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Meat production and consumption are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions and other aspects of environmental degradation. It is the aim of this paper to explore red meat in the configuration of main meals eaten out in England across types and styles of cuisine, and to consider the implications for transition towards less resource intensive ways of eating in the future. We show that the odds ratio of eating a dish without red meat is significantly lower in North American/European and Near/Middle Eastern cuisines compared with East Asian (with no difference between South and East Asian), that women are more likely than men to eat fish and poultry (with no gender differences in vegetarian dishes), that Prestonians are the least likely to select a vegetarian dish, compared with people in London and Bristol, and that the odds of a vegetarian dish compared with red meat is higher amongst managerial workers compared with the routine manual workers (with no other statistically significant class differences). We suggest the term "translated cuisine" to refer cuisines that travel and become incorporated into the palate of the new food culture, and discuss how this could play a role in transitions towards less meat‐centred patterns of food consumption in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two new pollen records and quantitative climate reconstructions from northern Chukotka documenting environmental changes over the last 27.9 ka. Open tundra‐ and steppe‐like habitats dominated between 27.9 and 18.7 cal. ka BP. Betula and Alnus shrubs might have grown in sheltered microhabitats but disappeared after 18.7 cal. ka BP. Although the climate was rather harsh, local herb‐dominated communities supported herbivores as is evident by the presence of coprophilous spores in the sediments. The increase in Salix and Cyperaceae ~16.1 cal. ka BP suggests climate amelioration. Shrub Betula appeared ~15.9 cal. ka BP, and became dominant after ~15.52 cal. ka BP, whilst typical steppe communities drastically reduced. Very high presence of Botryococcus in the Lateglacial sediments reflects widespread shallow habitats, probably due to lake level increase. Shrub Alnus became common after ~13 cal. ka BP reflecting further climate amelioration. Simultaneously, herb communities gradually decreased in the vegetation reaching a minimum ~11.8 cal. ka BP. A gradual decrease of algae remains suggests a reduction of shallow‐water habitats. Shrubby and graminoid tundra was dominant ~11.8–11.1 cal. ka BP, later Salix stands significantly decreased. The forest‐tundra ecotone established in the Early Holocene, shortly after 11.1 cal. ka BP. Low contents of green algae in the Early Holocene sediments likely reflect deeper aquatic conditions. The most favourable climate conditions were between ~10.6 and 7 cal. ka BP. Vegetation became similar to the modern after ~7 cal. ka BP but Pinus pumila came to the Ilirney area at about 1.2 cal. ka BP. It is important to emphasize that the study area provided refugia for Betula and Alnus during MIS 2. It is also notable that our records do not reflect evidence of Younger Dryas cooling, which is inconsistent with some regional environmental records but in good accordance with some others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheric moisture transport processes are of great importance to the occurrence and intensity of precipitation extremes. In this paper, we review the linkage between processes, including the large‐scale atmospheric circulation, atmospheric moisture transport, and extreme precipitation events. We first summarize the thermodynamic and dynamic processes and moisture transport trackings for historical precipitation extremes. We then focus on the contribution of three major atmospheric moisture transport pathways, that is, atmospheric rivers, low‐level jets, and tropical cyclones, to the occurrence and intensity of regional precipitation extremes. Studies on large‐scale atmospheric circulation driving water vapor transport for precipitation extremes over East Asia and North America were specifically reviewed for the understanding of physical mechanisms and predictability of moisture transport and extreme precipitation events. We then pay more attention to the effects of global warming on atmospheric moisture transport, and thus regional precipitation extremes from the perspectives of thermodynamic and dynamic changes of the atmosphere. In the end, we summarize future research challenges on the physical mechanisms of atmospheric moisture transport that are associated with regional precipitation extremes, especially under a warming climate. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water ExtremesScience of Water > Hydrological Processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are growing needs to broaden and deepen our multi-faceted understanding of the ecosystems, and the networks of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) can play significant roles in fostering and applying ecosystem studies at regional and global scales. The International LTER Network (ILTER) is organized as a global network of field research sites and scientists to address current ecological issues such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation within a globally changing environment. The ILTER East Asia-Pacific Regional Network (ILTER-EAP) is one of the four constituent ILTER regional networks. Since 1995, ILTER-EAP has been developed to promote data sharing, research collaborations and capability building in the science and to bridge gaps between societal needs and scientific imperatives on concerns in the Asia-Pacific Region. Currently, ILTER-EAP comprises nine formal ILTER members and two associate networks. Their activities involve long-term and multiple-site observations of structural, functional and developmental aspects of ecosystems, data sharing, and bridging society and ecological science. This paper presents a review of the activities of ILTER-EAP, focusing on its: (1) vision and the development following its inception, (2) scientific activities and major outputs related to selected thematic areas, (3) contributions from ILTER-EAP to the international initiatives, and (4) future challenges and opportunities relating to its development and role in facilitating regional and global research collaborations. Accordingly, regional research questions were identified that could be most effectively addressed by opening up a common research platform, integrated data management system and the network science, which is open to all interested parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires emit atmospheric aerosols, affecting climate and air quality. Siberia is a known source region of wildfires. However, comprehensive knowledge regarding the impact associated with particulate matter pollution due to Siberian wildfires on climate and air quality and their effects on mortality and the economy under present and near‐future warmer atmospheric conditions remains poor. Thus, we performed model sensitivity experiments (atmospheric model and coupled atmosphere‐ocean model settings) simulating the effects of changing Siberian wildfire emissions under the present and near‐future climate conditions, using the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 5 (MIROC5). Increased Siberian wildfire smoke likely caused a cooling effect in broad areas of the Northern Hemisphere and worsened the air quality near the source and in the downwind region (i.e., East Asia). The more Siberian wildfires occur, the more air pollution is present in those regions, which likely increases mortality and welfare losses there. However, the total impact of changing temperature on the gross domestic product under present and near‐future climate conditions is ambiguous. Our comprehensive results on the air quality changes due to Siberian wildfires under present and near‐future