In-Phase Variations of Spring and Summer Droughts over Northeast China and Their Relationship with the North Atlantic Oscillation

Abstract

Abstract Analyses of the standardized precipitation evaporation index (SPEI), using the season-reliant empirical orthogonal function (S-EOF) method, indicate that the second leading mode of drought over Northeast China features an in-phase variation from spring to summer. Such an in-phase change is closely connected to the persistence of geopotential height anomalies around Lake Baikal. The positive height anomalies around Lake Baikal, with an equivalent barotropic structure in the troposphere, can decrease water vapor transport into Northeast China and induce anomalous descending motion over Northeast China during both seasons, favoring precipitation deficit and high temperature in situ and hence resulting in the synchronous variations of spring and summer droughts. Further investigation reveals that the spring North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) plays a notable role in the in-phase change of spring–summer droughts over Northeast China. The positive phase of spring NAO could induce spring drought over Northeast China directly through its influence on the above atmospheric circulations via a zonal wave train emanating from the North Atlantic. Meanwhile, it can also increase the soil moisture in central Siberia by enhancing the local snow depth. The wetter soil moisture in the following summer, in turn, increases the meridional temperature gradient between the middle and high latitudes and then forces westerly anomalies around 60°N, consequently yielding positive height anomalies around Lake Baikal that favor the occurrence of summer drought over Northeast China. Therefore, the spring NAO is hypothesized to contribute to the in-phase variations of spring–summer droughts over Northeast China through the combined roles of zonal wave train and central Siberian soil moisture. Significance Statement Northeast China suffers from frequent droughts severely in recent decades. Thus, it is urgent to understand the physical mechanisms of drought in Northeast China. Using the season-reliant empirical orthogonal function (S-EOF) analysis, this study indicates that the second mode of S-EOF shows an in-phase change of drought from spring to summer over Northeast China, which is associated with the persistence of geopotential height anomalies around Lake Baikal. Our study further reveals that the spring NAO plays a pronounced role in the in-phase change of spring–summer droughts over Northeast China, through the combined roles of zonal wave train and the soil moisture in the central Siberian plateau. These findings are encouraging for better understanding of drought in Northeast China and are also important for disaster prevention and mitigation.