Is record rain in California linked to Tibetan Plateau heat?
What's the story
A new study has established a link between abnormally high temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau and record-breaking rainstorms in California. The research, led by scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), highlights a previously unknown climate connection. The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances.
Climate correlation
Extreme weather events
The study found that the extreme rain events in California during the winters of 2016-2017 and 2022-2023 came after periods of unusually high land surface temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau.
These weather patterns caused billions of dollars in damage and several deaths in years when drier conditions were expected.
The research highlights how climate anomalies can have far-reaching effects across continents.
Weather impact
Atmospheric disturbance
The study also revealed that the unusual warmth on the Tibetan Plateau helped create an atmospheric disturbance.
This disturbance traveled eastward along the jet stream, strengthening weather systems near the US West Coast.
The researchers found a Rossby wave train stretching between the Tibetan Plateau and the Rocky Mountains, which intensified atmospheric conditions over California and neighboring states when it reached the northeastern Pacific.
Weather systems
Atmospheric rivers
The atmospheric disturbance from the Tibetan Plateau's heat intensified atmospheric rivers along the US Pacific Coast.
These narrow corridors transport huge amounts of water vapor and are major drivers of precipitation and flooding in the western United States.
The study found that the interaction between these atmospheric rivers and Rossby waves contributed to the extreme rainfall during California's 2017 and 2023 winters, causing $6.6 billion in damage and killing at least nine people.
Forecasting advancements
Early warning systems
The study's authors say recognizing this teleconnection could improve early-warning systems for extreme weather in the western United States.
If forecasters monitor unusual warming over the Tibetan Plateau, they may gain an additional clue about potentially dangerous weather weeks later.
The research highlights a unique atmospheric connection between the Tibetan Plateau and western US, underscoring how distant climate signals could improve warnings for future extreme rainfall events.