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标题：Atlantic Ocean influence on Middle East summer surface air temperature
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作者：Muhammad Azhar Ehsan ; Dario Nicolì ; Fred Kucharski 等
期刊名称：npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
电子版ISSN：2397-3722
出版年度：2020
卷号：3
期号：1
页码：1-8
DOI：10.1038/s41612-020-0109-1
出版社：Nature Publishing Group
摘要：Middle East surface air temperature (ME-SAT); during boreal summer (June to August: JJA); shows robust multidecadal variations for the period 1948−2016. Here; using observational and reanalysis datasets; as well as coupled atmosphere–ocean model simulations; we linked the observed summer ME-SAT variability to the multidecadal variability of sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic Ocean (AMV). This Atlantic−ME connection during summer involves ocean–atmosphere interactions through multiple ocean basins; with an influence from the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The downstream response to Atlantic SST is a weakening of the subtropical westerly jet stream that impacts summer ME-SAT variability through a wave-like pattern in the upper tropospheric levels. The Atlantic SST response is further characterized by positive geopotential height anomalies in the upper levels over the Eurasian region and a dipole-like pressure distribution over the ME in lower levels. For positive Atlantic SST anomalies this pressure gradient initiates anomalous low-level southerly flow; which transports moisture from the neighboring water bodies toward the extremely hot and dry ME landmass. The increase in atmospheric moisture reduces the longwave radiation damping of the SAT anomaly; increasing further ME-SAT. A suite of Atlantic Pacemaker experiments skillfully reproduces the North Atlantic–ME teleconnection. Our findings reveal that in observations and models the Atlantic Ocean acts as a critical pacemaker for summer ME-SAT multidecadal variability and that a positive AMV can lead to enhanced summer warming over the Middle East.