climate conditions suggest that increased efforts to limit the aerosol impact of Siberian wildfires are crucial to prevent possible excess mortality and economic losses. Plain Language Summary: Comprehensive knowledge of worsening air quality due to increased Siberian wildfires and its impact on climate and economy is needed to assess the impact of such fires both near their source and in the surrounding regions. Therefore, we performed global climate model simulations and analyzed the changing atmospheric aerosol emissions, including a precursor gas, from Siberian wildfires under the present and near‐future climate conditions using the Japanese global climate model called MIROC5. The increased aerosol emissions from Siberian wildfires generated a cooling effect in broad areas of the Northern Hemisphere and worsened the air quality near the source and in the downwind areas of East Asia. The effects we observed are associated with excess mortality and economic welfare losses. Future studies are needed to fully understand and prevent those negative impacts. Key Points: Comprehensive impacts of increasing Siberian wildfires on air quality, climate, and economy were estimated using the MIROC5 climate modelWe observed a cooling effect broadly across the Northern Hemisphere and worsened air quality near wildfire source and downwind regionsThe effects are closely related to lowering achievement rates of PM2.5 environmental standards, excess mortality, and economic losses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on outputs of 28 coupled models from the Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), we show that the response of the Southeast Asian summer monsoon to the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during post‐ENSO summer will likely strengthen in a warmer climate, which can be attributed to concurrently weakened sea‐surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the western equatorial Pacific (WEP). The weakened WEP SSTAs are primarily caused by enhanced latent heat damping due to increased surface wind speed anomalies, which are associated with the eastward shift of the El Niño‐induced anomalous Walker circulation due to El Niño‐like sea surface temperature change in the tropical Pacific under global warming. Besides, the climatological zonal ocean currents will slow down due to the weakening of climatological Walker circulation, which also acts to weaken the WEP SSTAs via reducing the advection of anomalous temperature by the mean current. Plain Language Summary: As an important component of the Asian monsoon system, the Southeast Asian summer monsoon (SEASM) is crucial for the livelihoods of billions of people in East Asia, and is closely connected to a climate phenomenon called El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Understanding how the relationship between SEASM and ENSO will change in the future is important for enhancing our knowledge of climate change in East Asia. Outputs of 28 climate models from the Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project show that ENSO will exert enhanced impacts on the SEASM in a warmer climate. The enhanced influences of ENSO on the monsoon will exacerbate the reduction of rainfall over the western North Pacific during the post‐El Niño summer. We find that such projected changes are mainly caused by weakened warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (SSTAs) in the western equatorial Pacific (WEP). Further analyses indicate that the change in WEP SSTAs can be linked to the El Niño‐like change in climatological SSTs in the tropical Pacific. This study depicts detailed physical processes responsible for the projected changes in ENSO's impacts on the SEASM. Key Points: The effects of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation on the Southeast Asian summer monsoon will strengthen under global warmingThe enhanced El Niño's impacts result from the weakened warm sea‐surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the western equatorial Pacific (WEP)The weakened WEP SST anomalies are related to the eastward shift of anomalous Walker circulation and the slackened mean zonal ocean currents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populations of Eurasian otters Lutra lutra, one of the most widely distributed apex predators in Eurasia, have been depleted mainly since the 1950s. However, a lack of information about their genomic diversity and how they are organized geographically in East Asia severely impedes our ability to monitor and conserve them in particular management units. Here, we re‐sequenced and analyzed 20 otter genomes spanning continental East Asia, including a population at Kinmen, a small island off the Fujian coast, China. The otters form three genetic clusters (one of L. l. lutra in the north and two of L. l. chinensis in the south), which have diverged in the Holocene. These three clusters should be recognized as three conservation management units to monitor and manage independently. The heterozygosity of the East Asian otters is as low as that of the threatened carnivores sequenced. Historical effective population size trajectories inferred from genomic variations suggest that their low genomic diversity could be partially attributed to changes in the climate since the mid‐Pleistocene and anthropogenic intervention since the Holocene. However, no evidence of genetic erosion, mutation load, or high level of inbreeding was detected in the presumably isolated Kinmen Island population. Any future in situ conservation efforts should consider this information for the conservation management units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the comprehensive estimation of regional climate change over East Asia (EA) at the 2 and 3 °C global warming levels (GWLs), the Köppen‐Trewartha climate‐type change is assessed with ensemble regional climate change projections in line with Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)‐EA phase 2. Under the 2 °C (3 °C) GWL, 17.6% (25.2%) of the EA region is expected to undergo major climate‐type changes. Tropical and subtropical climate types will expand northward, accompanied by increasing hydroclimatic intensity. Limiting GWL to 2 °C shows benefits by preventing subtropical‐type expansion around far EA. Desertification over inland regions of EA exhibits scenario dependency. Boreal and tundra climate types over high‐latitude regions will tend to decrease rapidly, especially over the Tibetan Plateau. The results are expected to be a baseline assessment of climate change over EA under the 2 and 3 °C GWLs above the preindustrial level. Plain Language Summary: This paper investigates the Köppen‐Trewartha climate‐type changes over East Asia (EA) at the 2 and 3 °C global warming levels (GWLs) with the ensemble regional climate simulations. Under the 2 °C (3 °C) GWL, 17.6% (25.2%) of the EA region is expected to undergo major climate‐type changes. The result shows increased tropical, subtropical, and desert climate types accompanied by intensification of hydroclimatic stress. In addition, boreal and tundra climate types over high‐latitude regions will tend to decrease rapidly, especially over the Tibetan Plateau under the 2 and 3 °C GWLs. Key Points: Baseline assessment of climate change over East Asia under the 2 and 3 °C global warming is here presentedOf the East Asia region, 17.6% (25.2%) is expected to experience major climate‐type changes under the 2 and 3 °C global warmingThe changes are accompanied by intensified hydroclimatic stress and have statistically significant trends until the end of the 21st century [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated surface concentrations of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can lead to poor air quality and detrimental impacts on human health. These pollutants are also termed Near‐Term Climate Forcers (NTCFs) as they can also influence the Earth's radiative balance on timescales shorter than