Research

Publications, academic profile, and CV of Marc Lemus-Canovas — synoptic climatology, extreme events, attribution, mountain climate.

My research focuses on understanding the link between atmospheric dynamics and extreme meteorological events — heatwaves, compound droughts, and extreme precipitation — with emphasis on the European Alps and Mediterranean region. I develop synoptic classification and attribution methods to quantify the role of climate change in shaping these extremes.

31
publications
13
as first author

Google Scholar ORCID ResearchGate Download CV (PDF)

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. Bonsoms, Josep, González-Herrero, Sergi, Fettweis, Xavier, Lemus-Cánovas, Marc, Oliva, Marc, & López-Moreno, Juan I. (2026) “Record-breaking Greenland ice sheet melt events under recent and future climate” Nature Communications, 17, 3605. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69543-5

    DOI

  2. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Crespi, Alice, Maines, Elena, Terzi, Stefano, & Pittore, Massimiliano. (2025) “More intense heatwaves under drier conditions: a compound event analysis in the Adige River basin (Eastern Italian Alps)” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 29, 6781–6809. DOI: 10.5194/hess-29-6781-2025

    DOI

  3. Albalat, A., Trapero, L., Lemus-Canovas, M., & Pons, M. (2025) “Characterizing past and current snow seasons through the application of a new multivariate snow index” Journal of Hydrology, 657, 133050. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133050

    DOI

  4. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Gonzalez-Herrero, Sergi, Trapero, Laura, Albalat, Anna, Insua-Costa, Damian, Senande-Rivera, Martin, & Miguez-Macho, Gonzalo. (2025) “Exploring the interplay between observed warming, atmospheric circulation, and soil–atmosphere feedbacks on heatwaves in a temperate mountain region” Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 25, 2503–2518. DOI: 10.5194/nhess-25-2503-2025

    DOI

  5. Martín-Vide, Javier, Gonzalez-Hidalgo, José Carlos, Moreno-García, M. Carmen, Beguîría, Santiago, Cordobilla, M. J., Balagüé, Xavier, Cuscó, Eduard, Peña-Angulo, Dhais, Lemus, Marc, & Trullenque, Víctor. (2025) “Spatial patterns of statistical relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Western Mediterranean Oscillation, and precipitation in Peninsular Spain” Atmósfera, 39. DOI: 10.20937/atm.53490

    DOI

  6. Bonsoms, Josep, López-Moreno, Juan I., Lemus-Cánovas, Marc, & Oliva, Marc. (2025) “Future winter snowfall and extreme snow events in the Pyrenees” Atmospheric Research, 315, 107912. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.107912

    DOI

  7. Llasat, María Carmen, Llasat-Botija, Montserrat, Pardo, Erika, Marcos-Matamoros, Raül, & Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2024) “Floods in the Pyrenees: a global view through a regional database” Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 24, 3423–3443. DOI: 10.5194/nhess-24-3423-2024

    DOI

  8. González-Herrero, Sergi, Lemus-Canovas, Marc, & Pereira, Paulo. (2024) “Climate change in cold regions” Science of The Total Environment, 933, 173127. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173127

    DOI

  9. Insua-Costa, Damián, Lemus-Cánovas, Marc, González-Alemán, Juan J., Senande-Rivera, Martín, Llasat, María del Carmen, Miguez-Macho, Gonzalo, & Miralles, Diego G. (2024) “Extraordinary 2021 snowstorm in Spain reveals critical threshold response to anthropogenic climate change” Communications Earth & Environment, 5. DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01503-7

    DOI

  10. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Montesinos-Ciuró, E., Cearreta-Innocenti, T., Serrano-Notivoli, Roberto, & Royé, Dominic. (2024) “Attribution of the unprecedented heat event of August 2023 in Barcelona (Spain) to observed and projected global warming” Urban Climate, 56, 102019. DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102019

    DOI

  11. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Alonso-González, Esteban, Bonsoms, Josep, & López-Moreno, Juan I. (2024) “Daily concentration of snowfalls in the mountains of the Iberian Peninsula” International Journal of Climatology, 44, 485–500. DOI: 10.1002/joc.8338

    DOI

  12. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Insua-Costa, Damián, Trigo, Ricardo M., & Miralles, Diego G. (2024) “Record-shattering 2023 Spring heatwave in western Mediterranean amplified by long-term drought” npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 7. DOI: 10.1038/s41612-024-00569-6

    DOI

  13. Rodríguez, Oriol, & Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2023) “Synoptic patterns triggering tornadic storms on the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands” Atmospheric Research, 285, 106634. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.106634

