The high‐impact 2007 hot summer over Turkey: atmospheric‐blocking and heat‐wave episodes

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe 2007 summer was extraordinary in the Balkans and Turkey, with the region experiencing a very hot summer in numerous places, setting all‐time maximum temperature records and suffering destructive fires. The heat wave exhibited daily maximum temperature anomalies in excess of 14 °C in some cities. These high‐temperature anomalies can be related to a number of concurrent atmospheric and physical factors that induce persistent anticyclones, sea‐surface temperature anomalies, reduced precipitation and depleted soil moisture. Prominent atmospheric factors conducive to heat‐wave events can serve as a dynamic fingerprint and yield insight into their most important triggering and driving mechanisms. The prolonged atmospheric‐blocking high meandering over the central Mediterranean orchestrated the atmospheric circulation and led to the advection of warm air from North Africa to the Balkans and Turkey. The associated large‐scale subsidence and clear‐sky conditions resulted in temperatures surpassing 40 °C at many places. Atmospheric and physical conditions contributed positively to the very high temperatures and led to two major heat‐wave episodes in June and July. Atmospheric‐blocking analysis revealed that two blocking episodes accompanied these heat waves. Results from this analysis indicate that the atmospheric blocking was likely responsible for establishing and maintaining the hot‐weather conditions. The summer of 2007 may be considered as a strong indicator of what Turkish summers may become in future.