2023: Weather and Climate Extremes Hitting the Globe with Emerging Features

Globally,2023 was the warmest observed year on record since at least 1850 and,according to proxy evidence,possibly of the past 100000 years.As in recent years,the record warmth has again been accompanied with yet more extreme weather and climate events throughout the world.Here,we provide an overview of those of 2023,with details and key background causes to help build upon our understanding of the roles of internal climate variability and anthropogenic climate change.We also highlight emerging features associated with some of these extreme events.Hot extremes are occurring earlier in the year,and increasingly simultaneously in differing parts of the world(e.g.,the concurrent hot extremes in the Northern Hemisphere in July 2023).Intense cyclones are exacerbating precipitation extremes(e.g.,the North China flooding in July and the Libya flooding in September).Droughts in some regions(e.g.,California and the Horn of Africa)have transitioned into flood conditions.Climate extremes also show increasing interactions with ecosystems via wildfires(e.g.,those in Hawaii in August and in Canada from spring to autumn 2023)and sandstorms(e.g.,those in Mongolia in April 2023).Finally,we also consider the challenges to research that these emerging characteristics present for the strategy and practice of adaptation.

Preface to the Special Issue:Towards Improving Understanding and Prediction of Arctic Change and its Linkage with Eurasian Mid-latitude Weather and Climate

The dramatic changes in the Arctic climate system during recent decades are one of the most prominent features of global climate change.Two most striking and fundamental characteristics are the amplified near-surface warming at a rate twice the global average since the mid 20th century(e.g.,Blunden and Arndt,2012;Huang et al.,2017),and the rapid

Research Project Entitled “The Dynamics and Physical Processes in The Weather and Climate System”——Part Ⅰ: A Brief Introduction

In the beginning of the 21st century, the Tenth Five-Year Priority Research Projects of the Earth Sci- ences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) were initiated. After nearly a two-year long process to prepare, the ?rst version of six Priority Research Projects of Earth Sciences was pub- lished in October 2001 by NSFC, viz., Local Response to Global Changes, Life Process and Environment, Dynamics and Physical Processes in the Weather and Climate System, Continental Dynamics, Regional Sustainable Development, Solar-Terrestrial Environment and Space Weather. The process involved more than 200 renowned Chinese scientists and many departments and agencies in China. The six Priority Research Projects guide the research e?ort of the earth sciences for the NSFC from year 2001 to 2005. This paper provides a brief introduction to the Third Priority Research Project of the Department of Earth Sciences of NSFC—-Dynamics and Physical Processes in the Weather and Climate System (DPWCS).

Influences of the Weather and Climate on Wintering Migratory Bird in Dongting Lake

[Objective] The research aimed to study influences of the weather and climate on wintering migratory bird in Dongting Lake. [Method] Bird analysis data provided by East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve and wintering migratory bird monitoring data in big and small west lakes in recent 5 years were used. By combing water level data and various meteorological factors in Chenglingji, wintering migratory bird in Dongting Lake was analyzed. [Result] Abnormal precipitation led to drought or flood in Dongting Lake, causing significant adverse effect on the birds. Abnormal climate was important reason for that wintering migratory bird greatly reduced, such as high temperature and later going south of the strong cold air. Extreme weather and climate events led that some birds in Dongting Lake significantly reduced. Meteorological element had certain influence to bird survey. We should select a reasonable investigation time based on weather and climate. In Birding Festival, weather had little effect on bird species observation. In the migratory season of bird, we could see many birds in fine cold weather after a strong cold air, which suitable for observing bird. When it was low temperature or less rain in autumn, and was high temperature or more rain and sunshine in early winter, it was suitable for migratory birds wintering in Dongting Lake. Ardea cinerea, Anser fabalis and Anser erythropus were more in sunny days while Phalacrocorax carbo was more in rainy weather. Grus grus was more in heavy wind weather while Recurvirostra avosetta was more in small wind weather. [Conclusion] The research provided scientific basis for studying migratory bird in east Dongting Lake.

