Unravelling the atmospheric dynamics involved in flash drought development over Spain

• Published in: International Journal of Climatology
• Main Authors: Noguera, Iván, Domínguez-Castro, Fernando, Vicente Serrano, Sergio M., García-Herrera, Ricardo, Garrido-Pérez, José M., Trigo, Ricardo M., Sousa, Pedro M.
• Other Authors: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas https://ror.org/02gfc7t72
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley & Sons 2024
• Subjects: Large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns; NAO; Ridges and blocks; Saharan intrusions; Weather types; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/378923; https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8592; https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85201623696

Flash droughts (FDs) are distinguished by a rapid development associated with strong precipitation deficits and/or increases in atmospheric evaporative demand in the short-term, but little is known about the atmospheric conditions underlying these events. In this study, we analyse for the first time the atmospheric dynamics involved in the development of FDs in Spain over the period 1961–2018. FDs are related to large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns affecting the region, in particular with the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The NAO is the main atmospheric driver of FDs in winter and autumn, and it is essential in explaining FD development in spring. We also found that FDs are typically linked to strong positive anomalies in 500 hPa geopotential height and sea level pressure over the region during the weeks prior to the onset. At the synoptic scale, the most common weather types (WTs) recorded during the development of FDs are Anticyclonic Western (ANT_W_AD), East (E_AD) and Northeast (NE_AD) advection, and Anticyclonic (ANTICYC). In particular, ANTICYC WT is the main atmospheric driver of FDs in summer. Ridging conditions occur frequently during FDs in all seasons, being the most important factor controlling FD development in spring. Likewise, we noted that some of the FDs recorded in summer are related to and/or exacerbated by Saharan air intrusions associated with pronounced ridges. The results of this research have important implications for the understanding, monitoring and prediction of FDs in Spain, providing a detailed assessment of the main atmospheric dynamics involved in FD triggering at different spatial scales. This work has been supported by the research projects: TED2021-129152B-C41, PID2020-116860RB-C22 and PID2022-218 137244OB-I00 financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Peer reviewed