Large-Scale Pattern of the Diurnal Temperature Range Changes over East Asia and Australia in Boreal Winter: A Perspective of Atmospheric Circulation

Abstract

The present study applies the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) method to investigate the large-scale pattern and the plausible dynamic processes of the boreal winter diurnal temperature range (DTR) changes in the East Asia (EA)–Australia (AUS) region based on the CRU Time Series version 4.00 (TS4.00) and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis datasets. Results show that the DTR changes during 1948–2015 are dominated by two distinct modes. The first mode, characterized by a same-sign variation over most regions of EA–AUS, represents a declining trend of DTR. The second mode, featuring an opposite-sign variation, represents the interannual variations in DTR. The two modes are both closely associated with the changes in cloud cover (CLT) caused by atmospheric circulation anomalies in EA–AUS. For the trend mode, anomalous southerly and northerly winds over EA and AUS, respectively, bring warm and wet air from low latitudes to EA–AUS, inducing an increase in CLT and thereby reducing DTR in most areas of EA–AUS. The changes of circulation are mainly due to the thermodynamic responses of atmosphere to the nonuniform warming in EA–AUS. In addition, the second mode of DTR is largely forced by the ENSO variability. The weakened Walker circulation associated with warm ENSO events triggers a pair of anomalous low-level anticyclones (south and north of the equator) over the western Pacific. The AUS region is under control of the southern anticyclone, thereby reducing the CLT and increasing the DTR in AUS as a result of anomalous descending motion. In contrast, the EA region is controlled by anomalous southerlies to the west of the northern anticyclone. The northward transports of moistures from the warm ocean increase the CLT, reducing DTR in EA.