Arctic Oscillation anomaly in winter 2009/2010 and its impacts on weather and climate

Using the Arctic Oscillation(AO) index,the exceptional winter(DJF) of 2009 has been analyzed.The middle-to-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere suffered from a nearly zonally symmetric anomaly of temperature and pressure.This situation revealed that two negative AO events occurred in the winter of 2009/2010,with unprecedented low values in January 2009 and February 2010.The negative AO event in January 2009 can be further divided into two stages:the first stage was mainly driven by enhanced upward-propagating planetary waves,which led to a weak stratospheric polar vortex associated with a downward-propagating negative AO signal;the second stage was caused by a lower tropospheric positive temperature anomaly in the high latitudes,which maintained the positive geopotential height anomaly of the first stage.The two successively occurring stages interacted and caused the lower troposphere to experience a strong and lengthy persistence of the negative AO event.We consider that the second event of negative AO in February 2010 is related to the downward-propagating negative AO after sudden stratospheric warming.Eleven long-persistence negative AO events were analyzed using reanalysis data.The results suggest that the negative AO in the troposphere might have been caused by stratospheric sudden warming,a downward-propagating weak stratospheric circulation anomaly or dynamic processes in the troposphere.Further study shows that the negative phase of the AO in the winter of 2009/2010 corresponded to a wide range of temperature and precipitation anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere.Therefore,to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting and climate prediction,more attention should be paid to the AO anomaly and its impact.

Overview of China Polar Climate Change Annual Report(2022)

The China Meteorological Administration recently released China Polar Climate Change Annual Report(2022)in Chinese,with the following main conclusions.Using the China Reanalysis-40 dataset(CRA-40),rapid warming has been observed in the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctica since 1979,with some parts of East Antarctica also experiencing warming.In 2022,the regional average temperature in Antarctica based on observational data was close to the long-term average(1991-2020).The Arctic,on the other hand,has experienced a warming trend at a rate of 0.63℃per decade from 1979 to 2022 based on CRA-40,which is 3.7 times the global mean during the same period(0.17℃per decade).In 2022,the overall temperature in the Arctic,using station data,was 1.10℃above the long-term average(1991-2020).In recent years,both the Antarctic and Arctic regions have witnessed an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.In 2022,based on the sea ice extent from National Snow and Ice Data Center,USA,Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest extent on record since 1979,and on 18 March,the most rapid surface warming event ever recorded on Earth occurred in the Antarctic,with a temperature increase of 49℃within 3 d.This report has been integrated into China's National Climate Change Bulletin system,to contribute to raising public awareness of polar climate change and providing valuable scientific references to address climate change.

The 2020 Summer Floods and 2020/21 Winter Extreme Cold Surges in China and the 2020 Typhoon Season in the Western North Pacific

China experienced significant flooding in the summer of 2020 and multiple extreme cold surges during the winter of 2020/21.Additionally,the 2020 typhoon season had below average activity with especially quiet activity during the first half of the season in the western North Pacific(WNP).Sea surface temperature changes in the Pacific,Indian,and Atlantic Oceans all contributed to the heavy rainfall in China,but the Atlantic and Indian Oceans seem to have played dominant roles.Enhancement and movement of the Siberian High caused a wavier pattern in the jet stream that allowed cold polar air to reach southward,inducing cold surges in China.Large vertical wind shear and low humidity in the WNP were responsible for fewer typhoons in the first half of the typhoon season.Although it is known that global warming can increase the frequency of extreme weather and climate events,its influences on individual events still need to be quantified.Additionally,the extreme cold surge during 16–18 February 2021 in the United States shares similar mechanisms with the winter 2020/21 extreme cold surges in China.

Climate observation of the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River in 2019

This report provides a broad overview of the climate and the major weather and climate events over the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River(TGR)in 2019.The year 2019,a 0.3℃ warmer year than normal,had a colder winter and warmer spring,summer,and autumn.Annual precipitation in 2019 was 13%less than normal.Below average normal rainfall amounts were received in all four seasons,with 28%and 16%less-than-normal in winter and summer,respectively.The annual mean wind speed in the TGR was higher than normal,and relative humidity was near normal for all four seasons.The intensity of acid rain in 2019 was the weakest since 1999.The major climate events and meteorological disasters in the TGR in 2019 included heat waves,drought,and rainstorms.Heat waves occurred frequently and persisted for long durations.Summer and autumn drought occurred in central and eastern regions of the TGR.The autumn rains of West China occurred earlier this year,which brought much more rainfall than normal in central and western regions of the TGR.

