Articles | Volume 7, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-597-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-597-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Apr 2026
Research article |
| 16 Apr 2026
| 16 Apr 2026
A combined storyline-statistical approach for conditional extreme event attribution
Institute of Coastal Systems, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Alexander Lemburg
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Andreas H. Fink
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Joaquim G. Pinto
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
Frauke Feser
Institute of Coastal Systems, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
Related authors
Dalena León-FonFay, Theodore G. Shepherd, Linda van Garderen, and Frauke Feser
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5459, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5459, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
Short summary
Short summary
With a growing interest in using long-term storyline simulations for climate change attribution, we argue that this is not just a longer of storyline analysis, but a new conceptual object placed between a conventional free-running climate model and an event-based storyline. Therefore, we revisit conceptual interpretation of multi-year storyline simulations, examine the implications of viewing them as conditional climate trajectories, and suggest potential applications of this emerging object.
Felipe de L. L. de Amorim, Frauke Feser, and Ralf Weisse
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5306, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5306, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS).
Short summary
Short summary
Using storylines, we explored how climate change has affected and may affect the winds and rainfall linked to a specific series of storms. Compared with pre-industrial conditions, we found increases of at least 4% in wind speed and 24% in rainfall. Storylines can help people understand how human-caused climate change affects specific extreme weather events and why these changes occur.
Dalena León-FonFay, Theodore G. Shepherd, Linda van Garderen, and Frauke Feser
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5459, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-5459, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
Short summary
Short summary
With a growing interest in using long-term storyline simulations for climate change attribution, we argue that this is not just a longer of storyline analysis, but a new conceptual object placed between a conventional free-running climate model and an event-based storyline. Therefore, we revisit conceptual interpretation of multi-year storyline simulations, examine the implications of viewing them as conditional climate trajectories, and suggest potential applications of this emerging object.
Kai Kornhuber, Emanuele Bevacqua, Mariana Madruga de Brito, Wiebke S. Jäger, Pauline Rivoire, Cassandra D. W. Rogers, Fabiola Banfi, Fulden Batibeniz, James Carruthers, Carlo De Michele, Silvia De Angeli, Cristina Deidda, Marleen C. de Ruiter, Andreas H. Fink, Henrique M. D. Goulart, Katharina Küpfer, Patrick Ludwig, Douglas Maraun, Gabriele Messori, Shruti Nath, Fiachra O'Loughlin, Joaquim G. Pinto, Benjamin Poschlod, Alexandre M. Ramos, Colin Raymond, Andreia F. S. Ribeiro, Deepti Singh, Laura Suarez Gutierrez, Philip J. Ward, and Christopher J. White
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4309–4334, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-4309-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-4309-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Impacts from extreme weather events may become more severe due to increased likelihood of compounding events under global warming, which challenge present day climate modelling and forecasting capacities. In this perspective we reflect on the usability of compound event research to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications.
Svenja Christ, Tyler C. Leicht, Jennifer L. Catto, Jacob Maddison, Julian Quinting, and Joaquim G. Pinto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4772, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4772, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
Short summary
Short summary
This study compares the pressure tendency equation (PTE) and piecewise potential vorticity (PV) inversion to assess methodological uncertainty in quantifying diabatic contributions to extratropical cyclone intensification for four high-impact European cyclones. For most cyclones, PTE and PV inversion yield consistent results regarding the role of diabatic processes, with cyclones with strong diabatic heating contributions tending to be associated with enhanced low- to mid-level PV forcing.
Ned C. Williams, Wolfgang A. Müller, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Earth Syst. Dynam., 17, 1007–1023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-1007-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-1007-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Decadal forecasts use models to predict near-term natural and human-induced climate changes. Large scale pressure patterns affect surface impacts, but in summer they are hard to predict. North Atlantic surface temperatures are known to influence these patterns in summer. We find that a large set of retrospective decadal forecasts can predict this ocean-atmosphere interaction but also underestimates it, consistent with other predictable North Atlantic pressure patterns in climate forecasts.
Aditya N. Mishra, Gabriele Messori, Lukas Riedel, Athul Rasheeda Satheesh, and Joaquim Pinto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3099, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3099, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Windstorms cause billions in damage across Europe every year. In this work, we tune an existing windstorm damage model against new reliable insurance data from Europe. We found that the mathematical method used in the process strongly shapes which storms the model handles best. Our results give scientists and insurers clearer guidance on choosing the right approach when building windstorm risk models, ultimately helping society better prepare for costly extreme weather.
A. Serkan Bayar, Joaquim G. Pinto, Célia M. Gouveia, and Alexandre M. Ramos
Earth Syst. Dynam., 17, 929–954, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-929-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-929-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Europe is warming faster than the global average, raising concerns about future wildfire risks. Using regional climate models, we find that extreme fire weather is projected to become more severe, more frequent, and more widespread across the continent, especially if global warming reaches 3 °C. The projected increase is mainly linked to a drier atmosphere. Our findings highlight the need to limit warming and strengthen adaptation practices to protect vulnerable ecosystems and communities.
N'Datchoh Evelyne Touré, Peter Knippertz, Andreas H. Fink, Marlon Maranan, Julia Bruckert, Gholamali Hoshyaripour, Jasmin Haupt, and Arona Diedhiou
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3128, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3128, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
Short summary
Short summary
Rapid urbanization in Africa drives increasing air pollution. Once released, pollutants can travel long distances and impact remote areas. Here, we investigate the dispersion of pollutants from cities along the West African Guinean Coast by the land-sea breeze (LSB) circulation during the dry season using idealized tracer experiments with a weather prediction model. The experiments quantify the typical inland penetration of pollutants and show a transport to the Atlantic Ocean aloft.
Andreas Hense, Christoph Kottmeier, Petra Friederichs, Sebastian Buschow, Svenja Szemkus, Uwe Ulbrich, Jens Grieger, Joaquim G. Pinto, Hendrik Feldmann, Frank Kaspar, Deborah Niermann, Rike Lorenz, Florian Ruff, and Etor E. Lucio Eceiza
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2697, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2697, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The extreme events heatwaves, droughts, heavy precipitation, floods and wind storms affect socio-economic systems and generate strong public attention. They are embedded into atmospheric dynamics and are statistically rare events. Here we compile the contributions of twenty one articles of the inter-journal NHESS/ASCMO/WCD special issue by project ClimXtreme parallel to results from thirty three more publication. The conclusions underline the complexity of the results.
