Different ENSO Impacts on Eastern China Precipitation Patterns in Early and Late Winter Associated with Seasonally-Varying Kuroshio Anticyclonic Anomalies

Winter precipitation over eastern China displays remarkable interannual variability,which has been suggested to be closely related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO).This study finds that ENSO impacts on eastern China precipitation patterns exhibit obvious differences in early(November-December)and late(January-February)winter.In early winter,precipitation anomalies associated with ENSO are characterized by a monopole spatial distribution over eastern China.In contrast,the precipitation anomaly pattern in late winter remarkably changes,manifesting as a dipole spatial distribution.The noteworthy change in precipitation responses from early to late winter can be largely attributed to the seasonally varying Kuroshio anticyclonic anomalies.During the early winter of El Niño years,anticyclonic circulation anomalies appear both over the Philippine Sea and Kuroshio region,enhancing water vapor transport to the entirety of eastern China,thus contributing to more precipitation there.During the late winter of El Niño years,the anticyclone over the Philippine Sea is further strengthened,while the one over the Kuroshio dissipates,which could result in differing water vapor transport between northern and southern parts of eastern China and thus a dipole precipitation distribution.Roughly the opposite anomalies of circulation and precipitation are displayed during La Niña winters.Further analysis suggests that the seasonally-varying Kuroshio anticyclonic anomalies are possibly related to the enhancement of ENSO-related tropical central-eastern Pacific convection from early to late winter.These results have important implications for the seasonal-tointerannual predictability of winter precipitation over eastern China.

The Unprecedented Extreme Anticyclonic Anomaly over Northeast Asia in July 2021 and Its Climatic Impacts

This study investigates the evolution of an extreme anomalous anticyclone(AA)event over Northeast Asia,which was one of the dominant circulation systems responsible for the catastrophic extreme precipitation event in July 2021 in Henan,and further explores the significant impact of this AA on surface temperatures beneath it.The results indicate that this AA event over Northeast Asia was unprecedented in terms of intensity and duration.The AA was very persistent and extremely strong for 10 consecutive days from 13 to 22 July 2021.This long-lived and unprecedented AA led to the persistence of warmer surface temperatures beyond the temporal span of the pronounced 500-hPa anticyclonic signature as the surface air temperatures over land in Northeast Asia remained extremely warm through 29 July 2021.Moreover,the sea surface temperatures in the Sea of Japan/East Sea were extremely high for 30 consecutive days from 13 July to 11 August 2021,persisting well after the weakening or departure of this AA.These results emphasize the extreme nature of this AA over Northeast Asia in July 2021 and its role in multiple extreme climate events,even over remote regions.Furthermore,possible reasons for this long-lasting AA are explored,and it is suggested to be a byproduct of a teleconnection pattern over extratropical Eurasia during the first half of its life cycle,and of the Pacific-Japan teleconnection pattern during the latter half.

Arctic summertime anticyclonic circulation mode and its influence on substantial sea ice depletion:a review

The summertime anticyclonic circulation mode(SACM)is related to recent substantial loss of sea ice in the Arctic.This review outlines the potential causes of the SACM and considers its influence on sea ice depletion.Local triggers(i.e.,sea ice loss and sea surface temperature(SST)variation)and spatiotemporal teleconnections(i.e.,extratropical cyclone intrusion,tropical and mid-latitude SST anomalies,and winter atmospheric circulation preconditions)are discussed.The influence of the SACM on the dramatic loss of sea ice is emphasized through inspection of relevant dynamic(i.e.,Ekman drift and export)and thermodynamic(i.e.,moisture content,cloudiness,and associated changes in radiation)mechanisms.Moreover,the motivation for investigation of the underlying physical mechanisms of the SACM in response to the recent substantial sea ice depletionis also clarified through an attempt to better understand the shifting ice-atmosphere interaction in the Arctic during summer.Therecord low extent of sea ice in September 2012 could be reset in the near future if the SACM-like scenario continues to exist during summer in the Arctic troposphere.

