Synoptic reasons for heavy snowfalls in the Polish – German lowlands

Summary Daily circulation patterns responsible for heavy snowfalls in the Polish – German lowlands were analysed. Composite maps of sea level pressure (SLP) and 500 hPa geopotential height means and anomalies were constructed for the days with an increase in snow cover depth by ≥5 cm. Contour maps show negative anomalies of SLP and 500 hPa level over central Europe, indicating a low pressure system. Strong positive anomalies of SLP appear over Scandinavia and the northern Atlantic with the centre of positive anomalies located over Iceland. Weaker negative anomalies are observed in the Azores region. This confirms the strong negative correlation between snow cover appearance and the North Atlantic Oscillation index in Europe. The days with heavy snowfalls were clustered using the Ward’s method. Three types of circulation patterns were distinguished, each of them characterised by a low pressure system over central Europe. Type 3 represents the northern position of the low with its centre over the Baltic Sea, Type 2 shows the southern position of the low with its centre over the Adriatic and the Ionic Sea and Type 1 represents the low location between the two previous patterns with a wide meridional trough over the Atlantic. Author’s address: Ewa Bednorz, Institute of Physical Geography and Environmental Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznań, Poland.     

春季欧亚大陆积雪对春夏季南北半球大气质量交换的可能影响

本文基于春季欧亚雪盖资料与大气再分析资料的奇异值分解(SVD)分析结果,结合数值试验,研究了春季欧亚大陆积雪变化与春、夏季南北半球大气质量交换的联系。研究表明,当春季欧亚积雪异常偏多时,同期欧亚大陆中高纬大范围地区的地面气温异常偏低,这种冷却效应可能持续至夏季,同时,冷空气的堆积造成了欧亚大陆地表气压(气柱大气质量)的增加,并且对应了夏季北半球大气总质量的异常上升,而南半球大气质量却明显下降。分析发现,春季欧亚积雪异常与夏季南北半球际大气质量涛动存在显著的滞后相关,而且前者还与同期及后期包括索马里急流和对流层上部80°E~120°E区域高空急流在内的多处越赤道气流变化联系密切。从数值模拟结果分析发现,以改变春季初始积雪状况作为驱动,欧亚大陆中高纬地区的低层大气环流出现了显著响应,即当积雪增加时,同期及其后夏季地面气温显著降低,并且冷异常区域对应着气柱质量的异常升高。     

前冬北半球环状模对春季中国东部北方地区极端低温的影响

对1959—2008年前冬(12—3月)北半球环状模与春季(3—5月)中国东部北方地区极端低温事件的关系进行诊断分析,发现前冬北半球环状模与春季中国东部北方地区极端低温事件存在显著负相关。当前冬北半球环状模偏强时,春季中国东部北方地区上空对流层高、低层分别出现位势高度的负、正异常,对应异常的下沉增温,东北冷涡偏弱,极端低温事件发生频次偏少,强度偏弱;反之,当前冬北半球环状模偏弱时,春季该地区极端低温事件发生的频次偏多,强度偏强。进一步研究表明,欧亚雪盖在前冬北半球环状模对春季中国东部北方地区极端低温的影响中起到潜在的桥梁作用,当前冬北半球环状模偏强(偏弱)时,同期欧亚大陆中高纬度地区偏暖(偏冷),欧亚雪盖面积较小(较大)。另外,欧亚雪盖面积异常具有较强的持续性,可以从前冬持续到春季。因此,当前冬欧亚雪盖面积较小时,春季欧亚雪盖面积也偏小,且对应春季东北冷涡强度偏弱,中国东部北方地区地表气温偏高,极端低温事件发生的频次偏少,强度偏弱;反之亦然。前冬北半球环状模与春季中国东部北方地区极端低温事件的负相关关系为预测中国东部北方地区春季极端低温事件的变化提供了一个潜在的前期信号。     

Influence of October Eurasian Snow on Winter Temperature over Northeast China

This paper addresses the interannual variation of winter air temperature over Northeast China and its connection to preceding Eurasian snow cover.The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between October Eurasian snow cover and following-winter air temperature over Northeast China.The snow cover located in eastern Siberia and to the northeast of Lake Baikal plays an important role in the winter air temperature anomaly.More(less)eastern Siberia snow in October can cause an atmospheric circulation anomaly pattern in which the atmospheric pressure is higher(lower)than normal in the polar region and lower(higher)in the northern mid-high latitudes.Due to the persistence of the eastern Siberia snow from October to the following winter,the winter atmospheric anomaly is favorable(unfavorable)to the widespread movement of cold air masses from the polar region toward the northern mid-high latitudes and,hence,lower(higher)temperature over Northeast China.Simultaneously,when the October snow cover is more(less),the SST in the northwestern Pacific is continuously lower(higher)as a whole; then,the Aleutian low and the East Asia trough are reinforced(weakened),favoring the lower(higher)temperature over Northeast China.     

