Synchronized Heat Extremes in the Northern Hemisphere Based on a Complex Network

Abstract Heat extremes occurring synchronously in multiple regions often result in more severe impacts than isolated heat events. Here we analyze observational and reanalysis data to objectively detect and examine the synchronization of heat extremes in the Northern Hemisphere and identify the regions that have remote linkages, particularly in western Europe (WEU), western North America (WNA) and the Yangtze‐Huai River Basin (YHRB). The results indicate that the intensity and frequency of synchronized heat extremes show increasing trends during 1979–2023 summer, with most events occurring in the past 20 years. The synchronized heat extremes are triggered by a quasi‐stationary Rossby wave with wavenumber 6, resembling a circum‐global teleconnection (CGT)‐like pattern along the subtropical jet. While large‐scale atmospheric circulation provides a common dynamical background, the sustaining mechanisms differ across regions. Land‐atmosphere interactions and surface processes jointly reinforce the persistence of synchronized heat extremes, providing new insights on compound event analysis.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2026-03-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl120839
Primary Topic
Climate variability and models
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Synchronized Heat Extremes in the Northern Hemisphere Based on a Complex Network

Y. C. Zhang, D. Q. Huang, H. S. Chen, X. Y. Kuang et al.
Geophysical Research Letters
Climate variability and models
article

Synchronized Heat Extremes in the Northern Hemisphere Based on a Complex Network

Y. C. Zhang, D. Q. Huang, H. S. Chen, X. Y. Kuang, W. C. Zhou, W. J. Hua, Y. Yao, D. K. Xue
article en

Abstract

Abstract Heat extremes occurring synchronously in multiple regions often result in more severe impacts than isolated heat events. Here we analyze observational and reanalysis data to objectively detect and examine the synchronization of heat extremes in the Northern Hemisphere and identify the regions that have remote linkages, particularly in western Europe (WEU), western North America (WNA) and the Yangtze‐Huai River Basin (YHRB). The results indicate that the intensity and frequency of synchronized heat extremes show increasing trends during 1979–2023 summer, with most events occurring in the past 20 years. The synchronized heat extremes are triggered by a quasi‐stationary Rossby wave with wavenumber 6, resembling a circum‐global teleconnection (CGT)‐like pattern along the subtropical jet. While large‐scale atmospheric circulation provides a common dynamical background, the sustaining mechanisms differ across regions. Land‐atmosphere interactions and surface processes jointly reinforce the persistence of synchronized heat extremes, providing new insights on compound event analysis.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 53(6)
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (CN), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (CN), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Nanjing University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 38%
Climate variability and models
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