Huang et al. (2026) Understanding the stable intensity patterns of extratropical cyclogenesis over East China

Identification

• Journal: Atmospheric Research
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-31
• Authors: Yang Huang, Xiuping Yao
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108973

Research Groups

• Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
• China Meteorological Administration Training Centre, Beijing 100081, China
• State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Meteorological Science and Technology (LaSW), Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
• Shenyang Institute of Atmospheric Environment, China Meteorological Administration, Shenyang 110166, China

Short Summary

This study investigates the stable intensity patterns of extratropical cyclogenesis (EC-genesis) over East China from 1979 to 2022 using ERA5 reanalysis data and moist C-vector diagnosis. It reveals that a counterbalance between decreasing diabatic-driven ascent and increasing adiabatic-driven ascent maintains stable EC-genesis intensity, with a shift in the dominant driving factor from diabatic to adiabatic effects.

Objective

• To understand the stable intensity patterns of extratropical cyclogenesis (EC-genesis) over East China and the underlying mechanisms, particularly the factors driving vertical motion and horizontal convergence.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: East China
• Temporal Scale: 44 years (1979—2022)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Moist C-vector diagnosis; Objective identification method for extratropical cyclogenesis (EC-genesis) using minimum geopotential height at 850 hPa and vertical relative vorticity.
• Data sources: ERA5 reanalysis data

Main Results

• The intensity of EC-genesis in East China has remained stable over the past 44 years (1979-2022), despite a significant decrease in horizontal convergence.
• Ascent motion driven by the diabatic effect decreases between 750 hPa and 350 hPa over the EC-genesis center.
• Ascent motion driven by the adiabatic effect increases in both the upper and lower troposphere within the EC-genesis.
• The stable pattern of EC-genesis intensity is attributed to the counterbalance between decreasing diabatic-driven ascent and increasing adiabatic-driven ascent.
• The dominant factor in EC-genesis has shifted from the diabatic effect to the adiabatic effect.
• Active circulation anomalies lead to stronger frontogenesis and enhance adiabatic effects.
• Moisture outflows at the boundary and lower layers over East China weaken the diabatic effect.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive understanding of the stable intensity patterns of extratropical cyclogenesis over East China using the moist C-vector diagnosis.
• Identifies the shift in the dominant driving factor of EC-genesis from diabatic to adiabatic effects.
• Explains the mechanisms behind these effects, linking them to circulation anomalies, frontogenesis, and moisture transport/outflows.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Huang2026Understanding,
  author = {Huang, Yang and Yao, Xiuping},
  title = {Understanding the stable intensity patterns of extratropical cyclogenesis over East China},
  journal = {Atmospheric Research},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108973},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108973}
}