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.

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 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.

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.