Ding et al. (2025) Dual Synoptic Pathways of Winter Extreme Precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau: Classification, Moisture Origin, and Rossby Wave Activity

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Identification

• Journal: Journal of Climate
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-15
• Authors: Zhiyuan Ding, Yao Ha, Yijia Hu, Yimin Zhu, Haixia Dai, Zhong Zhong
• DOI: 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0151.1

Research Groups

[Not specified in the abstract]

Short Summary

This study identified two distinct types of winter extreme precipitation events over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) between 1980 and 2020, driven by different hemispheric-scale Rossby wave trains, with Type 2 events showing a significant increase in frequency while Type 1 events declined.

Objective

• To investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics and governing mechanisms of winter extreme precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau (TP).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (Tibetan Plateau, western/eastern southern slope, western TP) to Hemispheric (Rossby wave trains originating over western North America, midlatitude Rossby wave train along 40°N).
• Temporal Scale: Multi-decadal (1980–2020, 41 years), analyzing long-term trend changes and recent decades.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Spectral clustering analysis.
• Data sources: 192 regional extreme precipitation events (REPEs) during 1980–2020.

Main Results

• Two distinct synoptic categories of winter extreme precipitation events (REPEs) were identified over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) using spectral clustering analysis based on 192 events from 1980–2020.
• Type 1 REPEs (68.23%, 131 events) are characterized by precipitation centers over the western and eastern parts of the southern slope of the TP. These events are driven by a Rossby wave train from western North America, inducing equivalently barotropic cyclonic anomalies, enhanced ascending motions, and anomalous moisture convergence along the southern TP slopes. Their occurrence frequency has declined.
• Type 2 REPEs (31.77%, 61 events) feature precipitation centers in the western TP. They are governed by a midlatitude Rossby wave train along 40°N, generating an anomalous cyclonic–anticyclonic dipole southwest and southeast of the TP, which triggers ascent and convection over the western TP, with moisture concentrated there. Their occurrence frequency has significantly increased in recent decades.

Contributions

• Advances the understanding of Tibetan Plateau extreme precipitation variability and its teleconnection drivers.
• Highlights the crucial role of hemispheric-scale wave trains in modulating regional climate extremes.

Funding

[Not specified in the abstract]

Citation

@article{Ding2025Dual,
  author = {Ding, Zhiyuan and Ha, Yao and Hu, Yijia and Zhu, Yimin and Dai, Haixia and Zhong, Zhong},
  title = {Dual Synoptic Pathways of Winter Extreme Precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau: Classification, Moisture Origin, and Rossby Wave Activity},
  journal = {Journal of Climate},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1175/jcli-d-25-0151.1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1175/jcli-d-25-0151.1}
}