平流层爆发性增温及其影响研究进展

平流层爆发性增温(stratospheric sudden warming,SSW)是冬季平流层大气环流结构的一种突变现象,在短时间内平流层中高纬度的温度、风和极涡都会发生剧烈变化。因此,SSW也就成为平流层大气环流及其变化研究的重要方面之一。在强SSW期间,高纬地区温度急剧升高,西风被东风取代,极涡几乎全部崩溃。SSW极大地影响着北半球对流层大气,甚至整个中高层大气,包括对平流层乃至中层大气微量气体分布的重要影响。随着临近空间飞行平台的研究应用,以及由此而提出的临近空间环境条件的保障问题,作为临近空间重要组成部分的平流层环流变化将更加引起人们的关注。本文就SSW的特征、发生机制、对上下层相互作用的重要影响,以及SSW与准两年振荡、ENSO等的密切关系和SSW的数值模拟等方面的研究工作,进行了回顾和总结。     

北半球冬季平流层强、弱极涡事件演变过程的对比分析

利用1958～2017年逐日的NCEP/NCAR再分析资料对北半球冬季平流层强、弱极涡事件的演变过程进行了对比分析,同时比较了有平流层爆发性增温（SSW）和无SSW发生的两类弱极涡事件的环流演变和动力学特征。结果表明,强极涡的形成存在着缓慢发展和快速增强的过程,而弱极涡事件的建立非常迅速;和强极涡事件相比,弱极涡事件的峰值强度更强,异常中心的位置更高。此外,强、弱极涡事件的产生与波流相互作用的正反馈过程密切相关。对于强极涡事件,发展阶段的太平洋—北美（PNA）型异常削弱了行星波一波;当平流层西风达到一定强度,上传的行星波受到强烈抑制,使得极涡迅速增强达到峰值。而对于弱极涡事件,发展阶段一波型的异常增强了行星波上传,通过对纬向流的拖曳作用使得平流层很快处于弱西风状态,更多行星波进入平流层导致极涡急剧减弱甚至崩溃。针对有、无SSW发生的两类弱极涡事件的对比分析表明,有SSW发生的弱极涡事件发展阶段,平流层出现强的向上的一波Eliassen-Palm（EP）通量异常,通过正反馈过程使得一波和二波上传同时增强而导致极涡崩溃;无SSW发生的弱极涡事件发展阶段,平流层缺乏向上的一波通量,二波活动起到重要作用,其总的行星波上传远弱于有SSW发生的弱极涡事件。对于无SSW发生的弱极涡事件,其发展和成熟阶段对流层上部出现类似欧亚（EU）型的高度异常,伴随着强的向极的EP通量异常,导致对流层有极强的负北极涛动（AO）型异常。而有SSW发生的弱极涡事件发展阶段对流层上部主要表现为北太平洋上空来自低纬的波列异常,其后期的对流层效应更加滞后也不连续,对流层AO异常的强度明显弱于无SSW发生的弱极涡事件。     

2020/2021年冬季大范围低温寒潮过程中一种典型的平流层—对流层耦合演变模态

平流层爆发性增温（SSW）超前于对流层环流异常,是延长冬季寒潮低温预报时效的重要途径之一。然而强SSW事件前后地面温度响应的区域和时间存在不确定性,其中涉及的平流层—对流层耦合过程和机理也不十分清楚。本文采用1979～2021年ERA5再分析数据集,研究了2020/2021年冬季“偏心型”强SSW事件前后中高纬度地区地面温度异常的演变特征,并分析了其与等熵大气经向质量环流平流层—对流层分支的耦合演变模态的动力联系。结果表明,伴随此次强SSW事件,亚洲和北美中纬度地区的寒潮低温事件分别在绕极西风反转为东风之前和再次恢复为西风之后发生。SSW前后大气经向质量环流的平流层向极地暖支与对流层高层向极暖支、低层向赤道冷支之间呈现出三个阶段的耦合演变模态: 同位相“加强—加强”、反位相“加强—减弱”以及反位相“减弱—加强”。加强的质量环流对流层向赤道冷支是SSW前后寒潮低温事件的主要原因,而加强的向极地平流层暖支是SSW发生及其伴随的北极涛动负位相持续加强的主要原因。大气经向质量环流不同的垂直耦合模态取决于行星波槽脊在对流层顶和对流层中低层两个关键等熵面上的西倾角异常。西倾角异常表征大气波动的斜压性,主要通过影响关键等熵面以上向极地的净质量输送和其下向赤道的净质量输送进行调控。尤其在SSW发生后的极涡恢复期,对流层顶处异常偏弱的斜压性会加强对流层向极地暖支,进而加强向赤道冷支,有利于寒潮低温的发生。本次SSW事件前后大气经向质量环流三支的耦合演变模态,与历年平流层北半球环状模（NAM）负事件中极区平流层温度异常信号下传滞后的平流层—对流层耦合演变类型相一致,其在波动尺度方面也存在共同特征,即SSW事件或NAM负事件前期对流层一波加强且上传,后期对流层二波加强但较难上传。     