long‐lived greenhouse gases. Here we use the Earth system model, UKESM1, to simulate the change in surface ozone and PM2.5 concentrations from different NTCF mitigation scenarios, conducted as part of the Aerosol and Chemistry Model Intercomparison Project (AerChemMIP). These are then combined with relative risk estimates and projected changes in population demographics, to estimate the mortality burden attributable to long‐term exposure to ambient air pollution. Scenarios that involve the strong mitigation of air pollutant emissions yield large future benefits to human health (25%), particularly across Asia for black carbon (7%), when compared to the future reference pathway. However, if anthropogenic emissions follow the reference pathway, then impacts to human health worsen over South Asia in the short term (11%) and across Africa (20%) in the longer term. Future climate change impacts on air pollutants can offset some of the health benefits achieved by emission mitigation measures over Europe for PM2.5 and East Asia for ozone. In addition, differences in the future chemical environment over regions are important considerations for mitigation measures to achieve the largest benefit to human health. Future policy measures to mitigate climate warming need to also consider the impact on air quality and human health across different regions to achieve the maximum co‐benefits. Plain Language Summary: Ground level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are two major air pollutants that are associated with adverse effects to human health. In addition, changes in their atmospheric concentrations can also influence the rate of climate change on a timeframe shorter than that for long‐lived greenhouse gases. In this study we use a global Earth system model to simulate the change in concentrations of surface O3 and PM2.5 across numerous future mitigation scenarios, which are then used to quantify the impact on the air pollution health burden. A large reduction in the air pollutant health burden of the population, particularly across Asia, is calculated in scenarios that have large reductions in air pollutant sources. However, impacts on health can increase across large parts of Africa in a scenario where emissions of air pollutants are not reduced. Future climate warming increases the exposure to air pollutants across regions such as Europe and East Asia, with a detrimental impact on human health. Measures to limit future climate warming and improve regional air pollutant health burdens are interconnected and important to consider together when designing future policies. Key Points: Strong mitigation of aerosols and ozone precursors leads to large future benefits to the air pollution health burden, particularly over AsiaFuture climate change can offset the health benefits of a reduced air pollution health burden from emissions mitigation over Europe and East AsiaIt is important to consider future chemical environments when designing measures to maximize benefits to climate, air quality, and health [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface ozone (O3) pollution under global climate change has become one of the top environmental issues. In this study, we focused on the coastal region in Southeast China with relatively low O3 precursor's emissions and complicated synoptic conditions, where the O3 trends and meteorological contributions remain unclear. An increasing trend of O3 concentrations in the cities (0.3–4.6 μg m−3 yr−1) from 2015 to 2020 was observed. Twenty‐three synoptic patterns were clustered based on weather typing method, in which cyclone‐related types and southwesterly type were generally associated with low O3 concentrations, and high O3 levels occurred with anticyclone‐related types. Considering both frequency and intensity of synoptic patterns, reconstructed O3 series captured 46.0%–58.3% of the observed variability. Using Kolmogorov‐Zurbenko filter, an increasing trend of long‐term O3 was found. By implementing the multiple linear regression model between O3 concentrations and meteorological factors, the meteorological contributions to O3 variabilities (44.7%–66.1%) were quantified. The results indicated the meteorological conditions were particularly important in O3 pollution with the reductions of O3 precursor's emissions, among which relative humidity, boundary layer height, solar radiation along with low cloud cover were proved to play important roles. The weakening southwest winds along with more anti‐cyclone systems under climate change could increase surface O3. This study elucidated the crucial meteorological drivers on the O3 variability in relatively clean areas and implied the challenges for local governments to mitigate O3 pollution under global climate change. Plain Language Summary: Ozone (O3) pollution has become one of the top environmental issues in recent years and can be affected not only by O3 precursors (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) but also meteorological condition. Under global climate change, there is a need to deeply understand the impact of meteorological factors on surface O3 concentrations with the decrease of O3 precursors. In this study, we focus on the coast area of Southeast China with relatively low O3 precursors emissions and influenced by the East Asia monsoon. Temporal and spatial variations of O3 concentrations along with the meteorological impacts on O3 variabilities from 2015 to 2020 were analyzed. The results show that the relative meteorological contributions on O3 trends were 44.7%–66.1%. The higher temperature, lower relative humidity, more solar radiation, weakening southwest winds along with more anti‐cyclone systems under climate change could increase surface O3. This study is beneficial to understand different mechanisms of meteorological impacts on O3 variations in the relatively clean areas, and find out the key drivers to cause O3 pollution with the decrease of O3 precursors emissions and climate change. Key Points: Temporal and spatial variations of O3 concentrations in the coastal of southeast China from 2015 to 2020 were analyzedWeather typing was applied to identify the dominant synoptic patterns and related meteorological factors lead on high O3 concentrationThe contributions of synoptic patterns and meteorological factors on long‐term O3 trends were quantified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid‐latitudes, the strongly meandering jet stream has contributed to worldwide weather patterns and climate variations. However, the shape variations of the jet and its climatic impacts remain unclear. In this study, we introduced an ellipse‐fitting technique to fit the high‐value wind speeds and identified the location, shape, and strength variations of the winter‐averaged North Pacific jet (NPJ). Particularly, this method has the advantage of objectively detecting the shape variations of the NPJ, including the area and orientation. Focused on the NPJ shape, the area and orientation variations are generally out‐of‐phase, leading to a large‐straight jet and a small‐tilted jet. The shape variation of the NPJ is highly linked to the variations in both mean and extreme temperatures in winter over East Asia and North America. Associated with the small‐tilted NPJ, northern East Asia and northern North America frequently suffer from warm and cold events in winter, respectively, while associated with the large‐straight NPJ, the patterns are almost opposite but with an asymmetric distribution to the small‐tilted NPJ. The distribution of the 300 hPa wind speed anomalies shows a spatial‐asymmetric feature at the exit and entrance of the NPJ. Large positive (negative) anomalies and the poleward (equatorward) shift at the NPJ exit and locations downstream (170°E−140°W) act in combination on the formation and maintenance of the large‐straight (small‐tilted) jet, which may be strongly connected with the sea surface temperature variations and synoptic‐scale transient eddy