Ines Dillerup, Gabriele Messori, Alexander Lemburg, Sebastian Buschow, and Joaquim G. Pinto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2453, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2453, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
Short summary
Short summary
We study recurrent heatwaves in Europe from 1950–2023 at complementary spatial scales: single locations, larger connected heatwave regions (objects), and continent-wide. Recurrent heatwaves are hotter and linked to drier soils at object and continental scales, but not locally. Objects with strong local heatwave recurrence last longer and are linked to the European blocking weather pattern in June-August. Continental recurrence is distinct from both hot summers and strong local recurrence.
Christoph Braun, Florian Ehmele, Christian Beier, Edgar Fabián Espitia-Sarmiento, Hendrik Feldmann, Thomas Frisius, Beate Geyer, Marie Hundhausen, Klaus Keuler, Jürg Luterbacher, Kevin Sieck, Katja Trachte, Elena Xoplaki, and Joaquim G. Pinto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2517, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2517, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Adaptation to future climatic changes requires robust climate information. Here, a newly produced set of high-resolution climate simulations using multiple regional climate models over Germany is compared to observation-based datasets over the period 1961 to 1990. Overall, the simulations represent the observed climate well and, together with their future counterparts considering global warming, expand our knowledge about projected climatic changes to inform climate adaptation measures.
Kevin Sieck, Joaquim G. Pinto, Beate Geyer, Klaus Keuler, Christian Beier, Christoph Braun, Florian Ehmele, Hendrik Feldmann, Thomas Frisius, Philipp Heinrich, Marie Hundhausen, Ronny Petrik, and Katja Trachte
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1024, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we present the evaluation of a new generation of user informed climate simulations at scales of typical weather forecasts. It provides detailed information that are vital for climate impact studies at municipal level. Besides typical short comings of climate models in terms of deviations compared to reference data, the simulations show good agreement with observed climate especially in terms of regional patterns.
Sheena Loeffel, Philip Rupp, Selina Kiefer, Joaquim G. Pinto, Thomas Birner, and Hella Garny
Weather Clim. Dynam., 7, 895–913, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-895-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-895-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We use a dedicated simulation setup to shed light on the question whether, and why, some sudden stratospheric warming events are more likely than others to develop a surface response. We find that the propensity for downward coupling is unique to each event, and that from day one, the chance of a lower-stratospheric response can be predicted – a key step toward anticipating the surface response, moving beyond 'random' surface outcomes to quantified likelihoods of the ensuing surface response.
Tiago M. Ferreira, Ricardo M. Trigo, Joaquim G. Pinto, Julian Quinting, Svenja Christ, and Alexandre M. Ramos
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2313, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2313, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
The study analyses how atmospheric river characteristics change in relation to warm conveyor belt ascent and how these changes evolve over the extratropical cyclone lifecycle. Using reanalysis data, we show that the ascent intensifies both the moisture content and precipitation values within the atmospheric river, and that this intensification occurs around the maximum deepening point of the extratropical cyclone. These can improve weather forecasts and early warnings for floods in Europe.
Ines Dillerup, Alexander Lemburg, Sebastian Buschow, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Earth Syst. Dynam., 17, 265–289, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-265-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-17-265-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze the duration of large-scale weather patterns and their link to near-surface temperatures during heatwaves in Central Europe for 1950–2023. Compared to non-heatwave days, a stronger link between them is found on heatwave days from May to September. We relate our results to typical long-lasting weather patterns known as weather regimes. In July and August, weather patterns last longer as west winds are often blocked by Scandinavian and European blocking regimes, inducing hot extremes.
Andrea L. Campoverde, Uwe Ehret, Patrick Ludwig, and Joaquim G. Pinto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3988, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3988, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Droughts are becoming more common in Europe. Our study used vast climate data to uncover extreme unseen low-water events. These simulations show the potential droughts becoming more severe and lasting longer than the damaging 2018 event, which impacted shipping and industry. This research highlights the urgent need for adaptation measures to prevent costly economic and ecological consequences for the Rhine's waterway.
Clare M. Flynn, Julia Moemken, Joaquim G. Pinto, Michael K. Schutte, and Gabriele Messori
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 4431–4453, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-4431-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-4431-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We created a new, publicly available, database of the top 50 most extreme European winter windstorms from each of four different meteorological input data sets covering the years 1995–2015. We found variability in all aspects of our database, from which storms were included in the top 50 storms for each input to the storms' spatial variability. We urge users of our database to consider the storms as identified from two or more input sources within our database where possible.
Tanguy Jonville, Maurus Borne, Cyrille Flamant, Juan Cuesta, Olivier Bock, Pierre Bosser, Christophe Lavaysse, Andreas Fink, and Peter Knippertz
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 9765–9786, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9765-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9765-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Tropical waves structure the atmosphere. Four types of tropical waves (equatorial Rossby – ER, Kelvin, MRG-TD1, and MRG-TD2 – mixed Rossby gravity–tropical depressions) are studied using filters, satellite measurements, and in situ data from the Clouds–Atmosphere Dynamics–Dust Interaction in West Africa (CADDIWA) campaign held in September 2021 in Cabo Verde. ER waves impact temperature and humidity above 2500 m, MRG-TD1 around 3500 m, and MRG-TD2 around 2000 m. Interactions between these waves favor tropical cyclone formation.
Tiago M. Ferreira, Ricardo M. Trigo, Tomás H. Gaspar, Joaquim G. Pinto, and Alexandre M. Ramos
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 609–623, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-609-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-609-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the synoptic evolution associated with the occurrence of an atmospheric river that led to a 24 h record-breaking extreme precipitation event (120.3 mm) in Lisbon, Portugal, on 13 December 2022. The synoptic background allowed the formation, on 10 December, of an atmospheric river associated with a deep extratropical cyclone and with a high moisture content and an inflow of moisture, due to the warm conveyor belt, throughout its life cycle. The system made landfall on 12 December.
Elena Xoplaki, Florian Ellsäßer, Jens Grieger, Katrin M. Nissen, Joaquim G. Pinto, Markus Augenstein, Ting-Chen Chen, Hendrik Feldmann, Petra Friederichs, Daniel Gliksman, Laura Goulier, Karsten Haustein, Jens Heinke, Lisa Jach, Florian Knutzen, Stefan Kollet, Jürg Luterbacher, Niklas Luther, Susanna Mohr, Christoph Mudersbach, Christoph Müller, Efi Rousi, Felix Simon, Laura Suarez-Gutierrez, Svenja Szemkus, Sara M. Vallejo-Bernal, Odysseas Vlachopoulos, and Frederik Wolf
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 541–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-541-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-541-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Europe frequently experiences compound events, with major impacts. We investigate these events’ interactions, characteristics, and changes over time, focusing on socio-economic impacts in Germany and central Europe. Highlighting 2018’s extreme events, this study reveals impacts on water, agriculture, and forests and stresses the need for impact-focused definitions and better future risk quantification to support adaptation planning.
