Articles | Volume 1, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-1-191-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-1-191-2020
Research article
 | 
28 Apr 2020
Research article |  | 28 Apr 2020

A Lagrangian analysis of upper-tropospheric anticyclones associated with heat waves in Europe

Philipp Zschenderlein, Stephan Pfahl, Heini Wernli, and Andreas H. Fink

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Cited articles

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Short summary
We analyse the formation of upper-tropospheric anticyclones connected to European surface heat waves. Tracing air masses backwards from these anticyclones, we found that trajectories are diabatically heated in two branches, either by North Atlantic cyclones or by convection closer to the heat wave anticyclone. The first branch primarily affects the onset of the anticyclone, while the second branch is more relevant for the maintenance. Our results are relevant for heat wave predictions.
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