The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast
Atmospheric river (AR) systems play a significant role in the simultaneous occurrence of high coastal water levels and heavy precipitation in the Netherlands. Based on observed precipitation values (E-OBS) and the output of a numerical storm surge model (WAQUA/DSCMv5) forced with ERA-Interim sea lev...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:nhess70315 2023-05-15T17:28:53+02:00 The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast Ridder, Nina Vries, Hylke Drijfhout, Sybren 2018-12-14 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-3311-2018 https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/18/3311/2018/ eng eng doi:10.5194/nhess-18-3311-2018 https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/18/3311/2018/ eISSN: 1684-9981 Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-3311-2018 2020-07-20T16:23:01Z Atmospheric river (AR) systems play a significant role in the simultaneous occurrence of high coastal water levels and heavy precipitation in the Netherlands. Based on observed precipitation values (E-OBS) and the output of a numerical storm surge model (WAQUA/DSCMv5) forced with ERA-Interim sea level pressure and wind fields, we find that the majority of compound events (CEs) between 1979 and 2015 have been accompanied by the presence of an AR over the Netherlands. In detail, we show that CEs have a 3 to 4 times higher chance of occurrence on days with an AR over the Netherlands compared to any random day (i.e. days without knowledge on presence of an AR). In contrast, the occurrence of a CE on a day without AR is 3 times less likely than on any random day. Additionally, by isolating and assessing the prevailing sea level pressure (SLP) and sea surface temperature (SST) conditions with and without AR involvement up to 7 days before the events, we show that the presence of ARs constitutes a specific type of forcing conditions that (i) resemble the SLP anomaly patterns during the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO+) with a north–south pressure dipole over the North Atlantic and (ii) cause a cooling of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre and eastern boundary upwelling zone while warming the western boundary of the North Atlantic. These conditions are clearly distinguishable from those during compound events without the influence of an AR which occur under SLP conditions resembling the East Atlantic (EA) pattern with a west–east pressure dipole over northern Europe and are accompanied by a cooling of the West Atlantic. Thus, this study shows that ARs are a useful tool for the early identification of possible harmful meteorological conditions over the Netherlands and supports an effort for the establishment of an early warning system. Text North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 18 12 3311 3326 |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
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English |
description |
Atmospheric river (AR) systems play a significant role in the simultaneous occurrence of high coastal water levels and heavy precipitation in the Netherlands. Based on observed precipitation values (E-OBS) and the output of a numerical storm surge model (WAQUA/DSCMv5) forced with ERA-Interim sea level pressure and wind fields, we find that the majority of compound events (CEs) between 1979 and 2015 have been accompanied by the presence of an AR over the Netherlands. In detail, we show that CEs have a 3 to 4 times higher chance of occurrence on days with an AR over the Netherlands compared to any random day (i.e. days without knowledge on presence of an AR). In contrast, the occurrence of a CE on a day without AR is 3 times less likely than on any random day. Additionally, by isolating and assessing the prevailing sea level pressure (SLP) and sea surface temperature (SST) conditions with and without AR involvement up to 7 days before the events, we show that the presence of ARs constitutes a specific type of forcing conditions that (i) resemble the SLP anomaly patterns during the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO+) with a north–south pressure dipole over the North Atlantic and (ii) cause a cooling of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre and eastern boundary upwelling zone while warming the western boundary of the North Atlantic. These conditions are clearly distinguishable from those during compound events without the influence of an AR which occur under SLP conditions resembling the East Atlantic (EA) pattern with a west–east pressure dipole over northern Europe and are accompanied by a cooling of the West Atlantic. Thus, this study shows that ARs are a useful tool for the early identification of possible harmful meteorological conditions over the Netherlands and supports an effort for the establishment of an early warning system. |
format |
Text |
author |
Ridder, Nina Vries, Hylke Drijfhout, Sybren |
spellingShingle |
Ridder, Nina Vries, Hylke Drijfhout, Sybren The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast |
author_facet |
Ridder, Nina Vries, Hylke Drijfhout, Sybren |
author_sort |
Ridder, Nina |
title |
The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast |
title_short |
The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast |
title_full |
The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast |
title_fullStr |
The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast |
title_full_unstemmed |
The role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the Dutch coast |
title_sort |
role of atmospheric rivers in compound events consisting of heavy precipitation and high storm surges along the dutch coast |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-3311-2018 https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/18/3311/2018/ |
genre |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
op_source |
eISSN: 1684-9981 |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/nhess-18-3311-2018 https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/18/3311/2018/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-3311-2018 |
container_title |
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
3311 |
op_container_end_page |
3326 |
_version_ |
1766122013390274560 |