Lengthening Dry Spells Intensify Summer Heatwaves

Abstract

A lengthening of dry spells (DSLs) has been reported by some regional studies, but its linkage with heatwaves via the feedback between soil moisture and air temperature is still not clear on the global and continental scales. Here we examine increases in the length of DSLs during summer over the global continents using in situ precipitation records. Globally, the average DSL has increased by 0.46 day/decade since the 1970s along with increased high-pressure anomalies which are found to be an important reason for the intensification of heatwaves as suggested by the robust and widespread relationships between the DSL and heatwave duration and severity in the northern extratropics. The average DSL associated with a heatwave declined over lands, implying a strengthening coupling between precipitation anomalies and heatwaves. The findings of this study suggest that the precipitation variations associated with changes in DSLs should be considered in attributions of temperature extremes.