The links between weather phenomena at widely separated locations on Earth, also called climate teleconnections, are increasingly getting stronger globally. These teleconnections have affected the southern hemisphere more prominently over the last 37 years according to a new study.
The new study, ‘Exploring the intensity, distribution and evolution of teleconnections using climate network analysis’, published in the interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science Chaos in October 2023 revealed how climate events such as wildfires and floods in one part of the world can affect weather thousands of kilometres away.
Climate change and the rapid increase in frequency of extreme weather events around the globe – such as wildfires and floods – reinforces the reality that these events are not only not random but, rather, interconnected.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers affiliated with Beijing Normal University and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in China and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, describes a climate network analysis method to explore the intensity, distribution and evolution of teleconnections.
Teleconnections have garnered significant attention due to their role in energy transport and global-scale climate dynamics occurring over typically thousands of kilometres. They exist both in the atmosphere and the ocean, the study said.
The team identified areas significantly affected by these interconnected events, within regions like Southeastern Australia and South Africa, which are particularly sensitive. One fascinating discovery they made is that these interconnections are becoming stronger over time, from 1948 to 2021, possibly due to a mix of climate change, human activities, and other factors. The extent and intensity of the impact of teleconnections has increased more prominently in the Southern Hemisphere during the past 37 years.
This work provides a new way to measure and explore climate teleconnections. The researchers plan to use this knowledge to pinpoint which regions may be at a higher risk in the future and to devise strategies to address these challenges. M