Eurasian Snow Cover Variability and Its Association with Summer Rainfall in China

This study investigates the statistical linkage between summer rainfall in China and the preceding spring Eurasian snow water equivalent （SWE）, using the datasets of summer rainfall observations from 513 stations, satellite-observed snow water equivalent, and atmospheric circulation variables in the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis during the period from 1979 to 2004. The first two coupled modes are identified by using the singular value decomposition （SVD） method. The leading SVD mode of the spring SWE variability shows a coherent negative anomaly in most of Eurasia with the opposite anomaly in some small areas of the Tibetan Plateau and East Asia. The mode displays strong interannual variability, superposed on an interdecadal variation that occurred in the late 1980s, with persistent negative phases in 1979-1987 and frequent positive phases afterwards. When the leading mode is in its positive phase, it corresponds to less SWE in spring throughout most of Eurasia. Meanwhile, excessive SWE in some small areas of the Tibetan Plateau and East Asia, summer rainfall in South and Southeast China tends to be increased, whereas it would be decreased in the up-reaches of the Yellow River. In recent two decades, the decreased spring SWE in Eurasia may be one of reasons for severe droughts in North and Northeast China and much more significant rainfall events in South and Southeast China. The second SVD mode of the spring SWE variability shows opposite spatial variations in western and eastern Eurasia, while most of the Tibetan Plateau and East Asia are in phase. This mode significantly correlates with the succeeding summer rainfall in North and Northeast China, that is, less spring SWE in western Eurasia and excessive SWE in eastern Eurasia and the Tibetan Plateau tend to be associated with decreased summer rainfall in North and Northeast China.

Eurasian Snow Conditions and Summer Monsoon Rainfall over South and Southeast Asia: Assessment and Comparison

This study reveals the complex nature of the connection between Eurasian snow and the following summer season＇s monsoon rainfall by using four different indicators of snow conditions and correlating each of them to summer monsoon rainfall. Using 46 years of historical records of mean winter snow depth, maximum snow depth, and snow starting dates, and 27 years of snow area coverage from remote sensing observations over Eurasia, the authors found diverse correlation patterns between snow conditions and the following warm season＇s rainfall over South and Southeast Asia. Some of the results contradict the well-known inverse relationships between snow and the summer monsoon. This study provides an easy comparison of results in that it shows the connections between Eurasian snow and monsoon rainfall by using different Eurasian snow indicators based on the best available historical records without discrimination of regional variations in snow conditions.

Influence of October Eurasian Snow on Winter Temperature over Northeast China

This paper addresses the interannual variation of winter air temperature over Northeast China and its connection to preceding Eurasian snow cover. The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between October Eurasian snow cover and following-winter air temperature over Northeast China. The snow cover located in eastern Siberia and to the northeast of Lake Baikal plays an important role in the winter air temperature anomaly. More （less） eastern Siberia snow in October can cause an atmospheric circulation anomaly pattern in which the atmospheric pressure is higher （lower） than normal in the polar region and lower （higher） in the northern mid-high latitudes. Due to the persistence of the eastern Siberia snow from October to the following winter, the winter atmospheric anomaly is favorable （unfavorable） to the widespread movement of cold air masses from the polar region toward the northern mid-high latitudes and, hence, lower （higher） temperature over Northeast China. Simultaneously, when the October snow cover is more （less）, the SST in the northwestern Pacific is continuously lower （higher） as a whole; then, the Aleutian low and the East Asia trough are reinforced （weakened）, favoring the lower （higher） temperature over Northeast China.

Assessing the Impacts of Eurasian Snow Conditions on Climate Predictability with a Global Climate Model

On the basis of two ensemble experiments conducted by a general atmospheric circulation model(Institute of Atmospheric Physics nine-level atmospheric general circulation model coupled with land surface model,hereinafter referred to as IAP9L_CoLM),the impacts of realistic Eurasian snow conditions on summer climate predictability were investigated.The predictive skill of sea level pressures(SLP)and middle and upper tropospheric geopotential heights at mid-high latitudes of Eurasia was enhanced when improved Eurasian snow conditions were introduced into the model.Furthermore,the model skill in reproducing the interannual variation and spatial distribution of the surface air temperature(SAT)anomalies over China was improved by applying realistic(prescribed)Eurasian snow conditions.The predictive skill of the summer precipitation in China was low;however,when realistic snow conditions were employed,the predictability increased,illustrating the effectiveness of the application of realistic Eurasian snow conditions.Overall,the results of the present study suggested that Eurasian snow conditions have a significant effect on dynamical seasonal prediction in China.When Eurasian snow conditions in the global climate model(GCM)can be more realistically represented,the predictability of summer climate over China increases.

