An Observed Connection Between Wintertime Temperature Anomalies over Northwest China and Weather Regime Transitions in North Atlantic

In this study, the association between wintertime temperature anomalies over Northwest China and the weather regime transitions in North Atlantic on synoptic scale is analyzed by using observational surface air temperature(SAT) data and atmospheric reanalysis data. Daily SAT anomaly and duration time are used in order to define SAT anomaly cases. Differences with regard to the circulation anomalies over the Ural Mountains and the upstream North Atlantic area are evident. It is found that the colder than normal SAT is caused by the enhanced Ural high and associated southward flow over Northwest China. Time-lagged composites reveal possible connections between the SAT anomalies and the different development phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO). The Ural highs tend to be strengthened during the negative phase of NAO(NAO–) to Atlantic ridge transition, which are closely related to the downstream-propagating Rossby wave activity. The opposite circulation patterns are observed in the warm SAT cases. A cyclonic circulation anomaly is distinctly enhanced over the Urals during the positive phase of NAO(NAO+) to Scandinavian blocking transition, which would cause warmer SAT over Northwest China. Further analyses suggest that the intensified zonal wind over North Atlantic would favor the NAO– to Atlantic ridge transition, while the weakened zonal wind may be responsible for the transition between NAO+ and Scandinavian blocking.     

北极海冰对2008年1月乌拉尔高压异常的影响

2008年1月我国南方发生了大范围的雨雪冰冻灾害天气,造成此次灾害的一个重要原因是乌拉尔高压异常的长期维持,而作为下垫面的海洋,2007/2008冬季环北欧海海冰异常偏少。观测资料合成分析表明,乌拉尔山地区出现高压异常与巴伦支海和喀拉海的海冰偏少存在密切对应关系。利用大气环流模式试验研究了(90°W~60°E)区域海冰异常对大气的影响,模拟结果显示海冰对乌拉尔高压异常有正的贡献,线性模式诊断表明天气尺度瞬变波是海冰影响乌拉尔高压异常的一种重要机制。     

Anomalous Western Pacific Subtropical High during Late Summer in Weak La Nia Years: Contrast between 1981 and 2013

Both 1981 and 2013 were weak La Niña years with a similar sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly in the tropical Pacific, yet the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) during August exhibited an opposite anomaly in the two years. A comparison indicates that, in the absence of a strong SST anomaly in the tropics, the cold advection from Eurasian high latitudes and the convection of the western Pacific warm pool play important roles in influencing the strength and position of the WPSH in August. In August 1981, the spatial pattern of 500 hPa geopotential height was characterized by a meridional circulation with a strong ridge in the Ural Mountains and a deep trough in Siberia, which provided favorable conditions for cold air invading into the lower latitudes. Accordingly, the geopotential height to the north of the WPSH was reduced by the cold advection anomaly from high latitudes, resulting in an eastward retreat of the WPSH. Moreover, an anomalous cyclonic circulation in the subtropical western Pacific, excited by enhanced warm pool convection, also contributed to the eastward retreat of the WPSH. By contrast, the influence from high latitudes was relatively weak in August 2013 due to a zonal circulation pattern over Eurasia, and the anomalous anticyclonic circulation induced by suppressed warm pool convection also facilitated the westward extension of the WPSH. Therefore, the combined effects of the high latitude and tropical circulations may contribute a persistent anomaly of the WPSH in late summer, despite the tropical SST anomaly being weak.     