Stratospheric Polar Vortex Splitting in December 2009

Abstract

The 2009–10 Arctic stratospheric winter, in comparison with other recent winters, is mainly characterized by a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) in late January associated with planetary wavenumber 1. This event led to a large increase in the temperature of the polar stratosphere and to the reversal of the zonal wind. Unlike other major SSW events in recent winters, after the major SSW in January 2010 the westerlies and polar vortex did not recover to their pre-SSW strength until the springtime transition. As a result, the depletion of the ozone layer inside the polar vortex over the entire winter was relatively small over the past 20 years. The other distinguishing feature of the 2010 winter was the splitting of the stratospheric polar vortex into two lobes in December. The vortex splitting was accompanied by an increase in the temperature of the polar stratosphere and a weakening of the westerlies but with no reversal. The splitting occurred when, in addition to the high-pressure system over northeastern Eurasia and the northern Pacific Ocean, the tropospheric anticyclone over Europe amplified and extended to the lower stratosphere. Analysis of wave activity in the extratropical troposphere revealed that two Rossby wave trains propagated eastward to the North Atlantic several days prior to the vortex splitting. The first wave train propagated from the subtropics and mid-latitudes of the eastern Pacific Ocean over North America and the second one propagated from the northern Pacific Ocean. These wave trains contributed to an intensification of the tropospheric anticyclone over Europe and to the splitting of the stratospheric polar vortex.     

A two-way stratosphere-troposphere coupling of submonthly zonal-mean circulations in the Arctic

This paper examines the dominant submonthly variability of zonally symmetrical atmospheric circula- tion in the Northern Hemisphere （NH） winter within the context of the Northern Annular Mode （NAM）, with particular emphasis on interactive stratosphere-troposphere processes. The submonthly variability is identified and measured using a daily NAM index, which concentrates primarily on zonally symmetrical circulation. A schematic lifecycle of submonthly variability is developed that reveals a two-way coupling pro- cess between the stratosphere and troposphere in the NH polar region. Specifically, anomalous tropospheric zonal winds in the Atlantic and Pacific sectors of the Arctic propagate upwards to the low stratosphere, disturbing the polar vortex, and resulting in an anomalous stratospheric geopotential height （HGT） that subsequently propagates down into the troposphere and changes the sign of the surface circulations. From the standpoint of planetary-scale wave activities, a feedback loop is also evident when the anoma- lous planetary-scale waves （with wavenumbers 2 and 3） propagate upwards, which disturbs the anomalous zonally symmetrical flow in the low stratosphere, and induces the anomalous HGT to move poleward in the low stratosphere, and then propagates down into the troposphere. This increases the energy of waves at wavenumbers 2 and 3 in the low troposphere in middle latitudes by enhancing the land-sea contrast of the anomalous HGT field. Thus, this study supports the viewpoint that the downward propagation of stratospheric NAM signals may not originate in the stratosphere.     

2003～2004年冬季平流层爆发性增温动力诊断分析

利用逐日的欧洲中尺度天气预报中心(ECMWF)60层模式资料, 对2003年12月～2004年2月期间发生的一次非典型的爆发性增温中平流层结构的变化过程进行动力学诊断分析。充分利用资料层次高(最高层为0.1 hPa)和垂直分辨率高(垂直方向共60层)的优势, 通过对不同高度等熵面位涡分布的分析, 研究了极涡在平流层爆发性增温(SSW)发生前后的变化发展; 通过对EP通量及其散度的分析, 研究了SSW过程中行星波的变化特点; 通过对剩余环流的分析, 研究了在SSW过程中经圈环流的变化及其对动力过程的影响。得出: (1) 2003/2004年SSW增温过程持续时间长、强度大; (2) 增温最早发生在平流层上层并向下传播, 在10 hPa形成较强东风带后, 上层西风环流迅速恢复, 极涡再度形成, 下层则增温持续; (3) SSW前后行星波活动频繁, 有长时间多次的上传, 且以1波作用为主, 2波对其进行了补充; (4) 在SSW过程前后, 平流层中的剩余环流发生反转, 影响了平流层中、 高纬地区和低纬地区的物质交换以及上下层物质的重新分配。这一系列的工作为今后进一步研究平流层、 对流层交换, 发展完善气候模式打下基础。     

