Changes in atmospheric circulation over Europe detected by objective and subjective methods

Summary Changes in atmospheric circulation over Europe since 1958 were examined using both objective (modes of low-frequency variability and objective classification of circulation types) and subjective (Hess-Brezowsky classification of weather types) methods. The analysis was performed with an emphasis on the differences between the winter (DJF) and summer (JJA) seasons, and between objectively and subjectively based results. Majority of the most important changes in atmospheric circulation are same or similar for the objective and subjective methods: they include the strengthening of the zonal flow in winter since the 1960s to the early 1990s; the increase (decrease) in frequency of anticyclonic (cyclonic) types in winter from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, with a subsequent decline (rise); and the sharp increase in the persistence (measured by the mean residence time) of all groups of circulation types in winter around 1990 and of anticyclonic types in summer during the 1990s. Differences between the findings obtained using the objective and subjective methods may result from the intrinsically different approach to the classification (e.g. the Hess-Brezowsky weather types have a typical duration of at least 3 days while objective types typically last 1–3 days). Generally, changes in atmospheric circulation which have taken place since the 1960s were more pronounced in winter than in summer. The most conspicuous change seems to be the considerable increase in the persistence of circulation types during the 1990s, which may be also reflected in the increase in the occurrence of climatic extremes observed in Europe during recent years.     

1960-2009年咸宁市气候变化特征分析

利用1960-2009年咸宁市3个地面气象站气象资料,统计分析近50 a来该区域气温、降水等主要气候要素的年变化、四季变化及年代际变化的趋势特征。结果表明：近50 a研究区气温有上升趋势,气候倾向率为0.23℃/10a,年平均气温在20世纪90年代末发生突变。春秋季平均气温分别在2002年和1999年发生突变,夏季平均气温在2006年发生突变,冬季平均气温早在1990年发生突变。春季与秋季平均气温的变化比较一致,冬季平均气温对全球变暖响应最敏感,春秋与秋季对气候变暖的响应是比较敏感,而夏季对气候变暖的响应最为迟缓。近50 a年降水量呈波动但无明显增降的趋势,其中春夏两季变化趋势较为一致并有下降的趋势,且春夏降水量的变化主导着年降水量的变化;而冬季降水量有上升的趋势。通过对气温与降水变化趋势的比较,发现冬季对气候变化的响应最显著、其余季节无明显相关性。     

1960—2009年咸宁市气候变化特征

利用1960—2009年咸宁市3个地面气象站气象资料,统计分析近50 a来该区域气温、降水等主要气候要素的年变化、四季变化及年代际变化的趋势特征。结果表明：近50 a研究区气温有上升趋势,气候倾向率为0.23℃/10 a,年平均气温在20世纪90年代末发生突变。春秋季平均气温分别在2002年和1999年发生突变,夏季平均气温在2006年发生突变,冬季平均气温在1990年发生突变。春季与秋季平均气温的变化较一致,冬季平均气温对全球变暖响应最敏感,春季与秋季对气候变暖的响应较敏感,而夏季对气候变暖的响应最为迟缓。近50 a咸宁市年降水量呈波动但无明显增降的趋势,其中春夏两季变化趋势较为一致并有下降的趋势,且春夏降水量的变化主导着年降水量的变化;而冬季降水量有上升的趋势。通过对气温与降水变化趋势的比较,发现冬季对气候变化的响应最显著,其余季节无明显相关性。     

A seasonal study of the atmospheric dynamics over the Iberian Peninsula based on circulation types

A seasonal analysis of the atmospheric circulation over the Iberian Peninsula (IP) based on circulation types (CTs) obtained from sea level pressure and 500-hPa geopotential height is presented. The study covers the period of 1958–2008, when a high variability and important changes in winter and spring precipitation and temperature have been reported. Frequency, persistence, and the most probable transitions of the circulation types are analyzed. Among the clustering methods available in the literature, two of the most reliable classification methods have been tested, K-means and simulated annealing and diversified randomization. A comparison of both methods over the IP is presented for winter (DJF). The quality of the circulation types obtained through both methods as well as the better stability achieved by K-means suggest this method as more appropriated for our target area. Twelve CTs were obtained for each season and were analyzed. The patterns obtained were regrouped in five general situations: anticyclonic, cyclonic, zonal, summertime, and hybrid-mixed. The analysis of frequencies of these situations offers a similar characterization of the atmospheric circulation that others previously obtained by subjective methods. The analysis of the trends in frequency and persistence for each CT shows few significant trends, mainly in winter and spring with a general decrease of the cyclonic patterns and an increase of the anticyclonic situations. This can be related to the negative precipitation trends reported by other authors. Regarding the persistence, an interesting result is that there is a high interannual variability of the persistence in autumn and spring, when patterns can persist longer than in other seasons. An analysis of the most probable transitions between the CTs has been performed, revealing the existence of cyclic sequences in all seasons. These sequences are related to the high frequency of certain patterns such as the anticyclonic situations in winter. Finally, a clear seasonal dependence of the transitions between cyclonic situations associated with extratropical disturbances was found. This dependence suggests that the transitions of low-pressure systems towards the south of the IP are more likely in spring and autumn than in winter.     

