Atmospheric Circumglobal Teleconnection Triggered by Spring Land Thermal Anomalies over West Asia and Its Possible Impacts on Early Summer Climate over Northern China

The Eurasian continent experienced significant warming during the past decades. West Asia is located in an arid/semiarid zone, and its warming amplification has drawn considerable attention. However, the climatic effect of such a warming is not clear yet. In this study, we explored the possible impacts of recent land surface warming over West Asia on the atmospheric general circulation and climate. Results show that abnormal spring land surface warming over West Asia tends to increase precipitation over North China and decrease (increase) precipitation (air temperature) over Northeast China in early summer (June). It is noted that the precipitation anomalies are much stronger over the eastern region of North/Northeast China. Further analysis suggests that abnormal spring land surface warming can trigger eastward-propagating disturbances via diabatic heating, which intensifies the atmospheric circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) pattern, causing anomalous circulation and climate in early summer over northern China. Sensitivity experiments demonstrate that abnormal spring land surface warming can increase the atmospheric baroclinic instability and trigger Rossby waves that propagate along the westerly jet stream (WJS), resulting in the formation of CGT. Due to persistent land surface thermal forcing and the interaction between the basic flow (especially the WJS) and CGT, the CGT tends to be intensified. The anomalous wave center over East Asia in early summer is responsible for the precipitation increases (decreases) over North (Northeast) China and the evident warming in Northeast China. Our results suggest that the spring land surface thermal anomalies over West Asia can be a potential signal for short-term prediction of early summer climate over northern China.

Automated summary

The recent land surface warming over West Asia can impact the atmospheric general circulation and climate over northern China, with abnormal spring warming leading to precipitation changes in different regions of China in early summer.