Stratospheric climate and variability from a general circulation model and observations

The climate and natural variability of the large-scale stratospheric circulation simulated by a newly developed general circulation model are evaluated against available global observations. The simulation consisted of a 30-year annual cycle integration performed with a comprehensive model of the troposphere and stratosphere. The observations consisted of a 15-year dataset from global operational analyses of the troposphere and stratosphere. The model evaluation concentrates on the simulation of the evolution of the extratropical stratospheric circulation in both hemispheres. The December–February climatology of the observed zonal mean winter circulation is found to be reasonably well captured by the model, although in the Northern Hemisphere upper stratosphere the simulated westerly winds are systematically stronger and a cold bias is apparent in the polar stratosphere. This Northern Hemisphere stratospheric cold bias virtually disappears during spring (March–May), consistent with a realistic simulation of the spring weakening of the mean westerly winds in the model. A considerable amount of monthly interannual variability is also found in the simulation in the Northern Hemisphere in late winter and early spring. The simulated interannual variability is predominantly caused by polar warmings of the stratosphere, in agreement with observations. The breakdown of the Northern Hemisphere stratospheric polar vortex appears therefore to occur in a realistic way in the model. However, in early winter the model severely underestimates the interannual variability, especially in the upper troposphere. The Southern Hemisphere winter (June–August) zonal mean temperature is systematically colder in the model, and the simulated winds are somewhat too strong in the upper stratosphere. Contrary to the results for the Northern Hemisphere spring, this model cold bias worsens during the Southern Hemisphere spring (September–November). Significant discrepancies between the model results and the observations are therefore found during the breakdown of the Southern Hemisphere polar vortex. For instance, the simulated Southern Hemisphere stratosphere westerly jet continuously decreases in intensity more or less in situ from June to November, while the observed stratospheric jet moves downward and poleward.This paper was presented at the Third International Conference on Modelling of Global Climate Change and Variability, held in Hamburg 4–8 Sept. 1995 under the auspice of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg. Editor for these papers is L. Dümenil.     

Influence of Major Stratospheric Sudden Warming on the Unprecedented Cold Wave in East Asia in January 2021

An unprecedented cold wave intruded into East Asia in early January 2021 and led to record-breaking or historical extreme low temperatures over vast regions.This study shows that a major stratospheric sudden warming(SSW)event at the beginning of January 2021 exerted an important influence on this cold wave.The major SSW event occurred on 2 January 2021 and subsequently led to the displacement of the stratospheric polar vortex to the East Asian side.Moreover,the SSW event induced the stratospheric warming signal to propagate downward to the mid-to-lower troposphere,which not only enhanced the blocking in the Urals-Siberia region and the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation,but also shifted the tropospheric polar vortex off the pole.The displaced tropospheric polar vortex,Ural blocking,and another downstream blocking ridge over western North America formed a distinct inverted omega-shaped circulation pattern(IOCP)in the East Asia-North Pacific sector.This IOCP was the most direct and impactful atmospheric pattern causing the cold wave in East Asia.The IOCP triggered a meridional cell with an upward branch in East Asia and a downward branch in Siberia.The meridional cell intensified the Siberian high and low-level northerly winds,which also favored the invasion of the cold wave into East Asia.Hence,the SSW event and tropospheric circulations such as the IOCP,negative phase of Arctic Oscillation,Ural blocking,enhanced Siberian high,and eastward propagation of Rossby wave eventually induced the outbreak of an unprecedented cold wave in East Asia in early January 2021.     