    DOI

  14. Miró, Juan Javier, Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Serrano-Notivoli, Roberto, Olcina Cantos, Jorge, Estrela, Maria J., Martin-Vide, Javier, Sarricolea, Pablo, & Meseguer-Ruiz, Oliver. (2022) “A component-based approximation for trend detection of intense rainfall in the Spanish Mediterranean coast” Weather and Climate Extremes, 38, 100513. DOI: 10.1016/j.wace.2022.100513

    DOI

  15. Serrano-Notivoli, Roberto, Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Barrao, Samuel, Sarricolea, Pablo, Meseguer-Ruiz, Oliver, & Tejedor, Ernesto. (2022) “Heat and cold waves in mainland Spain: Origins, characteristics, and trends” Weather and Climate Extremes, 37, 100471. DOI: 10.1016/j.wace.2022.100471

    DOI

  16. Sánchez-Almodóvar, Esther, Martin-Vide, Javier, Olcina-Cantos, Jorge, & Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2022) “Are Atmospheric Situations Now More Favourable for Heavy Rainfall in the Spanish Mediterranean? Analysis of Episodes in the Alicante Province (1981–2020)” Atmosphere, 13(9), 1410. DOI: 10.3390/atmos13091410

    DOI

  17. Halifa-Marín, Amar, Torres-Vázquez, Miguel A., Pravia-Sarabia, Enrique, Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Jiménez-Guerrero, Pedro, & Montávez, Juan Pedro. (2022) “A multivariate-driven approach for disentangling the reduction in near-natural Iberian water resources post-1980” Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 26, 4251–4263. DOI: 10.5194/hess-26-4251-2022

    DOI

  18. Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2022) “Changes in compound monthly precipitation and temperature extremes and their relationship with teleconnection patterns in the Mediterranean” Journal of Hydrology, 608, 127580. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127580

    DOI

  19. Martin-Vide, Javier, Lopez-Bustins, Joan-Albert, Lemus, Marc, Moreno-Garcia, M. Carmen, Balagüé, Xavier, Gonzalez-Hidalgo, José Carlos, Beguîría, Santiago, Peña-Angulo, Dhais, & Trullenque, Víctor. (2022) “The consecutive disparity of precipitation in conterminous Spain” Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 147, 1151–1161. DOI: 10.1007/s00704-021-03877-6

    DOI

  20. Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2021) “Barcelona intense urban activity greatly limited the role of the atmosphere in driving NO₂ concentration in 2018” Environmental Research Communications, 3(10), 105006. DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ac2fbb

    DOI

  21. Francos, Marcos, & Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2021) “Field observations and remote sensing techniques for evaluation of vegetal recovery after different wildfire severity in a Mediterranean ecosystem” Revista Bosque, 42(2), 245–258.

    View

  22. Insua-Costa, Damián, Lemus-Cánovas, Marc, Miguez-Macho, Gonzalo, & Llasat, María Carmen. (2021) “Climatology and ranking of hazardous precipitation events in the western Mediterranean area” Atmospheric Research, 255, 105521. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105521

    DOI

  23. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, & Lopez-Bustins, Joan Albert. (2021) “Assessing internal changes in the future structure of dry–hot compound events: the case of the Pyrenees” Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 21, 1721–1738. DOI: 10.5194/nhess-21-1721-2021

    DOI

  24. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Lopez-Bustins, Joan Albert, Martín-Vide, Javier, Halifa-Marin, Amar, Insua-Costa, Damián, Martinez-Artigas, Joan, Trapero, Laura, Serrano-Notivoli, Roberto, & Cuadrat, José María. (2021) “Characterisation of Extreme Precipitation Events in the Pyrenees: From the Local to the Synoptic Scale” Atmosphere, 12(6), 665. DOI: 10.3390/atmos12060665

    DOI

  25. Peña-Angulo, Dhais, Gonzalez-Hidalgo, José Carlos, Sandomís, Leire, Beguîría, Santiago, Tomas-Burguera, Miquel, López-Bustins, Joan Albert, Lemus-Canovas, Marc, & Martin-Vide, Javier. (2021) “Seasonal temperature trends on the Spanish mainland: A secular study (1916–2015)” International Journal of Climatology, 41(5), 3071–3084. DOI: 10.1002/joc.7006

    DOI

  26. Martinez-Artigas, Joan, Lemus-Canovas, Marc, & Lopez-Bustins, Joan Albert. (2021) “Precipitation in peninsular Spain: Influence of teleconnection indices and spatial regionalisation” International Journal of Climatology, 41(S1). DOI: 10.1002/joc.6770

    DOI

  27. Lopez-Bustins, Joan A., & Lemus-Canovas, Marc. (2020) “The influence of the Western Mediterranean Oscillation upon the spatio-temporal variability of precipitation over Catalonia (northeastern of the Iberian Peninsula)” Atmospheric Research, 236, 104819. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.104819

