Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A statistical study is conducted to understand how the Mascarene High (MH) of the southwest Indian Ocean affects the springtime climate of southeastern Africa, in response to global teleconnections. A temporal index of sea-level air pressure is formed and correlated with large-scale fields of sea temperature, winds, and rainfall in the period 1980–2024. The results suggests that the MH tends to intensify and shift westward during Pacific El Niño conditions via a standing wave train in the subtropical jet stream over the South Atlantic. As this happens, anticyclonic airflow draws moisture from the Mozambique Channel and drives it onto the Kalahari plateau via low-level jets over the Limpopo and Zambezi River valleys. The Sep–Nov rainfall increases ~1 mm/day across southern Africa, accompanied by cooler temperatures and lower potential evaporation. So the spring season starts with a smaller water deficit that could favor early-planted, short-cycle crops. Outstanding questions remain on the stability of Pacific teleconnections and coupling with the Indian Ocean Dipole.
Source: Climate
DOI: 10.3390/cli13110237
Author: Mark R. Jury
Institutions: University of Zululand, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W4416417314