Tatiana Klimiuk, Patrick Ludwig, Antonio Sanchez-Benitez, Helge F. Goessling, Peter Braesicke, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Earth Syst. Dynam., 16, 239–255, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-239-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-239-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our study examines potential changes in heatwaves in central Europe due to global warming, using the 2019 summer heatwave as an example. By producing high-resolution storylines, we provide insights into how future heatwaves might spread, how they might persist for longer, and where stronger or weaker temperature increases may occur. This research helps us understand regional thermodynamic responses and highlights the importance of local strategies to protect communities from future heat events.
Florian Knutzen, Paul Averbeck, Caterina Barrasso, Laurens M. Bouwer, Barry Gardiner, José M. Grünzweig, Sabine Hänel, Karsten Haustein, Marius Rohde Johannessen, Stefan Kollet, Mortimer M. Müller, Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Karolina Pietras-Couffignal, Joaquim G. Pinto, Diana Rechid, Efi Rousi, Ana Russo, Laura Suarez-Gutierrez, Sarah Veit, Julian Wendler, Elena Xoplaki, and Daniel Gliksman
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 77–117, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-77-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-77-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our research, involving 22 European scientists, investigated drought and heat impacts on forests in 2018–2022. Findings reveal that climate extremes are intensifying, with central Europe being most severely impacted. The southern region showed resilience due to historical drought exposure, while northern and Alpine areas experienced emerging or minimal impacts. The study highlights the need for region-specific strategies, improved data collection, and sustainable practices to safeguard forests.
Julia Moemken, Inovasita Alifdini, Alexandre M. Ramos, Alexandros Georgiadis, Aidan Brocklehurst, Lukas Braun, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3445–3460, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3445-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3445-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
European windstorms regularly cause damage to natural and human-made environments, leading to high socio-economic losses. For the first time, we compare estimates of these losses using a meteorological loss index (LI) and the insurance loss (catastrophe) model of Aon Impact Forecasting. We find that LI underestimates high-impact windstorms compared to the insurance model. Nonetheless, due to its simplicity, LI is an effective index, suitable for estimating impacts and ranking storm events.
Selina M. Kiefer, Patrick Ludwig, Sebastian Lerch, Peter Knippertz, and Joaquim G. Pinto
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2955, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2955, 2024
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
Weather forecasts 14 days in advance generally have a low skill but not always. We identify reasons thereof depending on the atmospheric flow, shown by Weather Regimes (WRs). If the WRs during the forecasts follow climatological patterns, forecast skill is increased. The forecast of a cold-wave day is better when the European Blocking WR (high pressure around the British Isles) is present a few days before a cold-wave day. These results can be used to assess the reliability of predictions.
Andrea L. Campoverde, Uwe Ehret, Patrick Ludwig, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-134, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-134, 2024
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
We looked at how well the model WRF-Hydro performed during the 2018 drought event in the River Rhine basin, even though it is typically used for floods. We used the meteorological ERA5 reanalysis dataset to simulate River Rhine’s streamflow and adjusted the model using parameters and actual discharge measurements. We focused on Lake Constance, a key part of the basin, but found issues with the model’s lake outflow simulation. By removing the lake module, we obtained more accurate results.
Fabiola Banfi, Emanuele Bevacqua, Pauline Rivoire, Sérgio C. Oliveira, Joaquim G. Pinto, Alexandre M. Ramos, and Carlo De Michele
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2689–2704, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-2689-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-2689-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Landslides are complex phenomena causing important impacts in vulnerable areas, and they are often triggered by rainfall. Here, we develop a new approach that uses information on the temporal clustering of rainfall, i.e. multiple events close in time, to detect landslide events and compare it with the use of classical empirical rainfall thresholds, considering as a case study the region of Lisbon, Portugal. The results could help to improve the prediction of rainfall-triggered landslides.
Aleksa Stanković, Gabriele Messori, Joaquim G. Pinto, and Rodrigo Caballero
Weather Clim. Dynam., 5, 821–837, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-821-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-821-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The article studies extreme winds near the surface over the North Atlantic Ocean. These winds are caused by storms that pass through this region. The strongest storms that have occurred in the winters from 1950–2020 are studied in detail and compared to weaker but still strong storms. The analysis shows that the storms associated with the strongest winds are preceded by another older storm that travelled through the same region and made the conditions suitable for development of extreme winds.
Christoph Fischer, Andreas H. Fink, Elmar Schömer, Marc Rautenhaus, and Michael Riemer
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 4213–4228, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4213-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4213-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a method for identifying and tracking 3-D potential vorticity structures within African easterly waves (AEWs). Each identified structure is characterized by descriptors, including its 3-D position and orientation, which have been validated through composite comparisons. A trough-centric perspective on the descriptors reveals the evolution and distinct characteristics of AEWs. These descriptors serve as valuable statistical inputs for the study of AEW-related phenomena.
Matthias Fischer, Peter Knippertz, Roderick van der Linden, Alexander Lemburg, Gregor Pante, Carsten Proppe, and John H. Marsham
Weather Clim. Dynam., 5, 511–536, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-511-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-511-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our research enhances the understanding of the complex dynamics within the West African monsoon system by analyzing the impact of specific model parameters on its characteristics. Employing surrogate models, we identified critical factors such as the entrainment rate and the fall velocity of ice. Precise definition of these parameters in weather models could improve forecast accuracy, thus enabling better strategies to manage and reduce the impact of weather events.
Marcus Breil, Vanessa K. M. Schneider, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Biogeosciences, 21, 811–824, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-811-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-811-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The general impact of afforestation on the regional climate conditions in Europe during the period 1986–2015 is investigated. For this purpose, a regional climate model simulation is performed, in which afforestation during this period is considered, and results are compared to a simulation in which this is not the case. Results show that afforestation had discernible impacts on the climate change signal in Europe, which may have mitigated the local warming trend, especially in summer in Europe.
Lea Eisenstein, Benedikt Schulz, Joaquim G. Pinto, and Peter Knippertz
Weather Clim. Dynam., 4, 981–999, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-981-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-981-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Mesoscale high-wind features within extratropical cyclones can cause immense damage. In Part 1 of this work, we introduced RAMEFI (RAndom-forest-based MEsoscale wind Feature Identification), an objective, flexible identification tool for these wind features based on a probabilistic random forest. Here, we use RAMEFI to compile a climatology of the features over 19 extended winter seasons over western and central Europe, focusing on relative occurrence, affected areas and further characteristics.
