Spatiotemporal Patterns of Heat Waves Across the Contiguous United States, 2000–2024

Course: GEOG 6160 / Climate & GIS This project analyzed 25 years of ERA5 reanalysis climate data to identify dominant spatial patterns in heat wave occurrence across the contiguous US. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis and Shapley value decomposition were used to attribute heat wave intensity to atmospheric drivers. Methods: ERA5 reanalysis data processing, Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis, Rotated EOFs, Shapley value decomposition, geopotential height analysis, Python (xarray, numpy, matplotlib, eofs). Key Findings: Geopotential height anomalies were the dominant driver of heat wave intensity. Heat wave duration has increased over the study period. Regional patterns differ significantly between western and eastern US. EOF modes explain distinct spatial signatures in heat wave clustering.