Examining the Characteristics and Evolution of Temperature Whiplash Events in the US Southern Plains

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dc.contributor.advisorFurtado, Jason C
dc.contributor.authorGiannakopoulos, Katherine
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPegion, Kathleen
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMartin, Elinor
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-15T16:31:20Z
dc.date.available2024-07-15T16:31:20Z
dc.date.issued2024-08-01
dc.date.manuscript2024-07-11
dc.description.abstractRapid extreme temperature swings, termed “temperature whiplashes”, can lead to significant and intense socioeconomic impacts. Few studies have considered tem- perature whiplashes over global, continental, or other large domains. These analyses suggest that certain locations within the domain may experience greater temperature swings, one being the United States Southern Plains. By selecting a specific area and considering temperature whiplashes on a regional scale, skillful, long-lead prediction of and adaptation for these events may be improved. This study focuses on defining and characterizing temperature whiplash events in the Southern Plains region of the United States, specifically during the winter months (December-February). Two types of whiplashes are defined: the hot-to-cold and cold-to-hot. Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ Fifth Reanalysis (ERA5) from 1950-2023, the Temperature Swing Index is calculated and area-averaged across the Southern Plains. Days where the Temperature Swing Index exceeds the 90th percentile are termed “high swing days” (HSD). Temperature whiplash events are selected by examining each HSD, and considering the longevity and persistence of the overall temperature trend and the signs of the temperature anomalies up to 4 days before and after the HSD. This defi- nition yields 45 anomalously hot-to-cold whiplash events and 14 cold-to-hot whiplash events. Trends of the HSDs and whiplash events reveal increases in frequency since the 1990s. Composites of the geopotential height field at multiple pressure levels and lags illustrate large-scale atmospheric evolutions and key features, like atmospheric blocking or amplified wave trains, that could enhance long range prediction. Addition- ally, stratospheric-tropospheric interactions such as wave reflection are identified as a possible precursor to these events. By establishing the characteristics of temperature whiplash events and their precursors, there is the opportunity to improve predictions of these extreme events and determine how they may change in a changing climate.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11244/340475
dc.languageen_USen_US
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/*
dc.subjectPhysics, Atmospheric Science.en_US
dc.subjectClimate Scienceen_US
dc.subjectTemperature Extremesen_US
dc.subjectSeasonal-to-Subseasonalen_US
dc.thesis.degreeMaster of Scienceen_US
dc.titleExamining the Characteristics and Evolution of Temperature Whiplash Events in the US Southern Plainsen_US
ou.groupCollege of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences::School of Meteorologyen_US
shareok.orcid0009-0005-3671-9687en_US

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