    DOI

  28. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Martin-Vide, Javier, Moreno-Garcia, M. Carmen, & Lopez-Bustins, Joan A. (2020) “Estimating Barcelona’s metropolitan daytime hot and cold poles using Landsat-8 Land Surface Temperature” Science of The Total Environment, 699, 134307. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134307

    DOI

  29. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Lopez-Bustins, Joan A., Martin-Vide, Javier, & Royé, Dominic. (2019) “synoptReg: An R package for computing a synoptic climate classification and a spatial regionalization of environmental data” Environmental Modelling & Software, 118, 114–119. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.04.006

    DOIGitHub

  30. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Lopez-Bustins, Joan A., Trapero, Laura, & Martin-Vide, Javier. (2019) “Combining circulation weather types and daily precipitation modelling to derive climatic precipitation regions in the Pyrenees” Atmospheric Research, 220, 181–193. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.01.018

    DOI

  31. Lemus-Canovas, Marc, Ninyerola, Miquel, Lopez-Bustins, Joan A., Manguan, Santiago, & Garcia-Sellés, Carles. (2019) “A mixed application of an objective synoptic classification and spatial regression models for deriving winter precipitation regimes in the Eastern Pyrenees” International Journal of Climatology, 39(4), 2244–2259. DOI: 10.1002/joc.5948

    DOI

Talks & Presentations

Invited Lectures & Seminars

Circulation analogues for understanding changes in extreme heat events Invited
Hydro-Climate Extremes Lab Seminar Series, Ghent University, Belgium · Aug 2025

Climate change and extreme events: attribution methods and recent event review Invited
Summer School: Mapping the Future, Universidad de León, Spain · Jul 2025

How do we have to adapt urban spaces to the new climate? Panel Discussion
II Palafrugell Conference on Meteorology and Climate Change, Spain · Nov 2022

Combining atmospheric circulation types and daily precipitation to obtain pluviometric regions in mountain areas Invited
Technical Conference of the Group of Experts on Climate Change in Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain · Jan 2020

Conference Presentations

2025

A High-Impact Precipitation Event database for the Alps (1961–2023)
Lemus-Canovas, M., Crespi, A., Pittore, M., Zebisch, M., & Brunner, M. · Oral
International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Austria · Sep 2025

Observed and modelled changes in the drivers that trigger compound drought and heatwave events in the Adige River basin (Eastern Italian Alps) with a focus on May 2022
Lemus-Canovas, M., Crespi, A., Maines, E., Pittore, M., & Terzi, S. · Oral
EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria · Apr–May 2025

2024

Attribution of the unprecedented heat event of August 2023 in Barcelona (Spain) to observed and projected global warming
Lemus-Canovas, M., Montesinos-Ciuró, E., Cearreta-Innocenti, T., Serrano-Notivoli, R., & Royé, D. · Oral
15th International Meeting on Statistical Climatology (IMSC), Météo-France, Toulouse, France · Jul 2024

Detection and characterisation of the compound drought and heatwave event of May 2022 in the Adige River catchment (north-eastern Italy)
Lemus-Canovas, M., Crespi, A., & Maines, E.
15th International Meeting on Statistical Climatology (IMSC), Météo-France, Toulouse, France · Jul 2024

Revealing the role of long-term drought in the record-shattering April 2023 heatwave in the Western Mediterranean Highlighted by Organisation
Lemus-Canovas, M., Insua-Costa, D., Trigo, R. M., & Miralles, D. G. · Oral
EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria · Apr 2024

2023

Attributing heatwaves to climate change in mountainous areas. An analysis of the summer 2022 heatwaves in the Pyrenees
Lemus-Canovas, M., Gonzalez-Herrero, S., Trapero, L., Albalat, A., Insua-Costa, D., Senande-Rivera, M., & Miguez-Macho, G. · Oral
9th International Conference on Meteorology and Climatology of the Mediterranean (MetMed 2023), Genova, Italy · May 2023

2022

Statistical downscaling at very high spatial resolution of snow cover climate projections for the Pyrenees Awarded
Lemus-Cánovas, M., Trapero, L., Gascoin, S., & López-Moreno, J. I. · Oral
12th Congress of the Spanish Association of Climatology (AEC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain · Oct 2022

2020

Assessing several downscaling methods for daily minimum and maximum temperature in a mountainous area. Are we able to statistically simulate a warmer climate in the Pyrenees? Highlighted by Organisation
Lemus-Canovas, M., & Brands, S.
EGU General Assembly 2020, Online · May 2020

2019

An R package for computing a synoptic classification and spatial regionalization of precipitation data Best Poster Award
Lemus-Canovas, M., Lopez-Bustins, J. A., & Martin-Vide, J. · Poster
7th International Conference on Meteorology and Climatology of the Mediterranean (MetMed 2019), Palma de Mallorca, Spain · Mar 2019

Research Projects

As Principal Investigator:

  1. Flash4CastImp — Identification, Monitoring, and Forecasting of Impactful Flash Droughts in Europe. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Horizon Europe. Coordinated by CSIC, Spain. 2027–2029. · CORDIS
  2. HIPEAtMount — Tailored attribution of high-impact precipitation events to anthropogenic climate change in mountain areas. Province of Bolzano/Bozen, Italy. 2024–2026.
  3. ATOC — Heatwave attribution to climate change in Barcelona. Barcelona City Council. 2023–2024.