500 hPa Vorticity Analyses over Argentina: Their Climatologyand Capacity to Distinguish Synoptic-Scale Precipitation

Summary The Southern South America climatological 500 hPa relative vorticity mean state was examined using regional objective analyses of 500 hPa geopotential heights provided by the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional of Argentina. The dataset, covering the period June 1983 to July 1987, was stratified into two samples: the cold and warm seasons. Mean cyclonic vorticity south of 40° S results in a climatological trough over Patagonia with a northwest-southeast tilt. North of this latitude, mean anticyclonic circulation dominates with the exception of a centre of cyclonic vorticity over the Río de la Plata (35° S, 56° W). Seasonal changes appear to be small. Relative vorticity frequency distributions were also analysed. The association between precipitation and synoptic-scale features of the mid-troposphere circulation was investigated through vorticity fields. A particular distribution of vorticity anomalies associated with daily precipitation in Buenos Aires is revealed by biserial correlation coefficient fields. In winter, the strongest relationships are found between 35° S and 40° S over the Andes Mountains (minimum significant correlation coefficients indicating a cyclonic vorticity anomaly), and in the south of Brazil and east of Buenos Aires over the Atlantic Ocean down to a latitude of 40° S (maximum correlation coefficients related to anomalously anticyclonic circulation). This shows the preferential position of troughs and ridges that produce precipitation in Buenos Aires on the time scale of a day. In summer, centres of anomalously cyclonic and anticyclonic vorticity associated with precipitation shift slightly southward. For moderate or intense precipitation in Buenos Aires, advection of warm and wet air southwards appears to be more important in winter, while in summer the strong anomalous vorticity gradient north of the negative centre over the Andes Cordillera favours rainfall in Buenos Aires. Received April 17, 1997     

The Association Between Circulation Anomaliesin the Mid-Troposphere and Area Burnedby Wildland Fire in Canada

Summary  There is evidence that the area burned by wildland fire has increased in certain regions of Canada in recent decades. One cause for this increase is changes in the mid-tropospheric circulation at 500 hPa over northern North America. This study examines the physical links between anomalous mid-tropospheric circulation over various regions of Canada and wildland fire severity. Analysis of monthly and seasonal burned areas for the period 1953 to 1995 reveals a bimodal distribution with distinct low and extreme high burned area years. The high/low burned area years coincide with positive/negative 500 hPa height anomalies over north-western, western, west-central and east-central Canada. Total area burned and the 500 hPa height anomaly data are analyzed for statistical relationships using the Spearman rank correlation non-parametric measure. Results for the May to August fire season indicate statistically significant correlations between regional total area burned and clusters of anomalous 500 hPa geopotential height values immediately over, and immediately upstream of the affected region. For the north-western and west-central regions, significantly correlated clusters are found in the central Pacific as well, providing evidence of the influence of a teleconnection structure on the summer climate of western and north-western North America. Two sample comparison tests show statistically significant differences in both the means and variances of the fire data populations during negative and positive phases of mid-tropospheric flow, and the means of the height anomaly populations during extremely high and extremely low area burned seasons. Increases in regional total area burned are related to increases in mean 500 hPa heights, taken from the significantly correlated clusters of height values, between two successive periods 1953–74 and 1975–95. For Canada as a whole, the five lowest area burned seasons all occurred during the early period, while the five highest seasons occurred during the later period. The difference in the geopotential height fields between the two periods identifies an increase in 500 hPa heights over most of Canada with an amplification of the western Canada ridge and an eastward shifted Canadian Polar Trough (CPT). Received October 19, 1998     

高空槽强度指数的构建及其定量化研究

利用2002~2010年25°N~35°N,110°E~120°E范围内的NCEP 1°×1°500 hPa高度场、涡度场和风场6 h再分析资料,运用层次分析法,构建出高空槽强度指数TSI。结果表明,TSI的大小与槽强度有很好的一致性,即TSI越大槽越强。TSI不仅对槽有较好的指示意义,对脊也有一定的指示意义。其中当TSI0.6时,高空槽在该区域较明显;0.35≤TSI≤0.6时,槽脊都不明显,即主要表现为一致的西风环流;TSI0.35时,高空脊较为明显。利用2011年的数据对该指数进行检验,检验效果较好。另外,定量分析较强高空槽(TSI≥0.6)的月分布规律发现,较强槽冬季较多而夏季较少。     