activities there. Our findings would be helpful in providing potential indicators of temperature variations. Plain Language Summary: The shape of the upper‐level jet stream is closely associated with weather and climate variations, which is not clearly understood yet. In this study, we introduced an ellipse‐fitting technique to fit high‐value wind speeds and identify the location, shape, and strength variations of the North Pacific jet (NPJ). This method has the advantage of objectively detecting characteristics of the jet stream, particularly for shape variations. The shape variations of the NPJ are closely linked to the variations both in winter mean and extreme temperature, particularly over East Asia and North America. Associated with the small‐tilted NPJ, warm events would more frequently occur in the northern part of East Asia, while cold events would easily affect northern North America. Sea surface temperature anomalies and the increased presence of surface high and low‐pressure systems around the jet exit region may have a strong connection with the different structures of the NPJ. Our findings would be helpful in providing a potential indicator of temperature variations. Key Points: An ellipse‐fitting technique has been introduced to detect the jet stream automatically and objectivelyPrimary combinations of the North Pacific jet's (NPJ's) shape include a large‐straight and small‐tilted jetVariations in the NPJ's shape are highly linked to out‐of‐phase variations in temperature extremes over East Asia and North America [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Asian winter weather has altered dramatically in response to progressing climate change. However, analysis of time‐averaged atmospheric fields might obscure climate change signals that could relate to specific types of events. This study aimed to detect climate change signals for various background atmospheric fields by applying classification to daily surface pressure patterns. We found a pronounced trend of increase in surface air temperature over Japan since the 1980s, stronger than the seasonal mean trend, when dominating cold air advection from the Sea of Okhotsk. This cold air was warmed and humidified by the retreat of sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. In contrast, the warming trend was mitigated when warm air advection was dominant. These results highlight the importance of daily background atmospheric conditions in amplifying and localizing the impact of regional climate change. Plain Language Summary: Winter weather in East Asia varies greatly depending on the daily surface pressure pattern. Hence, the impact of climate change could appear in different forms according to specific weather conditions. This study aimed to detect long‐term changes in atmospheric fields under various weather conditions. Focusing on the daily surface pressure patterns, analysis of East Asian winters showed substantial historical increase in surface air temperature when northerly cold air outbreaks brought colder air toward Japan, and the warming rate was stronger than the trend of the winter average. The retreat of sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk, located upwind of Japan, caused this local warming and humidification. In contrast, the warming trend was weaker for days when the pressure pattern brought warmer air toward Japan. This finding indicates that winter days with cold air flowing around Japan have been warming more strongly than warm winter days. Our analysis enables assessment of the impact of global warming on specific weather conditions of interest. Key Points: Historical changes in winter climate in Japan were decomposed based on pressure pattern classificationNortherly winter monsoon has been substantially warmed and humidified around Japan due to sea ice retreat in the upwind seaPressure patterns that cause stronger regional response to climate change were identified [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid retreat of Arctic sea ice extends the area of open ocean for new trans‐Arctic shipping routes. However, the projected routes may be too optimistic in terms of savings in shipping costs from shortened trans‐Arctic distances as they do not consider the increased sea fog frequency (SFF) over areas of the retreating sea ice. We show that delays due to sea fog can be 1–4 days, about 23%–27% along the Northwest Passage and 4%–11% along the Northern Sea Route than previous estimated. We design a route based on the projected sea‐ice extent and SFF. The new route can reduce the sailing time by 0.3–1 day by detouring the routes with lighter impacts of sea fog. More importantly the new route will lower the risk of catastrophic accidents compared to the shortest route and saves the additional costs due to unscheduled port calls. Plain Language Summary: Rapid loss of sea ice under global warming opens up the Arctic Ocean to shipping. The available trans‐Arctic shipping in the near future will strongly decrease sailing time and financial costs from the Far East to Northwest Europe. Previous designs of trans‐Arctic shipping routes mainly considered sea ice distribution, but ignored the important effect of frequent and high‐risk polar sea fog. Here, we project Arctic sea fog frequency in 21st century and evaluate its influence on trans‐Arctic shipping routes. The results highlight the necessity to redesign the routes by including sea fog effect for safer ship navigation. Key Points: About 20%–30% of Arctic shipping routes experience frequent sea fog frequency more than 20%Sea fog increases the shipping time by 23%–27% along the Northwest Passage and 4%–11% along the Northern Sea Route than previous estimationsShipping routes by minimizing the impacts of sea fog can save 0.3–1 days sailing time by detouring dense‐sea‐fog region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a regional coupled model for the western North Pacific (WNP) and East Asian region. The atmospheric/oceanic component of the coupled model was the Weather Research and Forecasting and the Regional Ocean Modeling System, coupled through the National Center for Atmospheric Research Coupler version 7 (CPL7). An evaluation is provided through the simulation of the climatology and interannual variability of the summer monsoon climate from 1982 to 2015. The coupled model is also compared with a solely atmospheric run, which is driven by the observed sea surface temperature (SST) as the surface boundary. The results show that the coupled model has good capability in modeling the climate in the WNP and East Asian domain, including the climatology of summer precipitation and circulation, the subseasonal (month‐to‐month) variation in the western Pacific subtropical high and associated precipitation, and the seasonal cycle of the East Asian rain belt. One merit of this model is its ability to simulate the northward and eastward shift from early to late summer. With respect to the interannual variability, the model captures the spatial pattern of the leading mode of summer precipitation, with a north–south dipole mode in the studied region. The model also reproduces the larger SST variability in the northern part of this region. The temporal correlation coefficient between the coupled simulation and observation was 0.70 for the precipitation and 0.53 for the SST leading mode. The coupled model also captures the precipitation–SST relationship, which results from reasonably considering the air–sea coupling processes in the coupled run. Plain Language Summary: Due to the resolution of global models is relatively coarse and cannot describe the regional features, especially in the monsoon regions, regional climate model is an essential solution for regional climate simulation and projection. Compared with atmospheric alone model which is driven by prescribed sea surface temperature, regional air‐sea coupled model can describe reasonably the air‐sea coupling processes and has better performance. In