基于全球大气环流三型分解的西太平洋副热带高压指数的新定义

西太平洋副热带高压（简称副高）活动规律及其变异的动力学机理问题一直是我国气象学家的重要课题。本文针对现有研究和预测中常用的高度场指数不能全面、准确刻画全球变暖背景下的副高演变特征的缺陷,利用全球大气环流三型分解模型中的流函数能够等价描述副高三维空间几何图像的优势,以500 hPa水平型环流流函数的零等值线为客观标准,给出了副高面积、强度、脊线及西伸脊点指数的新定义,并以2018年夏季副高的短期结构演变特征及其与我国东部地区降水之间的关系研究为例,验证了本文新定义副高指数的客观性与合理性。本文利用全球大气环流三型分解模型中的水平型环流流函数新定义的副高指数,不仅从形态上准确刻画了副高的大尺度涡旋环流特征,而且全球大气环流三型分解的动力学、热力学方程组为进一步利用新指数开展副高异常演变的机理研究提供新的理论工具。     

CMIP5模式对西太平洋副热带高压的模拟和预估

利用国际耦合模式比较计划第五阶段（CMIP5）26个模式的模拟结果,从空间分布和振幅变化、年际周期及年代际趋势等方面,初步评估了CMIP5模式对西太平洋副热带高压（副高）的模拟能力。在此基础上,还对未来不同典型浓度路径（RCPs）情景下副高的可能变化给出了定性的预估。CMIP5模式历史试验结果显示,大多数模式对500 hPa位势高度气候平均值的模拟有明显误差,这主要是由于模式对热带印度洋和西太平洋地区海表温度（SST）的模拟普遍较观测值低,从而导致模式对副高的模拟能力有限。但大多数模式对高度场和纬向风场变化的空间形态与振幅都有较强的模拟能力。因此,通过用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料的气候平均值替代CMIP5模式气候平均值的简单方法,对CMIP5模拟结果进行了订正。经订正后的模式结果均有能力刻画副高指数的历史时间序列,且能够反映出20世纪70年代末期之后,副高面积增大、强度增强和显著西伸的变化趋势。此外,通过对副高指数的长期趋势、年际周期及标准差等的定量评估,注意到CNRM-CM5、FGOALS-g2、FIO-ESM、MIROC-ESM和MPI-ESM-P这5个模式对副高的模拟能力较强。未来气候预估试验中,副高面积和强度均增大,且显著西伸;其线性增长趋势在RCP8.5情景下最高,RCP4.5情景下次之,RCP2.6情景下最弱。有趣的是副高脊线指数在3种排放情景下都没有明显的长期变化趋势。这些结果为选取和利用CMIP5模式进行东亚地区气候变化的归因分析和未来预估提供了一定的科学依据。     

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.     

Interdecadal Change of the Northward Jump Time of the Western Pacific Subtropical High in Association with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation

In this paper, the northward jump time of the western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH) is defined and analyzed on the interdecadal timescale. The results show that under global warming, significant interdecadal changes have occurred in the time of the WPSH northward jumps. From 1951 to 2012, the time of the first northward jump of WPSH has changed from "continuously early" to "continuously late", with the transition occurring in 1980. The time of the second northward jump of WPSH shows a similar change, with the transition occurring in 1978. In this study, we offer a new perspective by using the time of the northward jump of WPSH to explain the eastern China summer rainfall pattern change from "north-abundant-southbelow-average" to "south-abundant-north-below-average" at the end of the 1970 s. The interdecadal change in the time of the northward jump of WPSH corresponds not only with the summer rainfall pattern, but also with the Pacific decadal oscillation(PDO). The WPSH northward jump time corresponding to the cold(warm) phase of the PDO is early(late). Although the PDO and the El Nino–Southern Oscillation(ENSO)both greatly influence the time of the two northward jumps of WPSH, the PDO’s effect is noticed before the ENSO’s by approximately 1–2 months. After excluding the ENSO influence, we derive composite vertical atmospheric circulation for different phases of the PDO. The results show that during the cold(warm)phase of the PDO, the atmospheric circulations at 200, 500, and 850 h Pa all contribute to an earlier(later)northward jump of the WPSH.     