Statistical Regression Analysis of Response of Northern Mid and Upper Tropospheric Circulation to Winter Eurasian Snow Cover Effects

Response for anomalous circulation in relation to snow coverage is derived by use of regression coefficients in dealing with the Eurasian snow cover time series and northern mid and upper tropospheric height data. Results show that not only does the regression response pattern represent the correlation between snow coverage and circulation change but reflects the amplitude strength in correlation cores as well, with a greater amplitude of the circulation response in the mid troposphere and remarkable equivalent barotropy in the mid to upper levels, and that the response of winter-summer circulations to winter snow cover displays noticeable stationary planetary-scale wavetrain, leading to NEUP and NPNA patterns in winter, slightly changed forms in spring months and LEU and EANA in summer time. Also, the study demonstrates that the rasponse-produced wavetrain is marked by branch and propagates energy in a wave-front manner with the energy trapped at subtropical latitudes.

Impacts of Winter Eurasian Snow Cover Anomalies on the Surface Air Temperature Variability over West Asia

Previous research has shown that land surface thermal anomalies in West Asia(WA) can impact regional and global climate,particularly affecting China through the eastward propagation of wave trains.However,the factors driving these anomalies in WA have not been extensively studied.Based on the observation data,this work focuses on examining the impacts of Eurasian winter snow cover on winter surface air temperature(SAT) variability over WA from 1978/1979 to 2017/2018 and explores the underlying physical mechanisms.The results indicate that a crucial snow anomaly area extending from the Baltic Sea to eastern Ural significantly influences the winter SAT anomaly in WA.An anomalous increase(decrease) in winter snow cover in this key area corresponds to the anomalously warmer(cooler) SAT in WA.This relationship is primarily driven by the albedo effects of snow cover,where more(less)snow cover induces cooling(warming) of the overlying air,altering upper-level geopotential height and influencing the intensity,duration,and frequency of local blocking events.Additionally,changes in the air temperature above the key area modify the meridional temperature gradient(MTG) between high and low latitudes,affecting the mean zonal flow in the midlatitude.Diagnosis of the thermodynamic energy equation for SAT reveals that the combined effects of variations in blocking events in high latitudes and mean zonal flow in midlatitudes alter the advection of climatological temperature by anomalous winds,which is caused by the anomalous increase(decrease) of snow cover in the key area.Consequently,this leads to changes in cold advection transported to WA,contributing to the occurrence of a warmer(colder) SAT over WA in winter.

Relationships between Regional Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall and Eurasian Snow Cover

In this work,correlation analysis is applied to study the interannual relationships betWeen indian summer monsoon rainfall of different homogeneous regions and Eurasian Snow Cover(ESC) during winter and spring seasons for the time period from 1973 to 1992.The monsoon rainfall of the western and central regions of india,as well as the all-India monsoon rainfall,is significantly negatively correlated with the ESC averaged for the monthsDecember-March and with,especially,the ESC of February.This study may provide some useful information for the long-range prediction of the regional indian monsoon rainfall.

Inter-decadal variations of springtime rainfall over southern China mainland for 1979-2004 and its relationship with Eurasian snow

This study analyzes the inter-decadal variations of rainfall over southern China in spring (March-April-May) using the observed precipitation data for 1979-2004. The result shows that the variations of spring rainfall over southeastern China are opposite to those over and southwestern China in both inter-annual and inter-decadal time scales. The precipitation over south- ern China exhibits an apparent inter-decadal shift in the late 1980s. The accumulated spring rainfall has reduced 30% over southeastern China after the late 1980s, whereas it has increased twice as much over southwestern China. The atmospheric circulations related to this shift show that an abnormal high at lower and middle troposphere appears over Asian middle and high latitudes, accompanied by stronger-than-normal northerly wind over eastern China. Consequently, the wet air flows from tropical oceans are weakened over southern China, resulting in less rainfall over southeastern China and more rainfall over southwestern China. Furthermore, the anomalous atmospheric circulation over Asian middle and high latitudes is closely related to the inter-decadal downward shift of Eurasian spring snow in the late 1980s, indicating that the inter-decadal shift of Eurasian spring snow in the late 1980s is probably an important factor in the decadal shift of spring rainfall over southern China.

