The combined effects of North Atlantic Oscillation and Western Pacific teleconnection on winter temperature in Eastern Asia during 1980−2021

As important atmospheric circulation patterns in Northern Hemisphere(NH),the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO)and the Western Pacific teleconnection(WP)affect the winter climate in Eurasia.In order to explore the combined effects of NAO and WP on East Asian(EA)temperature,the NAO and WP indices are divided into four phases from 1980−2021:the positive NAO and WP phase(NAO+/WP+),the negative NAO and WP phase(NAO−/WP−),the positive NAO and negative WP phase(NAO+/WP−),the negative NAO and positive WP phase(NAO−/WP+).In the phase of NAO+/WP+,the low geopotential height(GH)stays in north of EA at 50°−80°N;the surface air temperature anomaly(SATA)is 0.8−1℃lower than Southern Asian.In the phase of NAO−/WP−,the center of high temperature and GH locate in the northeast of EA;the cold air spreads to Southern Asia,causing the SATA decreases 1−1.5℃.In the phase of NAO+/WP−,the high GH belt is formed at 55°−80°N.Meanwhile,the center of high SATA locates in the north of Asia that increases 0.8−1.1℃.The cold airflow causes temperature dropping 0.5−1℃in the south of EA.The SATA improves 0.5−1.5℃in south of EA in the phase of NAO−/WP+.The belt of high GH is formed at 25°−50°N,and blocks the cold air which from Siberia.The NAO and WP generate two warped plate pressure structures in NH,and affect the temperature by different pressure configurations.NAO and WP form different GH,and GH acts to block and push airflow by affecting the air pressure,then causes the temperature to be different from the north and south of EA.Finally,the multiple linear regression result shows that NAO and WP are weakened by each other such as the phase of NAO+/WP+and NAO−/WP−.

Abrupt change of winter temperature over the Mongolian Plateau during 1961-2017

Studying the abrupt change of winter temperature(ACWT)over the Mongolian Plateau(MP,including Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and State of Mongolia)is of great significance for understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of temperature and the mechanism of global climate change.Monthly temperature data during 1961–2017was collected,and the abrupt change point was determined by the Mann–Kendall test and sliding ttest,to analyze the characteristics and causes of ACWT.The results showed that(a)The winter temperature has rapidly increased with a trend of 0.41℃/10a,which was significantly higher than that of the rest area of Chinese mainland,indicating that climate change in the MP was more sensitive to global warming.(b)The abrupt change point occurred in 1988,with temperature of-15.5℃and-14.1℃before and after abrupt change,respectively.The ACWT in 50°N was 1–3 years later than that in 40°N,and the isotherms of different temperatures moved northward by 10–200 km,especially-16℃isotherms moved approximately 200 km northward after 1988.(c)The Arctic Oscillation(AO)and Mongolian High(MH)anomaly affects winter temperature over the MP.When the AO is unusually strong,the MH and East Asian winter monsoon are weak,and southerly winds prevail in most regions,which is not conducive to the cold air developing southward,leading to higher winter temperature in the MP.Overwise,abnormally northerly winds prevail and temperature is low.Meanwhile,the abrupt change time of AO occurred in 1987 before winter temperature.It shows that the AO indirectly causes winter temperatures to rise by influencing the MH and is also the main driving factor of ACWT.

Recent Trends in Winter Temperature Extremes in Eastern China and their Relationship with the Arctic Oscillation and ENSO

Interannual variations in the number of winter extreme warm and cold days over eastern China （EC） and their relationship with the Arctic Oscillation （AO） and E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） were investigated using an updated temperature dataset comprising 542 Chinese stations during the period 1961- 2011. Results showed that the number of winter extreme warm （cold） days across EC experienced a significant increase （decrease） around the mid-1980s, which could be attributed to interdecadal variation of the East Asian Winter Monsoon （EAWM）. Probability distribution functions （PDFs） of winter temperature extremes in different phases of the AO and ENSO were estimated based on Generalized Extreme Value Distribution theory. Correlation analysis and the PDF technique consistently demonstrated that interannual variation of winter extreme cold days in the northern part of EC （NEC） is closely linked to the AO, while it is most strongly related to the ENSO in the southern part （SEC）. However, the number of winter extreme warm days across EC has little correlation with both AO and ENSO. Furthermore, results indicated that, whether before or after the mid-1980s shift, a significant connection existed between winter extreme cold days in NEC and the AO. However, a significant connection between winter extreme cold days in SEC and the ENSO was only found after the mid-1980s shift. These results highlight the different roles of the AO and ENSO in influencing winter temperature extremes in different parts of EC and in different periods, thus providing important clues for improving short-term climate prediction for winter temperature extremes.

