Earlier seasonal onset of intense mesoscale convective systems in the Congo Basin since 1999

Taylor, Christopher M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-3198; Fink, Andreas H.; Klein, Cornelia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6686-0458; Parker, Douglas J.; Guichard, Francoise; Harris, Philip P.; Knapp, Kenneth R.. 2018 Earlier seasonal onset of intense mesoscale convective systems in the Congo Basin since 1999. Geophysical Research Letters, 45 (24). 13458-13467. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080516

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080516

Abstract/Summary

Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) produce some of the most intense rainfall on the planet, and their response to climate variability and change is rather uncertain. Under global warming, increased water vapour is expected to intensify the most extreme rain events and enhance flood frequency. However, MCS dynamics are also sensitive to other atmospheric variables, most notably, wind shear. Here we build on a recent study showing strong MCS intensification in the African Sahel, and examine evidence of similar trends elsewhere in tropical Africa. Using satellite data, we find a remarkable increase post‐1999 in intense MCS frequency over the Congo Basin during the month of February. This earlier onset of the spring rainy season has been accompanied by strong increases in the February meridional temperature gradient and associated wind shear. This supports the hypothesis that contrasts in warming across the continent can drive important decadal‐scale trends in storm intensity

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080516
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	MCSs, Africa, extreme storms
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology
Date made live:	20 Dec 2018 10:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/521841

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080516

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

MCSs, Africa, extreme storms