Autumn Snow Cover Variability over Northern Eurasia and Roles of Atmospheric Circulation

This study analyzes the variability of northern Eurasian snow cover（SC） in autumn and the impacts of atmospheric circulation changes. The region of large SC variability displays a southward shift from September to November, following the seasonal progression of the transition zones of surface air temperature（SAT）. The dominant pattern of SC variability in September and October features a zonal distribution, and that in November displays an obvious west-east contrast. Surface air cooling and snowfall increase are two factors for larger SC. The relative contribution of SAT and snowfall changes to SC, however, varies with the region and depends upon the season. The downward longwave radiation and atmospheric heat advection play important roles in SAT changes. Anomalous convergence of water vapor flux contributes to enhanced snowfall.The changes in downward longwave radiation are associated with those in atmospheric water content and column thickness.Changes in snowfall and the transport of atmospheric moisture determine the atmospheric moisture content in September and October, and the snowfall appears to be a main factor for atmospheric moisture change in November. These results indicate that atmospheric circulation changes play an important role in snow variability over northern Eurasia in autumn. Overall, the coupling between autumn Eurasian snow and atmospheric circulation may not be driven by external forcing.

Subseasonal prediction of winter precipitation in southern China using the early November snowpack over the Urals

Evolution of the autumn snowpack has been considered as a potential source for the subseasonal predictability of winter surface air temperature,but its linkage to precipitation variability has been less well discussed.This study shows that the snow water equivalent(SWE)over the Urals region in early(1–14)November is positively associated with precipitation in southern China during15–21 November and 6–15 January,based on the study period 1979/80–2016/17.In early November,a decreased Urals SWE warms the air locally via diabatic heating,indicative of significant land–atmosphere coupling over the Urals region.Meanwhile,a stationary Rossby wave train originates from the Urals and propagates along the polar-front jet stream.In mid(15–21)November,this Rossby wave train propagates downstream toward East Asia and,combined with the deepened East Asian trough,reduces the precipitation over southern China by lessening the water vapor transport.Thereafter,during 22 November to 5 January,there are barely any obvious circulation anomalies owing to the weak land–atmosphere coupling over the Urals.In early(6–15)January,the snowpack expands southward to the north of the Mediterranean Sea and cools the overlying atmosphere,suggestive of land–atmosphere coupling occurring over western Europe.A stationary Rossby wave train trapped in the subtropical westerly jet stream appears along with anomalous cyclonic circulation over Europe,and again with a deepened East Asian trough and less precipitation over southern China.The current findings have implications for winter precipitation prediction in southern China on the subseasonal timescale.

CMIP6模式对欧亚大陆冬季雪水当量的模拟能力评估及未来预估

基于第六次耦合模式比较计划(CMIP6)的模式模拟数据和欧洲宇航局GlobSnow卫星遥感雪水当量(Snow Water Equivalent,SWE)资料,评估了CMIP6耦合模式对1981~2014年欧亚大陆冬季SWE的模拟能力,并应用多模式集合平均结果预估了21世纪欧亚大陆SWE的变化情况。结果表明,CMIP6耦合模式对冬季欧亚大陆中高纬度SWE空间分布具有较好的再现能力,能模拟出欧亚大陆中高纬度SWE的主要分布特征;耦合模式对SWE变化趋势及经验正交函数主要模态特征的模拟能力存在较大差异,但多模式集合能提高模式对SWE变化趋势和主要时空变化特征的模拟能力;此外,多模式集合结果对欧亚大陆冬季SWE与降水、气温的关系也有较好的再现能力。预估结果表明,21世纪欧亚大陆东北大部分地区的SWE均要高于基准期(1995~2014年),而90°E以西的欧洲大陆SWE基本上呈现减少的特征;21世纪早期,4种不同排放情景下积雪变化的差异不大,但21世纪后期积雪变化的幅度差异较大,而且排放越高积雪变化的幅度越大,模式不确定性也越大;进一步的分析表明,欧亚大陆冬季未来积雪变化特征的空间分布与全球变化背景下局地气温、降水的变化密切相关,高温高湿的条件有利于欧亚大陆东北部积雪的增多。