Kuroshio intrusion into the South China Sea with an anticyclonic eddy: evidence from underwater glider observation

In this study, high-resolution temperature and salinity data obtained from three Sea-Wing underwater gliders were used together with satellite altimeter data to track the vertical thermohaline structure of an anticyclonic eddy that originated from the loop current of the Kuroshio southwest of Taiwan, China. One of the gliders crossed the entire eddy and it observed a remarkable warm anomaly of as much as 3.9℃ extending to 500 dbar from the base of the mixed layer. Conversely, a positive salinity anomaly was found to be above 200 dbar only in the anticyclonic eddy, with a maximum value of >0.5 in the mixed layer. Below the mixed layer, water of higher salinity (>34.7) was found, which could have been preserved through constrained vertical mixing within the anticyclonic eddy. The salinity in the upper layer of the anticyclonic eddy was much similar to that of the northwestern Pacific Ocean than the northern South China Sea, reflecting Kuroshio intrusion with anticyclonic eddy shedding from the loop current.

Three-dimensional properties of mesoscale cyclonic warm-core and anticyclonic cold-core eddies in the South China Sea

In general,a mesoscale cyclonic(anticyclonic)eddy has a colder(warmer)core,and it is considered as a cold(warm)eddy.However,recently research found that there are a number of"abnormal"mesoscale cyclonic(anticyclonic)eddies associated with warm(cold)cores in the South China Sea(SCS).These"abnormal"eddies pose a challenge to previous works on eddy detection,characteristic analysis,eddy-induced heat and salt transports,and even on mesoscale eddy dynamics.Based on a 9-year(2000–2008)numerical modelling data,the cyclonic warm-core eddies(CWEs)and anticyclonic cold-core eddies(ACEs)in the SCS are analyzed.This study found that the highest incidence area of the"abnormal"eddies is the northwest of Luzon Strait.In terms of the eddy snapshot counting method,8620 CWEs and 9879 ACEs are detected,accounting for 14.6%and 15.8%of the total eddy number,respectively.The size of the"abnormal"eddies is usually smaller than that of the"normal"eddies,with the radius only around 50 km.In the generation time aspect,they usually appear within the 0.1–0.3 interval in the normalized eddy lifespan.The survival time of CWEs(ACEs)occupies 16.3%(17.1%)of the total eddy lifespan.Based on two case studies,the intrusion of Kuroshio warm water is considered as a key mechanism for the generation of these"abnormal"eddies near the northeastern SCS.

Formation Mechanism for the Anomalous Anticyclonic Circulation over Northeast Asia and the Japan Sea in Boreal Winter 1997/98 and the Spring of 1998

A robust anomalous anticyclonic circulation (AAC) was observed over Northeast Asia and the Japan Sea in boreal win-ter 1997/98 and over the Japan Sea in spring 1998. The formation mechanism is investigated. On the background of the vertically sheared winter monsoonal flow, anomalous rainfall in the tropical Indo-Western Pacific warm pool excited a wave train towards East Asia in the upper troposphere during boreal winter of 1997/98. The AAC over Northeast Asia and the Japan Sea is part of the wave train of equivalent barotropic structure. The AAC over the Japan Sea persisted from winter to spring and even intensified in spring 1998. The diagnostic calculations show that the vorticity and temperature fluxes by synoptic eddies are an important mechanism for the AAC over the Japan Sea in spring 1998.

Interaction of an anticyclonic eddy with sea ice in the western Arctic Ocean:an eddy-resolving model study

The dramatic decline of summer sea ice extent and thickness has been witnessed in the western Arctic Ocean in recent decades, which has motivated scientists to search for possible factors driving the sea ice variability. An eddy-resolving, ice-ocean coupled model covering the entire Arctic Ocean is implemented, with focus on the western Arctic Ocean. Special attention is paid to the summer Maskan coastal current （ACC）, which has a high temperature （up to 5℃ or more） in the upper layer due to the solar radiation over the open water at the lower latitude. Downstream of the ACC after Barrow Point, a surface-intensified anticyclonic eddy is frequently generated and propagate towards the Canada Basin during the summer season when sea ice has retreated away from the coast. Such an eddy has a warm core, and its source is high-temperature ACC water. A typical warm-core eddy is traced. It is trapped just below summer sea ice melt water and has a thickness about 60 m. Temperature in the eddy core reaches 2-3℃, and most water inside the eddy has a temperature over 1℃. With a definition of the eddy boundary, an eddy heat is calculated, which can melt 1 600 km2 of 1 m thick sea ice under extreme conditions.

