Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
Volume 29, Issue 14, Pages 2191-2196Publisher
JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD
DOI: 10.1002/joc.1859
Keywords
snow disaster; La Nina; East Asia winter monsoon
Categories
Funding
- NSF of China [40805027]
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The unprecedented snow disaster in January 2008 brought serious human and economic losses to China. It has been suggested that the La Nina event is the principal cause. But analysis indicates that in December 2007, the circulation patterns in the tropical regions are quite similar with those in January 2008. In contrast large differences existed at high latitudes, especially the Siberia high (SH) and the north polar vortex (NPV). The differences can also be found between other extreme heavy and light snow years. In the extreme heavy (light) snow years, the SH is stronger (weaker) and the NPV is deeper (shallower). But these extreme snow events don't correspond to ENSO events well. Statistical results also indicate that both the SH and the NPV are independent of ENSO. So, rather than the La Nina event, the abnormal circulations at the high latitudes may play a more crucial role in making this snow disaster. Copyright (C) 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
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