为什么NCEP-CFSv2模式对11月西伯利亚高压强度的预测性能较好

作为东亚冬季风的关键系统,西伯利亚高压的变化对欧亚大陆冬季天气及气候异常产生重要影响。本文系统地评估了美国国家环境预测中心第二代气候预测系统（NCEP-CFSv2,National Center for Environment Prediction-Climate Forecast System, version 2）对冬半年（11～2月）及逐月西伯利亚高压强度的预测效能。结果表明,NCEP-CFSv2模式仅对11月西伯利亚高压强度的预测效能较好,研究其成因发现11月西伯利亚高压强度主要受该地区热力、动力过程以及西伯利亚地区积雪状况的影响。在热力过程方面,NCEP-CFSv2模式可以较好地再现11月西伯利亚高压强度及其相联的该地区表层土壤温度、对外长波辐射等热力因素;在动力过程方面,模式能较好地再现11月西伯利亚高压强度及其相联的该地区对流层低层辐散环流、中高层下沉运动;同时,模式也能较好地再现11月西伯利亚高压强度与该地区积雪覆盖率之间的相互作用。因此,与11月西伯利亚高压相联的热力、动力过程和该地区积雪状况可能是11月西伯利亚高压强度的可预测来源,且NCEP-CFSv2模式能较好地再现这些可预测来源。     

An exceptionally heavy snowfall in Northeast china: large-scale circulation anomalies and hindcast of the NCAR WRF model

In Northeast China (NEC), snowfalls usually occur during winter and early spring, from mid-October to late March, and strong snowfalls rarely occur in middle spring. During 12?C13 April 2010, an exceptionally strong snowfall occurred in NEC, with 26.8?mm of accumulated water-equivalent snow over Harbin, the capital of the most eastern province in NEC. In this study, the major features of the snowfall and associated large-scale circulation and the predictability of the snowfall are analyzed using both observations and models. The Siberia High intensified and shifted southeastward from 10?days before the snowfall, resulting in intensifying the low-pressure system over NEC and strengthening the East Asian Trough during 12?C13 April. Therefore, large convergence of water vapor and strong rising motion appeared over eastern NEC, resulting in heavy snowfall. Hindcast experiments were carried out using the NCAR Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in a two-way nesting approach, forced by NCEP Global Forecast System data sets. Many observed features including the large-scale and regional circulation anomalies and snowfall amount can be reproduced reasonably well, suggesting the feasibility of the WRF model in forecasting extreme weather events over NEC. A quantitative analysis also shows that the nested NEC domain simulation is even better than mother domain simulation in simulating the snowfall amount and spatial distribution, and that both simulations are more skillful than the NCEP Global Forecast System output. The forecast result from the nested forecast system is very promising for an operational purpose.     

冬半年欧亚雪盖变化对东亚环流的影响

对１９７３～１９９４年期间欧亚雪盖和东亚５００ｈＰａ高度距平资料进行旋转扩展主成分分析,研究了冬半年欧亚雪盖异常与后期夏半年东亚环流分布连续演变的关系及其可能机制。结果表明前期秋冬春季欧洲、中亚和东亚中高纬雪盖异常不同的动态变化激发出具有不同持续性的东亚低频流型,而夏半年东亚副热带环流纬向扩展型演变与前期冬半年欧亚雪盖异常无关。     

青藏高原冬春积雪异常与中国东部地区夏季降水关系的进一步分析

为了进一步分析青藏高原(下称高原)冬春积雪异常与中国东部地区夏季降水的关系,利用1957～1994年高原地区的实测雪深、1951～1994年6～8月中国东部地区226个均匀分布测站的实测月降水量,以及美国国家环境监测中心/国家大气研究中心(NCEP/NCAR)1958～1994年1～12月的再分析格点值资料,对比分析了高原冬、春季多、少雪年后期中国东部地区夏季(6～8月)降水分布和环流的平均特征,也分析了高原积雪影响的机理.分析结果表明:1) 平均来说,多雪年夏季长江及江南北部降水可偏多1～2成,华北和华南的降水则偏少1～3成;少雪年夏季江淮流域及湘、黔地区少雨,华北和华南多雨.2)高原冬、春积雪不仅影响了后期高原的热状况,而且影响了后期东亚大气环流的季节变化和南亚与东亚的夏季风环流.     