Marie Hundhausen, Hendrik Feldmann, Natalie Laube, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2873–2893, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2873-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2873-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Using a convection-permitting regional climate ensemble, the magnitude of heat waves (HWs) over Germany is projected to increase by 26 % (100 %) in a 2 °C (3 °C) warmer world. The increase is strongest in late summer, relatively homogeneous in space, and accompanied by increasing variance in HW length. Tailored parameters to climate adaptation to heat revealed dependency on major landscapes, and a nonlinear, exponential increase for parameters characterizing strong heat stress is expected.
Alberto Caldas-Alvarez, Hendrik Feldmann, Etor Lucio-Eceiza, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Weather Clim. Dynam., 4, 543–565, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-543-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-543-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate convection-permitting modelling (CPM) simulations for the greater Alpine area to assess its added value compared to a 25 km resolution. A new method for severe precipitation detection is used, and the associated synoptic weather types are considered. Our results document the added value of CPM for precipitation representation with higher intensities, better rank correlation, better hit rates, and an improved amount and structure, but with an overestimation of the rates.
Marcus Breil, Annabell Weber, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Biogeosciences, 20, 2237–2250, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2237-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2237-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
A promising strategy for mitigating burdens of heat extremes in Europe is to replace dark coniferous forests with brighter deciduous forests. The consequence of this would be reduced absorption of solar radiation, which should reduce the intensities of heat periods. In this study, we show that deciduous forests have a certain cooling effect on heat period intensities in Europe. However, the magnitude of the temperature reduction is quite small.
Daniel Gliksman, Paul Averbeck, Nico Becker, Barry Gardiner, Valeri Goldberg, Jens Grieger, Dörthe Handorf, Karsten Haustein, Alexia Karwat, Florian Knutzen, Hilke S. Lentink, Rike Lorenz, Deborah Niermann, Joaquim G. Pinto, Ronald Queck, Astrid Ziemann, and Christian L. E. Franzke
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2171–2201, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2171-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2171-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Wind and storms are a major natural hazard and can cause severe economic damage and cost human lives. Hence, it is important to gauge the potential impact of using indices, which potentially enable us to estimate likely impacts of storms or other wind events. Here, we review basic aspects of wind and storm generation and provide an extensive overview of wind impacts and available indices. This is also important to better prepare for future climate change and corresponding changes to winds.
Efi Rousi, Andreas H. Fink, Lauren S. Andersen, Florian N. Becker, Goratz Beobide-Arsuaga, Marcus Breil, Giacomo Cozzi, Jens Heinke, Lisa Jach, Deborah Niermann, Dragan Petrovic, Andy Richling, Johannes Riebold, Stella Steidl, Laura Suarez-Gutierrez, Jordis S. Tradowsky, Dim Coumou, André Düsterhus, Florian Ellsäßer, Georgios Fragkoulidis, Daniel Gliksman, Dörthe Handorf, Karsten Haustein, Kai Kornhuber, Harald Kunstmann, Joaquim G. Pinto, Kirsten Warrach-Sagi, and Elena Xoplaki
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1699–1718, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1699-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1699-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive, multi-faceted analysis of the 2018 extreme summer in terms of heat and drought in central and northern Europe, with a particular focus on Germany. A combination of favorable large-scale conditions and locally dry soils were related with the intensity and persistence of the events. We also showed that such extremes have become more likely due to anthropogenic climate change and might occur almost every year under +2 °C of global warming.
Patrick Ludwig, Florian Ehmele, Mário J. Franca, Susanna Mohr, Alberto Caldas-Alvarez, James E. Daniell, Uwe Ehret, Hendrik Feldmann, Marie Hundhausen, Peter Knippertz, Katharina Küpfer, Michael Kunz, Bernhard Mühr, Joaquim G. Pinto, Julian Quinting, Andreas M. Schäfer, Frank Seidel, and Christina Wisotzky
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1287–1311, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1287-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1287-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Heavy precipitation in July 2021 led to widespread floods in western Germany and neighboring countries. The event was among the five heaviest precipitation events of the past 70 years in Germany, and the river discharges exceeded by far the statistical 100-year return values. Simulations of the event under future climate conditions revealed a strong and non-linear effect on flood peaks: for +2 K global warming, an 18 % increase in rainfall led to a 39 % increase of the flood peak in the Ahr river.
Marcus Breil, Felix Krawczyk, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 243–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-243-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-243-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We provide evidence that biogeophysical effects of afforestation can counteract the favorable biogeochemical climate effect of reduced CO2 concentrations. By changing the land surface characteristics, afforestation reduces vegetation surface temperatures, resulting in a reduced outgoing longwave radiation in summer, although CO2 concentrations are reduced. Since forests additionally absorb a lot of solar radiation due to their dark surfaces, afforestation has a total warming effect.
Susanna Mohr, Uwe Ehret, Michael Kunz, Patrick Ludwig, Alberto Caldas-Alvarez, James E. Daniell, Florian Ehmele, Hendrik Feldmann, Mário J. Franca, Christian Gattke, Marie Hundhausen, Peter Knippertz, Katharina Küpfer, Bernhard Mühr, Joaquim G. Pinto, Julian Quinting, Andreas M. Schäfer, Marc Scheibel, Frank Seidel, and Christina Wisotzky
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 525–551, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-525-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-525-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The flood event in July 2021 was one of the most severe disasters in Europe in the last half century. The objective of this two-part study is a multi-disciplinary assessment that examines the complex process interactions in different compartments, from meteorology to hydrological conditions to hydro-morphological processes to impacts on assets and environment. In addition, we address the question of what measures are possible to generate added value to early response management.
Moritz Zemann, Roderick van der Linden, Dan Trinh Cong, Duong Hoang Thai Vu, Nguyet Minh Nguyen, Frank Seidel, Peter Oberle, Franz Nestmann, and Andreas H. Fink
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1447, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1447, 2023
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
The study investigates the possibility to predict wave heights close to the coast of the Mekong Delta based on long time climate model wave heights which are only availabe offshore. Due to severe coastal erosion in the Mekong Delta with average land loss rates of up to 10m per year, the coast needs to be protected from wave attacks e.g. by breakwaters. To design a breakwater in the right dimensions for the local conditions, the knowledge of wave heights is essential to the performing engineer.
Lea Eisenstein, Benedikt Schulz, Ghulam A. Qadir, Joaquim G. Pinto, and Peter Knippertz
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 1157–1182, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-1157-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-1157-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Mesoscale high-wind features within extratropical cyclones can cause immense damage. Here, we present RAMEFI, a novel approach to objectively identify the wind features based on a probabilistic random forest. RAMEFI enables a wide range of applications such as probabilistic predictions for the occurrence or a multi-decadal climatology of these features, which will be the focus of Part 2 of the study, with the goal of improving wind and, specifically, wind gust forecasts in the long run.