this study, an regional coupled model is developed based on the Community Earth System Model coupler version 7 framework. Based on our analysis, the regional coupled model reasonably reproduced most key characteristics in the East Asian monsoon region. In addition to being used in regional climate simulation and projection, it can also be conveniently coupled with global models through the coupler 7. Thus with this useful tool in future we can develop global‐regional two‐way coupling simulation system for climate predictions and projections. Key Points: A regional coupled model is developed for East Asia and western North Pacific region based on Community Earth System Model frameworkClimatology and interannual variability of the summer monsoon climate have been evaluatedThe model can well capture the climatological northward and eastward movements of the western Pacific subtropical high from June to August [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity have caused significant increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration and land use and land cover change (LULCC), which can in turn affect regional and global climate. We investigate the relative contributions of increased GHG concentration and LULCC to the precipitation and surface air temperature (SAT) in Asia through three dynamical downscaling simulations with different land cover maps and GHG concentrations. The results suggest that the increased GHG concentration leads to an increase (decrease) in precipitation over East Asia and Southeast Asia (South Asia) in spring and winter. Over Southeast Asia and the Bay of Bengal, LULCC induced a significant decrease in precipitation in autumn and winter, and the change is greater than that induced by GHG. Moreover, the enhanced GHG concentration generally leads to a decrease in dry days or light rain days and an increase in heavy rain days over the land area. However, LULCC‐induced changes in extreme precipitation are generally weak. The increased GHG concentration induces a significant increase of 1–3°C in the SAT throughout the year. LULCC plays a more important role than the increased GHG concentration in modulating the SAT over South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia throughout the year. The increased GHG concentration and LULCC cause a broader range of changes in the daily temperature frequency. The anomalous warm event of 8–10°C increases by 1–1.5 days per season in the middle latitude regions in boreal spring due to the increased GHG concentration. LULCC also leads to an increase in high‐temperature events except central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June‐July 2020, the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Region (MLYR) encountered the most severe precipitation event over the past 60 years. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in the previous autumn of the unusual precipitation event was the main contributing factor. Nonetheless, not every strong IOD event could bring anomalously high precipitation in the MLYR. This study showed significantly enhanced influence of IOD on East Asia climate since 2000. The IOD's effect on MLYR summer precipitation has strengthened significantly with the correlation coefficient up to 0.55 during 2000–2020. The northward movement of East Asia–Pacific pattern associated with IOD since 2000 (as compared with before) was primarily responsible for the enhanced effect. Since 2000, the MLYR has been controlled by a deep baroclinic instability system with anomalous low pressure in the lower troposphere and anomalous high pressure (completely different from before). Furthermore, the western Pacific subtropical high shifted northward and westerly jets were significantly enhanced with eastward expansion. All of these patterns contributed to the water vapor convergence and precipitation generation in the MLYR, which was not the case in the past. The record‐breaking IOD in 2019 autumn and the enhanced IOD's climatic effect in 2000–2020 contribute to the extreme Meiyu in 2020 jointly. The significant change in the influence of IOD and the enhanced climate effect of IOD highlight exciting new avenues for improving climate predictions in the MLYR. Plain Language Summary: The excessive Meiyu rainfall over the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Region (MLYR) during summer 2020 was beyond expectations of meteorologists, because in the 2019/20 winter, the Niño3.4 index was marginal at only 0.5°C as compared to 2.4°C and 2.6°C in 1997/98 and 2015/16 winters, respectively. Researches pointed out that the severely positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in the previous season was the main contributing factor on 2020 extreme Meiyu event in the MLYR. Nonetheless, not every strong IOD event could bring anomalously high precipitation in the MLYR. Our study shows significantly enhanced influence of IOD on East Asia climate since 2000. The IOD's effect on MLYR summer precipitation has strengthened significantly with the correlation coefficient up to 0.55 during 2000–2020. The IOD‐induced circulation patterns, including East Asia–Pacific pattern, the western Pacific subtropical high, and westerly jets, shifted northward with stronger intensity since 2000 (as compared with before). These results help us to reconsider the influence of tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperature when forecasting weather or the possible climate changes under global warming. Key Points: The impact of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on the Yangtze precipitation has enhanced in recent decadesThe IOD‐induced East Asia–Pacific pattern moves northward since 2000The interdecadal change in IOD's climatic effect largely contributes to the extreme Meiyu in 2020 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intraseasonal meridional wave trains are the major features of East Asia summer monsoon (EASM), but the complete physical pictures of dynamic pathways from tropical and mid‐high latitudes and their climate impacts have not been fully illustrated. With NCEP‐DOE Reanalysis‐II daily data set, two boreal summer intraseasonal meridional oscillations (ISMOs) are isolated and identified by extended EOF of zonal wind anomalies along the coast of East Asia on 10‐ to 30‐day timescale, that is, ISMO1 and ISMO2. They both demonstrate obvious quasi‐biweekly oscillations with an equivalent barotropic structure in troposphere, and ISMO1 represents the southward propagating wave train with large variances in upper level, which is initiated from the West Europe and primarily forced by the soil moisture anomalies over mid‐high latitudes of Eurasian continent, whereas ISMO2 propagates northward in mid‐lower troposphere from the tropical western North Pacific to East Asia that is closely related to BSISO2. The two ISMOs are capable of explaining a large fraction of the total intraseasonal variances of EASM, wherein, ISMO1 is responsible for a meridional dipole pattern of precipitation anomalies over eastern China, while ISMO2 has major influence in southern China. Generally, ISMO‐caused changes of extreme precipitation probability are in good accordance with the spatial pattern of its related 10‐ to 30‐day intraseasonal precipitation anomalies. Since ISMO1 and ISMO2 can clearly separate the tropical and extratropical‐origin meridional oscillations and further have robust influences on precipitation over East Asia, they can be used as the new monitoring and predicting factors to the intraseasonal variations of EASM and their associated extreme precipitation. Key Points: Two intraseasonal meridional oscillations (ISMOs) over East Asia are identified with equivalent barotropic structure and biweekly periodISMOs can be forced by the tropical convection and the mid‐high latitude land surface and propagate northward and southward, respectivelyISMOs represent a large fraction of intraseasonal climate variations over East Asia and have