中国冬季气温月际变化特征及其对大气环流异常的响应

基于1951—2014年中国160站月气温和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,利用季节的经验正交函数分解（S-EOF）等方法,研究了中国冬季气温月际变化的时、空演变特征及其对大气环流异常的响应。结果表明,中国冬季气温在月尺度上常常出现前、后冬相反甚至冷暖交替的现象。中国冬季气温月际变化存在3个主模态:全冬一致型、前后反相型和冷暖交替型。当西伯利亚高压冬季一致偏强（偏弱）时,冬季一致冷（暖）;当海陆热力差异由强变弱、西伯利亚高压强度由强变弱,东亚西风急流比较稳定,强度偏强,位置由南向北移动时,冬季前冷后暖;当大气环流发生突变,尤其是海平面气压场和500 hPa位势高度场上大气活动中心的频繁调整,西伯利亚高压强度在月时间尺度上强弱交替时,冬季气温呈冷—暖—冷交替变化。      

Occurrence of winter air temperature extremes in Central Spitsbergen

The occurrence of daily air temperature extremes in winter in Central Spitsbergen in the period 1975–2008 was analysed. The mean winter temperature was found to be increasing by approximately 1.65°C per decade. Negative extremes were becoming less frequent, decreasing at a rate of approximately 5 days per decade, whereas the frequency of positive extremes showed a small (2 days per decade) but insignificant positive trend. Furthermore, circulation patterns responsible for positive and negative temperature extremes were analysed. Composite maps of the sea level pressure (SLP) and 500-hPa geopotential heights (z500 hPa) means and anomalies were constructed for the days with positive and negative extremes. Circulation patterns causing extremely warm winter days are characterised by a cyclonic centre or a low pressure trough over the Fram Strait. Cyclones located west of Spitsbergen with a warm sector over the archipelago bring warm air masses from the southern quadrant. On extremely cold days, the cyclone centres are usually located over the Barents Sea. This SLP pattern implies airflow from the north and northeast that brings cold Arctic air to the North Atlantic. Another factor in the occurrence of the temperature extremes in Central Spitsbergen is the sea-ice cover. Negative temperature extremes usually occur together with a high concentration of sea ice, particularly in the middle and end of winter.     

The Oscillation between Tropical Indian Ocean and North Pacific:Evidence and Possible Impact on Winter Climate in China

This paper provides evidence that the variation of boreal winter sea level pressure (SLP) over the North Pacific is out-of-phase with SLP fluctuation over the tropical Indian Ocean on both the interdecadal and interannual time scales.Subsequently,a SLP between tropical Indian Ocean and North Pacific (TIO-NP) oscillation index is defined to indicate the variation of such out-of-phase fluctuation.Moreover,the simultaneous surface air temperature and precipitation anomalies in China are closely related to TIO-NP oscillations.Below-normal surface air temperature anomalies in the northern and the eastern part of China,and less rainfall in southern China,correspond to positive TIO-NP oscillation phase with negative SLP anomalies in tropical Indian Ocean and positive anomalies in North Pacific.The TIO-NP oscillation affects China’s winter climate anomalies,possibly through modulating the northeast East Asia winter monsoon.     

