@article{fdi:010070043,
  title = {{C}haracterization of heat waves in the {S}ahel and associated physical mechanisms},
  author = {{O}ueslati, {B}. and {P}ohl, {B}. and {M}oron, {V}. and {R}ome, {S}. and {J}anicot, {S}erge},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{G}reat effort is made to address heat waves ({HW}s) in developed countries because of their devastating impacts on society, economy, and environment. {H}owever, {HW}s are still understudied over developing countries. {T}his is particularly true in {W}est {A}frica, and especially in the {S}ahel, where temperatures recurrently reach critical values, such as during the 2010 {HW} event in the western {S}ahel. {T}his work aims at characterizing the {S}ahelian {HW}s during boreal spring seasons ({A}pril-{M}ay-{J}une) and understanding the mechanisms associated with such extreme events. {O}ver the last three decades, {S}ahelian {HW}s have been becoming more frequent, lasting longer, covering larger areas, and reaching higher intensities. {T}he physical mechanisms associated with {HW}s are examined to assess the respective roles of atmospheric dynamics and radiative and turbulent fluxes by analyzing the surface energy budget. {R}esults suggest that the greenhouse effect of water vapor is the main driver of {HW}s in the western {S}ahel, increasing minimum temperatures by enhanced downward longwave radiation. {A}tmospheric circulation plays an important role in sustaining these warm anomalies by advecting moisture from the {A}tlantic {O}cean and the {G}uinean coasts into the {S}ahel. {M}aximum temperature anomalies are mostly explained by increased downward shortwave radiation due to a reduction in cloud cover. {I}nterannual variability of {HW}s is affected by the delayed impact of {E}l {N}ino-{S}outhern {O}scillation ({ENSO}), with anomalous temperature warming following warm {ENSO} events, resulting from an amplified water vapor feedback.},
  keywords = {{AFRIQUE} {DE} {L}'{OUEST} ; {SAHEL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {C}limate},
  volume = {30},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {3095--3115},
  ISSN = {0894-8755},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1175/jcli-d-16-0432.1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010070043},
}