Interannual and interdecadal variations of the South Asian and western Pacific subtropical highs and their relationships with Asian-Pacific summer climate

In this study, interdecadal and interannual variations of the South Asian high (SAH) and the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), as well as their relationships with the summer climate over Asian and Pacific regions, are addressed. The variations of SAH and WPSH are objectively measured by the first singular value decomposition (SVD) mode of geopotential heights at the 100- and 500-hPa levels. The first SVD mode of summertime 100- and 500-hPa geopotential heights represents well the relationship between the variations of SAH and WPSH. Both SAH and WPSH exhibit large interannual variability and experienced an apparent long-term change in 1987. The WPSH intensifies and extends westward when SAH intensifies and extends eastward, and vice versa. The India?CBurma trough weakens when WPSH intensifies. The changes in SAH and WPSH at various levels are linked to broad-scale increases in tropical tropospheric temperature and geopotential height. When SAH and WPSH strengthen, monsoon flow becomes weaker over eastern Asia. In the meantime, precipitation decreases over eastern South China Sea, Philippines, the Philippine Sea and northeastern Asia, but increases over China, Korea, Japan and the ocean domain east of Japan. Similar features are mostly found on both interdecadal and interannual timescales, but are more evident on interannual timescale.     

2013年夏季浙江省高温干旱环流异常分析

利用浙江省10个站的温度和降水资料、国家气候中心160站的降水资料、NOAA的ERSST和OLR资料及NCEP再分析资料,对2013年7至8月发生在浙江省的持续高温干旱天气过程的基本特征和环流异常进行了分析。结果表明:浙江省各站的高温日数、高温持续日数、持续无降水日数、干旱指数都远超历史同期纪录,降水较常年偏少3成以上。南亚高压强度偏强,面积偏大,东侧脊点位置偏东;西太平洋副高强度偏强,西侧脊点位置偏西;东亚季风异常偏强及其造成的水汽辐合偏弱,是高温干旱天气产生的重要原因。其中7月底西太平洋副高的异常西伸及8月异常持续偏西对浙江8月持续高温干旱的发生起了决定性作用,这与同期热带西太平洋暖池区增暖、菲律宾周围对流活动加强有关,后者通过EAP/PJ遥相关型对前者产生影响。     

VARIABILITY IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC SUBTROPICAL HIGH AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SEA TEMPERATURE VARIATION CONSIDERING THE BACKGROUND OF CLIMATE WARMING OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS

By adopting characteristic index data for the Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) from the National Climate Center of China, U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sea surface temperature (SST) data, we studied the WPSH variability considering the background of climate warming by using a Gaussian filter, moving averages, correlation analysis, and synthetic analysis. Our results show that with climate warming over the past 60 years, significant changes in the WPSH include its enlarged area, strengthened intensity, westward extended ridge point and southward expanded southern boundary, as well as enhanced interannual fluctuations in all these indices. The western ridge point of the WPSH consistently varies with temperature changes in the Northern Hemisphere, but the location of the ridgeline varies independently. The intensity and area of the WPSH were both significantly increased in the late 1980s. Specifically, the western ridge point started to significantly extend westward in the early 1990s, and the associated interannual variability had a significant increase in the late 1990s; in addition, the ridgeline was swaying along the north-south-north direction, and the corresponding variability was also greatly enhanced in the late 1990s. With climate warming, the SST increase becomes more weakly correlated with the WPSH intensity enhancement but more strongly correlated with the westward extension of the ridge point in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific Ocean in winter, corresponding to an expanding WPSH in space. In the northern Pacific in winter, the SST decrease has a weaker correlation with the southerly location of the ridgeline but also a stronger correlation with the westward extension of the ridge point. In the tropical western Pacific in winter, the correlations of the SST decrease with the WPSH intensity enhancement, and the westward extension of the ridge point is strengthened. These observations can be explained by strengthened Hadley circulations, the dominant effects of the southward shift, and additional effects of the weakened ascending branch of the Walker circulation during warm climatological periods, which consequently lead to strengthened intensities, increased areas, and southward expansions of the WPSH in summer.     