Overview of the Major 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere Stratospheric Sudden Warming：Evolution and Its Association with Surface Weather

In this study, we analyzed the dynamical evolution of the ma jor 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere （NH） stratospheric sudden warming （SSW） on the basis of ERA-Interim reanalysis data provided by the ECMWF. The intermittent upward-propagating planetary wave activities beginning in late November 2012 led to a prominent wavenumber-2 disturbance of the polar vortex in early December 2012. However, no major SSW occurred. In mid December 2012, when the polar vortex had not fully recovered, a mixture of persistent wavenumber-1 and -2 planetary waves led to gradual weakening of the polar vortex before the vortex split on 7 January 2013. Evolution of the geopotential height and Eliassen-Palm flux between 500 and 5 hPa indicates that the frequent occurrence of tropospheric ridges over North Pacific and the west coast of North America contributed to the pronounced upward planetary wave activities throughout the troposphere and stratosphere. After mid January 2013, the wavenumber-2 planetary waves became enhanced again within the troposphere, with a deepened trough over East Asia and North America and two ridges between the troughs. The enhanced tropospheric planetary waves may contribute to the long-lasting splitting of the polar vortex in the lower stratosphere. The 2012-2013 SSW shows combined features of both vortex displacement and vortex splitting. Therefore, the anomalies of tropospheric circulation and surface temperature after the 2012-2013 SSW resemble neither vortex-displaced nor vortex-split SSWs, but the combination of all SSWs. The remarkable tropospheric ridge extending from the Bering Sea into the Arctic Ocean together with the resulting deepened East Asian trough may play important roles in bringing cold air from the high Arctic to central North America and northern Eurasia at the surface.     

涡动在南北半球平流层极涡崩溃过程中作用的比较

比较了南北半球春季平流层极涡的崩溃过程以及涡动在此崩溃过程中的作用。极涡的崩溃时间以平流层极夜急流核区最后一次西风转换为东风的时间来确定。结果表明南北半球平流层极涡的崩溃过程有着共同的特点,涡动和非绝热加热过程都对极涡的崩溃起着重要的作用,在极涡崩溃前平流层行星尺度波动活动明显,极涡崩溃以后,这种波动活动便迅速减弱。其中从对流层上传的行星波决定着极涡的具体崩溃时间。两个半球的差别主要表现在南半球极涡崩溃过程一般始于平流层高层,然后逐渐下传,而北半球这种下传不是很明显。其次,北半球平流层极涡崩溃偏晚年,极涡的减弱有两次过程,第一次为快速变化过程,第二次变化比较缓慢,而南半球平流层极涡崩溃无论早晚年只有一次减弱过程。长期的变化趋势分析表明南北半球平流层极涡的崩溃时间逐渐推迟,特别是20世纪90年代中后期以来,这种推迟更加明显。进一步的研究还发现,伴随着平流层极涡的崩溃过程平流层和对流层存在强烈的动力耦合,南北半球极涡迅速减弱前,各自半球的环状模指数也由负指数增加为正指数,表明低层环流对于平流层极涡的崩溃起到重要的作用;同时极涡不同强度所对应的低层环状模指数也不同,这可能与不同强度平流层极涡对于上传的行星波的反射有关。     

Perturbations in tropical middle atmosphere during winter, 1984–1985

Summary Using high altitude rocketsonde data for Thumba (8.5 N, 76.9E) and Balasore (21.5 N, 86.9E) and the stratalert messages for high latitudes for the winter (December–March) 1984–1985, an examination has been made to study the perturbations in the temperature and winds in the tropical middle atmosphere and their linkage with the dynamical events occurring over the high-latitude middle atmosphere during that winter.The results of analysis indicated occurrence of strong cooling in the mesosphere over a period of seven days (5–12 December 1984) and the depth of the cooling layer was 15 km. This incident was followed by a strong warming over a period of seven days (12–19 December 1984) and the depth of the warming layer was 13 km. The major warming event, which occurred over high latitudes during the later part of December and the first week of January, was followed by the cooling in the mesosphere and warming in the stratosphere at Thumba. Also the zonal winds were strong easterly and the meridional winds were northerly in the upper stratosphere and the lower mesosphere over tropics during the same period. Weaker zonal winds/stronger easterly winds were generally noticed to be associated with coolings/warmings over tropics.With 7 Figures     

2008年中国南方雪灾与平流层极涡异常的等熵位涡分析

2008年1月中国南方遭遇罕见的大范围冰冻雨雪灾害, 本文利用NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料和等熵位涡分析方法, 分析了这次冰雪灾害期间平流层极涡的变化及其对对流层的影响。结果表明： 平流层极涡在2007年12月已经开始增强, 到1月中旬亚洲北部极地平流层极涡变得异常强大。高位涡冷空气向南扩展时, 沿着倾斜的等熵面运动, 从极地平流层上层一直延伸到中低纬度对流层。低层高位涡冷空气主体比较靠北, 华北一带为低位涡区; 南方为高位涡区, 呈东北—西南向伸展, 引导北方高位涡主体冷空气和西南暖湿气流在此汇合, 引起大范围降温和降雪。     