2006年杭嘉湖平原夏秋天气异常分析

2006年杭嘉湖平原出现夏季特长、秋季极短,梅雨量极少、高温天数多、夏旱连秋旱的气候异常现象,对大气环流进行分析发现,西太平洋副高持续偏强偏西,北半球极涡偏弱,冷空气活动偏北,亚洲地区盛行纬向环流.区域气候的异常与大气环流的季节转换异常有关,并且大气环流的异常可以追溯到其前期环流的异常.2006年前冬和春季中高纬度较强的经向环流和持续偏强的副热带高压使得该年夏季副高继续偏强,并且春季的这一环流异常现象,导致秋季大气环流向冬季过渡较快.对涡动高度的分析表明,5月平流层正中心的异常两移、6～7月平流层持续分裂出两个正中心,以及9月正中心的异常增强,预示和促进了夏季低层大气环流的异常发展,从而夏季偏长、夏秋季节转换推迟;11月冷低压的异常增强南压和暖高压的突然减弱,使秋冬季节转换较快,从而秋季极短.     

南、北极海冰的长期变化趋势及其与大气环流的联系

采用南、北极海冰面积指数 1°× 1°经纬度格点资料及海平面气压资料 ,运用多种统计方法 ,研究了南、北极海冰的长期变化趋势、突变特征及其与大气环流的联系 ,发现近年来南极冬、春、秋季海冰逐渐减少 ,夏季海冰逐渐增加 ;北极春、夏、秋季海冰均不同程度地减少 ,冬季海冰变化趋势不明显 ;南、北极各季海冰的年际变化均存在一定的突发性 ,大气环流在海冰突变年前后有显著的差异     

1961—2017年云南季节变化特征分析

参照《中华人民共和国气象行业标准-气候季节划分》（QX/T 152-2012）中关于气候季节的定义标准,利用1961-2017年云南122个气象站的气温资料,分析了云南的气候季节区域的空间分布和季节开始日期及长度的变化趋势。云南共有4种气候季节区域,分别是四季分明区、无夏区、无冬区和常春区。无夏区范围最广,无冬区其次。不同年代四种季节气候区域空间分布范围不尽相同,无夏区和无冬区空间范围变化最显著。2011年以后云南出现四季分明区范围明显增大的现象,这与近年来气候变暖背景下云南气温年较差增大的观测事实相一致。云南四季分明区春季和秋季较长,夏季和冬季较短。无夏区秋季最长、春季次之、冬季最短。无冬区夏季最长、春季和秋季长度接近。不同气候季节区域间春季和夏季开始日期的变化均呈提早趋势,秋季和冬季开始日期有推迟的趋势;在季节长度变化上,夏季增长,冬季变短,但春秋季长度的变化不尽相同。     

珠江三角洲区域大气输送和扩散的季节特征

根据1985—2004年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,采用HYSPLIT扩散模式和虚拟源方法,模拟分析了珠江三角洲大气污染物的空间和时间分布状况,初步讨论了珠江三角洲大气输送和扩散的季节特征,及其长期变化趋势。结果表明:珠江三角洲大气的输送和扩散有明显的季节变化特征,春、夏季大气污染物汇聚区位于珠江三角洲的西北侧,秋、冬季位于偏西侧;春、夏季的汇聚区明显强于秋、冬季。春、夏季大气分别向珠江三角洲西北和偏北方向的山区输送和扩散,而秋、冬季则沿着较为平坦的粤西海岸,向西南偏西方向输送和扩散。秋、冬季大气污染物的滞留时间明显比春、夏季短。1985—2004年大气输送和扩散能力存在年际差异,其中以2004年的输送和扩散能力最弱、1996年最强。     