中国东部地区夏季降水和环流的年代际转型及其与PDO的联系

利用1951—2013年全国160个测站逐月降水资料、NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料和NOAA全球月平均海表温度等资料,分析了中国东部地区夏季降水的年代际转型及相关大气环流变化。研究结果表明,1970s中后期和1990s PDO两次位相转换给中国东部地区夏季降水带来显著的年代际变化,前者使得东亚夏季风进一步减弱,夏季雨带南退至长江中下游地区,后者使得东亚夏季风恢复增强,雨带北移至淮河流域。进一步研究发现,1990s PDO年代际突变导致东亚夏季大气环流场发生显著变化,贝加尔湖地区增暖导致向北的经向温度梯度增大以及副热带高压的东退北抬是导致1990s东部地区夏季降水年代际变化的可能原因。     

夏季东亚高空急流与太平洋-日本遥相关型的关系

利用NCEP/NCAR和NOAA月平均资料,采用奇异值分解方法分析了夏季东亚高空纬向风场和西北太平洋海表温度(SST)的耦合关系,并据此研究了东亚副热带高空急流和太平洋-日本(Pacific-Japan,PJ)遥相关型的可能联系。合成分析结果表明,东亚副热带高空急流正模态年,急流偏南偏强,对流层上层南亚高压增强东进,中层西太平洋副热带高压加强西伸,菲律宾周边海域SST升高,中纬度黑潮延伸体区SST降低,菲律宾海和热带西太平洋地区对流活动偏弱,日本海和黑潮延伸体海区对流活动增强,对应PJ遥相关型的负位相;而东亚副热带高空急流负模态年,急流偏北偏弱,对流层上层南亚高压减弱西退,中层西太平洋副热带高压减弱东撤,菲律宾周边SST降低,中纬度黑潮延伸体区SST升高,菲律宾海和热带西太平洋地区对流活动强盛,日本海和黑潮延伸体海区对流活动减弱,对应PJ遥相关型的正位相。由于夏季东亚副热带高空急流活动与PJ遥相关型存在关联,PJ遥相关型可能是东亚副热带高空急流响应太平洋海温异常的纽带。     

江南南部初夏雨季的降水和环流气候特征

基于1961～2010年气象台站逐日降水资料、同期美国NCEP/NCAR的逐日再分析格点资料,通过气候平均、REOF分析、聚类分析等方法,分析了江南地区初夏降水的地域性和时段性特征,及西太平洋副高和高、低空急流等大气环流的相应演变过程。结果发现:（1）江南南部27.5°～29.5°N存在一个独立于华南前汛期和江淮梅雨的初夏雨季,该雨季平均发生时间为6月11～30日,比江淮梅雨早约8天左右。（2）西太平洋副高的西伸东退是江南南部初夏雨季发生发展的重要环流背景,6月第2候副高发生突变性加速西伸之后雨季开始,雨季期间850 hPa副高西伸脊点基本稳定在最西位置即133°E附近,6月第6候副高东退北抬后雨季结束。（3）低层急流大风带的形成和位置是江南南部初夏雨季阶段的重要动力条件,印度洋和孟加拉湾向东北延伸的低层急流与西太平洋副高西北侧的气流连通形成低层急流大风带,并与北侧上空的高空急流耦合,降水集中区位于低层急流大风带左侧、高空急流入口区右侧。     

