A network-based detection scheme for the jet stream core

• Published in: Earth System Dynamics
• Main Authors: Molnos, Sonja, Mamdouh, Tarek, Petri, Stefan, Nocke, Thomas, Weinkauf, Tino, Coumou, Dim
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: ddc:550; Institut für Geowissenschaften; Arctic
• Online Access: https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/55340; https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-8-75-2017

The polar and subtropical jet streams are strong upper-level winds with a crucial influence on weather throughout the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. In particular, the polar jet is located between cold arctic air to the north and warmer subtropical air to the south. Strongly meandering states therefore often lead to extreme surface weather. The parameter values of the detection scheme are optimized using simulated annealing and a skill function that accounts for the zonal-mean jet stream position (Rikus, 2015). After the successful optimization process, we apply our scheme to reanalysis data covering 1979-2015 and calculate seasonal-mean probabilistic maps and trends in wind strength and position of jet streams. We present longitudinally defined probability distributions of the positions for both jets for all on the Northern Hemisphere seasons. This shows that winter is characterized by two well-separated jets over Europe and Asia (ca. 20 degrees W to 140 degrees E). In contrast, summer normally has a single merged jet over the western hemisphere but can have both merged and separated jet states in the eastern hemisphere.