北京地区大气环流型及气候特征

以北京地区为研究对象,应用Lamb-Jenkinson大气环流分型方法对1948-2008年的逐日平均海平面气压场进行定量计算环流指数。通过对27类逐日环流分型结果的统计分析得出：北京地区主导环流类型依次为A型、C型和SW型,其频率分别为23.8 %、15.4%和7.0%;A和C环流型频率均呈逐年上升趋势,但A型频率上升速度远大于C型;春季北京主导环流类型为A型和C型,夏季主导环流型为C型和SW型,夏季CSW型环流所占比例也较大,秋季和冬季为A型。通过主导环流型和北京气温、降水之间变化规律的分析可知：冬季在A型环流的控制下北京地区多为低温晴好天气;夏季在C型环流的控制下北京地区降水增多,在SW型环流的控制下北京地区降水偏少,而CSW型环流控制下北京地区呈现干热天气状态,2000年后尤为明显。     

On the variability of seasonal temperature in southern South America

The aim of this paper is to investigate different aspects of the seasonal-to-interannual temperature variability in Eastern Patagonia, the southernmost area of South America, east of the Andes Cordillera. Homogenous regions of seasonal variability and the atmospheric circulation patterns associated with warm and cold conditions in each of them are described in this study. Relationships between temperature in Eastern Patagonia and that registered in other areas of southern South America are also addressed. Results show that the northern and southern areas of Eastern Patagonia have different temperature variability in summer and autumn whereas the temperature variability tends to be more homogeneous within the region during winter and spring. Warm (cold) conditions in the northern areas are associated with reinforced (weakened) westerlies in summer, winter and spring whereas northerly (southerly) advections of warm (cold) air toward the region produce such conditions in autumn. Temperature in the southern portion of Eastern Patagonia is affected by anticyclonic (cyclonic) anomalies that enhance (reduce) the incoming solar radiation and induce reinforced (weakened) westerlies promoting warm (cold) conditions in the region. Furthermore, cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomalies at subpolar latitudes hinder (favor) outbreaks of cold air increasing (decreasing) the temperature over areas of Eastern Patagonia. The circulation anomalies associated with warm (cold) conditions in Eastern Patagonia also promote cold (warm) conditions over areas of northern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil. Consequently, a dipole of temperature is detected in southern South America with centers of opposite sign over these regions.     

1961—2008年昆山市气候变化特征

利用1961—2008年昆山市气温、降水量和日照时数等主要气象要素资料,通过线性趋势方程、滑动平均等统计方法,探讨了近48 a昆山市气候变化特征。结果表明：昆山市年平均气温和四季平均气温均呈升高趋势,其中春季增温最明显,冬季次之;年平均最低气温的增温速度高于最高气温;降水量总体呈略上升趋势,冬、夏两季降水量增加明显,春、秋季降水量则呈减小趋势,但不显著,降水年际变化幅度较大;年总日照时数和各季日照时数均呈下降趋势,其中尤以夏季减少最明显。     

Synergistic feedbacks between ocean and vegetation on mid- and high-latitude climates during the mid-Holocene

Simulations with the IPSL atmosphere–ocean model asynchronously coupled with the BIOME1 vegetation model show the impact of ocean and vegetation feedbacks, and their synergy, on mid- and high-latitude (>40°N) climate in response to orbitally-induced changes in mid-Holocene insolation. The atmospheric response to orbital forcing produces a +1.2 °C warming over the continents in summer and a cooling during the rest of the year. Ocean feedback reinforces the cooling in spring but counteracts the autumn and winter cooling. Vegetation feedback produces warming in all seasons, with largest changes (+1 °C) in spring. Synergy between ocean and vegetation feedbacks leads to further warming, which can be as large as the independent impact of these feedbacks. The combination of these effects causes the high northern latitudes to be warmer throughout the year in the ocean–atmosphere-vegetation simulation. Simulated vegetation changes resulting from this year-round warming are consistent with observed mid-Holocene vegetation patterns. Feedbacks also impact on precipitation. The atmospheric response to orbital-forcing reduces precipitation throughout the year; the most marked changes occur in the mid-latitudes in summer. Ocean feedback reduces aridity during autumn, winter and spring, but does not affect summer precipitation. Vegetation feedback increases spring precipitation but amplifies summer drying. Synergy between the feedbacks increases precipitation in autumn, winter and spring, and reduces precipitation in summer. The combined changes amplify the seasonal contrast in precipitation in the ocean–atmosphere-vegetation simulation. Enhanced summer drought produces an unrealistically large expansion of temperate grasslands, particularly in mid-latitude Eurasia.     