Arctic autumn sea ice decline and Asian winter temperature anomaly

Associations between the autumn Arctic sea ice concentration （SIC） and Asian winter temperature are discussed using the singular value decomposition analysis. Results show that in recent 33 years reduced autumn Arctic sea ice is accompanied by Asian winter temperature decrease except in the Tibetan plateau and the Arctic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean coast. The autumn SIC reduction excites two geopotential height centers in Eurasia and the north Arctic Ocean, which are persistent from autumn to winter. The negative center is in Barents Sea/Kara Sea. The positive center is located in Mongolia. The anomalous winds are associated with geopotential height centers, providing favorable clod air for the Asian winter temperature decreasing in recent 33 years. This relationship indicates a potential long-term outlook for the Asian winter temperature decrease as the decline of the autumn sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is expected to continue as climate warms.

Interdecadal Variations of Winter Temperatures in East China During the Past 100 Years and Related Atmospheric Circulation

The winter temperature changes in East China during the past 100 years are investigated by using the Twentieth Century Version 2(20th-v2)Reanalysis.Four typical warm(P1,1911–30;P4,1991–2010)and cold(P2,1938–57;P3,1961–80)periods are identified for the East China winter temperature index.Comparison of160-station observational data,NCAR sea level pressure(SLP)data,and NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis shows that the20th-v2 Reanalysis can successfully depict the major features of the warming from P3 to P4,which is part of the global warming phenomenon.The cooling from P1 to P2is a regional phenomenon under global warming.However,both changes are consistent with the phase change of the Arctic Oscillation(AO),while the second change is also accompanied by the phase change of Antarctic Oscillation(AAO)from negative to positive.Original sources of the interdecadal shifts of the AO and winter temperature in East China require further research.

Variation Characteristics of Winter Temperature in Jinan in Recent 60 Years

[Objective] The research aimed to study the variation characteristics of winter temperature in Jinan in recent 60 years.[Method] Based on winter monthly average,maximum and minimum temperatures in the ground observation station of Jinan during 1951-2010,by using linear trend,5-year moving average and anomaly,the variation characteristics of winter average,maximum and minimum temperatures in Jinan in recent 60 years were analyzed.The historical evolution trend and decadal variation characteristics were discussed.[Result] Winter average,maximum and minimum temperatures in Jinan in recent 60 years all presented slow fluctuation rise trend.The rise trend was obvious.Especially the increase amplitude of minimum temperature was the maximum.It illustrated that the variation of minimum temperature was more sensitive than that of maximum temperature,and the climatic warming in winter was mainly from the contribution of minimum temperature rise.Seen from the decadal variation,cold winter mainly appeared before the 1970s.Then,it presented obvious decrease trend.Conversely,warm winter presented increase trend after the 1970s.Warm winter phenomenon slowed after 2000.Winter temperature presented stepped warming trend during 1950s-1990s.Winter average temperature presented jumped warming trend when entered into the 1990s.The temperature presented downward trend when entered into the 21st century.But winter temperature still presented rise trend as a whole.The population growth in Jinan made that urbanization process accelerated,and urban heat island effect aggravated.It was one of important factors for climate warming in Jinan.[Conclusion] The research provided theoretical basis for understanding the long-term variation trend of climate in Jinan area,and if it was consistent with the background of global climatic warming.

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.

Tree-ring-based winter temperature reconstruction for East Asia over the past 700 years

Almost all proxy-based temperature reconstructions for East Asia have hitherto been designed to resolve summer or annual temperature variability.Reconstruction for the winter temperature is still lacking.Here,we report an annually resolved,winter-season(December-February,DJF)temperature field reconstruction for East Asia covering the period 1300-2000 CE,based on 260 temperature-sensitive tree-ring records.The most striking feature of our new reconstruction is a significant longterm warming trend since the 14th century,which is associated with winter solar insolation at mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and the global anthropogenic impact.The amplitude of reconstructed winter temperature change over the study period was~4.7 times greater than that for summer temperature,and the rate of winter temperature increase was~6 times as much as that of summer temperature.The results from climate model simulations were consistent with the reconstruction,showing that the amplitude and rate of temperature change in winter were greater than those in summer.The reconstruction also suggests the possible influence of volcanic eruptions,anthropogenic activities and winter solar insolation on the winter temperature variations.Our result also suggests a long-term decrease in summer-to-winter temperature difference occurred in 1625(±24 years)CE.

