Build-up,air mass transformation and propagation of Siberian high and its relations to cold surge in East Asia

Summary The present paper discusses the build-up, the air mass transformation and the propagation of the Siberian high as well as its relations to the development of cold surges in East Asia. It has been found that (1) the genesis and development of the Siberian high result from the combined effects of the mass convergence at middle and upper-level and the radiative cooling; (2) the apparent transformation of the Siberian high over land is observed in winter, which is caused by the upward sensible heat and latent heat flux from the underlying surface; (3) the Siberian high and its attendant cold air outbreaks usually undergo a marked low-frequency, southward propagation with the period of 10–20 days; (4) activity of cold surge over the East China Sea and the South China Sea is closely related to the intensity of the Siberian high. The active cold surge occurs when the Siberian high is usually strong.With 12 Figures