局地海表温度异常影响热带气旋路径的模拟研究

本文以热带气旋"鲇鱼"(2010)为例,利用WRF模式和"鲇鱼"移动路径上不同的局地海表温度(SST)强迫进行了敏感性数值模拟。控制试验(CTRL)采用NCEP的SST强迫,敏感性试验分别在"鲇鱼"登陆菲律宾前的路径上增加(EXP1)和减小(EXP2)SST。结果表明:CTRL试验模拟的热带气旋路径与实况非常一致,EXP1试验模拟的热带气旋路径提前转向,移动路径偏东,EXP2试验模拟的热带气旋路径转向滞后,且移动路径偏西。对SST异常导致热带气旋路径出现差异的原因分析发现,热带气旋在吕宋岛东侧经过异常暖SST海面时,热带气旋强度增强,产生异常的正涡度平流,且500 h Pa以上凝结潜热释放增强副热带高压敏感区出现温度场的正异常,500h Pa以下水凝物的混合和蒸发作用增强造成副热带高压敏感区温度场的负异常,加之正的异常涡度平流和异常的上暖下冷温度场配置使得500 h Pa位势高度降低,副热带高压强度减弱,副热带高压西伸范围减小,导致热带气旋提前向北转向,移动路径偏东。反之,当热带气旋在吕宋岛东侧经过异常冷SST海面时,副热带高压西伸范围扩大,导致热带气旋向北转向滞后,路径偏西。     

Simulation and Projection of the Western Pacific Subtropical High in CMIP5 Models

This work examined the performance of 26 coupled climate models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 （CMIP5） in the simulation of the present-day temporal variability and spatial pattern of the western Pacifi c subtropical high （WPSH）. The results show that most models are able to capture the spatial distribution and variability of the 500-hPa geopotential height and zonal wind fi elds in the western subtropical Pacifi c, but with underestimated mean intensity of the WPSH. The underestimation may be associated with the cold bias of sea surface temperature in the tropical Indian and western Pacifi c oceans in the models. To eliminate the impact of the climatology biases, the climatology of these models is replaced by that of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis in the verifi cation, and the models reproduce the WPSH’s enhancement and westward extension after the late 1970s. According to assessment of the simulated WPSH indices, it is found that some models （CNRM-CM5, FGOALS-g2, FIO-ESM, MIROC-ESM, and MPI-ESM-P） are better than others in simulating WPSH. Then, the ensemble mean of these better models is used to pro ject the future changes of WPSH under three representative concentration pathway scenarios （RCP8.5, RCP4.5, and RCP2.6）. The WPSH enlarges, strengthens, and extends westward under all the scenarios, with the largest linear growth trend projected in RCP8.5, smallest in RCP2.6, and in between in RCP4.5;while the ridge line of WPSH shows no obvious long-term trend. These results may have implications for the attribution and prediction of climate variations and changes in East Asia.     

Typical Circulation Patterns and Associated Mechanisms for Persistent Heavy Rainfall Events over Yangtze–Huaihe River Valley during 1981–2020※

Persistent heavy rainfall events (PHREs) over the Yangtze–Huaihe River Valley (YHRV) during 1981–2020 are classified into three types (type-A, type-B and type-C) according to pattern correlation. The characteristics of the synoptic systems for the PHREs and their possible development mechanisms are investigated. The anomalous cyclonic disturbance over the southern part of the YHRV during type-A events is primarily maintained and intensified by the propagation of Rossby wave energy originating from the northeast Atlantic in the mid–upper troposphere and the northward propagation of Rossby wave packets from the western Pacific in the mid–lower troposphere. The zonal propagation of Rossby wave packets and the northward propagation of Rossby wave packets during type-B events are more coherent than those for type-A events, which induces eastward propagation of stronger anomaly centers of geopotential height from the northeast Atlantic Ocean to the YHRV and a meridional anomaly in geopotential height over the Asian continent. Type-C events have "two ridges and one trough" in the high latitudes of the Eurasian continent, but the anomalous intensity of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and the trough of the YHRV region are weaker than those for type-A and type-B events. The composite synoptic circulation of four PHREs in 2020 is basically consistent with that of the corresponding PHRE type. The location of the South Asian high (SAH) in three of the PHREs in 2020 moves eastward as in the composite of the three types, but the position of the WPSH of the four PHREs is clearly westward and northward. Two water vapor conveyor belts and two cold air conveyor belts are tracked during the four PHREs in 2020, but the water vapor path from the western Pacific is not seen, which may be caused by the westward extension of the WPSH.     