As Collaborator:

  1. EO4Multihazards — Earth Observation for Multi-Hazard Risk Assessments. European Space Agency. PI: Terzi, S. 2023–2025.
  2. FutureMed — Transdisciplinary network bridging climate science and societal impacts. COST. PI: Khodayar, S. 2023–2027
  3. EXE — Compound dry and warm events in mainland Spain. Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. PI: Martin-Vide, J. 2021–2024.
  4. CLICES — Climate of the last century in Spanish mainland. Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. PI: Martin-Vide, J. & Lopez-Bustins, J.A. 2018–2020.

Contracts & Transfer:

  • Technical assistance for nivo-climatic regionalisation of the Pyrenees in Aragon — Diputación General de Aragón (PRE229-2021). Co-PI. 2021
  • Synoptic classification of daily surface O₃ concentration in Catalonia — Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en Enginyeria (FBG311161). 2021–2022

Awards & Distinctions

  • Flash4CastImp MSCA Fellowship (2026) — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Horizon Europe
  • Beatriu de Pinós Fellowship (2026) — Generalitat de Catalunya / Barcelona Supercomputing Center
  • Seal of Excellence — Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Fellowship call (previous round)
  • HIPEAtMount grant (2024) — Province of Bolzano, Italy
  • International Eduard Fontserè Meteorology Prize
  • Antoni M. Badia i Margarit Prize
  • Extraordinary Doctorate Prize — University of Barcelona, 2022
  • Best Poster Award — 7th International Conference on Meteorology and Climatology of the Mediterranean (MetMed), 2019
  • FPU Predoctoral Fellowship (FPU2017/02166) — Spanish Ministry of Education, 2018–2022

Software

synoptReg — R package for computing synoptic climate classifications and spatial regionalization of environmental data.

Documentation GitHub Paper CRAN

Recognized with the Best Poster Award at the 7th International Conference on Meteorology and Climatology of the Mediterranean (MetMed, 2019).

climattR — R package for climate change attribution of extreme weather events using the flow analogues technique.

GitHub

Media Coverage

2023

  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2023). 2022, l’any més càlid: anomalia o tendència? Altaveu, 17-01-2023. Link

2022

  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2022). Marc Lemus i Cánovas: “És complicat atribuir els fenòmens de precipitació intensa aïllada al canvi climàtic”. elCugatenc, Sant Cugat del Vallès, 02-09-2022. Link
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2022). Marc Lemus-Cànovas, Doctor en Geografía. TV3. TV interview, 10-07-2022. Link
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2022). Les nevades a l’Observatori Fabra: quines situacions meteorològiques les produeixen? Barcelona Televisió (Beteve), 25-02-2022. Link

2021

  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2021). L’escalfament global farà augmentar les morts per calor a Catalunya. La Brúixola, Onda Cero. Radio interview, 08-07-2021. Link
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2021). Cinc dies més sense pluja i un augment de 6ºC en la temperatura, efectes del canvi climàtic al Pirineu a final de segle. La Vanguardia, 08-07-2021.
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2021). El 2100 el Pirineu pot ser 6ºC més càlid i tenir sequeres cinc dies més llargues. Món Planeta, 09-07-2021.
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2021). Analizan el impacto del cambio climático en los periodos secos y cálidos de los Pirineos. Agencia Iberoamericana para la difusión de la ciencia y la tecnología, 12-07-2021.
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2021). Com respondrà el Pirineu a les situacions d’extrema sequera i l’ambient caloós del futur? El Temps, CCMA, 25-07-2021.

2019

  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2019). Illes de calor a Barcelona: 2,5 graus més a les zones urbanitzades que a les verdes. CCMA (324), 18-09-2019. Link
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2019). Alguns episodis anticiclònics al Pirineu són quatre vegades més freqüents ara que fa 50 anys. METEOMAURI, CCMA. Radio interview, 21-02-2019.
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2019). Detecten un descens significatiu de la precipitació anual al vessant sud del Pirineu. El Temps, CCMA, 10-02-2019.
  • Lemus-Canovas, M. (2019). Les àrees urbanes s’escalfen fins a 2.5 ºC més que les zones amb verd urbà. Barcelona Televisió (Beteve), 12-09-2019. Link