Abstract
This paper performs a comparative analysis of the spatiotemporal variations of
the statistical characteristics of both atmospheric heatwaves over the land
(AHWs) in eastern China and marine heatwaves (MHWs) in adjacent seas using a
unified heatwave definition. The multi-year average total days and frequency of
MHWs during 1982-2019 were 5 and 2 times higher than those of AHWs,
respectively, while the mean intensities of AHWs and MHWs were unchanged.
The future frequency and duration of AHWs will continue to increase, leading
to a superimposed increase in AHW total days. The decreasing frequency and
increasing duration of MHWs will result in nearly year-round MHWs from 2060.
Under the control of high-pressure systems, clear skies dominate the summer
weather conditions in eastern China and its adjacent seas, which will trigger
heatwaves. Heatwaves in turn can release substantial ocean latent heat.
Enhanced convection and heating will further drive a stronger anticyclone
over the western North Pacific, leading to a stronger and more westwardextending western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH). Moreover, super El
Niño can promote an anomalous WNPSH in decaying summer, which may
cause more serious heatwaves. The multi-year average persons affected by
AHWs (PAHWs) during 1982-2019 were larger in the North China Plain, Yangtze
River Delta, and Sichuan Basin with the regional sum exceeding 3 million. The
future maximum PAHWs under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios will be 3.9
billion in 2076 and 4.7 billion in 2085, respectively. Marine ecosystems like
artificial ranches and coral reefs will be more threatened by longerlasting MHWs.
the statistical characteristics of both atmospheric heatwaves over the land
(AHWs) in eastern China and marine heatwaves (MHWs) in adjacent seas using a
unified heatwave definition. The multi-year average total days and frequency of
MHWs during 1982-2019 were 5 and 2 times higher than those of AHWs,
respectively, while the mean intensities of AHWs and MHWs were unchanged.
The future frequency and duration of AHWs will continue to increase, leading
to a superimposed increase in AHW total days. The decreasing frequency and
increasing duration of MHWs will result in nearly year-round MHWs from 2060.
Under the control of high-pressure systems, clear skies dominate the summer
weather conditions in eastern China and its adjacent seas, which will trigger
heatwaves. Heatwaves in turn can release substantial ocean latent heat.
Enhanced convection and heating will further drive a stronger anticyclone
over the western North Pacific, leading to a stronger and more westwardextending western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH). Moreover, super El
Niño can promote an anomalous WNPSH in decaying summer, which may
cause more serious heatwaves. The multi-year average persons affected by
AHWs (PAHWs) during 1982-2019 were larger in the North China Plain, Yangtze
River Delta, and Sichuan Basin with the regional sum exceeding 3 million. The
future maximum PAHWs under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios will be 3.9
billion in 2076 and 4.7 billion in 2085, respectively. Marine ecosystems like
artificial ranches and coral reefs will be more threatened by longerlasting MHWs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 979391 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Volume | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Sept 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42192562), the National Key R&D Program of China (2019YFA0606701), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41731173 and 42106202), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2021M693242), the Independent Research Project Program of State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography (LTOZZ2102 and LTOZZ2201), and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science through the Netherlands Earth System Science Center (NESSC), and the Innovation Project of Marine Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province (JSZRHYKJ202001).
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Yao, Wang and Zou.
Keywords
- atmospheric heatwaves
- marine heatwaves
- comparative analysis
- rapid changes
- future projections