State of the climate over the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River in 2018

This report provides a summary of the climate, as well as the major weather and climate events,over the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River(TGR) in 2018. The annual mean temperature over the TGR in 2018 was 0.2℃ above normal, and precipitation was near normal. Seasonal highlights included a second warmest spring in the 58-year period of records, with abundant rainfall, which resulted in the wettest March on record. Furthermore, this was the fourth-warmest summer on record in the TGR, which contributed a higher-than-normal number of hot days in2018. Precipitation was 17% and 30% less-than-normal in winter and summer, and 40% and 6% above average in spring and autumn, respectively. The annual mean wind speed in the TGR was higher than normal, and the annual mean relative humidity was near normal. The intensity of acid rain was relatively weak, being the second-weakest year since 1999. The major meteorological disaster types in the TGR include heat waves, drought, rainstorms and flooding, freezing rain, and snow. Heat waves occurred early in the summer and persisted for long durations with strong intensities. Long-term precipitation deficits resulted in drought conditions in summer 2018 across most regions of the TGR. Frequent heavy rainfall caused urban waterlogging. The early-year and late-year cold snaps were accompanied by heavy snowfall and rain over some locations across the TGR, which had adverse impacts on transportation, agriculture, electricity, and people’s lives.

State of the climate in the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River basin in 2020

In 2020,the average air temperature in the Three Gorges Region(TGR)of the Yangtze River basin was 17.2℃,which was close to normal,there were exceptionally fewer days than normal with high temperatures,and the high-temperature events mainly occurred in August.Meanwhile,the average precipitation was 1530.8 mm,which was a remarkable 29%more than usual,and the second-highest since 1961.The precipitation was obviously above-normal in summer,and the precipitation in both June and July was the second-highest of the same period in history.The average number of rainstorm days was higher than normal,and the second-highest since 1961.The average wind speed in the TGR was apparently higher than normal;the average relative humidity was slightly higher than normal;and there were no instances of acid rain,with the rain acidity showing a significant weakening trend over the previous 15 years.In the summer of 2020,the TGR experienced heavy rainstorms and flood disasters.Analysis shows that the frequent southward movement of cold air and abundant warm water vapor from the southwest were the direct causes of the abnormally high precipitation in the TGR from June to July.After the spring of 2020,the continuously high sea surface temperature in the Indian Ocean led to a continuously strong western Pacific subtropical high and its average location being situated more to the south than normal,which might have been an important cause for the abnormal climate conditions in the Yangtze River basin from June to July.

State of China’s climate in 2018

In 2018,the mean temperature in China was 0.54℃above normal,and the annual rainfall was 7%above normal.More typhoons made landfall with severe damage.Low-temperature freezing and snow disasters occurred frequently with extensive losses.In summer,rainstorms occurred frequently with relatively limited damage.Northeast China and Central East China suffered extreme heatwaves.Regional and periodic droughts resulted in slight impacts.Severe convective weather and dust storms were relatively less,but periodic haze influenced air quality and human health.The areas of affected crops,death tolls,direct economic losses were all significantly less than those over the last 5 years.

