Future changes in African heatwaves and their drivers at the convective scale

The future change in dry and humid heatwaves is assessed in 10-yr pan-African convective-scale (4.5 km) and parameterized convection (25 km) climate model simulations. Compared to reanalysis, the convective-scale simulation is better able to represent humid heatwaves than the parameterized simulation. Model performance for dry heatwaves is much more similar. Both model configurations simulate large increases in the intensity, duration, and frequency of heatwaves by 2100 under RCP8.5. Present-day conditions that occur on 3–6 heatwave days per year will be normal by 2100, occurring on 150–180 days per year. The future change in dry heatwaves is similar in both climate model configurations, whereas the future change in humid heatwaves is 56% higher in intensity and 20% higher in frequency in the convective-scale model. Dry heatwaves are associated with low rainfall, reduced cloud, increased surface shortwave heating, and increased sensible heat flux. In contrast, humid heatwaves are predominately controlled by increased humidity, rainfall, cloud, longwave heating, and evaporation, with dry-bulb temperature gaining more significance in the most humid regions. Approximately one-third (32%) of humid heatwaves commence on wet days. Moist processes are known to be better represented in convective-scale models. Climate models with parameterized convection, such as those in CMIP, may underestimate the future change in humid heatwaves, which heightens the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies and indicates there may be less time available to implement them to avoid future catastrophic heat stress conditions than previously thought. Significance Statement Temperatures are higher in dry heatwaves, but humid heatwaves can be more dangerous, as the ability to cool by sweating is limited. We found that dry heatwaves are caused by decreased cloud, allowing the sun to heat the surface, whereas humid heatwaves are caused by increased cloud, rainfall, and evaporation from the surface. We found that a state-of-the-art very high-resolution climate model predicts a larger future change in humid heatwaves compared to a more traditional global climate model. Previous estimates of the prevalence of humid heatwaves in the future may therefore be underestimated. If we do not cut emissions of greenhouse gases, present-day African heatwave conditions could be experienced on up to half of all days of the year by 2100.