Abstract
In this study, the concurrent variation relationships between the East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ) and polar-front jet (PFJ) over the East Asian land mass in the winter season on different timescales are identified and the impacts of the jet concurrent variation patterns on the atmospheric circulation in mid–high latitude regions and climate anomalies in China are examined, using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data and observational data. The major variability modes of the winter upper-level wind field on interannual timescales are characterized by the meridional shift of the PFJ and out-of-phase variation in the intensity of the subtropical jet and PFJ. On subseasonal and synoptic timescales, the concurrent variation relationships can be categorized into four configuration patterns: a strong (weak) subtropical jet accompanied by a weak (strong) PFJ, or a strong (weak) subtropical jet with a strong (weak) PFJ. The out-ofphase variation [i.e., a stronger (weaker) EASJ and weaker (stronger) PFJ] is found to be more common than the inphase variation [i.e., a stronger (weaker) EASJ and stronger (weaker) PFJ]. These concurrent variation relationships represent the integral structure and variation features of the atmospheric general circulation over East Asia, and have significant impacts on the weather and climate. The strong subtropical jet/weak PFJ (weak subtropical jet/strong PFJ) pattern leads to anomalous negative (positive) geopotential height in midlatitude regions and favors cold (warm) conditions, and positive (negative) rainfall anomalies in southern China. For both strong jet configurations, the geopotential height anomaly in the mid–high latitudes shows a northwest–southeast tilted dipole pattern, resulting in northern warm–southern cold temperature anomalies, and positive rainfall anomalies in southern China. For both weak jet situations, positive geopotential height anomalies dominate the East Asian area, and warm conditions occur over most areas in China, corresponding to less negative rainfall anomalies in southern China. The complicated rainfall and temperature anomaly patterns in China can be explained by the concurrent variation relationships between the two jets. A close relationship may exist between the synoptic-scale transient eddy activity (STEA) and the intensity of jet streams, especially for the PFJ. Significantly reduced (strengthened) STEA over the polar-front area is intimately associated with a decreased (increased) intensity of the PFJ.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bengtsson, L., K. I. Hodges, and E. Roeckner, 2006: Storm tracks and climate change. J. Climate, 19, 3518–3543.
Chang, E. K. M., S. Lee, and K. L. Swanson, 2002: Storm track dynamics. J. Climate, 15, 2163–2183.
Cressman, G. P., 1981: Circulations of the West Pacific jet stream. Mon. Wea. Rev., 109, 2450–2463.
Ding, Y. H., 2005: Advanced Synoptic Meteorology. 2nd ed., China Meteorological Press, Beijing, 138–149. (in Chinese)
Gao, S. T., and S. Y. Tao, 1991: The lower layer frontogenesis induced by the acceleration of upper jet stream. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 15, 11–21. (in Chinese)
Gao, Y. X., S. Y. Xu, Q. Y. Guo, et al., 1962: Some Problems about East Asian Monsoon. Science Press, Beijing, 106 pp. (in Chinese)
Hoskins, B. J., and P. J. Valdes, 1990: On the existence of stormtracks. J. Atmos. Sci., 47, 1854–1864.
Hoskins, B. J., and K. I. Hodges, 2002: New perspectives on the Northern Hemisphere winter storm tracks. J. Atmos. Sci., 59, 1041–1061.
Huang, D. Q., J. Zhu, Y. C. Zhang, et al., 2014: The different configurations of the East Asian polar front jet and subtropical jet and the associated rainfall anomalies over eastern China in summer. J. Climate, 27, 8205–8220, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00067.1.
Huang, D. Q., J. Zhu, Y. C. Zhang, et al., 2015: The impact of the East Asian subtropical jet and polar front jet on the frequency of spring persistent rainfall over southern China in 1997–2011. J. Climate, 28, 6054–6066, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00641.1.
Kalnay, E., M. Kanamitsu, R. Kistler, et al., 1996: The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 437–471.
Lee, S., and H. K. Kim, 2003: The dynamical relationship between subtropical and eddy-driven jets. J. Atmos. Sc,i. 60, 1490–1503.
Li, L., and Y. C. Zhang, 2014: Effects of different configurations of the East Asian subtropical and polar front jets on precipitation during the Mei-Yu season. J. Climate, 27, 6660–6672, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00021.1.
Liao, Z. J., and Y. C. Zhang, 2013: Concurrent variation between the East Asian subtropical jet and polar front jet during persistent snowstorm period in 2008 winter over southern China. J. Geophys. Res., 118, 6360–6373, doi: 10.1002/jgrd.50558.