Synoptic reasons for heavy snowfalls in the Polish – German lowlands

Summary Daily circulation patterns responsible for heavy snowfalls in the Polish – German lowlands were analysed. Composite maps of sea level pressure (SLP) and 500 hPa geopotential height means and anomalies were constructed for the days with an increase in snow cover depth by ≥5 cm. Contour maps show negative anomalies of SLP and 500 hPa level over central Europe, indicating a low pressure system. Strong positive anomalies of SLP appear over Scandinavia and the northern Atlantic with the centre of positive anomalies located over Iceland. Weaker negative anomalies are observed in the Azores region. This confirms the strong negative correlation between snow cover appearance and the North Atlantic Oscillation index in Europe. The days with heavy snowfalls were clustered using the Ward’s method. Three types of circulation patterns were distinguished, each of them characterised by a low pressure system over central Europe. Type 3 represents the northern position of the low with its centre over the Baltic Sea, Type 2 shows the southern position of the low with its centre over the Adriatic and the Ionic Sea and Type 1 represents the low location between the two previous patterns with a wide meridional trough over the Atlantic. Author’s address: Ewa Bednorz, Institute of Physical Geography and Environmental Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznań, Poland.     

北半球大气环流异常与广西夏季高温天气

利用1951~2003年北半球500 hPa月平均高度场资料,对广西多高温年份和少高温年份的大尺度环流场进行对比分析,发现多高温年和少高温年500 hPa位势高度距平场差异明显,主要表现在:北太平洋阿留申群岛到副热带地区在冬春季和前汛期都呈现相反的南北距平分布结构;盛夏,多高温年在乌拉尔山至贝加尔湖地区及孟加拉湾至我国西南地区是正距平区,而少高温年在上述地区为负距平中心。典型相关分析表明,7~8月500 hPa高度场与前期1月、4~6月的高度场有密切的联系,高空槽脊的强弱分布及西太平洋副高等大尺度天气系统的变化本身具有一定的内相关,从而揭示了高温天气形成的大尺度环流变化的一些事实。     

华北夏季降水减少与北半球大气环流异常的关系

利用华北地区20站夏季降水资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,采用趋势分析、合成分析等方法,对华北夏季降水减少与北半球大气环流异常进行对比分析。结果表明,华北夏季降水量1951—2008年呈显著减少趋势,平均每10 a减少13.4 mm,1965年发生了气候突变,之后降水量减少更加明显。北半球大气环流在1965年前后有明显不同：1）1951—1965年夏季500 hPa高度场欧洲大槽、贝加尔湖槽较深,乌拉尔山高压脊较强,经向环流表现突出;而1966—2008年夏季欧洲大槽、贝加尔湖槽较浅,乌拉尔山高压脊较弱,纬向环流表现突出。2）1951—1965年夏季500 hPa蒙古冷槽位置偏北偏西,冷空气活动经常影响华北地区;而1966—2008年夏季蒙古冷槽位置东移南压到河套附近,冷空气经常影响华北以南以东地区。3）1951—1965年夏季海平面气压场蒙古低压异常强大,而1966—2008年蒙古低压明显减弱。4）1951—1965年夏季850 hPa东亚夏季风一直伸展到华北、东北地区,蒙古地区存在明显的气旋性环流,在河套附近产生风向辐合;而1966—2008年东亚夏季风在到达30°N附近风速显著减小,很少越过长江到达华北地区,在长江流域形成了风速辐合,同时蒙古地区的气旋性环流消失,河套附近的风向辐合变的很弱。1951—1965年华北多雨是由于东亚夏季风水汽的有效输送和河套附近的风向辐合造成的,而1966—2008年长江流域多雨是由于东亚夏季风在这里产生了风速辐合造成的。华北夏季降水减少与北半球大气环流异常有很好的联系。     