significant impact on extreme precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant species of a biome can be regarded as its genuine indicator. Evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) in subtropical East Asia harbor high levels of species biodiversity and endemism and are vital to regional carbon storage and cycling. However, the historical assembly of this unique biome is still controversial. Fagaceae is the most essential family in East Asian subtropical EBLFs and its dominant species are vital for the existence of this biome. Here, we used the dominant Fagaceae species to shed light on the dynamic process of East Asian subtropical EBLFs over time. Our results indicate high precipitation in summer and low temperature in winter are the most influential climatic factors for the distribution of East Asian subtropical EBLFs. Modern East Asian subtropical EBLFs did not begin to appear until 23 Ma, subsequently experienced a long‐lasting development in the Miocene and markedly deteriorated at about 4 Ma, driven jointly by orogenesis and paleoclimate. We also document that there is a lag time between when one clade invaded the region and when its members become dominant species within the region. This study may improve our ability to predict and mitigate the threats to biodiversity of East Asian subtropical EBLFs and points to a new path for future studies involving multidisciplinary methods to explore the assembly of regional biomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in total and extreme precipitation have been investigated worldwide using limited spatiotemporal data based on surface observations and satellite remote sensing during recent decades. However, it remains unclear whether rain gauge daily precipitation records also show a significant increase in global precipitation. In this study, we first apply the transformed version of the penalized maximum F test ("transPMFred") to homogenize daily precipitation (P) records from 10,629 stations around the world during 1960–2016 from a dataset (GHCN‐CMA) that combines the daily precipitation data from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN‐Daily) dataset and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), and then utilize the homogenized data to study the frequency of daily precipitation on a global scale. The results indicate that precipitation frequency exhibited significant increasing trends from 1960 to 2016 across most of the globe, except for East Asia. Moreover, the variability of global precipitation frequency was more pronounced in wet regions than dry regions, especially in North America, Europe and East Asia based multiple daily precipitation datasets. The regional average frequency for moderate (30th < P ≤ 60th percentile), heavy (60th < P ≤ 90th percentile) and very heavy (P > 90th percentile) precipitation increased in North America and Europe. Changes in precipitation frequency decreased for light (P ≤ 30th percentile) and moderate precipitation but increased for heavy and very heavy precipitation, which mainly occurs in dry regions of Australia. Moreover, precipitation frequency in wet and dry regions of East Asia showed opposite trends, with a decrease in wet regions and an increase in dry regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the climate controls of precipitation δ18O in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is crucial for paleoclimate reconstructions from a wealth of regional archives. We use the outputs of iCAM5 model to quantify the different moisture contribution to local precipitation δ18O and to understand the climate controls of precipitation δ18O in the TP based on water‐tagging. The model shows some deficiencies in simulating the spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation δ18O and the local climatic controls across the TP. Among all the tagged source regions, South Asia and the Indian Ocean contribute the most to the precipitation δ18O in the monsoon‐controlled domain, followed by the East Asia source region. The westerlies are identified as major moisture sources to the precipitation δ18O in the westerlies‐controlled domain. South Asia and the Indian Ocean also contribute substantially for the westerlies‐controlled domain. On interannual time scales, summer precipitation δ18O in the monsoon‐controlled domain is dominated by rainout processes occurring along the moisture transport pathway, indicating that precipitation δ18O variations here potentially record changes in the regional upstream convection. The δ18O signal can be altered by changes in the moisture source location, which implies that enhanced moisture delivery from remote source regions leads to more negative precipitation δ18O due to an increase in the rainout effect during transport. Our results have implications for the interpretation of past variations of archives with precipitation stable isotopes, such as ice cores, tree rings, lake sediments, and speleothems in the TP and surrounding regions. Plain Language Summary: Precipitation δ18O signal stored in climate proxy records from the Tibetan Plateau has long been used for paleoclimate reconstructions. However, the controls on precipitation δ18O over the TP remain debated. Studies of modern‐day climate controls on precipitation δ18O is crucial for interpreting past climate variations. We use the iCAM5 global atmospheric general circulation model fitted with water‐tagging capability to quantitatively decipher different climatic controls on precipitation δ18O across the TP. The model shows some deficiencies in simulating the spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation δ18O and the local climatic controls across the TP. Among all the tagged source regions, South Asia and the Indian Ocean are identified as the most dominant moisture sources for the precipitation δ18O in the monsoon‐controlled domain, followed by the East Asia source region. For the westerlies‐controlled domain, the highest fractional contribution is from the westerlies. Changes in the rainout of water vapor during transport are the main driver of the interannual variability of precipitation δ18O in the monsoon‐controlled southern TP domain. The δ18O signal can be altered by changes in relative moisture contributions from different source regions. The amount effect contributes little to the precipitation δ18O variability in the southern TP. Key Points: Precipitation δ18O over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is simulated with an AGCM implemented with water‐tagging capabilitySouth Asia and the Indian Ocean (the westerlies) contribute the most to precipitation δ18O in the southern (northern) TPVariability of precipitation δ18O in the monsoon‐controlled domain is dominated by rainout processes and moisture location changes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological to hydrological drought propagation has been widely studied to reflect the relationship between these drought categories and better understand drought mechanisms. However, global warming may alter the drought propagation features, which are not fully understood. This study aims to investigate changes in meteorological and hydrological drought conditions, especially their propagation features in 1.5–3.0°C warmer climates for 8,655 watersheds globally. First, the three‐month scale standardized precipitation index and the standardized runoff index are calculated based on the precipitation simulated by the 15 global climate models and the runoff simulated by the four hydrological models, respectively. Drought events are then identified using the run theory, followed by the calculation of drought propagation features (i.e., pooling, lag, and lengthening) for matched meteorological and hydrological droughts. As a result, both meteorological and hydrological drought conditions (i.e., duration and severity) would relieve in warmer climates due to increased precipitation for regions excluding Western North America, South