Formation of an anticyclonic eddy and the mechanism involved: a case study using cruise data from the northern South China Sea

Data from satellite altimetry and in situ observations together with the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) reanalysis data were used to investigate the mechanism and formation of an anticyclonic eddy in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS). Analysis of water mass using cruise data indicated that the water captured in the eddy diff ers from those in the SCS, the Kuroshio intrusion, and the eddy-forming region. Data from sea surface height (SSH) and sea level anomaly (SLA) indicate that the eddy formed due both to the Kuroshio intrusion and the local circulation in the SCS. The Kuroshio intrusion is present at the start of the eddy growth (March 5-9) before Kuroshio leaps the Luzon Strait. The eddy then becomes larger and stronger in the absence of the Kuroshio intrusion. From the eddy budget of the HYCOM reanalysis data, the formation of the eddy goes in three steps. By the third step, the eddy had become aff ected by variations of local SCS circulation, which is more strongly than in the fi rst step in which it is aff ected more by the Kuroshio intrusion. The variability of the temperature and salinity inside the eddy provide a support to this conclusion. The water in the SCS intruded into the eddy from the southeast, which decrease the salinity gradually in the southern part of the eddy during the growth period.

Subthermocline anticyclonic gyre east of Mindanao and its relationship with the Mindanao Undercurrent

The quasi-permanent anticyclonic gyre （ACG） east of Mindanao is a dominant feature of the subthermocline circulation in the southem Philippine Sea, and it is believed closely associated with the continuous northward alongshore flow of the Mindanao Undercurrent （MUC）. In this study, the structure and variability of this ACG were investigated using the 1950-2012 output of the Oceanic General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator （OFES）, which can reproduce well the structure of the climatological intermediate-layer circulation and satellite-observed sea level variations in the southern Philippine Sea. Between 26.8-27.3 ao, the ACG covers a large area from the Mindanao coast to 131 ~E and from 3~N to 10~N. Its anticyclonic flow structure is unrelated to the surface Halmahera Eddy. The eddy-resolving simulation of the OFES revealed that the ACG consists of two components. The southern ACG （SACG） is centered at -6~N, while the northern ACG （NACG） is centered at -10~N. Seasonal and interannual variations of the ACG are linked to the variations of the northward MUC transport along the Mindanao coast, and the role of the SACG is more important than the NACG. Stronger （weaker） ACGs lead to greater （smaller） MUC transport. On the interannual timescale, the SACG shows a spectrum peak at 4-8 years, while the NACG has enhanced power within the 3-5-year band. A lead-lag correlation analysis indicates that interannual variations of the ACGs and the MUC transport are partly associated with the E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation. Possible causes for the ACG variability are discussed.

Structure of a pair of anticyclonic vortices in northern part of the South China Sea in autumn of 1994

A pair of remarkable meso-scale anticyclonic vortices, one formed closely to another, inthe northern part of the South China Sea during the period from the later August to early September of 1994 were documented by the in situ observation data. Their spatial structures were examined in detail from the horizontal and two nearly perpendicular/vertical angles of view. It was shown that the horizontal scales of these two vortices were around 100, 50 km, and their vertical scales were about 500, 1000 m, respectively. Two 'warm core' structures associated with these two vortices were found in their horizontal and vertical analyses. The closer spacing of these two vortices (namely, 60 km), which was smaller than the Rossby radius of deformation, suggested that they might merge with each other during their next evolution stages and form into a larger vortex eventually.

