issn 0094-8276
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language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-1311c3b1ed764d78aeac8d19dff14d272025-08-20T03:04:21ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072021-01-01482n/an/a10.1029/2020GL091462Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global WarmingPinya Wang0Yang Yang1Jianping Tang2L. Ruby Leung3Hong Liao4Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology School of Environmental Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology Nanjing Jiangsu ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology School of Environmental Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology Nanjing Jiangsu ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing Jiangsu ChinaAtmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USAJiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology School of Environmental Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology Nanjing Jiangsu ChinaAbstract Based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 multimodel simulations, this paper investigates the future changes in extreme wet‐bulb temperatures (TWs) and extreme dry‐bulb temperatures (Ts) globally under both low‐emission and high‐emission scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways of 4.5 [RCP4.5] and 8.5 [RCP8.5]). Under a warming climate, T and TW exhibit a higher absolute increase in their mean values over the mid–high latitudes while they show higher relative increases in their mean values and variability over tropics. Humid and dry heat events which consist of consecutive extreme TWs and Ts show higher occurrences over tropics, governed by the joint increases in mean values and variability of TW and T therein. Humid heat events show intensifications to dry heat events with higher frequency, duration, and intensity, driven by the lower variability of TW than T. In the mid–high latitudes, heat events will start earlier and last longer in warm season under RCP8.5 than RCP4.5, motivating the need for global warming mitigation.https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091462CMIP5global warminghumid heat eventsRCP4.5RCP8.5wet‐bulb temperatures
spellingShingle Pinya Wang
Yang Yang
Jianping Tang
L. Ruby Leung
Hong Liao
Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming
Geophysical Research Letters
CMIP5
global warming
humid heat events
RCP4.5
RCP8.5
wet‐bulb temperatures
title Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming
title_full Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming
title_fullStr Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming
title_full_unstemmed Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming
title_short Intensified Humid Heat Events Under Global Warming
title_sort intensified humid heat events under global warming
topic CMIP5
global warming
humid heat events
RCP4.5
RCP8.5
wet‐bulb temperatures
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091462
work_keys_str_mv AT pinyawang intensifiedhumidheateventsunderglobalwarming
AT yangyang intensifiedhumidheateventsunderglobalwarming
AT jianpingtang intensifiedhumidheateventsunderglobalwarming
AT lrubyleung intensifiedhumidheateventsunderglobalwarming
AT hongliao intensifiedhumidheateventsunderglobalwarming