Wang et al. (2026) Sub-seasonal variability of extreme heatwaves in eastern China and its structural linkage to the Tibetan Plateau atmospheric heat source

Identification

• Journal: Weather and Climate Extremes
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-07
• Authors: Meirong Wang, Shuaiyi Li, YU Zhongshui, Zhu Zhu, Jun Wang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wace.2026.100955

Research Groups

• State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management
• Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters
• Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
• International Institute for Earth System Science, Nanjing University
• Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, Fudan University

Short Summary

This study examines the sub-seasonal variability of extreme heatwaves in eastern China and its structural linkage to the Tibetan Plateau atmospheric heat source. The research reveals that the TP AHS exhibits a month-dependent configuration structurally coupled with sub-seasonal heatwaves across eastern China.

Objective

• Investigate the relationship between the Tibetan Plateau atmospheric heat source (TP AHS) and extreme heatwaves in eastern China.
• Examine the sub-seasonal variability of extreme heatwaves in eastern China during summer months.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Eastern China, with a focus on the North China Plain (NCP) and the Yangtze River Valley (YRV).
• Temporal Scale: Summer months (June-August), with a focus on sub-seasonal variability.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Japanese 55-year Reanalysis (JRA-55)
• Data sources: Daily maximum surface air temperature data from the National Meteorological Information Center of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA)

Main Results

• The TP AHS exhibits a month-dependent configuration structurally coupled with sub-seasonal heatwaves across eastern China.
• The NCP and YRV experience distinct sub-seasonal regimes of extreme heatwaves, with June characterized by intense heatwaves in the NCP and July-August (JA) featuring more frequent and intense heatwaves in the YRV.
• The TP AHS is significantly correlated with regional heatwave features, particularly during JA.

Contributions

• This study provides process-level insights into the physical linkages between upstream TP thermal anomalies and downstream thermodynamic extremes.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering sub-seasonal variability when predicting extreme heatwaves in eastern China.

Funding

• National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1507204)
• National Natural Science Foundation of China (41830969, 42075058)

Citation

@article{Wang2026Subseasonal,
  author = {Wang, Meirong and Li, Shuaiyi and Zhongshui, YU and Zhu, Zhu and Wang, Jun},
  title = {Sub-seasonal variability of extreme heatwaves in eastern China and its structural linkage to the Tibetan Plateau atmospheric heat source},
  journal = {Weather and Climate Extremes},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.wace.2026.100955},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2026.100955}
}