The characteristics of spontaneous near-inertial wave generation from an anticyclonic mesoscale eddy

The generation and propagation characteristics of near-inertial waves(NIWs)generated spontaneously from a quasi-geostrophic anticyclonic mesoscale eddy in a rotating and stratifi ed fl uid were investigated by three-dimensional numerical modeling.NIWs are generated over a long time interval as a forced response to balanced baroclinic mesoscale eddies.For such eddies,NIW generation from balanced flow is an inevitable result as the evolution of eddies.Moreover,the baroclinicity of mesoscale eddies is an essential condition for this NIW generation mechanism.The spontaneously generated NIWs radiate horizontally toward the eddy center and propagate upward in vertical direction.The forcing of the NIWs moves downward along the eddy axis from the location of maximum temperature anomaly of the mesoscale eddy.The moving speed of the forcing is independent on the balanced mesoscale eddies but is determined by the ratio of buoyancy to inertial frequency.When the forcing reaches the bottom of the mesoscale eddy,the spontaneous NIW generation process terminates.NIW intensity in this spontaneous generation process is strengthened with the increase of the Rossby and Froude numbers.Further research to gain a solid understanding of the role of the Rossby and Froude numbers is necessary for the parameterization of spontaneous NIW generation from quasi-geostrophic mesoscale eddies in general circulation model.

Future Changes in Various Cold Surges over China in CMIP6 Projections

Cold surges(CSs)often occur in the mid-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere and have enormous effects on socioeconomic development.We report that the occurrences of CSs and persistent CSs(PCSs)have rebounded since the 1990s,but the trends related to the frequencies of strong CSs(SCSs)and extreme CSs(ECSs)changed from increasing to decreasing after 2000.The highest-ranked model ensemble approach was used to project the occurrences of various CSs under the SSP1-2.6,SSP2-4.5,and SSP5-8.5 scenarios.The frequencies of the total CSs show overall decreasing trends.However,under the SSP1-2.6 scenario,slight increasing trends are noted for SCSs and ECSs in China.Atmospheric circulations that are characterized by an anomalous anticyclonic circulation with a significantly positive 500-hPa geopotential height(Z500)anomaly at high latitudes along with significant negative anomalies in China were favorable for cold air intrusions into China.In addition,the frequencies of all CS types under the SPP5-8.5 scenario greatly decreased in the long term(2071-2100),a finding which is thought to be related to negative SST anomalies in the central and western North Pacific,differences in sea level pressure(SLP)between high-and mid-latitude regions,and a weaker East Asian trough.In terms of ECSs,the decreasing trends observed during the historical period were maintained until 2024 under the SSP1-2.6 scenario.Compared to the SSP1-2.6 scenario,the Z500 pattern showed a trend of strengthened ridges over the Ural region and northern East Asia and weakened troughs over Siberia(60°-90°E)under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios,contributing to the shift to increasing trends of ECSs after 2014.

Field-observation for an anticyclonic mesoscale eddy consisted of twelve gliders and sixty-two expendable probes in the northern South China Sea during summer 2017

An intensive field observation experiment using 12 Chinese gliders equipped with conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensors and 62 expendable CTD probes (XCTDs) was performed to investigate the 3-D structure and time evolution of an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). The observed results showed that the anticyclonic eddy had a horizontal radius of about 80 km at surface and a vertical depth of impact of more than 1000 m. The largest temperature and salinity anomalies compared with the averaged values of the temperature and salinity profiles were 3.5°C and 0.4 psu at 120 m depth, respectively. Combined analysis of altimeter sea level and water mass properties indicated that the anticyclonic eddy was shed from the Kuroshio loop current. The vertical axis of the anticyclonic eddy tilted from surface to the observed maximum depth (1000 m) along its translation direction against the 2000 m isobath. The center of the anticyclonic eddy remained in the region east of Dongsha Island for more than half a month. During this time, the long axis direction of the eddy changed from across the slope to along the slope. Then, the eddy moved southward along the 2000 m isobaths. Both the geostrophic current and temperature distribution revealed that the eddy intensity weakened during the observation period gradually. These observations indicated strong interaction between the anticyclonic eddy and the slope topography of Dongsha Island.