Lu, R. Y., Z. D. Lin, and Y. C. Zhang, 2013: Variability of the East Asian upper-tropospheric jet in summer and its impacts on the East Asian monsoon. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 331–340. (in Chinese)
Luo, X., and Y. C. Zhang, 2015: The linkage between upper-level jet streams over East Asia and East Asian winter monsoon variability. J. Climate, 28, 9013–9028, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0160.1.
Mao, R., D. Y. Gong, and Q. M. Fang, 2007: Influences of the East Asian jet stream on winter climate in China. J. Appl. Meteor. Sci., 18, 137–146. (in Chinese)
Palmén, E., and C. W. Newton, 1969: Atmospheric Circulation Systems: Their Structure and Physical Interpretation. Academic Press, New York, 603 pp.
Ren, X. J., and Y. C. Zhang, 2007: Western Pacific jet stream anomalies at 200 hPa in winter associated with oceanic surface heating and transient eddy activity. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 21, 277–289.
Ren, X. J., X. Q. Yang, and C. J. Chu, 2010a: Seasonal variations of the synoptic-scale transient eddy activity and polar front jet over East Asia. J. Climate, 23, 3222–3233.
Ren, X. J., X. Q. Yang, T. J. Zhou, et al., 2010b: Diagnostic comparison of the East Asian subtropical jet and polar-front jet: Large-scale characteristics and transient eddy activities. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 68, 1–11. (in Chinese)
Riehl, H., 1962: Jet Streams of the Atmosphere. Tech. Rep. 32, Colorado, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, 177 pp.
Sheng, C. Y., 1986: Pandect of Climate in China. Science Press, Beijing, 85–89. (in Chinese)
Tao, S. Y., Y. J. Zhao, and X. M. Chen, 1958: The relationship between May-Yü in far east and the behaviour of circulation over Asia. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 29, 119–134. (in Chinese)
Thompson, D. W. J., and J. M. Wallace, 2000: Annular modes in the extratropical circulation. Part I: Month-to-month variability. J. Climate, 13, 1000–1016.
Wang, N., and Y. C. Zhang, 2015: Connections between the Eurasian teleconnection and concurrent variation of upper-level jets over East Asia. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 32, 336–348, doi: 10.1007/s00376-014-4088-1.
Xiao, C. L., and Y. C. Zhang, 2012: The East Asian upper-tropospheric jet streams and associated transient eddy activities simulated by a climate system model BCC_CSM1.1. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 26, 700–716, doi: 10.1007/s13351-012-0603-4.
Xiao, C. L., and Y. C. Zhang, 2015: Projected changes of wintertime synoptic-scale transient eddy activities in the East Asian eddy-driven jet from CMIP5 experiments. Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 6008–6013, doi: 10.1002/2015GL064641.
Xue, D. K., and Y. C. Zhang, 2017: Concurrent variations in the location and intensity of the Asian winter jet streams and the possible mechanism. Climate Dyn., doi: 10.1007/s00382-016-3325-y.
Yang, S., K. M. Lau, and K. M. Kim, 2002: Variations of the East Asian jet stream and Asian–Pacific–American winter climate anomalies. J. Climate, 15, 306–325.
Ye, D., and Y. C. Zhang, 2014: Association of concurrent variation between the East Asian polar front and subtropical jets with winter cold air activity in China. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 38, 146–158, doi: 10.3878/j.issn.1006-9895.2013.13110. (in Chinese)
Ye, D. Z., and B. Z. Zhu, 1958: Some Fundamental Problems on the Atmospheric General Circulation. Science Press, Beijing, 159 pp. (in Chinese)
Ye, D. Z., S. Y. Tao, and M. C. Li, 1958: The abrupt change of circulation over the Northern Hemisphere during June and October. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 29, 249–263. (in Chinese)
Zou, J. S., J. Jiang, and M. H. Wang, 1990: Aeroclimatology. China Meteorological Press, Beijing, 200–212. (in Chinese)
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their insightful and detailed comments and suggestions. We also extend our gratitude to the editors for their efforts in improving this paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41130963 and 41621005) and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Climate Change.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, Y., Chen, J. Characterizing the winter concurrent variation patterns of the subtropical and polar-front jets over East Asia. J Meteorol Res 31, 160–170 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-016-6094-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-016-6094-y