Analysis of climatic features and major meteorological disasters over the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River Basin in 2021

Based on daily observation data in the Three Gorges Region(TGR)of the Yangtze River Basin and global reanalysis data,the authors analyzed the climate characteristics and associated temporal variations in the main meteorological factors in 2021,as well as the year’s climatic events and meteorological disasters.The 2021 average temperature was 0.2℃above the 1991-2020 average and the 13 th-warmest year since 1961.Seasonally,winter and autumn were both warmer than usual.The annual mean precipitation was 12.8%above normal,and most regions experienced abundant rainfall throughout the year.The seasonal variation in precipitation was significant and the TGR had a wetter-than-normal spring and summer.The number of rainstorm days was higher than normal;the wind speed was above normal;and the relative humidity was higher than normal.In terms of rain acidity,2021 was tied with 2020 as the lowest since 1999.From mid-September to early October 2021,the TGR experienced exceptional high-temperature weather,which was driven by abnormal activity of mid-and high-latitude atmospheric circulation over the Eurasian continent and the western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH).In addition,a strong blocking high over the Ural Mountains accompanied by intense mid-latitude westerly winds prevented cyclonic disturbances from extending to the subtropical region.As a result,under the combined effect of the weaker-than-normal cold-air activities and the anomalous WPSH,the TGR experienced extreme high-temperature weather during early autumn 2021.

State of China’s climate in 2019

This report is a summary of China’s climate,as well as major weather and climate events,during 2019.In 2019,the mean temperature in China was 10.34°C,which was 0.79°C above normal(1981–2010 average),and the annual rainfall was 645.5 mm,which was 2.5%above normal.There was increased typhoon genesis but decreased and weaker landfalls.Rainstorms occurred frequently with relatively limited damage.The number of high-temperature days was more than normal,with significant regional features.Obvious regional and periodic droughts resulted in slight impacts and losses.Severe convective weather events were relatively less and brought about limited economic losses.Low-temperature freezing and snow disasters were obviously light.Northern China experienced fewer dust storms in spring.Finally,the areas of affected crops,the numbers of deaths and missing people,and direct economic losses were all significantly less than average over the past 10 years.

THE CONTRASTS BETWEEN STRONG AND WEAK MJO ACTIVITY OVER THE EQUATORIAL WESTERN PACIFIC IN WINTER

This paper investigates the contrasts between strong and weak Madden-Julian Oscillation(MJO) activity over the equatorial western Pacific during winter using the NCEP reanalysis data. It is shown that the MJO over the equatorial western Pacific in winter shows significant interannual and interdecadal variabilities. During the winters with strong MJO activity, an anomalous cyclonic circulation lies east of the Philippines, strong anomalous easterlies control the equatorial eastern Pacific, and anomalous westerlies extend from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific in the lower troposphere, which strengthens the convergence and convection over the equatorial western Pacific. The moisture convergence in the lower troposphere is also enhanced over the western Pacific, which is favorable to the activity of MJO. Eastward propagation is a significant feature of the MJO, though there is some westward propagation. The space-time spectral power and center period of the MJO are higher during strong MJO activity winters. The anomalous activity of MJO is closely related to the sea surface temperature(SST) and East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM).During strong MJO activity winters, there are positive/negative anomalies at high/low latitudes in both sea level pressure and 500 h Pa geopotential height, and the temperature is lower over the central part of the Chinese mainland, which indicates a strong EAWM. China experiences more rainfall between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, but less rainfall south of the Yangtze River. The SSTA is negative near the Taiwan Island due to the impact of strong EAWM and shows a La Nina pattern anomaly over the eastern Pacific. During the weak MJO activity winters, the situation is reversed.

The Strong El Ni?o of 2015/16 and Its Dominant Impacts on Global and China's Climate

The oceanic and atmospheric conditions and the related climate impacts of the 2015/16 ENSO cycle were analyzed,based on the latest global climate observational data,especially that of China.The results show that this strong El Nino event fully established in spring 2015 and has been rapidly developing into one of the three strongest El Nino episodes in recorded history.Meanwhile,it is also expected to be the longest event recorded,attributable to the stable maintenance of the abnormally warm conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean since spring 2014.Owing to the impacts of this strong event,along with climate warming background,the global surface temperature and the surface air temperature over Chinese mainland reached record highs in 2015.Disastrous weather in various places worldwide have occurred in association with this severe El Nino episode,and summer precipitation has reduced significantly in North China,especially over the bend of the Yellow River,central Inner Mongolia,and the coastal areas surrounding Bohai Bay.Serious drought has occurred in some of the above areas.The El Nino episode reached its peak strength during November-December 2015,when a lower-troposphere anomalous anticyclonic circulation prevailed over the Philippines,bringing about abnormal southerlies and substantially increased precipitation in southeastern China.At the same time,a negative phase of the Eurasia-Pacific teleconnection pattern dominated over the mid-high latitudes,which suppressed northerly winds in North China.These two factors together resulted in high concentrations of fine particulate matter（PM2.5） and frequent haze weather in this region.Currently,this strong El Nino is weakening very rapidly,but its impact on climate will continue in the coming months in some regions,especially in China.

