Atmospheric Rivers in the Eastern and Midwestern United States Associated With Baroclinic Waves

• Published in: Geophysical research letters 2024-04, Vol.51 (8), p.n/a
• Main Authors: O’Brien, Travis A., Loring, Burlen, Dufek, Amanda Sabatini, Islam, Mohammad Rubaiat, Kamnani, Diya, Quagraine, Kwesi Twentwewa, Kirkpatrick, Cody
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric water; Baroclinic waves; Climate and weather; Climate change; Climate models; Coastal zone; Coasts; Extreme weather; Future climates; GEOSCIENCES; Hydrologic cycle; Hydrological cycle; Interiors; Mesoscale processes; Moisture flux; Mountains; Planetary waves; Rivers; Rossby waves; Scientific research; Water resources; Waves; Weather; Weather conditions; Weather patterns; Winds
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2023GL107236

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) significantly impact the hydrological cycle and associated extremes in western continental regions. Recent studies suggest ARs also influence water resources and extremes in continental interiors. AR detection tools indicate that AR conditions are relatively frequent in areas east of the Rocky Mountains. The origin of these ARs, whether from synoptic‐scale waves or mesoscale processes, is unclear. This study uses meteorological composite maps and transects of AR conditions during the four seasons. The analysis reveals that ARs east of the Rockies are associated with long‐wave, baroclinic Rossby waves. This result demonstrates that eastern North American ARs are dynamically similar to their western coastal counterparts, though mechanisms for vertical moisture flux differ between the two. These findings provide a foundation for understanding future climate change and ARs in this region and offer new methods for evaluating climate model simulations. Plain Language Summary Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are a weather pattern that brings high amounts of atmospheric water and winds in a relatively narrow region. ARs are typically considered a “west coast” phenomenon, largely because the majority of the scientific research on ARs has focused on ARs in western coastal regions: particularly the western United States (US). ARs occur in continental interiors, but there has been some debate about whether these ARs represent the same type of weather as those in western coastal regions. This paper uses two objective methods for identifying ARs and finds times when ARs are present in three locations in the eastern half of the US: Norman, OK, Bloomington, IN, and Washington, DC. Examination of weather conditions during these AR times shows remarkable similarity to conditions associated with west coast ARs. This gives strong evidence that ARs do occur in the eastern half of the US. This result is important because it suggests that ARs may be important for water resources and extreme weather in the eastern half of the US, just as they are in the western US. This result also suggests that ARs may be important for water resources and extremes in other continental interiors. Key Points Atmospheric rivers (ARs) east of the Rockies are associated with baroclinic waves Western coastal ARs and eastern/midwest ARs are dynamically similar Synoptic‐scale uplift, combined with convective instability, provide efficient mechanisms for generating precipitation