北半球平流层极涡崩溃早晚的环流特征及其对5月南亚降水的影响

本文采用1979—2014年NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料、CMAP和GPCP月平均降水资料,分析了北半球平流层极涡崩溃早晚的环流特征及其与南亚降水的关系。结果表明,北半球平流层极涡崩溃时间存在明显的年际变化特征。极涡崩溃偏早(偏晚)年,自3月开始异常信号从平流层向下传播,之后的4月,从平流层到对流层高层极区温度异常偏高(偏低),极涡异常偏弱(偏强),极夜急流异常偏弱(偏强)。结果还表明,5月南亚降水异常与平流层极涡崩溃时间的早晚存在显著相关,5月南亚降水异常与平流层极涡崩溃早晚年平流层异常信号的下传有关。当平流层极涡崩溃偏晚年,4月平流层极区表现为位势高度异常偏低,而中纬度则位势高度场异常偏高,并伴随位势高度异常场的向下传播,5月该位势高度异常场下传至阿拉伯海北部大陆上空对流层顶,形成有利于降水的环流场,导致南亚降水偏多。反之,则相反。     

Observation of polar stratospheric clouds over Obninsk in December 2012

In late December 2012 a blocking anticyclone followed by the event of minor stratospheric warming, set in the troposphere over West Siberia and, after that, over the European part of Russia. As a result of the deformation of a polar stratospheric vortex, the temperature in the lower stratosphere over Obninsk dropped below the threshold of the formation of polar stratospheric clouds. The lidar measurements of temperature, ozone values, and aerosol characteristics in the middle atmosphere were carried out at the lidar station during this atmospheric event. In three cases, polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) referred to NAT I_a type according to the sounding results, were registered at the height of about 20 km. No considerable decrease in the ozone concentration in the area of PSC formation was revealed in these measurements.     

平流层爆发性增温期间行星波的活动

利用逐日的NCEP再分析资料分析了1978～2004年期间发生的18次强爆发性增温时平流层中下层行星波1波和2波的异常以及极涡崩溃的形式.分析表明, 爆发性增温前期1波都异常增幅, 波振幅达到峰值之后的一段时间内发生爆发性增温, 然而在增温过程中行星波2波的变化却有明显不同, 可分为三种情况: (1) 在增温前期, 行星波2波很弱; 在增温期间, 行星波2波异常发展, 伴随着极涡崩溃的形式是由偏心型向偶极型过渡. (2) 在增温前期, 行星波2波较强; 在增温期间, 行星波2波明显减弱, 极涡的变化形式是远离极地, 在极地外围活动, 但不发生分裂.(3) 在增温前期, 行星波2波不太强; 在增温期间, 行星波2波有所发展, 但始终强不过1波, 极涡的变化是先偏离极地, 然后发生不对称的变形.作者还计算和分析了EP通量及其散度, 利用波流相互作用理论对这三种行星波的异常变化及其与爆发性增温的关系进行解释.     

Analysis of three-dimensional Eliassen-Palm fluxes in the lower stratosphere

Using the monthly mean NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset, the three-dimensional Eliassen-Palm (EP) fluxes of quasi-stationary wave propagation in the lower stratosphere were computed for each month from November to March for the period from 1958 to 2007. It is shown that the upward planetary wave propagation from the troposphere to the stratosphere generally occurs over the northern Eurasia, while their weak downward propagation is observed in Labrador and southern Greenland regions in the lower stratosphere. Interannual variations of the vertical EP fluxes also have the dipole-like spatial pattern with the opposite anomalies in the West and East hemispheres which are most prominent in January–February. Significant differences in the interaction of the zonal circulation of the stratosphere in the beginning of winter (November–December) and mid-to-late winter (January–March) are revealed. Intensification of the planetary waves’ penetration into the stratosphere in December causes changes in the stratospheric dynamics, creating the “preconditions” for the stratospheric warming appearances in January, but such a mechanism is not detected in February. In the years with the cold polar vortex, the “stratospheric bridge” is formed with the strengthening of the upward EP flux over the northern Eurasia and downward EP flux over the North Atlantic.     