湛江极端低温事件特征及个例对比分析

利用广东湛江1951—2018年逐日气温资料、NCEP再分析资料和NOAA重建海温资料,分析近67年湛江冬季极端低温事件的特征,对比分析1967年1月、1975年12月和2016年1月三次极端低温事件过程的天气要素和环流特征,从ENSO和北极涛动（AO）方面探讨形成极端低温的原因。研究表明:1951—2017年平均最低气温和极端最低气温均呈增暖趋势,且极端最低气温比平均最低气温增暖更快。湛江冬季极端最低气温受东亚冬季风南北一致型模态影响,东亚冬季风一致偏强时湛江极端最低气温偏低,其关键环流系统为乌拉尔山及其以东地区的高压脊、贝加尔湖以南地区的低压槽和西伯利亚高压。进一步分析表明,三次冷空气过程受ENSO和AO的影响不同,其中1967年冷空气受东部型拉尼娜和AO负位相共同影响,1975年冷空气主要受中部型拉尼娜影响,2016年冷空气则主要受AO负位相影响。三次过程均以偏西路冷空气活动为主,都表现出对流层中层东亚地区位势高度偏低、对流层低层异常北风和西伯利亚高压偏强的特征。但高空环流形势不同,1967年冷空气过程为高压脊发展型,预报关键是槽后脊的发展时间;1975和2016年冷空气过程环流形势均为横槽转竖型,预报关键是阻塞高压崩溃、横槽转竖时间。地面受冷空气影响时间与925 hPa温度平流有较好的对应关系,但由平流降温造成的过程最低气温与850 hPa冷平流强度对应,过程最低气温往往发生在850 hPa冷平流最强的次日,另外还要关注辐射降温作用对最低气温的影响。      

夏季乌拉尔地区大气环流持续异常的形成与维持

从天气尺度瞬变涡旋与时间平均基本气流双向相互作用建立异常型的角度，研究了夏季乌拉尔地区大气环流持续异常的形成与维持，首先基于合成分析，研究了持续异常期间的天气尺度瞬变波活动情况，结果表明：正异常时，在上游地区，从北大西洋中部到西欧沿岸，瞬变活动明显增强。负异常过程时相反，该地区瞬变活动减弱。利用线性正压原始方程模式，研究了在合成正异常基本流及7月气候基本流等两种基本流下，正异常时上游异常瞬变活动对异常建立的贡献。结果表明：正异常时，上游增强的瞬变波活动有利于正异常的建立与维持。利用基于线性正压原始方程模式设计的风暴轴模式，研究了时间平均基本流在组织与调控瞬变活动中所起的作用。结果表明：当乌拉尔地区高压脊发展时，有利于瞬变在上游的北大西洋中部到西欧沿岸地区组织起来。脊发展越强，越有利。结合上述两方面的结果，提出了瞬变与行星波双向相互作用的乌拉尔持续正异常形成和自维持机制。     

低频扰动增量法在华南冬季低温延伸期预报中的应用研究

通过扰动物理量分解方法和增量预报方法,提出低频扰动增量的定义,分析冬季大气低频扰动信号与华南低温事件的可能联系,构建基于低频扰动增量的华南冬季低温延伸期预报模型,为低温延伸期预报提供科学参考依据。分析表明:(1)东半球500 hPa高度场低频扰动变化显著区域主要位于中高纬度45°×80°N地区,尤其在乌拉尔山脉附近及其以西的东欧地区和贝加尔湖以北的中西伯利亚地区;(2)500 hPa中高纬高度场和风场低频扰动增量的前两个EOF模态反映了周期为20 d左右低频振荡的传播型模态,EOF1反映的是导致中高纬度两槽一脊型的环流形势得以维持的低频扰动特征,EOF2反映的是中高纬度高空槽东移后出现的低频扰动特征,研究揭示了华南最低气温低频扰动增量与该低频传播模态的关系十分密切;(3)基于低频扰动增量的延伸期预报准确率明显优于直接应用原始场的延伸期预报,重点抓住大尺度环流的低频扰动增量及由其引起的预报量的扰动增量,可以提高延伸期预报的准确率。     

