Zhang et al. (2025) Change of extreme temperatures in the Three-North Region of China and its possible mechanism

Identification

• Journal: Atmospheric Research
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-27
• Authors: Chenwei Zhang, Qinglong You, Zheng Jin, Mingcai Li, Xiufen Li
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108518

Research Groups

• Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences & Key Laboratory of Polar Atmosphere-Ocean-Ice System for Weather and Climate, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
• College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
• Tianjin Institute of Meteorological Science, Tianjin, China
• Agronomy College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China

Short Summary

This study analyzes temperature, extreme temperature events, and land-atmosphere coupling strength in China's Three-North Region from 1961 to 2022, revealing a significant warming trend and increased extreme heat events driven by enhanced land-atmosphere coupling.

Objective

• Analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of temperature, extreme temperature events, and land-atmosphere coupling strength in the Three-North Region of China and its possible mechanisms.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Three-North Region of China (comprising Northwest China, North China, and the western part of Northeast China).
• Temporal Scale: 1961 to 2022.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated for climate modeling; uses the π index to quantify land-atmosphere coupling strength.
• Data sources: CN05.1 gridded dataset, ERA5 reanalysis data.

Main Results

• The Three-North Region has experienced a significant warming trend since 1961, with an average temperature increase rate of approximately 0.28 °C per decade, which is notably higher than the contemporaneous global average of around 0.15 °C per decade.
• The frequency of extreme high-temperature events has markedly increased, leading to a continuous narrowing of the diurnal temperature range.
• The land-atmosphere coupling strength, indicated by the π index, has exhibited a persistent upward trend, closely associated with regional warming and the occurrence of extreme heat events.
• These climate changes are linked to anomalies in atmospheric circulation patterns, which have intensified low-level moisture flux divergence, reduced surface latent heat fluxes, and enhanced sensible heat fluxes.
• Land-atmosphere interaction has triggered a strong local positive feedback mechanism, further amplifying regional warming and the frequency of extreme temperature events.

Contributions

• Provides new perspectives for assessing extreme weather risks in the Three-North Region.
• Identifies enhanced land-atmosphere coupling as a critical driver of climate warming and the intensification of extreme heat events in the Three-North Region.
• Offers valuable insights for understanding extreme weather events in other regions.

Funding

• Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zhang2025Change,
  author = {Zhang, Chenwei and You, Qinglong and Jin, Zheng and Li, Mingcai and Li, Xiufen},
  title = {Change of extreme temperatures in the Three-North Region of China and its possible mechanism},
  journal = {Atmospheric Research},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108518},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108518}
}