江南春雨雨日的变化及其与欧亚大陆积雪的联系

利用中国气象局提供的1960—2019年江南区站点观测逐日降水数据,分析了江南春雨不同持续时长雨日的变化及其与欧亚大陆积雪的联系。结果表明,江南春雨以持续5 d及以上的长持续降水为主,但降水日数下降趋势明显,导致长持续降水减少。利用奇异值分解法(Singular Value Decomposition,SVD)发现,欧亚大陆3—5月积雪覆盖率与江南春雨雨日数有显著正相关关系。将(48°~59°N,90°~110°E)区域平均积雪覆盖率定义为积雪覆盖指数,通过指数与同期大气环流的回归分析发现,当积雪偏少时,我国中北部及西伯利亚地区500 hPa位势高度正异常,在江南区850 hPa风场和水汽通量场西南向负异常,导致江南春雨雨日数减少。合成分析进一步验证了积雪偏少会在江南区形成异常东北风抑制水汽输送至江南地区,不利于降水发生。

北极涛动驱动的冬春欧亚陆面变量异常及其机理

北极涛动(Arctic Oscillation,AO)作为北半球冬季中高纬度大气环流年际变率的主模态,是气候可预测性的重要来源之一。然而,AO对中高纬度地表温度、土壤湿度、积雪等陆面特征变量的影响缺乏系统研究。本文基于ERA5和ERA5-Land再分析资料,通过回归分析和物理过程诊断,揭示了AO对冬春欧亚陆面变量的影响规律和机理。结果发现:伴随正位相的AO,欧亚地表温度呈现南北偶极型分布,即欧亚北部地表异常增暖,而欧亚南部地表异常变冷;而积雪和土壤湿度异常则总体呈现南北向三极型空间分布,即中纬度地区积雪覆盖和雪深异常减小、土壤异常干燥,而高纬度地区雪深异常增加、土壤异常湿润,低纬度地区积雪覆盖和雪深异常增加、土壤异常湿润。AO相关的大气环流异常主导的异常水汽输送驱动了上述欧亚陆面变量异常的形成。欧亚北部(南部)水汽的异常辐合(辐散)引起整层水汽和云量增加(减少),导致向下长波辐射增加(减少),使得北部(南部)地区地表异常增暖(变冷)。同时,异常水汽输送引起的降雪和降水异常导致了积雪和土壤湿度异常空间分布的形成。水汽的异常辐散(辐合)引起降雪或降水减少(增加),导致了欧亚中纬度地区(高纬和低纬度)积雪覆盖、雪深、融雪和土壤湿度异常减少(增加)。此外,AO驱动的积雪覆盖异常通过冰雪反照率反馈加剧了青藏高原地表温度异常。

欧亚秋季雪盖与北半球冬季大气环流的联系

利用NOAA提供的1973-2004年32年欧亚雪盖面积资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,采用相关和合成方法对比分析了欧亚秋、冬季雪盖与北半球冬季大气环流的关系,得到了一个观测事实:欧亚秋季雪盖与后期冬季北半球中高纬大气环流存在显著的相关关系,尤其是与北半球冬季大气环流的最主要模态北极涛动(AO)或北大西洋涛动(NAO)呈显著的负相关关系,而且欧亚秋季雪盖面积与后期冬季北半球大气环流的关系比欧亚冬季雪盖与同期大气环流的关系更好。最后提出了一个联系欧亚秋季雪盖与冬季大气环流的可能原因:欧亚秋季雪盖异常可能是导致后期冬季北半球大气环流变化的一个主要强迫因子。

欧亚春季雪盖对印度洋偶极子的影响

文章研究了欧亚春季雪盖对印度洋偶极子的影响。研究发现,欧亚春季雪盖与印度洋偶极子关系密切,两者之间存在显著的反相关关系。欧亚春季雪盖异常导致夏季赤道印度洋垂直纬向环流以及印度洋和欧亚大陆之间的垂直经向环流发生异常,是欧亚春季雪盖与印度洋偶极子存在反相关关系的主要原因。欧亚春季雪盖异常可能是印度洋偶极子发生的一个重要的外在诱发因子。

春季欧亚积雪异常影响中国夏季降水的数值试验

利用NCAR的新一代GCM CAM3.1版本模式,研究了欧亚大陆春季积雪异常对北半球大气环流和中国夏季降水的影响。结果表明,春季积雪异常通过改变其后夏季的土壤湿度和温度分布,造成对流层厚度场的异常,激发一个从欧洲西部到东亚的500hPa高度场异常波列。我国南、北方处于符号相反的高度场异常区,同时降水也呈现南北相异的态势,这表明春季欧亚积雪异常是影响我国夏季降水分布的一个重要因子。