A New Circulation Index to Describe Variations in Winter Temperature in Southwest China

A new circulation index（ISW） that can realistically describe winter temperature variations over Southwest China is defined based on analysis of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data（version 1） and the observations at585 stations in China. The study period is from January 1961 to February 2011. The relationship between ISW and general circulation patterns in East Asia is also analyzed. Results show that ISW successfully captures the variations in winter temperature over Southwest China. High ISW values correspond to the intensified Mongolian high, the weakened Aleutian low, increases in the strength of the Middle East westerly jet stream over the south of the Tibetan Plateau（TP）, and decreases in the strength of the subtropical westerly jet over the north of the TP. Meanwhile, the East Asian trough deepens and extends southwestward,making it easier for the cold air mass from the north to intrude Southwest China along the trough. These circulation patterns lead to a decrease in winter temperature over Southwest China（and vice versa）. In addition to the East Asian winter monsoon, the two westerly jets that dominate the upper level circulation over East Asia also exert important influences on winter temperature in Southwest China, especially the Middle East westerly jet to the south of the TP.

Individual Variations of Winter Surface Air Temperature over Northwest and Northeast China and Their Respective Preceding Factors

Based on monthly mean surface air temperature （SAT） from 71 stations in northern China and NCEP/ NCAR and NOAA-CIRES （Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences） twentieth century reanalysis data, the dominant modes of winter SAT over northem China were explored. The results showed that there are two modes that account for a majority of the total variance over northern China. The first mode is unanimously colder （warmer） over the whole of northern China. The second mode is characterized by a dipole structure that is colder （warmer） over Northwest China （NWC） and warmer （colder） over Northeast China （NEC）, accounting for a fairly large proportion of the total variance. The two components constituting the second mode, the individual variations of winter SAT over NWC and NEC and their respective preceding factors, were further investigated. It was found that the autumn SAT anomalies are closely linked to persistent snow cover anomalies over Eurasia, showing the delayed effects on winter climate over northern China. Specifically, the previous autumn SAT anomalies over the Lake Baikal （LB; 50-60°N, 85-120°E） and Mongolian Plateau （MP; 42-52°N, 80-120°E） regions play an important role in adjusting the variations of winter SAT over NWC and NEC, respectively. The previous autumn SAT anomaly over the MP region may exert an influence on the winter SAT over NEC through modulating the strength and location of the East Asian major trough. The previous autumn SAT over the LB region may modulate winter westerlies at the middle and high latitudes of Asia and accordingly affects the invasion of cold air and associated winter SAT over NWC.

Submonthly timescale oscillation characteristics of the East Asian winter monsoon and its effect on the temperature of southwest China in 2010

Using NCEP/NCAR R2 reanalysis daily data and daily meteorologicalobservational data of southwest China in 2010, this paper studied the submonthlytimescale oscillation characteristics of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) and itseffect on the temperature of southwest China in 2010 by bandpass filtering, wavelettransformation, composite analysis and correlation analysis. The main conclusions areas follows: The EAWM in 2010 was dominated by low-frequency oscillations of about 7-,12-, and 30-day periods. There existed obviously negative correlation between theEAWM and the winter temperature in southwest China on submonthly, quasi-weeklyand quasi-biweekly timescales, and negative correlation was more obvious on thequasi-biweekly than the quasi-weekly timescale. There was significant difference in thedistribution of high, middle and low layer of the troposphere when the EAWM was onthe submonthly, quasi-one-week and quasi-two-week timescales in the positive andnegative phase. In the positive EAWM phase, the upper-level subtropical westerly jet isstronger and the East Asia trough is deeper, thus it is favorable for the dominance ofmore powerful north wind and lower temperature in southwest China. On the contrary,in the negative EAWM phase, the upper-level subtropical westerly jet is weaker and theEast Asia trough is shallower, thus unfavorable for the north wind and lowertemperature in southwest China.

