Large-Scale Circulation Anomalies Associated with Extreme Heat in South Korea and Southern–Central Japan

Ke Xu State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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Riyu Lu State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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Baek-Jo Kim Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Jeju-do, South Korea

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Jong-Kil Park Department of Environmental Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea
Atmospheric Environment Information Research Center, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea

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Jiangyu Mao State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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Jae-Young Byon Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Jeju-do, South Korea

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Ruidan Chen School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

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Eun-Byul Kim Department of Environmental Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea
Atmospheric Environment Information Research Center, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea

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Abstract

The large-scale circulation anomalies associated with extreme heat (EH) in South Korea and southern–central Japan are examined using data during the time period 1979–2016. Statistical analysis indicates that EH days in these two regions are concentrated in July and August and tend to occur simultaneously. These EH days are therefore combined to explore the physical mechanisms leading to their occurrence. The composite results indicate that the anomalous atmospheric warming during EH days is dominantly caused by a significant subsidence anomaly, which is associated with a deep anomalous anticyclone over East Asia. Further investigation of the evolution of circulation anomalies suggests that the anomalous anticyclone over East Asia related to EH is primarily initiated by wave trains originating from upstream regions, which propagate eastward along the Asian westerly jet in the upper troposphere. These wave trains can be categorized into two types that are characterized by the precursor anticyclonic and cyclonic anomalies, respectively, over central Asia. The distinction between these two types of wave train can be explained by the wavenumbers of the Rossby waves, which are modulated by both the intensity and the shape of the Asian westerly jet as the background basic flow.

© 2019 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

g Current affiliation: R&D Innovation Center, National Disaster Management Research Institute, Ulsan, South Korea.

Corresponding author: Ke Xu, xuke@mail.iap.ac.cn

Abstract

The large-scale circulation anomalies associated with extreme heat (EH) in South Korea and southern–central Japan are examined using data during the time period 1979–2016. Statistical analysis indicates that EH days in these two regions are concentrated in July and August and tend to occur simultaneously. These EH days are therefore combined to explore the physical mechanisms leading to their occurrence. The composite results indicate that the anomalous atmospheric warming during EH days is dominantly caused by a significant subsidence anomaly, which is associated with a deep anomalous anticyclone over East Asia. Further investigation of the evolution of circulation anomalies suggests that the anomalous anticyclone over East Asia related to EH is primarily initiated by wave trains originating from upstream regions, which propagate eastward along the Asian westerly jet in the upper troposphere. These wave trains can be categorized into two types that are characterized by the precursor anticyclonic and cyclonic anomalies, respectively, over central Asia. The distinction between these two types of wave train can be explained by the wavenumbers of the Rossby waves, which are modulated by both the intensity and the shape of the Asian westerly jet as the background basic flow.

© 2019 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

g Current affiliation: R&D Innovation Center, National Disaster Management Research Institute, Ulsan, South Korea.

Corresponding author: Ke Xu, xuke@mail.iap.ac.cn
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