America, the Mediterranean, Southern Africa, East Asia, and Australia. However, the drought conditions would be more severe during drought propagation from meteorological to hydrological droughts over most regions. During drought propagation, the worsening drought conditions over half of the regions would be more serious first and then relieved with the rising temperature. These results indicate that efforts to slow down global warming can suppress the deterioration of drought conditions in the propagation. Plain Language Summary: Droughts can be categorized into meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic types from different impacted aspects. Investigating meteorological to hydrological drought propagation can reflect the relationship between these two drought categories to understand the drought mechanism better. However, it is not fully understood whether global warming would alter the drought propagation features or not. Therefore, we evaluated the change of meteorological and hydrological drought conditions, especially their propagation features in 1.5 to 3.0°C warmer climates for 8,655 watersheds around the world. Here we show that both meteorological and hydrological drought conditions would relieve in warmer climates due to the increase of precipitation for regions excluding Western North America, South America, the Mediterranean, Southern Africa, East Asia, and Australia. However, the drought conditions would be more severe during drought propagation over most regions in warmer climates. Our findings promote a better understanding of drought propagation changes under global warming. Key Points: Both meteorological and hydrological drought conditions are projected to relieve in warmer climates for around half of global regionsThe duration and severity developing from meteorological to hydrological droughts would be more severe over most regionsThe worsening duration and severity during the propagation over half of the regions would intensify first and then ease in warmer climates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palaeogene environmental evolution in East Asia remains ambiguous. Here we present integrative work including magnetostratigraphy, grain‐size, geochemistry, and clay mineralalogy from a 1609 m‐thick fluviolacustrine sequence in eastern China. The results reveal two periods of tectonic control alternating with three periods of climatic control on the sedimentary evolution. Tectonic activity in the study area, as revealed by particle coarsening and reduced weathering, occurred during 65.6–59 Ma and strengthened in Asia during 55–54 Ma in response to the India‐Eurasia collision. Weathering gradually enhanced in East Asia during 59–55 Ma, probably caused by global warming. Continuous global warming during 54–50.5 Ma is responsible for enhanced aridification in East Asia. From 50.5 to 37.6 Ma, global cooling weakened evapotranspiration and increased westerlies‐derived moisture. Both aspects increased effective moisture and chemical weathering in East Asia. These results shed light on how alternating tectonism and climate change impacted environmental evolution in Asia during the Palaeogene. Plain Language Summary: Most investigations in sedimentary basins generally focus exclusively on climatic signals at the expense of tectonic inputs. In this study, we extract both climatic and tectonic signals from long fluviolacustrine sediment records in eastern China comprehensively and objectively. We find that environmental evolution during the Paleogene of East Asia was dominated by tectonism during 65.6–59 and 55–54 Ma, and by climatic changes during 59–55 and 54–37.6 Ma. This work not only constrains the India‐Asia collision to a short 55–54 Ma interval for the first time, but also offers a sound explanation for one of the most important but disputed issues of eolian sediments in the North Pacific Ocean. Key Points: Tectonic activity occurred during 65.6–59 Ma in East Asia and strengthened during 55–54 Ma in response to the India‐Eurasia collisionIn East Asia, global warming led to enhanced weathering during 59–55 Ma and aridification during 54–50.5 MaGlobal cooling between 50.5 and 37.6 Ma increased westerlies‐derived moisture and enhanced chemical weathering in East Asia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatiotemporal variabilities and drivers of ocean acidification (OA) metrics, [H+], pH, and aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) across environmental gradients remain poorly constrained. We use a novel high‐precision measurement of underway pH to investigate the hemispheric‐scale distributions of OA metrics from East Asia to the Arctic Ocean. While temperature and its induced air‐sea gas exchange fundamentally control the OA metrics distributions, we show that biological activity exerts the most prominent but different modifications on pH and Ωarag patterns. Strong photosynthesis counteracts the temperature‐driven pH pattern but reinforces that of Ωarag. Ice melt‐induced dilution in the Arctic Ocean additionally strengthens the Ωarag‐temperature relationship but insignificantly affects [H+] and pH. This study provides the first coherent assessment of comprehensive processes on OA metrics across large spatial regions, and highlights the potential of sea‐ice melt in changing Ωarag distribution, which should be included by Earth system models projecting future climate change. Plain Language Summary: The ocean uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) is causing increase in hydrogen ion concentration ([H+]) and reductions in pH and carbonate mineral aragonite saturation state (Ωarag), together of which are commonly referred to as ocean acidification (OA). The coupled behavior of these affected OA metrics responding to physical and biogeochemical processes across environmental gradients has barely been examined in a comparative manner. To address this issue, we conduct a survey measuring high‐precision underway pH from East Asia to the Arctic Ocean. We find that, besides the temperature effects, which ultimately control the distributions of OA metrics, biological activity induces the strongest interruptions. Photosynthesis weakens the temperature‐driven pH pattern but reinforces that of Ωarag. In addition, ice melt‐induced dilution in the polar region strengthens Ωarag‐temperature relationship but makes less difference to [H+] and pH. These findings are important as they are based on the first large‐scale direct measurements of underway pH, and have implications for future studies on ocean acidification in the context of climate change. Key Points: High‐frequency underway pH across large spatial regions is measured, which is very rare in the oceanographic communityBiological activity counteracts temperature‐driven pattern in pH, but reinforces that in ΩaragSea‐ice melt driven dilution in the polar regions contributes significantly to lowering Ωarag [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts and corresponding mechanisms of land use/cover change (LUCC), mainly crops and pasture, on the spatial patterns of summer precipitation over eastern China at the decadal timescale during the last millennium are investigated, using a set of land use/cover sensitivity experiments from the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Last Millennium Ensemble (LME) archive. Two leading modes of summer precipitation over eastern China at decadal scale before (with slight LUCC) and after (with drastic LUCC) 1750 AD are compared. The results show that the LUCC plays an important role in modulating the spatial patterns of summer precipitation over eastern China at decadal scale. Before 1750 AD, the first leading mode exhibits a meridional dipole pattern, while the second leading mode exhibits a meridional tripole pattern. After 1750 AD, the order of the spatial patterns switches, that is, the tripole pattern as the first leading mode and the dipole pattern as the second leading mode. During