An Index of East Asian Winter Monsoon Applied to the Description of China's Mainland Winter Temperature Changes

Using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data （Version 1.0） and the observation data of China from January 1951 to February 2007, a new index of East Asian winter monsoon circulation （I EAWM） was defined based on the comparison of previous different winter monsoon indices and circulation factors influencing the winter climate over China. Its relationships with winter temperature over China and large-scale circulation were analyzed. Results show that IEAWM can successfully describe the variation of China＇s mainland winter temperature and the East Asian winter monsoon （EAWM） system. This index reflects the integrated effect of the circulations over high and low latitudes and the thermal difference between the continent and the ocean. While in the previous studies, most monsoon indices only describe the single monsoon member. The IEAWM is a good indicator of the intensity of the EAWM. Positive values of/EAWM correspond to the strong EAWM, the stronger Siberian high and East Asian trough than normal , and the strengthening of the meridional shear of 500-hPa zonal wind between high and low latitudes over East Asia, and therefore, the southward cold advection becomes stronger and leads to the decrease in surface temperature over China; and vice versa. The IEAWM inter decadal change is obviously positive before the mid-1980s, but negative since the mid-1980s, in good agreement with the fact of the winter warming in China after 1985.

RECONSTRUCTION OF WINTER TEMPERATURE IN CHINA FOR THE LAST 500 YEARS

Winter temperature in China during the last 500 years was constructed based on historical data about the freeze-up events, the heavy snow and the agricultural damages brought about by cold weathers in East China (25°N--35°N, 115°E--120°E). Fisrt, the data about the freezing of rivers and lakes and those about snowfall in this region were compiled and evaluated on the basis of an ordinal scale. Then the series of freeze-up events and heavy snow were produced separately and the combination of these series was made to generate a consistent series that reflects the changes in the degree of coldness in winter during the last 500 years. Finally, a reconstruction of winter temperature was carried out at a resolution of 10 years based on a calibration of a regression between recent temperature observations and the cold winter series constructed.

Predicting Winter Surface Air Temperature in Northeast China

The author investigates the prediction of Northeast China's winter surface air temperature (SAT),and first forecast the year to year increment in the predic-tand and then predict the predictand.Thus,in the first step,we determined the predictors for an increment in winter SAT by analyzing the atmospheric variability associated with an increment in winter SAT.Then,multi-linear re-gression was applied to establish a prediction model for an increment in winter SAT in Northeast China.The pre-diction model shows a high correlation coefficient (0.73) between the simulated and observed annual increments in winter SAT in Northeast China throughout the period 1965-2002,with a relative root mean square error of -7.9%.The prediction model makes a reasonable hindcast for 2003-08,with an average relative root mean square error of -7.2%.The prediction model can capture the in-creasing trend of winter SAT in Northeast China from 1965-2008.The results suggest that this approach to forecasting an annual increment in winter SAT in North-east China would be relevant in operational seasonal forecasts.

A Statistical Scheme for the Seasonal Forecasting of North China's Surface Air Temperature during Winter

This paper presents a statistical scheme for the seasonal forecasting of North China's surface air temperature (NCSAT) during winter. Firstly, a prediction model for an decrease or increase of winter NCSAT is established, whose predictors are available for no later than the previous September, as this is the most favorable month for seasonal forecasting up to two months ahead.The predicted NCSAT is then derived as the sum of the predicted increment of NCSAT and the previous NCSAT. The scheme successfully predicts the interannual and the decadal variability of NCSAT. Additionally, the advantages of the prediction scheme are discussed.

Reversal of monthly East Asian winter air temperature in 2020/21 and its predictability

In this study,the reversal of monthly East Asian winter air temperature(EAWT) in 2020/21 and its predictability were investigated.The reversal of monthly EAWT in 2020/21 was characterized by colder temperatures in early winter(December 2020 to mid-January 2021) and warmer temperatures in late winter(mid-January to February 2021).Results show that the reversal in the intensity of the Siberian high(SH) also occurred between early and late winter in 2020/21.In early winter,as the Barents-Laptev sea ice in the previous September(i.e., in2020) reached a minimum for the period 1981-2020,the SH was strengthaned via a reduction of the meridional gradient between the Arctic and East Asia.In late winter,as a sudden stratospheric warming occurred on 5 January 2021,the stratospheric polar vortex weakened,with the weakest center shifting to North America in January.Subsequently,the negative Arctic Oscillation-like structure shifted towards North America in the middle and lower troposphere,which weakened the SH in late winter.Furthermore,the predictability of the reversal in EAWT in 2020/21 was validated based on monthly and daily predictions from NCEP-CFSv2(National Centers for Environment Prediction-Climate Forecast System,version 2).The results showed that the model was unable to reproduce the monthly reversal of EAWT.However,it was able to forecast the reversal date(18 January 2021)of EAWT at lead times of 1-20 days on the daily scale.

