Article externe

How heat on the Tibetan Plateau fuels powerful storms in California, half a world away

<name>Yongkang Xue, Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles</name> <foaf:homepage rdf:resource="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yongkang-xue-2763350"/>· 10 septembre 2026

Heavy rain from an atmospheric river sent the Los Angeles River, normally mostly empty, spilling over its sides in February 2024. Mario Tama/Getty Images The Tibetan Plateau may be on the other side of the world from California, but what happens on this high-altitude landscape in Asia can set off a…

Résumé

Tibetan Plateau's global impact

The Tibetan Plateau, located in Asia, can influence weather patterns thousands of miles away, including in California, despite being on the opposite side of the world.

This occurs through a chain reaction where heat on the plateau alters atmospheric conditions, which then travel across the globe to affect weather systems in the U.S.

West Coast.

The plateau is a vast, high-altitude region averaging 14,800 feet (4,500 meters) above sea level, covering parts of China and neighboring countries.

Its elevation and size make it a significant driver of global weather patterns.

For example, unusually warm land temperatures over the plateau in early winter can set off atmospheric changes that later strengthen storms in California during the winter rainy season.

Lire l'analyse complète en 5 points →

Lire l'article