North-Atlantic SST amplified recent wintertime European land temperature extremes and trends

Europe has been warming over the past 30?years. In particular all seasonal temperature records have been broken since 2003, which altered socio-economic and environmental systems. Since we expect this trend in both mean and extreme temperatures to continue along the twenty first century under enhanced radiative forcing, it is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms of such climate variations to help in considering adaptation or mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of a warmer climate. From a statistical analysis we show that the inter-annual variability of European seasonal temperatures can be reconstructed from North-Atlantic atmospheric circulation only, but not their recent trends and extreme seasons. Adding North-Atlantic sea-surface temperature (SST) as a predictor helps improving the reconstruction, especially in autumn and winter. Sensitivity experiments with the MM5 regional model over 2003?C2007 suggest that the anomalous SST enhance European land temperatures through the upper-air advection of heat and water vapor, interacting with radiative fluxes over the continent. This mechanism is pronounced in autumn and winter, where estimates of SST influence as obtained from MM5 are in agreement with those obtained from statistical regressions. We find a lesser SST influence in spring and summer, where local surface and radiative feedbacks are the main amplifiers of recent extremes.     

Air flow influences on local climate: observed United Kingdom climate variations

Identifying and removing the influence of atmospheric circulation variability on central England temperature increases the statistical significance of warming trends in spring, autumn and the annual mean over the last 50 years. The trends are more detectable because the circulation changes contribute greatly to the ‘noise’ of interannual to interdecadal variability, but induce only small multi-decadal trends (the ‘signal’). Factoring out the circulation can thus enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. For precipitation, the recent enhancement in the difference between summer rainfall in south-east England and winter precipitation in northern Scotland can partly be explained by atmospheric circulation variability over the past 40 years (particularly the increase in the North Atlantic Oscillation index from the 1960s to the early 1990s).     

欧亚土壤湿度异常对北半球大气环流的显著影响

用44 a ERA40再分析资料的土壤湿度和大气环流变量场, 研究持续性的欧亚大陆土壤湿度异常对后期北半球大尺度大气环流的反馈作用。首先,运用经验正交函数分解去除ENSO遥相关及趋势影响后,分析了欧亚大陆中高纬度土壤湿度变率主要模态的季节变化特征,及相对应主分量时间序列显示的土壤湿度异常的衰减时间,结果表明土壤湿度异常的主要模态在全年都表现出很好的连续性。其次,对不同季节的连续3个月的月平均土壤湿度和500 hPa高度场进行滞后最大协方差分析,研究欧亚地区中高纬度土壤湿度异常与北半球大气环流异常之间的线性耦合。第一最大协方差模态的结果表明:全年的主导信号是大气强迫土壤湿度的变化,但在冬季和夏季,大气中类似于负位相北极涛动的环流型与之前月份(最长达4个月)土壤湿度的持续变化显著相关。最后,基于土壤湿度变率中心的回归分析也证实了秋季和春季欧亚土壤湿度,特别是北非副热带,欧亚内陆和西伯利亚地区的土壤湿度异常,分别与其后的冬季和夏季的大气环流显著相关。欧亚大陆土壤湿度异常超前大气环流的信号,将有助于改善冬季和夏季北半球季节气候预报能力。     

阜新地区1951—2010年降水变化特征

根据阜新地区2个观测站1951-2010年逐月和逐年降水资料,通过趋势分析、Mexicohat小波变换和Mann-Kendall突变检验等方法,分析了阜新地区降水的气候变化特征。结果表明：阜新地区近60 a来年降水量呈下降趋势,下降速率为10.7 mm/10a;降水量年际变化明显,极易出现旱涝灾害。除春季降水略有增加外,其他三季均呈减少趋势。年降水量和季节降水量均有准12 a和18 a的周期振荡。除春季降水量没有明显突变点外,夏、秋、冬三季均存在突变点,其中夏季降水量存在3个突变年份,分别为1967年、1978年和1986年,秋季降水量在1996年存在突变,冬季降水量在2004年存在突变。     