青藏高原冬春季积雪异常对中国春夏季降水的影响

利用1956年12月～1998年12月共42a，青藏高原及其附近地区78个积雪观测站的雪深和我国160站月降水的距平资料，分析了其气候特征，并用SVD方法分析了冬春季积雪异常与春夏季我国降水异常的关系。用区域气候模式RegCM2模拟了青藏高原积雪异常的气候效应并检验了诊断分析的结果。分析表明，雪深异常，尤其是冬季雪深异常是影响中国降水的一个因子。研究证明，高原冬季雪深异常对后期中国区域降水的影响比春季雪深异常的影响更为重要。数值模拟的结果表明，高原雪深和雪盖的正异常推迟了东亚夏季风的爆发日期，减弱了季风强度，造成华南和华北降水减少，而长江和淮河流域降水增加。冬季雪深异常比冬季雪盖异常和春季雪深异常对降水的影响更为显著。机理分析指出，高原及其邻近地区的积雪异常首先通过融雪改变土壤湿度和地表温度，从而改变了地面到大气的热量、水汽和辐射通量。由此所引起的大气环流变化又反过来影响下垫面的特征和通量输送。在湿土壤和大气之间，这样一种长时间的相互作用是造成后期气候变化的关键过程。与干土壤和大气的相互作用过程有本质差别。     

Respective influences of IOD and ENSO on the Tibetan snow cover in early winter

Using reanalysis data and snow cover data derived from satellite observations, respective influences of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the Tibetan snow cover in early winter are investigated. It is found that the snow cover shows a significant positive partial correlation with IOD. In the pure positive IOD years with no co-occurrences of El Niño, negative geopotential height anomalies north of India are associated with warm and humid southwesterlies to enter the plateau from the Bay of Bengal after rounding cyclonically and supply more moisture. This leads to more precipitation, more snow cover, and resultant lower surface temperature over the plateau. These negative geopotential height anomalies north of India are related to the equivalent barotropic stationary Rossby waves in the South Asian wave guide. The waves can be generated by the IOD-related convection anomalies over the western/central Indian Ocean. In contrast, in the pure El Niño years with no co-occurrences of the positive IOD, the anomalies of moisture supply and surface temperature over the plateau are insignificant, suggesting negligible influences of ENSO on the early winter Tibetan snow cover. Further analyses show that ENSO is irrelevant to the spring/early summer Tibetan snow cover either, whereas the IOD-induced snow cover anomalies can persist long from the early winter to the subsequent early summer.     

北极海冰的厚度和面积变化对大气环流影响的数值模拟

文中利用中国科学院大气物理研究所设计的两层大气环流模式 ,模拟研究了北极海冰厚度和面积变化对大气环流的影响 ,尤其是对东亚区域气候变化的影响。模式中海冰厚度处理趋于合理分布 ,导致东亚冬、夏季风偏强 ,使冬季西伯利亚高压和冰岛低压的模拟结果更趋合理 ;另一方面 ,海冰厚度变化可以激发出跨越欧亚大陆的行星波传播 ,在低纬度地区 ,该行星波由西太平洋向东太平洋地区传播 ;海冰厚度变化对低纬度地区的对流活动也有影响。冬季北极巴伦支海海冰变化对后期大气环流也有显著的影响。数值模拟结果表明 :冬季巴伦支海海冰偏多 (少 )时 ,春季 (4～ 6月 )北太平洋中部海平面气压升高 (降低 ) ,阿留申低压减弱 (加深 ) ,有利于春季白令海海冰偏少 (多 ) ;而夏季 ,亚洲大陆热低压加深 (减弱 ) ,5 0 0 h Pa西太平洋副热带高压位置偏北 (南 )、强度偏强 (弱 ) ,东亚夏季风易偏强 (弱 )。     

青藏高原冬春季雪盖对东亚夏季大气环流影响的研究

通过分析青藏高原积雪的基本特征，指出高原冬春季雪盖在东亚夏季气候形成与异常中的重要作用，同时分别总结了高原冬春季积雪对东亚夏季大气环流影响的诊断研究和数值试验进展，提出了高原冬春季雪盖对气候影响的可能机制。     