Christoph Fischer, Andreas H. Fink, Elmar Schömer, Roderick van der Linden, Michael Maier-Gerber, Marc Rautenhaus, and Michael Riemer
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 4447–4468, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4447-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4447-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Potential vorticity (PV) analysis plays a central role in studying atmospheric dynamics. For example, anomalies in the PV field near the tropopause are linked to extreme weather events. In this study, an objective strategy to identify these anomalies is presented and evaluated. As a novel concept, it can be applied to three-dimensional (3-D) data sets. Supported by 3-D visualizations, we illustrate advantages of this new analysis over existing studies along a case study.
Assaf Hochman, Francesco Marra, Gabriele Messori, Joaquim G. Pinto, Shira Raveh-Rubin, Yizhak Yosef, and Georgios Zittis
Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 749–777, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-749-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-749-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Gaining a complete understanding of extreme weather, from its physical drivers to its impacts on society, is important in supporting future risk reduction and adaptation measures. Here, we provide a review of the available scientific literature, knowledge gaps and key open questions in the study of extreme weather events over the vulnerable eastern Mediterranean region.
Lisa-Ann Kautz, Olivia Martius, Stephan Pfahl, Joaquim G. Pinto, Alexandre M. Ramos, Pedro M. Sousa, and Tim Woollings
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 305–336, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-305-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-305-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric blocking is associated with stationary, self-sustaining and long-lasting high-pressure systems. They can cause or at least influence surface weather extremes, such as heat waves, cold spells, heavy precipitation events, droughts or wind extremes. The location of the blocking determines where and what type of extreme event will occur. These relationships are also important for weather prediction and may change due to global warming.
Animesh K. Gain, Yves Bühler, Pascal Haegeli, Daniela Molinari, Mario Parise, David J. Peres, Joaquim G. Pinto, Kai Schröter, Ricardo M. Trigo, María Carmen Llasat, and Heidi Kreibich
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 985–993, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-985-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-985-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
To mark the 20th anniversary of Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS), an interdisciplinary and international journal dedicated to the public discussion and open-access publication of high-quality studies and original research on natural hazards and their consequences, we highlight 11 key publications covering major subject areas of NHESS that stood out within the past 20 years.
Adrien Deroubaix, Laurent Menut, Cyrille Flamant, Peter Knippertz, Andreas H. Fink, Anneke Batenburg, Joel Brito, Cyrielle Denjean, Cheikh Dione, Régis Dupuy, Valerian Hahn, Norbert Kalthoff, Fabienne Lohou, Alfons Schwarzenboeck, Guillaume Siour, Paolo Tuccella, and Christiane Voigt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3251–3273, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3251-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
During the summer monsoon in West Africa, pollutants emitted in urbanized areas modify cloud cover and precipitation patterns. We analyze these patterns with the WRF-CHIMERE model, integrating the effects of aerosols on meteorology, based on the numerous observations provided by the Dynamics-Aerosol-Climate-Interactions campaign. This study adds evidence to recent findings that increased pollution levels in West Africa delay the breakup time of low-level clouds and reduce precipitation.
Florian Ehmele, Lisa-Ann Kautz, Hendrik Feldmann, Yi He, Martin Kadlec, Fanni D. Kelemen, Hilke S. Lentink, Patrick Ludwig, Desmond Manful, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 677–692, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-677-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-677-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
For various applications, it is crucial to have profound knowledge of the frequency, severity, and risk of extreme flood events. Such events are characterized by very long return periods which observations can not cover. We use a large ensemble of regional climate model simulations as input for a hydrological model. Precipitation data were post-processed to reduce systematic errors. The representation of precipitation and discharge is improved, and estimates of long return periods become robust.
Kim H. Stadelmaier, Patrick Ludwig, Pascal Bertran, Pierre Antoine, Xiaoxu Shi, Gerrit Lohmann, and Joaquim G. Pinto
Clim. Past, 17, 2559–2576, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2559-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2559-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We use regional climate simulations for the Last Glacial Maximum to reconstruct permafrost and to identify areas of thermal contraction cracking of the ground in western Europe. We find ground cracking, a precondition for the development of permafrost proxies, south of the probable permafrost border, implying that permafrost was not the limiting factor for proxy development. A good agreement with permafrost and climate proxy data is achieved when easterly winds are modelled more frequently.
Cited articles
Barriopedro, D., García-Herrera, R., Ordoñez, C., Miralles, D. G., and Salcedo-Sanz, S.: Heat Waves: Physical Understanding and Scientific Challenges, Rev. Geophys., 61, e2022RG000780, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022RG000780, 2023. a, b
Barriopedro, D., Jiménez-Esteve, B., Collazo, S., Garrido-Perez, J. M., Johnson, J. E., and García-Herrera, R.: A Multimethod Attribution Analysis of Spain's 2024 Extreme Precipitation Event, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 106, E2440–E2460, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-25-0049.1, 2025. a
Davini, P. and d'Andrea, F.: From CMIP3 to CMIP6: Northern Hemisphere atmospheric blocking simulation in present and future climate, J. Climate, 33, 10021–10038, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0862.1, 2020. a
Eyring, V., Gillett, N. P., Achuta Rao, K. M., Barimalala, R., Barreiro Parrillo, M., Bellouin, N., Cassou, C., Durack, P. J., Kosaka, Y., McGregor, S., Min, S., Morgenstern, O., and Sun, Y.: Human Influence on the Climate System, in: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani, A., Connors, S. L., Péan, C., Berger, S., Caud, N., Chen, Y., Goldfarb, L., Gomis, M. I., Huang, M., Leitzell, K., Lonnoy, E., Matthews, J. B. R., Maycock, T. K., Waterfield, T., Yelekçi, O., Yu, R., and Zhou, B., pp. 423–552, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896.005, 2021. a, b
