A climatology of Australian heat low events
Article
Article Title | A climatology of Australian heat low events |
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ERA Journal ID | 1969 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | |
Author | Lavender, Sally L. |
Journal Title | International Journal of Climatology |
Journal Citation | 37 (1), pp. 534-539 |
Number of Pages | 6 |
Year | 2017 |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 0899-8418 |
1097-0088 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.4692 |
Web Address (URL) | https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/joc.4692 |
Abstract | Heat lows are a persistent feature over northern Australia between the Austral late spring and early autumn. The first ever multi-decadal climatology of individual Australian heat lows is presented here, based on an automated detection scheme applied to 35 years of ERA-Interim reanalysis data. Australian heat lows occur most frequently over the northwest of the continent and exhibit a pronounced seasonal cycle in both their frequency and intensity. Heat lows occur in response to surface heating and are most common over Australia during December and January when they can be detected on 95% of days. These months are also when the heat lows are most intense in terms of the central pressure and low-level cyclonic circulation. A composite heat low based on all heat low detections enables the three-dimensional structure of the heat lows to be analysed. The shallow nature of the heat low is clearly evident, and the structure is consistent with heat low observations in other regions of the globe. The similarity between the results presented here and the results of previous modelling studies as well as possible links between Australian heat lows and local weather is discussed. © 2016 Royal Meteorological Society |
Keywords | Australia; circulation; climate; heat low; boiler circulation; earth atmosphere; automated detection; cyclonic circulation; Northern Australia; persistent feature; three-dimensional structure; climatology; atmospheric circulation; autumn; climate modeling; heat flow; modeling; surface flux; three-dimensional modeling |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370202. Climatology |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q51y0/a-climatology-of-australian-heat-low-events
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