Surface temperature extremes mirrored in top of atmosphere radiative fluxes

Using ERA5 re-analysis data, 1950 to 2024, we look at surface temperature extremes, which we define as regions of at least 0.5 million square kilometers where the monthly mean 2m temperature exceeds its 25 year climatological mean by at least 1.5 standard deviations. While heat extremes are overall a topic of intense research, we here target a facet of such extreme events that has been less examined so far: how they manifest in terms of top of atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes. For the short- and long-wave TOA fluxes associated with such extreme events, we find typically enhanced values. This may be expected, given that mid-latitude heat waves are often accompanied by clear skies. For the TOA net energy flux, we find typically negative values. Spatially more extended extreme events tend to be associated with stronger temperature anomalies. Individual extreme events may deviate from these general tendencies. For selected extremes, daily ERA5 re-analysis data are examined. For the period 2001 to 2024, TOA fluxes from ERA5 re-analysis are compared to CERES satellite data.