Felsche, E., Böhnisch, A., Poschlod, B., and Ludwig, R.: European hot and dry summers are projected to become more frequent and expand northwards, Commun. Earth Environ., 5, 410, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01575-5, 2024. a
Feser, F. and Shepherd, T. G.: The concept of spectrally nudged storylines for extreme event attribution, Commun. Earth Environ., 6, 677, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02659-6, 2025. a, b, c
Feser, F., van Garderen, L., and Hansen, F.: The Summer Heatwave 2022 over Western Europe: An Attribution to Anthropogenic Climate Change, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 105, E2175–E2179, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-24-0017.1, 2024. a
Fischer, E. M., Rajczak, J., and Schär, C.: Changes in European summer temperature variability revisited, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL052730, 2012. a
Giorgetta, M. A., Roeckner, E., Mauritsen, T., Bader, J., Crueger, T., Esch, M., Rast, S., Kornblueh, L., Schmidt, H., Kinne, S., Hohenegger, C., Möbis, B., Krismer, T., Wieners, K.-H., and Stevens, B.: The atmospheric general circulation model ECHAM6 – model description, Berichte zur Erdsystemforschung, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, 135, https://doi.org/10.17617/2.1810480, 2013. a
Hannart, A., Pearl, J., Otto, F., Naveau, P., and Ghil, M.: Causal counterfactual theory for the attribution of weather and climate-related events, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 97, 99–110, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00034.1, 2016. a
Hegerl, G. C., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Casassa, G., Hoerling, M., Kovats, S., Parmesan, C., Pierce, D., and Stott, P.: Good Practice Guidance Paper on Detection and Attribution Related to Anthropogenic Climate Change, in: Meeting Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Expert Meeting on Detection and Attribution of Anthropogenic Climate Change, edited by: Stocker, T., Field, C., Qin, D., Barros, V., Plattner, G.-K., Tignor, M., Midgley, P., and Ebi, K., IPCC Working Group I Technical Support Unit, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/
Kristie-Ebi/publication/265027321_IPCC_Expert_Meeting_on _Detection_and_Attribution_Related_to_Anthropogenic_Clima te_Change/links/54d389430cf2501791823e8b/IPCC-Expert-Me eting-on-Detection-and-Attribution-Related-to-Anthropogenic-Climate-Change.pdf (last access: 10 April 2026), 2010. a
Hersbach, H., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Hirahara, S., Horányi, A., Muñoz-Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Abdalla, S., Abellan, X., Balsamo, G., Bechtold, P., Biavati, G., Bidlot, J., Bonavita, M., De Chiara, G., Dahlgren, P., Dee, D., Diamantakis, M., Dragani, R., Flemming, J., Forbes, R., Fuentes, M., Geer, A., Haimberger, L., Healy, S., Hogan, R. J., Hólm, E., Janisková, M., Keeley, S., Laloyaux, P., Lopez, P., Lupu, C., Radnoti, G., de Rosnay, P., Rozum, I., Vamborg, F., Villaume, S., and Thépaut, J.-N.: The ERA5 global reanalysis, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 146, 1999–2049, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3803, 2020. a
Hersbach, H., Comyn-Platt, E., Bell, B., Berrisford, P., Biavati, G., Hoányi, A., Muñoz Sabater, J., Nicolas, J., Peubey, C., Radu, R., Rozum, I., Schepers, D., Simmons, A., Soci, C., Dee, D., Thépaut, J.-N., Cagnazo, C., and Cucchi, M.: ERA5 post-processed daily-statistics on pressure levels from 1940 to present, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Climate Data Store (CDS) [data set], https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.4991cf48, 2023. a
Imbery, F., Friedrich, K., Koppe, C., Janssen, W., Pfeifroth, U., Daßler, J., and Bissolli, P.: 2018 wärmster Sommer im Norden und Osten Deutschlands, https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/besondereereignisse/temperatur/20180906_waermstersommer_nordenosten2018.pdf;jsessionid=794F701745200CF2245555C45667D2DD.live21072?__blob=publicationFile&v=7 (last access: 10 April 2026), 2018. a
IPCC: Summary for Policymakers, in: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani, A., Connors, S., Péan, C., Berger, S., Caud, N., Chen, Y., Goldfarb, L., Gomis, M., Huang, M., Leitzell, K., Lonnoy, E., Matthews, J., Maycock, T., Waterfield, T., Yelekçi, O., Yu, R., and Zhou, B., p. 3–32, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, Book Section, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896.001, 2021. a, b
Jézéquel, A., Yiou, P., and Radanovics, S.: Role of circulation in European heatwaves using flow analogues, Clim. Dynam., 50, 1145–1159, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-017-3667-0, 2018. a, b, c
Kalnay, E., Kanamitsu, M., Kistler, R., Collins, W., Deaven, D., Gandin, L., Iredell, M., Saha, S., White, G., Woollen, J., Zhu, Y., Chelliah, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Higgins, W., Janowiak, J., Mo, K. C., Ropelewski, C., Wang, J., Leetmaa, A., Reynolds, R., Jenne, R., and Joseph, D.: The NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 77, 437–472, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1996)0772.0.CO;2, 1996. a
Kautz, L.-A., Martius, O., Pfahl, S., Pinto, J. G., Ramos, A. M., Sousa, P. M., and Woollings, T.: Atmospheric blocking and weather extremes over the Euro-Atlantic sector – a review, Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 305–336, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-305-2022, 2022. a
Kistler, R., Kalnay, E., Collins, W., Saha, S., White, G., Woollen, J., Chelliah, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Kanamitsu, M., Kousky, V., van den Dool, H., Jenne, R., and Fiorino, M.: The NCEP–NCAR 50-year reanalysis: monthly means CD-ROM and documentation, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 82, 247–268, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(2001)082<0247:TNNYRM>2.3.CO;2, 2001. a
Klimiuk, T., Ludwig, P., Sanchez-Benitez, A., Goessling, H. F., Braesicke, P., and Pinto, J. G.: The European summer heatwave of 2019 – a regional storyline perspective, Earth Syst. Dynam., 16, 239–255, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-239-2025, 2025. a, b
Knutzen, F., Averbeck, P., Barrasso, C., Bouwer, L. M., Gardiner, B., Grünzweig, J. M., Hänel, S., Haustein, K., Johannessen, M. R., Kollet, S., Müller, M. M., Pietikäinen, J.-P., Pietras-Couffignal, K., Pinto, J. G., Rechid, D., Rousi, E., Russo, A., Suarez-Gutierrez, L., Veit, S., Wendler, J., Xoplaki, E., and Gliksman, D.: Impacts on and damage to European forests from the 2018–2022 heat and drought events, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 77–117, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-77-2025, 2025. a, b, c
