Changes of climate extremes of temperature and precipitation in summer in eastern China associated with changes in atmospheric circulation in East Asia during 1960-2008

Abstract

Climate extremes and changes in eastern China are closely related to variations of the East Asian summer monsoon and corresponding atmospheric circulations. The relationship between frequencies of temperature and precipitation extremes in China during the last half century is investigated using Singular Value Decomposition analysis. During 1980-1996, there was a typical pattern with fewer hot days and more precipitation extremes in the northern part of eastern China, and more hot days and fewer precipitation extremes in the southern part. This geographic pattern tended to reverse after 1997, with fewer hot days and more extreme precipitation days south of the Yangtze River and vice versa to the north. Differences in atmospheric circulation between the former and latter periods are presented. We conclude that a mid-level anomalous high/low, upper-level anomalous easterlies/westerlies over the north/south of eastern China, a weakened East Asian summer monsoon and associated upper-tropospheric center of cooling (30°N, 110°E) are all favorable for the changes in frequencies of temperature and precipitation extremes. © 2012 The Author(s).