A new study co-authored by CMCC researcher Daniele Peano, explores how temperature changes on the Tibetan Plateau in spring can affect weather patterns across North America in summer.

Subseasonal to seasonal prediction of droughts and floods is one of the principal challenges of weather and climate predictions. In a new study, using 16 Earth System Models, researchers have found that cooling on the Tibetan Plateau leads to a chain reaction, influencing air temperatures and rainfall in parts of North America.

Scientists, including Daniele Peano, CMCC researcher in the Earth System Modelling and Data Assimilation (ESYDA) division, studied how temperature changes on the Tibetan Plateau during springtime may affect weather patterns in North America during summer.

Their findings show that when the Tibetan Plateau experiences temperature anomalies, such as cooling in spring, this sets off a chain reaction which leads to changes in air temperatures and rainfall patterns in parts of North America during summer.

Specifically, areas like northwest North America and the southern Great Plains are particularly affected, but the “wave train” of anomalies starts from the Tibetan Plateau and travels via northeast Asia and Bering Strait to then reach the western part of North America.

This would suggest that the temperature anomalies in the Tibetan Plateau are the start of a chain reaction and understanding these connections is important for predicting weather patterns on a seasonal timescale. By studying these connections, scientists can improve predictions for seasonal weather events, which is crucial for planning and preparation.

The study also highlights that the cause of surface anomalies in the Tibetan Plateau is still an open question that will be addressed in further studies.

More information:

Zhang, Y., Pan, Y., Xue, Y. et al. Near-global summer circulation response to the spring surface temperature anomaly in Tibetan Plateau –– the GEWEX/LS4P first phase experiment. Clim Dyn (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-024-07210-5