The Indian Summer Monsoon Keeps the Arabian Peninsula Hot and Dry

A study by KAUST researchers reveals the significant influence of the Indian summer monsoon on the climate of the Arabian Peninsula, shedding light on how variations in the monsoon can impact the region's weather.

The Arabian Peninsula is one of the world’s driest regions, experiencing frequent heatwaves and sandstorms during summer. Large-scale processes like El Niño and the North Atlantic Oscillation shape its climate, but little was known about how the Indian summer monsoon affected this variability.

Raju Attada, under Ibrahim Hoteit's leadership, investigated how annual changes in the Indian summer monsoon influence the region's climate. They found that air circulation systems, or jet streams, controlled many aspects of the Arabian Peninsula’s weather. These systems, influenced by the monsoon, trigger heatwaves and sandstorms, particularly during strong monsoon years.

The study, using data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, shows how atmospheric waves from the monsoon enhance the region’s aridity by sinking from upper to lower levels of the atmosphere. This intensifies the heat and dryness in the Arabian Peninsula.

The research highlights the need to understand how shifts in the Indian summer monsoon impact this vulnerable region, affecting weather extremes, pollution, water resources, and more.

🔗 Read more on KAUST Discovery

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