Influence of the NAO on Wintertime Surface Air Temperature over East Asia:Multidecadal Variability and Decadal Prediction

In this paper,we investigate the influence of the winter NAO on the multidecadal variability of winter East Asian surface air temperature(EASAT)and EASAT decadal prediction.The observational analysis shows that the winter EASAT and East Asian minimum SAT(EAmSAT)display strong in-phase fluctuations and a significant 60-80-year multidecadal variability,apart from a long-term warming trend.The winter EASAT experienced a decreasing trend in the last two decades,which is consistent with the occurrence of extremely cold events in East Asia winters in recent years.The winter NAO leads the detrended winter EASAT by 12-18 years with the greatest significant positive correlation at the lead time of 15 years.Further analysis shows that ENSO may affect winter EASAT interannual variability,but does not affect the robust lead relationship between the winter NAO and EASAT.We present the coupled oceanic-atmospheric bridge(COAB)mechanism of the NAO influences on winter EASAT multidecadal variability through its accumulated delayed effect of~15 years on the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation(AMO)and Africa-Asia multidecadal teleconnection(AAMT)pattern.An NAO-based linear model for predicting winter decadal EASAT is constructed on the principle of the COAB mechanism,with good hindcast performance.The winter EASAT for 2020-34 is predicted to keep on fluctuating downward until~2025,implying a high probability of occurrence of extremely cold events in coming winters in East Asia,followed by a sudden turn towards sharp warming.The predicted 2020/21 winter EASAT is almost the same as the 2019/20 winter.

Relationship between Temperature Variation in Winter of China and Arctic Oscillation

[Objective] The study aimed to discuss the relationship between temperature variation in winter of China and arctic oscillation. [Method] By using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, AO index series and monthly temperature data from 160 stations of China, the variation characteris- tics of temperature in winter and AO index series as well as their relationship from 1951 to 2007 were studied. [Result] Temperature in winter of Chi- na correlated positively with AO index series. Both arctic oscillation and winter temperature in China had two major periods of 8 and 18 years. ⅠWTr and ⅠAO series, which had obvious inter-annual and inter-decadal variations, presented the almost same rising trend and had close relationship on an inter-decadal scale. Compared with AO, the Siberia high had more distinguished influences on inter-annual variations of temperature in winter of China. AO might affect changes in the Siberian high and thereby influence temperature in winter of China. AO had a greater influence on tempera- ture in winter of China than the Siberia high on an inter-decadal scale. When the East Asian through was weak, temperature in winter of China and AO index were low, while they were high as it was strong. The impact of AO index on an inter-decadal scale was more significant than the impact on an inter-annual scale. [ Condusien] The research could make the effects of AO on winter temperature of China clear.

Mechanism and effects of the increase in winter temperatures in the Arctic region on cold winters in Heilongjiang Province,Northeast China for the period 1961-2018

With the advent of climate change,winter temperatures have been steadily increasing in the middle-to-high latitudes of the world.However,we have not found a corresponding decrease in the number of extremely cold winters.This paper,based on Climatic Research Unit(CRU)re-analysis data,and methods of trend analysis,mutation analysis,correlation analysis,reports on the effects of Arctic warming on winter temperatures in Heilongjiang Province,Northeast China.The results show that:(1)during the period 1961-2018,winter temperatures in the Arctic increased considerably,that is,3.5 times those of the Equator,which has led to an increasing temperature gradient between the Arctic and the Equator.An abrupt change in winter temperatures in the Arctic was observed in 2000.(2)Due to the global warming,an extremely significant warming occurred in Heilongjiang in winter,in particular,after the Arctic mutation in 2000,although there were two warm winters,more cold winters were observed and the interannual variability of winter temperature also increased.(3)Affected by the warming trend in the Arctic,the Siberian High has intensified,and both the Arctic Vortex and the Eurasian Zonal Circulation Index has weakened.This explains the decrease in winter temperatures in Heilongjiang,and why cold winters still dominate.Moreover,the increase in temperature difference between the Arctic and the Equator is another reason for the decrease in winter temperatures in Heilongjiang.

Definition and characteristics of the south edge of the subtropical winter monsoon in East Asian

Based on observational daily data of 730 meteorological stations in China, the south edge of the subtropical winter monsoon is defined according to relevant criterion and its variation characteristics are analyzed. Results show that this south edge has obvious inter-annual variation characteristics and shows a northward moving tendency as a whole, but since the 21 st century it has moved southwards and date of the south edge entering winter becomes earlier. Wind fields of the anomalously northward south edge of the subtropical winter monsoon in East Asia has an obvious southerly wind component which prevents cold air from moving southward. The index of this south edge and winter temperature has a positive correlation. Climate warming might be the main reason for the northward movement of the south edge of the subtropical winter monsoon.