Interannual variations in total ozone fields at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, November to March 1998–2005

Synoptic analysis of monthly and daily mean total ozone fields is carried out using ground-based (Roshydromet) and TOMS measurements. Large interannual changes in the evolution of the stratospheric polar vortex and the North Pacific anticyclone influence the formation and dynamics of the winter-spring ozone fields in the stratosphere of high northern latitudes. The analysis shows considerable variations in the direction of zonal ozone transport from the sector of ozone inflow from low latitudes and accumulation in the Far East depending on the winter polar stratosphere temperature and the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) phase. In years with the easterly QBO phase and the warm polar stratosphere, ozone at the end of winter is transported to northeastern Canada and Atlantic. In years with the easterly phase and cold polar stratosphere, ozone transport is directed to northern Eurasia. These characteristics will be verified on extensive observational data.     

BCC_AGCM2.1模式对平流层环流变化特征的数值模拟及其模式评估

使用国家气候中心大气环流模式BCC_AGCM2.1的30年模拟试验资料,对平流层纬向环流场、高空急流、极涡及爆发性增温过程进行了数值模拟研究,并使用欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）和美国国家环境预报中心（NCEP）的再分析资料对模式输出结果进行了对比、分析。结果表明：（1） 在观测海温、二氧化碳、气溶胶等外强迫地驱动下,BCC模式能够很好地再现出与再分析资料一致的平流层纬向平均风场、温度场的分布特征和季节变化过程;模拟得到的温度廓线和高空急流与再分析资料的主要差别出现在南、北半球冬季的中高纬度地区;模拟得到的平流层温度普遍偏低,主要的差异位于对流层顶区域和平流层高层。（2） 模拟的对流层上层的副热带急流位置偏南、强度也偏弱,而平流层中的绕极极夜急流则位置偏北、强度更大。这样的急流分布特征使模拟的行星波向赤道的波导更强,向极的波导偏弱;同时由于模式中本身可以形成的行星波就比再分析资料弱,因此导致模拟结果中北半球冬季的平流层极涡更加稳定、极区温度更低。（3） BCC模式对于平流层极涡的季节变化特征模拟得较好,但对强极涡扰动过程,即北半球冬季的平流层爆发性增温（SSW）事件则模拟效果不佳,不论是增温事件出现的频率,还是增温的时间、强度,模拟结果和再分析资料都还存在一定偏差,需要在今后的工作中逐步改善。     

On the Differences and Climate Impacts of Early and Late Stratospheric Polar Vortex Breakup

The stratospheric polar vortex breakup (SPVB) is an important phenomenon closely related to the seasonal transition of stratospheric circulation. In this paper, 62-year NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data were employed to investigate the distinction between early and late SPVB. The results showed that the anomalous circulation signals extending from the stratosphere to the troposphere were reversed before and after early SPVB, while the stratospheric signals were consistent before and after the onset of late SPVB. Arctic Oscillation (AO) evolution during the life cycle of SPVB also demonstrated that the negative AO signal can propagate downward after early SPVB. Such downward AO signals could be identified in both geopotential height and temperature anomalies. After the AO signal reached the lower troposphere, it influenced the Aleutian Low and Siberian High in the troposphere, leading to a weak winter monsoon and large-scale warming at mid latitudes in Asia. Compared to early SPVB, downward propagation was not evident in late SPVB. The high-latitude tropospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere was affected by early SPVB, causing it to enter a summer circulation pattern earlier than in late SPVB years.     

Observational Subseasonal Variability of the PM2.5 Concentration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Area during the January 2021 Sudden Stratospheric Warming

It is still not well understood if subseasonal variability of the local PM_2.5 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is affected by the stratospheric state. Using PM_2.5 observations and the ERA5 reanalysis, the evolution of the air quality in BTH during the January 2021 sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is explored. The subseasonal variability of the PM_2.5 concentration after the SSW onset is evidently enhanced. Stratospheric circumpolar easterly anomalies lasted for 53 days during the January–February 2021 SSW with two evident stratospheric pulses arriving at the ground. During the tropospheric wave weakening period and the intermittent period of dormant stratospheric pulses, the East Asian winter monsoon weakened, anomalous temperature inversion developed in the lower troposphere, anomalous surface southerlies prevailed, atmospheric moisture increased, and the boundary layer top height lowered, all of which favor the accumulation of pollutant particulates, leading to two periods of pollution processes in the BTH region. In the phase of strengthened East Asian winter monsoon around the very beginning of the SSW and another two periods when stratospheric pulses had reached the near surface, opposite-signed circulation patterns and meteorological conditions were observed, which helped to dilute and diffuse air pollutants in the BTH region. As a result, the air quality was excellent during the two periods when the stratospheric pulse had reached the near surface. The increased subseasonal variation of the regional pollutant particulates after the SSW onset highlights the important role of the stratosphere in the regional environment and provides implications for the environmental prediction.