Kornhuber, K., Bartusek, S., Seager, R., Schellnhuber, H. J., and Ting, M.: Global emergence of regional heatwave hotspots outpaces climate model simulations, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 121, e2411258121, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2411258121, 2024. a
León-FonFay, D., Barkhordarian, A., Feser, F., and Baehr, J.: Sensitivity of Arctic marine heatwaves to half-a-degree increase in global warming: 10-fold frequency increase and 15-fold extreme intensity likelihood, Environ. Res. Lett., 20, 014049, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ada029, 2024. a
Lhotka, O. and Kyselỳ, J.: The 2021 European heat wave in the context of past major heat waves, Earth Space Sci., 9, e2022EA002567, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EA002567, 2022. a, b
Mauritsen, T., Bader, J., Becker, T., Behrens, J., Bittner, M., Brokopf, R., Brovkin, V., Claussen, M., Crueger, T., Esch, M., Fast, I., Fiedler, S., Fläschner, D., Gayler, V., Giorgetta, M., Goll, D. S., Haak, H., Hagemann, S., Hedemann, C., Hohenegger, C., Ilyina, T., Jahns, T., Jimenéz-de-la Cuesta, D., Jungclaus, J., Kleinen, T., Kloster, S., Kracher, D., Kinne, S., Kleberg, D., Lasslop, G., Kornblueh, L., Marotzke, J., Matei, D., Meraner, K., Mikolajewicz, U., Modali, K., Möbis, B., Müller, W. A., Nabel, J. E. M. S., Nam, C. C. W., Notz, D., Nyawira, S.-S., Paulsen, H., Peters, K., Pincus, R., Pohlmann, H., Pongratz, J., Popp, M., Raddatz, T. J., Rast, S., Redler, R., Reick, C. H., Rohrschneider, T., Schemann, V., Schmidt, H., Schnur, R., Schulzweida, U., Six, K. D., Stein, L., Stemmler, I., Stevens, B., von Storch, J.-S., Tian, F., Voigt, A., Vrese, P., Wieners, K.-H., Wilkenskjeld, S., Winkler, A., and Roeckner, E.: Developments in the MPI-M Earth System Model version 1.2 (MPI-ESM1. 2) and its response to increasing CO2, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 11, 998–1038, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018MS001400, 2019. a
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Attribution of Extreme Weather Events in the Context of Climate Change, National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., https://doi.org/10.17226/21852, 2016. a
Noyelle, R., Faranda, D., Robin, Y., Vrac, M., and Yiou, P.: Attributing the occurrence and intensity of extreme events with the flow analogue method, Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 817–839, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-817-2025, 2025. a
Olonscheck, D., Suarez-Gutierrez, L., Milinski, S., Beobide-Arsuaga, G., Baehr, J., Fröb, F., Ilyina, T., Kadow, C., Krieger, D., Li, H., Marotzke, J., Plésiat, É., Schupfner, M., Wachsmann, F., Wallberg, L., Wieners, K.-H., and Brune, S.: The New Max Planck Institute Grand Ensemble With CMIP6 Forcing and High-Frequency Model Output, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 15, e2023MS003790, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023MS003790, 2023. a, b
Otto, F. E.: Attribution of Extreme Events to Climate Change, Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour., 48, 813–828, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112621-083538, 2023. a
Philip, S., Kew, S., van Oldenborgh, G. J., Otto, F., Vautard, R., van der Wiel, K., King, A., Lott, F., Arrighi, J., Singh, R., and van Aalst, M.: A protocol for probabilistic extreme event attribution analyses, Adv. Stat. Clim. Meteorol. Oceanogr., 6, 177–203, https://doi.org/10.5194/ascmo-6-177-2020, 2020. a
Qian, C., Ye, Y., Bevacqua, E., and Zscheischler, J.: Human influences on spatially compounding flooding and heatwave events in China and future increasing risks, Weather Clim. Extrem., 42, 100616, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2023.100616, 2023. a, b
Rousi, E., Fink, A. H., Andersen, L. S., Becker, F. N., Beobide-Arsuaga, G., Breil, M., Cozzi, G., Heinke, J., Jach, L., Niermann, D., Petrovic, D., Richling, A., Riebold, J., Steidl, S., Suarez-Gutierrez, L., Tradowsky, J. S., Coumou, D., Düsterhus, A., Ellsäßer, F., Fragkoulidis, G., Gliksman, D., Handorf, D., Haustein, K., Kornhuber, K., Kunstmann, H., Pinto, J. G., Warrach-Sagi, K., and Xoplaki, E.: The extremely hot and dry 2018 summer in central and northern Europe from a multi-faceted weather and climate perspective, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 1699–1718, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1699-2023, 2023. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i
Russo, S., Sillmann, J., and Fischer, E. M.: Top ten European heatwaves since 1950 and their occurrence in the coming decades, Environ. Res. Lett., 10, 124003, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/12/124003, 2015. a
Sagen, S.: Evolution of the 2018 European heatwave, Master's thesis, University of Oslo, Norway, https://hdl.handle.net/10852/79642 (last access: 10 April 2026), 2020. a
Sánchez-Benítez, A., Goessling, H., Pithan, F., Semmler, T., and Jung, T.: The July 2019 European heat wave in a warmer climate: Storyline scenarios with a coupled model using spectral nudging, J. Climate, 35, 2373–2390, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-21-0573.1, 2022. a
Schubert-Frisius, M., Feser, F., von Storch, H., and Rast, S.: Optimal Spectral Nudging for Global Dynamic Downscaling, Mon. Weather Rev., 145, 909–927, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0036.1, 2017. a
Schuldt, B., Buras, A., Arend, M., Vitasse, Y., Beierkuhnlein, C., Damm, A., Gharun, M., Grams, T. E., Hauck, M., Hajek, P., Hartmann, H., Hiltbrunner, E., Hoch, G., Holloway-Phillips, M., Körner, C., Larysch, E., Lübbe, T., Nelson, D. B., Rammig, A., Rigling, A., Rose, L., Ruehr, N. K., Schumann, K., Weiser, F., Werner, C., Wohlgemuth, T., Zang, C. S., and Kahmen, A.: A first assessment of the impact of the extreme 2018 summer drought on Central European forests, Basic Appl. Ecol., 45, 86–103, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2020.04.003, 2020. a
Seneviratne, S. I., Zhang, X., Adnan, M., Badi, W., Dereczynski, C., Di Luca, A., Ghosh, S., Iskandar, I., Kossin, J., Lewis, S., Otto, F., Pinto, I., Satoh, M., Vicente-Serrano, S. M., Wehner, M., and Zhou, B.: Weather and Climate Extreme Events in a Changing Climate, in: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani, A., Connors, S. L., Péan, C., Berger, S., Caud, N., Chen, Y., Goldfarb, L., Gomis, M. I., Huang, M., Leitzell, K., Lonnoy, E., Matthews, J. B. R., Maycock, T. K., Waterfield, T., Yelekçi, O., Yu, R., and Zhou, B., pp. 1513–1766, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157896.013, 2021. a
Shepherd, T. G.: Atmospheric circulation as a source of uncertainty in climate change projections, Nat. Geosci., 7, 703–708, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2253, 2014. a, b, c
