Articles | Volume 5, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-345-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-345-2024
Research article
 | 
12 Mar 2024
Research article |  | 12 Mar 2024

Increasing frequency and lengthening season of western disturbances are linked to increasing strength and delayed northward migration of the subtropical jet

Kieran M. R. Hunt

Data sets

Tracks of western disturbances (1950-2022) impacting South Asia Kieran M. R. Hunt https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8208018

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

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Short summary
This study investigates changes in weather systems that bring winter precipitation to south Asia. We find that these systems, known as western disturbances, are occurring more frequently and lasting longer into the summer months. This shift is leading to devastating floods, as happened recently in north India. By analysing 70 years of weather data, we trace this change to shifts in major air currents known as the subtropical jet. Due to climate change, such events are becoming more frequent.