Circulation Pattern Controls of Summer Temperature Anomalies in Southern Africa

This study investigates the relationship between circulation patterns and austral summer temperature anomalies in southern Africa. The results show that the formation of continental lows tends to increase the thickness of the lower atmosphere. Further, the distinct variabilities of high and low pressure under the circulation types, influence air mass advection from the adjacent oceans, as well as atmospheric stability over land. Stronger anticyclonic circulation at the western branch of the Mascarene high-pressure system enhances the low-level cold air advection by southeast winds,decreases the thickness, and lowers the temperature over a majority of the land in southern Africa. Conversely, a weaker Mascarene High, coupled with enhanced cyclonic activity in the southwest Indian Ocean increases low-level warm air advection and increases temperature anomalies over vast regions in southern Africa. The ridging of a closed South Atlantic anticyclone at the southern coast of southern Africa results in colder temperatures near the tip of southern Africa due to enhanced low-level cold air advection by southeast winds. However, when the ridge is weak and westerly winds dominate the southern coast of southern Africa, these areas experience temperature increases. The northward track of the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude cyclone, which can be linked to the negative Southern Annular Mode, reduces the temperature in the southwestern part of southern Africa. Also, during the analysis period, El Ni?o was associated with temperature increases over the central parts of southern Africa;while the positive Indian Ocean dipole was linked to a temperature increase over the northeastern, northwestern, and southwestern parts of southern Africa.

A New Mathematical Justification for the Hypothesis of the Longevity of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

As is known, the Great Red Spot (GRS) is one of the most mysterious sights in the solar system and is a strong storm that is quite large. According to the laws of hydrodynamics and gas dynamics, it should have disappeared several centuries ago, but scientists still observe it and cannot accurately explain this phenomenon. Since turbulence and atmospheric waves in the GRS region absorb the energy of its winds, the vortex loses energy by radiating heat. In the work, it is proved with a mathematical and non-classical approach that the GRS and anticyclones will live for a long time;otherwise, we had to first of all prove that the vortex threads (loops) and ovals could not exist. Based on these supports, mathematical methods prove their existence forever by observing a large vortex (GRS);moreover, they are sources of heat. When proofs are obtained, the results are consistent with the previous hypotheses of the researcher. The introduction of the work gives a comparison of various hypotheses;for example, one of them states that the decrease in the size of the GRS is only an illusory observation. Next, we first consider the applicability conditions for the mathematical justification of the hypothesis of the longevity of the Great Red Spot. The wind equation and the GRS are energized by absorbing smaller eddies and ovals, and this total energy is constant. With the help of the KH mechanism in the case of Brunt Vaisala, the frequencies (which can be calculated by a program with given formulas) are determined using very strictly mathematical evidence to substantiate the validity of the hypothesis about the longevity of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.

Interdecadal Change in the Connection Between Hadley Circulation and Winter Temperature in East Asia

Based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the interdecadal variability of Hadley circulation （HC） and its association with East Asian temperature in winter are investigated. Results indicate that the Northern Hemisphere winter HC underwent apparent change in the 1970s, with transition occurring around 1976/77. Along with interdecadal variability of HC, its linkage to surface air temperature （SAT） in East Asia also varied decadally, from weak relations to strong relations. Such a change may be related to the interaction between HC and the atmospheric circulation system over the Philippines, which is associated with the East Asian winter monsoon （EAWM）. Before the 1970s, the connection between HC and the anticyclonic circulation around the Philippines was insignificant, but after the late 1970s their linkage entered a strong regime. The intensification of this connection may therefore be responsible for the strong relations between HC and East Asian winter temperatures after the late 1970s.

Evolution and propagation of a mesoscale eddy in the northern South China Sea during winter

In situ observations, satellite data, and the output from an eddy-resolving ocean circulation model were used to study the generations and propagations of an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea （NSCS） during the winter of 2009-2010. In the NSCS, the anticyclonic eddy firstly appeared to the west of the Luzon Strait, migrated generally along the continental slope and dissipated around the Xisha Archipela- go. The evolution of the warm eddy contains three phases： development, maturation, and decay. The eddy mainly stayed near 119.7°E in December and then gradually moved to 118.7°E until January 15, when its intensity, as indicated by the thermocline temperature and salinity anomalies, increased significantly, re- flecting the growth of the eddy. The eddy reached its peak on January 15 and persisted until February 23. During this period, the eddy propagated westward to 116.4°E. After, the warm eddy weakened significantly and dissipated finally near the Xisha Archipelago.

