Close relationship between the East Asian westerly jet and Russian far East surface air temperature in summer

Abstract

The interannual variability of the east asian upper-tropospheric westerly jet (EAJ) in summer is characterized by the meridional displacement of its axis, or a seesaw pattern of zonal wind anomalies between the northern and southern flanks of the EAJ. This study reveals a close relationship between the surface air temperature in the russian far east and the northern flank of the EAJ. Related to a warmer surface in the russian far east, the westerly decelerates in the northern flank of the EAJ. The relationship can be explained by a positive feedback mechanism between the surface air temperature in the russian far east and the overhead circulation: the anticyclonic circulation anomaly related to a weakened westerly in the northern flank of the EAJ induces surface warming in the russian far east and the warmer surface can in turn act as a heat source and induces a local anticyclonic circulation anomaly in the upper troposphere, therefore decelerating the westerly in the northern flank of the EAJ. The result implies that a better description of the summer surface condition in the russian far east may benefit seasonal forecasts of the EAJ and, subsequently, east asian summer climate.

Keywords

• East Asian westerly jet
• surface air temperature
• Russian far East