Drivers and Mechanisms of the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heatwave

In late June 2021, western North America, and in particular the Pacific Northwest experienced a heatwave with temperatures usually only encountered in hot desert climates. Using a blend of reanalysis data and Earth System Model (ESM) simulations, we disentangle the physical drivers underlying this exceptional event. Our analysis highlights the role of the anticyclonic circulation aloft, which converted previously gained potential energy-some of which by intense latent heating thousands of kilometers upwind over the North Pacific-back into sensible heat through subsidence. We demonstrate that this upwind latent heat release did not only result in a hot troposphere above the heatwave region, but also contributed directly to escalating near-surface temperatures. Facilitated by the mountainous terrain and dry soils in the region, deep atmospheric boundary layers were established over the course of several days, connecting the air close to Earth's surface to a massive heat reservoir many kilometers above. Anomalous soil moisture acted to raise the heatwave temperatures by 3 degrees C in a large region during the peak of the event, with local anomalies exceeding 5 degrees C. Overall, we conclude that this heatwave was the outcome of an intricate interplay between dynamic and thermodynamic processes. ESM experiments suggest that the same large-scale atmospheric circulation fueled by enhanced thermodynamic drivers, such as more available moisture for condensation upwind, could enable even more extreme near-surface temperatures, in particular in a warmer climate.

Automated summary

In late June 2021, a heatwave with unusually high temperatures occurred in western North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The study finds that the physical drivers of this event are the anticyclonic circulation aloft, which converts potential energy into sensible heat, and the establishment of deep atmospheric boundary layers facilitated by mountainous terrain and dry soils. Anomalous soil moisture also contributes to the temperature rise. The research suggests that similar large-scale atmospheric circulation driven by enhanced thermodynamic drivers could result in even more extreme temperatures, particularly in a warmer climate.