黑龙江省夏季降水的主相关型及其环流特征

将黑龙江省53个气象站的夏季降水做点相关，将达到统计显著性标准最多的台站降水分布图定义为主相关型，讨论了与该降水类型对应的500hPa环流特征。结果表明黑龙江省西南部和鹤岗一带的夏季降水具有很好的代表性，夏季降水有明显的西北-东南向分布，可利用南北降水之差来描述全省夏季降水的最主要雨型，500hPa高度场乌拉尔山槽脊变化和我国副热带地区高度距平均不同对黑龙江省夏季降水关系密切，鄂霍茨克海地区的高度距平对省夏季降水的南北分布更有指示意义。     

云南春季强低温的诊断分析

运用北半球500hPa格点资料，分析了3月倒春寒天气发生的同期、前期500hPa环流特征。云南春季倒春寒天气的发生与同期500hPa上乌拉尔山脊的建立、新西伯利亚附近横槽转竖有关，孟加拉湾南支槽的影响使倒春寒天气更易发生。     

Interannual Variations of the Blocking High over the Ural Mountains and Its Association with the AO/NAO in Boreal Winter

This paper analyzes interannual variations of the blocking high over the Ural Mountains in the boreal winter and their association with the Arctic Oscillation/North Atlantic Oscillation (AO/NAO).In Jan...     

Interannual variability in the onset of the summer monsoon over the Eastern Bay of Bengal

Summary Climatological characteristics associated with summer monsoon onset over the eastern Bay of Bengal (BOB) are examined in terms of the westerly-easterly boundary surface (WEB). The vertical tilt of the WEB depends on the horizontal meridional temperature gradient (MTG) near the WEB, under the constraint of the thermal wind balance. The switch in the WEB tilt firstly occurs between 90 and 100°E during the first pentad of May. At this time the 850 hPa ridgeline splits over the BOB and heavy rainfall commences over the eastern BOB, indicating the onset of the BOB summer monsoon (BOBSM). The area-averaged MTG (200–500 hPa) is proposed as an index to define the BOBSM onset. A comparison of the onset determined by the MTG, 850 hPa zonal wind, and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) shows that the MTG index is the most effective in characterizing the interannual variability of the BOBSM onset. Strong precursor signals are found prior to an anomalous BOBSM onset. Composite results show that early (late) BOBSM onset follows excessive (deficient) rainfall over the western Pacific and anomalous lower tropospheric cyclonic circulation which extends zonally from the northern Indian Ocean into the western Pacific, and strong (weak) equatorial westerly anomalies in the preceding winter and spring. Prior to an early (late) BOBSM onset, significant positive (negative) thickness anomalies exist around the Tibetan Plateau, accompanied by anomalous upper tropospheric anticyclonic (cyclonic) circulation. The interannual variations of the BOBSM onset are significantly correlated with anomalous sea surface temperature related to ENSO. These occurs through changes in the Walker circulation and local Hadley circulation, leading to middle and upper tropospheric temperature anomalies over the Asian sector. The strong precursor signals around the Tibetan Plateau may be partly caused by local snow cover anomalies, and an early (late) BOBSM onset is preceded by less (more) snow accumulation over the Tibetan Plateau during the preceding winter.     