春夏季青藏高原积雪对中国夏末秋初 降水的影响及其可能机制

本文首先利用最大协方差分析方法,探讨青藏高原积雪与中国降水之间的联系,发现中国夏末秋初（8～10月,简称ASO）降水与前期及同期高原积雪有着显著联系,当春夏季青藏高原西部多雪时,其后ASO中国长江及其以南地区多雨,而东部沿海的狭长区域少雨。进一步引入最大响应估计等方法,研究中国区域降水对高原积雪异常的响应及其可能的物理机制,结果表明,冬春季高原多雪异常可持续到夏季,并通过改变地表热力状况,导致ASO南亚高压减弱,同时在高、低空激发出两支波列:高层200 hPa波列沿中高纬西风急流传播,自高原经蒙古到达日本呈现明显的“负—正—负”位势高度异常传播,日本上空为气旋性异常环流;低层850 hPa波列起于高原,经孟加拉湾至中国南海,沿着西南气流传播,导致台湾附近的反气旋性异常环流,其西侧的偏南气流,将南海丰富的水汽输送至中国南部湖南、广西;而高层中心位于日本的气旋性异常环流西侧的偏北气流利于北方天气尺度扰动向南移动,它们为长江中下游及其以南地区多雨提供了有利条件。进一步计算定常波波数也表明,高层西风急流与低层西南季风气流作为波导,有利于高原上空的扰动沿着高、低空2支通道向东传播。由于东部沿海浙江、福建为正位势高度异常区,低层反气旋性异常环流则抑制了该区域的降水。     

广西重大低温雨雪冰冻过程500 hPa信号场异常特征分析

利用500 hPa高度和温度信号场合成图的检验方法,分析了排名前40次广西重大低温雨雪冰冻过程的环流异常特征,研究结果表明:(1)利用冷湿指数定义这种方法选取过程具备对广西重大低温雨雪冰冻的影响程度进行评估的功能。(2)40个个例绝大部分过程500 hPa高度和温度信号场都有强的面积和强信号反应,正异常的表现更为突出。正异常一般表现的是高度场上的正值系统,也就是脊区,冬季高纬脊区发展通常配合冷平流的加强,冷空气堆积是广西持续低温雨雪冰冻过程出现的关键。(3)通过分析500 hPa高度信号场发现:乌拉尔山脊及前侧的横槽,贝加尔湖脊及前侧的东北横槽,及我国西北新疆一带不断分裂的小槽是广西产生低温雨雪冰冻天气的关键区域和关键因子。     

Seasonal stability of snow cover in Poland in relation to the atmospheric circulation

The seasonal stability of snow cover (ISS) was defined as a percentage ratio of the real and the potential snow cover duration in a winter season. Main results of the study are as follows: (1) alternately occurring periods of high and low values of the index of snow cover stability did not appeared simultaneously in mountainous and non-mountainous areas; (2) in the majority of Poland area both zonal and meridional components of the atmospheric circulation influence the ISS; however, in south the meridional air flow reveals the stronger impact, mostly due to the intensification of the southern advection by the foehn effect; and (3) changes of two or three indices describing atmospheric circulation explain up to 50 % of the ISS in Poland. The diminishing stability of snow cover in Poland corresponds with an increasing intensity of the advection from the western sector in winter in the second half of the twentieth century in Europe.     

EFFECTS OF VARIATION OF WINTER SEA-ICE AREA IN KARA AND BARENTS SEAS ON EAST ASIA WINTER MONSOON

By analyzing the observation data and performing the numerical simulation tests,it is shownthat the Kara and the Barents Sea area is a key region to influence climate variation over theNorthern Hemisphere.The variation of winter sea-ice area in the key region is closely associatedwith that of the EU teleconnection pattern at 500 hPa and East Asia winter monsoon(EAWM)intensity.When a heavy sea-ice prevails in the key region,the EU teleconnection pattern at 500hPa is excited easily(there are positive 500 hPa height anomalies over around Japan and WestEurope),and winter Siberia high is weakened,meanwhile,sea level pressure(SLP)has positiveanomalies over the Northern Pacific.Therefore,EAWM will be weakened,winter temperatureover East Asia is above normal and the frequency of cold-air activity in February in China will bedecreased.When the light sea-ice occurs in the key region,the results will be opposite.     

青藏高原冬春季雪盖对东亚夏季大气环流影响的数值试验

利用ＩＡＰ２－ＬＡＧＣＭ进行了青藏高原冬春季雪盖异常对东亚夏季大气环流、加热场和降水影响的数值试验。结果表明，该影响十分显著，持续性很强。当高原冬春季雪盖异常增厚、范围扩大时，夏季（ＪＪＡ）高原地区及我国北方５００ｈＰａ位势高度降低，南方变高，西太平洋副高减弱。大气对雪盖异常的响应呈明显的波列特征。我国北方大部地区土壤温度降低，南方土壤温度升高。夏季各月降水异常分布形势并不完全一致，但与同期５００ｈＰａ高度场异常分布形势有关。