Title: Atmospheric stability sets maximum moist heat and convection in the midlatitudes
Lecturer: Dr. Fu-Ning Li (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT)
Time: Friday June 6, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Venue: Lecture Hall D103, School of Atmospheric Sciences
Abstract: Extreme near-surface moist heat and severe convective storms are among the leading causes of weather-related damages worldwide. Here, we show that episodes of extreme moist heat and severe convection frequently co-occur across midlatitude land regions, and develop a theoretical framework that links their maximum potential intensities to preexisting low-level energy inversions. By accounting for the stored-energy nature of midlatitude severe convection, where moist heat and atmospheric instability accumulate before convection initiates, our work advances the understanding of convective constraints on extreme heat events. The theory identifies low-level inversions as a critical factor shaping compound extreme heat and convective weather risks, and offers a pathway for improving the modeling and future projection of these events.