Shepherd, T. G.: A common framework for approaches to extreme event attribution, Current Clim. Change Rep., 2, 28–38, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-016-0033-y, 2016. a, b
Shepherd, T. G., Boyd, E., Calel, R. A., Chapman, S. C., Dessai, S., Dima-West, I. M., Fowler, H. J., James, R., Maraun, D., Martius, O., Senior, C. A., Sobel, A. H., Stainforth, D. A., Tett, S. F. B., Trenberth, K. E., van den Hurk, B. J. J. M., Watkins, N. W., Wilby, R. L., and Zenghelis, D. A.: Storylines: an alternative approach to representing uncertainty in physical aspects of climate change, Clim. Change, 151, 555–571, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2317-9, 2018. a
Singh, J., Sippel, S., and Fischer, E. M.: Circulation dampened heat extremes intensification over the Midwest USA and amplified over Western Europe, Commun. Earth Environ., 4, 432, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01096-7, 2023. a
Stevens, B., Giorgetta, M., Esch, M., Mauritsen, T., Crueger, T., Rast, S., Salzmann, M., Schmidt, H., Bader, J., Block, K., Brokopf, R., Fast, I., Kinne, S., Kornblueh, L., Lohmann, U., Pincus, R., Reichler, T., and Roeckner, E.: Atmospheric component of the MPI-M Earth system model: ECHAM6, J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., 5, 146–172, https://doi.org/10.1002/jame.20015, 2013. a
Thompson, V., Coumou, D., Galfi, V. M., Happé, T., Kew, S., Pinto, I., Philip, S., de Vries, H., and van der Wiel, K.: Changing dynamics of Western European summertime cut-off lows: A case study of the July 2021 flood event, Atmos. Sci. Lett., 25, e1260, https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.1260, 2024. a, b
Thompson, V., Ermis, S., and Athanase, M.: The need for multi-method extreme event attribution, Weather, 81, 40–45, https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.7779, 2026. a, b
Trenberth, K. E., Fasullo, J. T., and Shepherd, T. G.: Attribution of climate extreme events, Nat. Clim. Change, 5, 725–730, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2657, 2015. a, b, c, d
van Garderen, L. and León-FonFay, D.: The essential role of conditional attribution in understanding complex extreme weather, Nat. Commun., 17, 1539, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69056-1, 2026. a
Vautard, R., Yiou, P., Otto, F., Stott, P., Christidis, N., Van Oldenborgh, G. J., and Schaller, N.: Attribution of human-induced dynamical and thermodynamical contributions in extreme weather events, Environ. Res. Lett., 11, 114009, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/11/114009, 2016. a, b, c
Vautard, R., Cattiaux, J., Happé, T., Singh, J., Bonnet, R., Cassou, C., Coumou, D., D'andrea, F., Faranda, D., Fischer, E., Ribes, A., Sippel, S., and Yiou, P.: Heat extremes in Western Europe increasing faster than simulated due to atmospheric circulation trends, Nat. Commun., 14, 6803, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42143-3, 2023. a, b, c
Vogel, M. M., Zscheischler, J., Wartenburger, R., Dee, D., and Seneviratne, S. I.: Concurrent 2018 hot extremes across Northern Hemisphere due to human-induced climate change, Earth's Future, 7, 692–703, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EF001189, 2019. a
von Storch, H., Langenberg, H., and Feser, F.: A spectral nudging technique for dynamical downscaling purposes, Mon. Weather Rev., 128, 3664–3673, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2000)128<3664:ASNTFD>2.0.CO;2, 2000. a
Wang, J., Chen, Y., Tett, S. F. B., Stone, D., Nie, J., Feng, J., Yan, Z., Zhai, P., and Ge, Q.: Storyline attribution of human influence on a record-breaking spatially compounding flood-heat event, Sci. Adv., 9, eadi2714, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi2714, 2023. a
Wehrli, K., Hauser, M., and Seneviratne, S. I.: Storylines of the 2018 Northern Hemisphere heatwave at pre-industrial and higher global warming levels, Earth Syst. Dynam., 11, 855–873, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-11-855-2020, 2020. a
Xoplaki, E., Ellsäßer, F., Grieger, J., Nissen, K. M., Pinto, J. G., Augenstein, M., Chen, T.-C., Feldmann, H., Friederichs, P., Gliksman, D., Goulier, L., Haustein, K., Heinke, J., Jach, L., Knutzen, F., Kollet, S., Luterbacher, J., Luther, N., Mohr, S., Mudersbach, C., Müller, C., Rousi, E., Simon, F., Suarez-Gutierrez, L., Szemkus, S., Vallejo-Bernal, S. M., Vlachopoulos, O., and Wolf, F.: Compound events in Germany in 2018: drivers and case studies, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 541–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-541-2025, 2025. a
Ye, Y., Qian, C., Dai, A., Zhang, Y., Jiang, J., and Zhang, X.: Attribution of a record-breaking cold event in the historically warmest year of 2023 and assessing future risks, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 8, 14, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00886-w, 2025. a
Yiou, P., Goubanova, K., Li, Z. X., and Nogaj, M.: Weather regime dependence of extreme value statistics for summer temperature and precipitation, Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 15, 365–378, https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-15-365-2008, 2008. a
Yiou, P., Jézéquel, A., Naveau, P., Otto, F. E. L., Vautard, R., and Vrac, M.: A statistical framework for conditional extreme event attribution, Adv. Stat. Clim. Meteorol. Oceanogr., 3, 17–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/ascmo-3-17-2017, 2017. a, b, c
Yiou, P., Cattiaux, J., Faranda, D., Kadygrov, N., Jézéquel, A., Naveau, P., Ribes, A., Robin, Y., Thao, S., van Oldenborgh, G. J., and Vrac, M.: Analyses of the Northern European summer heatwave of 2018, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 101, S35–S40, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0170.1, 2020. a, b, c, d
Zorita, E. and Von Storch, H.: The analog method as a simple statistical downscaling technique: comparison with more complicated methods, J. Climate, 12, 2474–2489, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1999)012<2474:TAMAAS>2.0.CO;2, 1999. a, b
Zuo, J., Pullen, S., Palmer, J., Bennetts, H., Chileshe, N., and Ma, T.: Impacts of heat waves and corresponding measures: a review, J. Clean. Product., 92, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.078, 2015. a
Short summary
We combine physical (spectrally nudged storylines) and statistical (flow-analogue) approaches to assess how global warming alters the intensity and likelihood of past extreme events. Conditioning on circulation reduces dynamical uncertainty. For the 2018 Central European heatwave, the pattern stays equally likely but analogue events increase in frequency and intensity with warming, highlighting additional mechanisms influencing future heatwaves beyond circulation and background thermodynamics.
We combine physical (spectrally nudged storylines) and statistical (flow-analogue) approaches to...
