Quasi-biennial oscillation signal detected in the stratospheric zonal wind at 55–65°N

To investigate the impacts of the quasi-biennial oscillation （QBO） on high-latitude circulation and the Arctic vortex, stratospheric zonal wind at 55-65°N is analyzed. The seasonal cycle, solar cycle, and linear trend in the zonal wind at these latitudes are analyzed and removed, and the QBO signal is retrieved from the monthly zonal wind for the period 1979-2014. The zonal wind has a strong decreasing trend in winter, with a maximum decrease （less than -0.35 m s-1 yr-1） occurring within 70-100°E. The zonal wind has an in-phase response of 1.6 m s-1 to the solar cycle, with a maximum within 100-140°E. A clear QBO signal is detected in the zonal wind during the period 1979-2014, with an amplitude of 2.5 m s-1 and a period of 30 months. The latitudinal distribution of the QBO signal is inhomogeneous, with a maximum within 120-180°E and a minimum within 25-45°E.

Atmospheric Structure Observed over the Antarctic Plateau and Its Response to a Prominent Blocking High Event

Studies on the atmospheric structure over the Antarctic Plateau are important for better understanding the weather and climate systems of polar regions.In the summer of 2017,an observational experiment was conducted at Dome-A,the highest station in Antarctica,with a total of 32 profiles obtained from global positioning system(GPS)radiosondes.Based on observational data,the atmospheric temperature,humidity,and wind structures and their variations are investigated,and compared with those from four other stations inside the Antarctic circle.Distinguished thermal and dynamic structures were revealed over Dome-A,characterized by the lowest temperature,the highest tropopause,the largest lapse rate,and the most frequent temperature and humidity inversion.During the experiment,a prominent blocking event was identified,with great influence on the atmospheric structure over Dome-A.The blocking high produced a strong anticyclone that brought warm and moist air to the hinterland of the Antarctic Plateau,causing a much warmer,wetter,and windier troposphere over the Dome-A station.Meanwhile,a polar air mass was forced out of the Antarctic,formed a cold surge extending as far as southern New Zealand and affected the weather there.Our results proved that there would be a direct interaction between the atmosphere over the hinterland of the Antarctic Plateau and mid latitudes with the action of a blocking high.Further studies are needed to explore the interaction between the atmospheric systems over the Antarctic and mid latitudes under intense synoptic disturbance,with longterm data and numerical modeling.

Vertical Structures of Atmospheric Properties in Southeast Tibet during the South Asian Summer Monsoon in 2013

In June 2013,a field experiment was conducted in Southeast Tibet in which the air temperature,moisture,and wind were measured by using a GPS sounding system.In the present study,based on these observations and ERA-Interim reanalysis data,the vertical structures of these atmospheric properties and the possible influence of the South Asian summer monsoon（SASM） were investigated.On average,the temperature had a lapse rate of 6.8℃ km^（-1） below the tropopause of 18.0 km.A strong moisture inversion occurred at the near-surface,with a strength of 1.7 g kg^（-1）（100 m）^（-1） for specific humidity.During the observation period,the SASM experienced a south phase and a north phase in the middle and by the end of June,respectively.The monsoon＇s evolution led to large changes in convection and circulation over Southeast Tibet,which further affected the local thermal,moisture,and circulation conditions.The strong convection resulted in an elevated tropopause height over Southeast Tibet during the north phase of the SASM,and the large-scale warm and wet air masses delivered by the monsoon caused high local temperature and moisture conditions.

The Observed Near-Surface Energy Exchange Processes over Arctic Glacier in Summer

Under Arctic warming,near-surface energy transfers have significantly changed,but few studies have focused on energy exchange over Arctic glacier due to limitations in available observations.In this study,the atmospheric energy exchange processes over the Arctic glacier surface were analyzed by using observational data obtained in summer 2019 in comparison with those over the Arctic tundra surface.The energy budget over the glacier greatly differed from that over the tundra,characterized by less net shortwave radiation and downward sensible heat flux,due to the high albedo and icy surface.Most of the incoming solar radiation was injected into the glacier in summer,leading to snow ice melting.During the observation period,strong daily variations in near-surface heat transfer occurred over the Arctic glacier,with the maximum downward and upward heat fluxes occurring on 2 and 6 July 2019,respectively.Further analyses suggested that the maximum downward heat flux is mainly caused by the strong local thermal contrast above the glacier surface,while the maximum upward heat transfer cannot be explained by the classical turbulent heat transfer theory,possibly caused by countergradient heat transfer.Our results indicated that the near-surface energy exchange processes over Arctic glacier may be strongly related to local forcings,but a more in-depth investigation will be needed in the future when more observational data become available.