Effects of irrigation on precipitation in the arid regions of Xinjiang,China

Soil moisture is an important parameter for the interaction between soil and atmosphere. It is the sec- ond important factor that influences climate change, next to sea surface temperature （SST）. Most previous studies focused on the monsoon regions in East China, and only a few laid emphases on arid environments. In Xinjiang, which is located in Northwest China, the climate is typically arid and semi-arid. During the past 20 years, the pre- cipitation in Xinjiang has shown a significant increasing trend, and it is closely related to oasis irrigation. This paper aims at discussing whether abnormal soil moisture in spring can be the signal to forecast summer precipitation. The effects of abnormal soil moisture due to farm irrigation in spring in arid environments on regional climate are inves- tigated by using a regional climate model （RegCM3）. The results indicate that positive soil moisture anomaly in irrigated cropland surface in May led to an increase in precipitation in spring as well as across the whole summer. The impact could last for about four months. The effects of soil moisture on the surface air temperature showed a time-lagging trend. The summer air temperature declined by a maximum amplitude of 0.8℃. The increased soil moisture could enhance evaporation and ascending motion in the low troposphere, which brought in more precipi- tation. The soil moisture affected regional weather and climate mainly by altering the surface sensible and latent heat fluxes.

Characterizing the Winter Concurrent Variation Patterns of the Subtropical and Polar-Front Jets over East Asia

In this study, the concurrent variation relationships between the East Asian subtropical jet （EASJ） and polar-front jet （PFJ） over the East Asian land mass in the winter season on different timescales are identified and the impacts of the jet concurrent variation patterns on the atmospheric circulation in mid-high latitude regions and climate ano- malies in China are examined, using NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data and observational data. The major variability modes of the winter upper-level wind field on interannual timescales are characterized by the meridional shift of the PFJ and out-of-phase variation in the intensity of the subtropical jet and PFJ. On subseasonal and synoptic timescales, the concurrent variation relationships can be categorized into four configuration patterns： a strong （weak） subtropical jet accompanied by a weak （strong） PFJ, or a strong （weak） subtropical jet with a strong （weak） PFJ. The out-of- phase variation [i.e., a stronger （weaker） EASJ and weaker （stronger） PFJ] is found to be more common than the in- phase variation [i.e., a stronger （weaker） EASJ and stronger （weaker） PF J]. These concurrent variation relationships repre- sent the integral structure and variation features of the atmospheric general circulation over East Asia, and have signi- ficant impacts on the weather and climate. The strong subtropical jet/weak PFJ （weak subtropical jet/strong PFJ） pat- tern leads to anomalous negative （positive） geopotential height in midlatitude regions and favors cold （warm） condi- tions, and positive （negative） rainfall anomalies in southern China. For both strong jet configurations, the geopoten- tial height anomaly in the mid-high latitudes shows a northwest-southeast tilted dipole pattern, resulting in northern warm-southern cold temperature anomalies, and positive rainfall anomalies in southern China. For both weak jet situations, positive geopotential height anomalies dominate the East Asian area, and warm conditions occur over most areas in China, corresponding to less negative rainfall anomalies in southern China. The complicated rainfall and temperature anomaly patterns in China can be explained by the concurrent variation relationships between the two jets. A close relationship may exist between the synoptic-scale transient eddy activity （STEA） and the intensity of jet streams, especially for the PFJ. Significantly reduced （strengthened） STEA over the polar-front area is intim- ately associated with a decreased （increased） intensity of the PFJ.