华南夏季降水两次年代际转折的水汽输送异常成因初探

本文利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和中国2374站日降水资料,通过水汽收支方程分解方法分析了华南夏季降水在1993～2002年时段年代际增多以及2003～2013年时段年代际减少的水汽输送特征及其成因.结果表明:1993～2002年时段(2003～2013年时段),局地环流导致异常下沉(上升)气流,南亚高压偏东(偏西...     

南半球10 hPa极地涡旋的多尺度变化特征分析

利用NCEP/NCAR 10 hPa月平均高度场资料, 计算了1948\_2007年南半球10 hPa极地涡旋的强度指数P、 面积指数S和中心位置指数(λc, φc)。用它们分析了南半球10 hPa极地涡旋的季节变化、 年际异常及其可能成因, 分析了10 hPa极地涡旋强度与南极涛动的关系。结果表明： (1) 南半球10 hPa极区12月~1月受反气旋控制, 3~10月受气旋控制, 2月、 11月为环流转换季节。(2) 1(7)月反气旋(气旋)指数P\, S均在1970年代后期发生了显著的跃变; 跃变前反气旋(气旋)由极弱(极强)振荡地增强(减弱)至接近气候均值, 跃变后反气旋由极强振荡趋于气候均值, 气旋在偏弱的状态下振荡。(3) 1月反气旋中心位置存在显著的年代际变化, 而7月气旋中心位置的年际变化明显。(4) 臭氧异常可引起南半球10 hPa 1月极地反气旋年际异常(正相关), 但与7月极地气旋异常无关。(5) 1月、 7月极地涡旋强度指数P与南极涛动指数(AAOI)呈显著的负相关, 可由P来表征AAOI。     

用南亚高压和西太副高的周期关系做多雨时段的预报研究

对１００ｈＰａ南亚高压的振荡指数及５００ｈＰａ西太平洋副高的强度指数、西进指数进行了谱分析,着重考察了５天到一个月的振荡周期。通过分析得出,南亚高压的显著周期主要是准两周周期,西太平洋副高的显著周期主要是准一周周期,其次是准 两周周期;在多数情况下,南亚高压东进比西太平洋副高西伸加强提前１￣２天;南亚高压的显著周期与西太平洋副高的显著周期叠加时,陕西地区可出现多雨时段。     

ENSO对中国西北地区秋季异常降水的影响

以奇异值分解（SVD）方法为基础,用1960～1994年35年的资料,分析了ENSO对中国西北地区秋季降水异常的影响,然后用奇异向量的海温场时间系数与500hPa高度场和海平面气压场进行交叉相关,讨论了在ENSO年引起西北地区降水异常的环流特征。结果表明,赤道中东太平洋海表温度异常与西北秋季大范围的区域性降水异常有较好的对应关系,在ElNino年,西北地区秋季大部分地区降水异常偏少,其中青藏高原东北侧的青海东部、甘肃中东部、宁夏南部和陕西北部等西北主要的雨养农业区降水明显偏少。引起这种异常的环流特征表现为500hPa高度场出现PNA异常流型,强异常中心多分布在低纬度,印缅槽偏弱,西太平洋副高加强西伸,脊线南移,南海副高和北美副高加强;东亚中纬度冬季盛行的1波流型在秋季异常发展,新疆脊偏强,东亚大槽加深西移。海平面气压场上,乌拉尔山北部高压、欧洲南部低压及阿留申低压等较高纬度系统异常加强（加深）。LaNino年情况相反。     

Possible Impacts of the Arctic Oscillation on the Interdecadal Variation of Summer Monsoon Rainfall in East Asia