1960-2009年武汉城区与郊区气候季节变化

利用1960-2009年武汉城区与郊区气象站逐日平均气温资料,采用相同气候季节划分方法,系统分析武汉城区与郊区气候季节起始时间、季节长度的变化趋势及其差异。结果表明：1980-2009年,武汉城区入春、入夏时间比郊区分别提前10 d和5 d,入秋、入冬时间城区比郊区推迟;武汉夏季长度城区比郊区长12 d,冬季、春季长度城区比郊区短6 d和5 d。1960-2009年武汉四季平均起始时间城区与郊区差别较小,但四季最早、最晚出现时间年际差别较大;武汉入春、入夏时间城区与郊区均提前,入秋、入冬时间均推后,但城区四季变化较显著,郊区仅入秋变化显著;武汉城区夏季长度呈极显著延长,冬季长度呈较显著缩短,城区春季、秋季及郊区四季长度变化均不显著。2000-2009年武汉城区与郊区季节起始时间和季节长度的变化较大,这是因为近10 a武汉作为中部地区崛起的支点,城区发展迅速。     

Climatic changes in Estonia during the second half of the 20th century in relationship with changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation

Summary Trends in the time series of air temperature, precipitation, snow cover duration and onset of climatic seasons at ten stations in Estonia during 1951–2000 are analysed. Using the conditional Mann-Kendall test, these trends are compared with trends in the characteristics of large-scale atmospheric circulation: the NAO and AO indices, frequency of circulation forms according to the Vangengeim-Girs’ classification, and the northern hemisphere teleconnection indices. The objective of the study is to estimate the influence of trends in circulation on climate changes in Estonia. Statistically significant increasing trends in air temperature are detected in January, February, March, April and May, in winter (DJF), spring (MAM) and in the cold period (NDJFM). The trends in precipitation, as a rule, differ from station to station. Increasing trends are present during the cold half-year – from October until March – and also in June. Snow cover duration has decreased in Estonia by 17–20 days inland and by 21–36 days on the coast. The onsets of early spring and spring have shifted to an earlier date. Some important changes have occurred in the parameters of atmospheric circulation during 1951–2000. Intensity of zonal circulation, i.e. westerlies, has increased during the cold period, especially in February and March. Results of the conditional Mann-Kendall test indicate that the intensification of westerlies in winter is significantly related to climate changes in winter and also in spring. A negative trend in the East Atlantic Jet (EJ) index, i.e. the weakening of the westerlies in May has caused warming during that month. Decrease in northerly circulation, i.e. in frequency of circulation form C and in East Atlantic/West Russia teleconnection index (EW) is related to an increase in precipitation in October.     

南极中山站附近地表大风的统计特征研究

利用近20 a的ERA5再分析资料研究了南极中山站附近的大风和极端大风事件的统计与环流特征。结果表明，春季大风事件的发生频次最高，夏季最少；冬季大风事件的平均持续时间最长，夏季最短；但大风事件的平均强度无明显季节变化。极端大风事件的发生频次具有显著的季节差异，冬季发生频次约为夏季的6倍、春秋的2倍，但平均持续时间和强度无明显季节变化。大风发生期间，南极对流层上层为单一极涡控制。在对流层中层，中低纬暖湿气流的向极入侵使得极涡破碎分裂，在中山站东侧产生高压脊，脊前冷空气下沉在地表堆积形成冷高压反气旋，其偏东气流在地形下坡风的作用下产生大风事件。上述环流特征在冬季最强、夏季最弱，从而导致大风事件的季节变化。     

云南地区季降水量和气温的潜在可预报性分析

利用云南地区42年气候资料,使用低频白噪声延伸法和方差分析方法,估计了该地区季节降水量和季节气温的气候噪声方差和潜在可预报性。分析结果表明：（1）云南季降水量的气候噪声方差随着季节降水量的增加而增加,空间上主要是由南往北减小,夏季降水量的气候噪声方差显著大于其他季节,季气温的气候噪声方差则随着季节气温的减小而增加,空间上春、冬季由东往西减小而夏、秋季由南往北增加;冬季气温的气候噪声方差显著大于其他季节;（2）云南季降水量和季气温的潜在可预报性同样具有显著的季节变化和空间变化,云南春季的降水量和气温的潜在可预报性均显著大于其他季节,夏季降水量和气温的潜在可预报性均较其他三个季节小;春、秋季降水量潜在可预报性西部大于东部,夏季北部大于南部,冬季则是南部大于北部,云南季气温除夏季外均是西部大于东部。（3）季风和冷空气活动可能对云南地区的季降水量和气温的潜在可预报性有重要影响。