Direct measurements of surface and mid-depth circulationin the Shikoku Basin by Argo profiling floats

The circulation in the Shikoku Basin plays a very important role in the pathway of the Kuroshio and the water exchange in the subtropical gyre in the North Pacific Ocean. The Argo profiling floats deployed in the Shikoku Basin are used to study the circulations and water masses in the basin. The trajectories and parking depth velocity fields derived from all Argo floats show an anticyclonic circulation at 2 000 m in the Shikoku Basin. There are inhanced eddy activities in the Shikoku Basin, which have large influence on the Shikoku Basin circulation patterns. The characteristics of temperature - salinity curves indicate that there are North Pacific Ocean tropical water （NPTW）, North Pacific Ocean subtropical mode water （NPSTMW） and North Pacific Ocean intermediate water （NPIW） in the Shikoku Basin. The NPTW is only exists south of 32°N. In the middle part of the basin, which is 28°～31°N,133°～135°E, there is a confluence region. Water masses coming from the Kuroshio mix with the water in the Shikoku Basin.

Nitrogen fixation driven by mesoscale eddies and the Kuroshio Current in the northern South China Sea and the East China Sea

N2 fixation rates(NFR,in terms of N)in the northern South China Sea(nSCS)and the East China Sea(ECS)were measured using the acetylene reduction assay in summer and winter,2009.NFR of the surface water ranged from 1.14 nmol/(L·d)to 10.40 nmol/(L·d)(average at(4.89±3.46)nmol/(L·d),n=11)in summer and 0.74 nmol/(L·d)to 29.45 nmol/(L·d)(average at(7.81±8.50)nmol/(L·d),n=15)in winter.Significant spatio-temporal heterogeneity emerged in our study:the anticyclonic eddies(AE)(P<0.01)and the Kuroshio Current(KC)(P<0.05)performed significantly higher NFR than that in the cyclonic eddies or no-eddy area(CEONE),indicating NFR was profoundly influenced by the physical process of the Kuroshio and mesoscale eddies.The depth-integrated N2 fixation rates(INF,in terms of N)ranged from 52.4μmol/(m2·d)to 905.2μmol/(m2·d)(average at(428.9±305.5)μmol/(m2·d),n=15)in the winter.The contribution of surface NFR to primary production(PP)ranged from 1.7%to 18.5%in the summer,and the mean contribution of INF to new primary production(NPP)in the nSCS and ECS were estimated to be 11.0%and 36.7%in the winter.The contribution of INF to NPP(3.0%–93.9%)also decreased from oligotrophic sea toward the eutrophic waters affected by runoffs or the CEONE.Furthermore,we observed higher contributions compared to previous studies,revealing the vital roles of nitrogen fixation in sustaining the carbon pump of the nSCS and ECS.

Variations in Dissolved Oxygen Induced by a Tropical Storm Within an Anticyclone in the Northern South China Sea

Tropical storms(TSs)can induce sea surface cooling,freshening,and phytoplankton blooms.The dissolved oxygen(DO)concentration response to TSs within an anticyclone is still unclear due to the rarity of in situ observations.In this study,we investi-gate the variations in DO concentration attributed to TS‘Haitang’within an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea based on Chinese underwater glider data.DO concentrations have a higher value at the edge of eddy than at the core.Influenced by TS,DO concentrations decrease remarkably in the subsurface layer in all three regions(inside,edge,and outside of the anticyclonic eddy).The mean DO concentrations decrease more at the edge of the anticyclone than those inside the anticyclone.The recovery time of DO concentration after TS is around one week at the edge of the anticyclone and is>10 days within the eddy.Our observations show that the DO concentrations decrease above the subsurface chlorophyll a maxima layer.Quantitative analysis shows that variations in DO concentration are dominated by horizontal advection and vertical advection terms in the subsurface layer.