The influences of the wintertime AO (Arctic Oscillation) on the interdecadal variation of summer monsoon rainfall in East Asia were examined. An interdecadal abrupt change was found by the end of the 1970s in the variation of the AO index and the leading principal component time series of the summer rainfall in East Asia, The rainfall anomaly changed from below normal to above normal in central China, the southern part of northeastern China and the Korean peninsula around 1978. However,the opposite interdecadal variation was found in the rainfall anomaly in North China and South China.The interdecadal variation of summer rainfall is associated with the weakening of the East Asia summer monsoon circulation. It is indicated that the interdecadal variation of the AO exerts an influence on the weakening of the monsoon circulation. The recent trend in the AO toward its high-index polarity during the past two decades plays important roles in the land-sea contrast anomalies and wintertime precipitation anomaly. The mid- and high-latitude regions of the Asian continent are warming, while the low-latitude regions are cooling in winter and spring along with the AO entering its high-index polarity after the late 1970s. In the meantime, the precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau and South China is excessive, implying an increase of soil moisture. The cooling tendency of the land in the southern part of Asia will persist until summer because of the memory of soil moisture. So the warming of the Asian continent is relatively slow in summer. Moreover, the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean which are located southward and eastward of the Asian land, are warming from winter to summer. This suggests that the contrast between the land and sea is decreased in summer. The interdecadal decrease of the land-sea heat contrast finally leads to the weakening of the East Asia summer monsoon circulation.     

冬季北半球风暴轴的协同变化及其与大气环流的相互作用

基于1971—2016年NCEP/NCAR的逐日、逐月再分析资料,研究冬季北半球西伯利亚风暴轴(Siberian Storm Track,SIST)、北太平洋风暴轴(Pacific Storm Track,PST)和北大西洋风暴轴(Atlantic Storm Track,AST)的协同变化特征及其与大气环流的关系。结果表明:(1)三大风暴轴不仅各自的位置与强度变化存在显著相关性,风暴轴之间也存在一定的协同变化且年代际尺度上比年际尺度上更紧密。年际尺度上,SIST与AST的经度变化呈显著负相关,而PST和AST的协同性较差;年代际尺度上,SIST与PST的经、纬度变化均呈弱的负相关,SIST与AST的经度和强度变化均呈显著正相关,PST与AST的经、纬度变化均呈显著负相关。(2)由联合EOF分析得到北半球风暴轴的协同变化时空特征:在年际尺度上,第一模态主要表现为SIST偏弱(强),PST主体偏弱(强)、东南偏强(弱),AST略偏北(南)偏强(弱)但不显著的协同变化。PC1为正位相时,对应的大气环流异常为:500 hPa高度场上为太平洋北美(Pacific North America,PNA)型和欧亚(Eurasian,EU)型的正位相,东亚急流偏强且偏南;第二模态主要表现为SIST偏强(弱)且偏东(西),PST中东部偏南(北)、西部强度偏强(弱),AST偏强(弱)的协同变化。PC2为正位相时,对应的大气环流异常为:500 hPa高度场上为PNA型和大西洋东部(East Atlantic,EA)型的正位相,北美急流减弱;在年代际尺度上,第一模态主要表现为SIST偏西(东)且偏弱(强),PST偏东(西)且偏弱(强),AST偏西(东)且偏弱(强)的协同变化。PC1为正位相时,对应的大气环流异常为:500 hPa高度场上为西大西洋(West Atlantic,WA)型和EU型的正位相。第二模态主要表现为SIST偏强(弱)且偏北(南),PST偏南(北)且偏弱(强),AST北抬(南压)的协同变化。PC2为正位相时,对应的大气环流异常为:500 hPa高度场上为EU型和WA型的正位相,东亚急流强度加强且偏南,北美急流强度减弱。     

An Investigation of the Formation of the Heat Wave in Southern China in Summer 2013 and the Relevant Abnormal Subtropical High Activities

In the summer of 2013, an unprecedented heat wave was experienced over a vast area of southern China. The great areal extent, duration, and strength of this high temperature are very rare. For the 2013 hot spell, the major and direct influence mostly came from the anomaly of the western Pacific subtropical high （WPSH）. The abnormally strong and stable WPSH was associated with specific surrounding circulations. The eastward extension of a stronger Qinghai-Xizang high favored the westward extension of the WPSH. The weaker cold air activity from the polar region led to the northward shift of the WPSH and helped it to remain stable. In the tropics, the western segment of the ITCZ was abnormally strong in the period, and supported the maintenance of the WPSH from the south. In addition, the interdecadal variation of the WPSH provided a decadal background for the anomaly variation of the WPSH that summer.