西北地区东部降水的大气环流及水汽特征

基于西北地区东部81站1961—2010年夏季(6—8月)逐月降水资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,利用距平合成分析,探讨其多雨年和少雨年逐月500 hPa高度场和700 hPa湿度场特征。结果表明:西北地区东部多雨年,影响降水的天气特征表现为乌拉尔山脊逐月偏强,7月鄂霍次克海脊偏强,贝加尔湖高压脊转为低槽,7月巴尔喀什湖低槽较6月偏强。8月贝加尔湖长波槽较7月偏强;少雨年天气系统表现为6—8月西北地区东部受高压脊前西北气流控制。西太平洋副热带高压(以下简称:副高)多雨年较少雨年偏西偏强。6—8月多(少)雨年比湿的变化表明,西北地区东部降水多雨年,大气的含水量较高,西北地区东部降水少雨年,大气的含水量较低。     

华南前汛期降水的年代际异常特征及其成因

利用1981—2013年中国160站逐月降水资料、NCEP/NCAR逐月再分析资料及NOAA海表温度资料,研究了华南前汛期降水年代际异常的时空特征及其可能成因。结果表明:1)华南前汛期降水在1992前后发生由异常偏少转为偏多的显著年代际转折,最显著异常中心位于广西东北部和广东北部。2)1990年代初发生的对流层高层南冷北暖(40°N附近为界)、对流层下暖上冷的年代际转折,使得高低层环流场均出现了有利于北方干、湿冷空气和孟加拉湾、西太平洋暖湿水汽在华南区域交汇并辐合上升的形势,造成华南前汛期降水发生偏少转偏多的显著年代际转折。年代际转折的前后两个时段中,位于热带的孟加拉湾槽、东亚沿岸EAP遥相关型波列中的西太平洋副高、阿拉斯加湾附近的脊,以及中纬度贝加尔湖以西以南脊的强度或位置均具有显著差异,故这些环流系统的年代际异常是华南前汛期降水年代际异常的重要原因。3)南太平洋关键区海温在1990年代初开始呈现增暖趋势,在偏暖(偏冷)时期,华南低空受异常气旋(异常反气旋)环流控制,对流层上层西风急流偏弱偏南(偏强偏北),造成华南地区降水异常偏多(偏少)。     

北疆冬季持续性低温事件特征及大气环流异常分析

利用新疆天山山区及其以北地区（北疆）45个气象站1961-2010年冬季逐日最低气温资料,提出了45站低温日标准和区域性持续性低温事件的定义,并分析了持续性低温事件的时空分布和变化特征,研究了低温事件的年代际变化环流差异特征、大尺度环流背景、冷空气影响路径及强度特征。结果表明：(1) 低温日阈值呈东北向西南升高的分布趋势,低温日阈值最小值分布于准噶尔盆地和新疆北部阿勒泰地区,阈值为-34～-30℃,而西部伊犁地区和天山山区低温日阈值为-24～-20℃;(2) 1961-2010年出现35次大范围持续性低温事件,1月和2月发生频次均为0.29次/年,12月为0.14次/年;低温事件持续时间为5~25 d,其中超过10 d有16次,5~9 d有19次。持续性低温事件发生频率呈年际和年代际显著减少趋势,但强度无显著变化趋势;(3) 北半球大范围环流异常造成新疆持续低温事件,以经向环流异常为主,根据冷空气影响路径可分为4类：西西伯利亚横槽、中西伯利亚低槽东灌、北风带和西北风带、北脊南槽（涡）,这4类冷空气影响路径表现为500 hPa冷空气从极地或西伯利亚以超极地、西北和偏东路径进入新疆后,-32℃冷空气南压位于北疆地区,海平面气压场同时表现为蒙古高压盘踞欧亚大陆,高压中心达1045 hPa以上且位于阿勒泰山地区,1035 hPa冷高压控制北疆地区,这种环流配置造成新疆持续性低温事件。     

东亚夏季风指数的年际变化与东亚大气环流

文中从夏季东亚热带、副热带环流系统特点出发 ,定义了能较好表征东亚夏季风环流年际变化的特征指数 ,并分析了东亚夏季风指数的年际变化与东亚大气环流及夏季中国东部降水的关系。文中定义的东亚夏季风指数既反映了夏季东亚大气环流风场的变化特征 ,也较好地反映了夏季中国东部降水的年际变化特征。此外 ,还探讨了东亚夏季风指数变化的先兆信号