前冬北半球环状模对春季中国东部北方地区极端低温的影响

对1959—2008年前冬(12—3月)北半球环状模与春季(3—5月)中国东部北方地区极端低温事件的关系进行诊断分析,发现前冬北半球环状模与春季中国东部北方地区极端低温事件存在显著负相关。当前冬北半球环状模偏强时,春季中国东部北方地区上空对流层高、低层分别出现位势高度的负、正异常,对应异常的下沉增温,东北冷涡偏弱,极端低温事件发生频次偏少,强度偏弱;反之,当前冬北半球环状模偏弱时,春季该地区极端低温事件发生的频次偏多,强度偏强。进一步研究表明,欧亚雪盖在前冬北半球环状模对春季中国东部北方地区极端低温的影响中起到潜在的桥梁作用,当前冬北半球环状模偏强(偏弱)时,同期欧亚大陆中高纬度地区偏暖(偏冷),欧亚雪盖面积较小(较大)。另外,欧亚雪盖面积异常具有较强的持续性,可以从前冬持续到春季。因此,当前冬欧亚雪盖面积较小时,春季欧亚雪盖面积也偏小,且对应春季东北冷涡强度偏弱,中国东部北方地区地表气温偏高,极端低温事件发生的频次偏少,强度偏弱;反之亦然。前冬北半球环状模与春季中国东部北方地区极端低温事件的负相关关系为预测中国东部北方地区春季极端低温事件的变化提供了一个潜在的前期信号。

中国春季降水异常及其与热带太平洋海面温度和欧亚大陆积雪的联系

利用降水观测资料,研究了1979～2004年中国春季(3～5月)标准化累积降水异常的时空特征及其与前冬、春热带太平洋海面温度和春季欧亚大陆积雪的关系。中国春季标准化累积降水量EOF第一模态最大变率位于中国东部中纬度地区,主要反映了中国东部中纬度地区春季降水的变化特征。同时,中国东部春季降水异常具有南、北反相变化的特征。当长江以南大部分地区的降水偏少时,长江以北地区的降水偏多。春季降水异常具有显著的年际变化,但在1980年代末出现年代际转型,即年际变化的振幅明显增大变强、周期变长。从华北到长江流域中纬度地区的春季降水异常特征与前冬热带太平洋海面温度有密切的关系。当前冬、春热带东太平洋海温偏暖,西太平洋海温偏冷时,中国东部从华北到长江流域中纬度地区的春季降水偏多,反之亦然。虽然当春季欧亚大陆楚科奇半岛和青藏高原积雪偏多,贝加尔湖到中国东北地区的积雪偏少时,对应着中国东部从华北到长江流域中纬度地区的降水偏多,但当去掉ENSO信号后,这种关系并不显著。说明EOF第一模态所反映的中国东部从华北到长江流域中纬度地区春季降水与欧亚大陆积雪的相关关系可能是前冬热带太平洋海面温度异常的一个体现。

欧亚大陆冬季积雪异常与东亚冬季风及中国冬季气温的关系

采用相关及合成分析方法，对ＥＣＭＷＦ１９７９～１９９３ 年的网格点积雪深度资料、冬季海平面气压场、５００ ｈＰａ 高度场及中国冬季气温场进行了分析，研究了欧亚大陆冬季积雪异常与东亚冬季风及中国冬季气温的关系。结果表明：欧亚大陆中高纬地区冬季积雪异常与东亚冬季风和中国冬季气温存在明显的关系。

春季欧亚大陆积雪对春夏季南北半球大气质量交换的可能影响

本文基于春季欧亚雪盖资料与大气再分析资料的奇异值分解(SVD)分析结果,结合数值试验,研究了春季欧亚大陆积雪变化与春、夏季南北半球大气质量交换的联系。研究表明,当春季欧亚积雪异常偏多时,同期欧亚大陆中高纬大范围地区的地面气温异常偏低,这种冷却效应可能持续至夏季,同时,冷空气的堆积造成了欧亚大陆地表气压(气柱大气质量)的增加,并且对应了夏季北半球大气总质量的异常上升,而南半球大气质量却明显下降。分析发现,春季欧亚积雪异常与夏季南北半球际大气质量涛动存在显著的滞后相关,而且前者还与同期及后期包括索马里急流和对流层上部80°E^120°E区域高空急流在内的多处越赤道气流变化联系密切。从数值模拟结果分析发现,以改变春季初始积雪状况作为驱动,欧亚大陆中高纬地区的低层大气环流出现了显著响应,即当积雪增加时,同期及其后夏季地面气温显著降低,并且冷异常区域对应着气柱质量的异常升高。