both periods, the "dry north‐wet south" dipole pattern is associated with an anomalous "A‐C" (anticyclone‐cyclone) low‐level circulation pattern and the related water vapour divergence‐convergence pattern from north to south over the eastern part of East Asia, whereas the tripole pattern corresponds to an anomalous "A‐C‐A" (anticyclone‐cyclone‐anticyclone) circulation pattern along with the corresponding tripole pattern of water vapour divergence/convergence. The regressions of sea surface temperature (SST) during boreal winter resemble obvious Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) or Atlantic multi‐decadal oscillation (AMO) modes. In addition, the AMO index displays a decreasing trend during the last millennium under the LUCC forcing, while the PDO index does not show an obvious changing trend. The possibility of coupled PDO‐AMO anti‐phase (in‐phase) increases (decreases) after 1750 AD, leading to the increased (decreased) possibility of the tripole (dipole) pattern in eastern China. Our findings confirm the necessity of including LUCC as an important forcing factor in predictions of future climate changes, especially at the regional scale and also at longer timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water management is a crucial issue in East Asia and is significantly influenced by climate change. Because East Asia's precipitation characteristics are varied and complex, it is necessary to implement the analysis of the future changes in precipitation on an objectively classified, specific sub‐regional level to effectively solve these problems. In this study, sub‐regions were objectively classified according to their precipitation characteristics, based on the present observations in East Asia. Additionally, the bias‐correction technique was applied to the regional climate model (RCM) to yield more reliable future precipitation predictions for the sub‐regions. We obtained the following four key results in this study. (1) The classified sub‐regions corresponded well to the observed annual precipitation distribution and adequately reflected the influence of the summer monsoon. The annual precipitation of the classified sub‐regions exhibited a decreasing trend in arid regions and an increasing trend in humid areas. (2) Because the bias‐corrected RCM was able to simulate annual precipitation reasonably, this technique was applied to future scenarios to analyse future changes in precipitation for each classified sub‐region. (3) Future annual precipitation will increase significantly in the region spanning from the western part of Southern China to the area around the Bohai Sea, while the temporal variations of the climatological daily precipitation indicated that sub‐regions under the influence of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) will be predicted an increase in second peaks during the summer. Hence, in the future, the EASM rain belt will be strengthened and its average location will move northward from its present location. (4) Because the high‐intensity extreme precipitation indices are expected to have a more considerable increase in all the classified sub‐regions, there is a need to solidify response measures against disasters that could arise from these changes in the East Asian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on hourly temperature data collected from 2,307 meteorological stations over China and two sets of climate change simulations over East Asia using the regional climate model version 4.4 (RegCM4.4) driven by the global models of HadGEM2‐ES and MPI‐ESM‐MR, future changes of heating and cooling degree‐hours (HDH and CDH) at the end of the 21st century under RCP4.5 scenario are investigated. Compared against the observation, the spatial distribution, magnitude and annual cycle of present‐day HDH and CDH at different times, as well as the diurnal cycle of them can be realistically simulated by the model. Meanwhile, some bias can also be found and it varies with the times, especially for CDH. At the end of the century, significant decrease of HDH can be found over the Tibetan Plateau, the northern part of Northeast China, and Northwest China at each times while increase of CDH are observed at all the times except some parts of the Tibetan Plateau where the CDH remains zero due to the cold climate there. But for different times, some differences are found in HDH decrease and CDH increase. For example, the changes of HDH at the fifth to the seventh times present a weaker decrease in the northwestern basins compared to other times and the CDH increase are more significant at the fifth and the sixth times. The regional mean changes of HDH and CDH over China in the 21st century (2006–2098) also diverge among different times, which indicates the degree‐hours is needed to precisely calculate the hourly heating and cooling energy demand and then the heating and cooling degree days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale field investigations of seven legacy organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the surface seawater and atmosphere from East Asia to the high Arctic Ocean were completed in 2016 and 2017. Seawater OCP (Σ7OCPs) concentrations displayed rapid and significant seasonal variations during mid‐late summer. The ocean is the most significant atmospheric‐OCP source region for the Arctic, and feedback affects the middle‐ or low‐latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The legacy OCP concentrations in the Arctic Ocean were shown to gradually decrease with distance from water masses originating in the Bering Sea and the landmass of Alaska. This study is the first updated investigation of OCPs along the North Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean transect in the past decade. It provides updated field data on the global fate of OCPs in a region undergoing rapid climate change. Plain Language Summary: We investigated four hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and three dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in the marine boundary and their fate corresponding to the geophysical climate change from East Asia to the high Arctic during two Arctic Research Expedition cruises. Levels of OCPs in the surface seawater between the forward and return voyages along the same transect indicated the rapid seasonal variation. The reducing DDT contamination and comparable HCH levels to the previous studies in the low‐latitude regions indicated the effective control measures in the past decades. However, the potential point source and agriculture activities still resulted in the high levels of DDTs in East Asia. Water mass from the Bering Sea significantly affected the levels of dissolved OCPs in the Arctic Ocean, while China, Japan, and East Russia were the crucial source regions for the atmospheric OCPs in East Asia. The Arctic Ocean becomes a significant source region, and possible feedback affects the low‐latitude regions in East Asia. Key Points: OCPs displayed a significant seasonal variation in the surface seawaterThe Arctic Ocean turns into a major source region for OCPs, and possible feedback affect the low‐latitude regions in the Northern HemisphereOceanic water mass and riverine input contributed significantly to the Arctic OCPs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries in East Asia have set ambitious goals for the development of wind energy to meet the increasing energy demand and to mitigate anthropogenic climate change. However, few studies have investigated changes in wind energy over East Asia under future climatic conditions. In this study, we investigate future changes of 100‐m wind speed and wind energy potential over the CORDEX‐East Asia region under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario, by using ensemble simulations from the regional climate model Consortium for small‐scale modeling in CLimate Mode (CCLM). A multivariate bias adjustment method based on the N‐dimensional probability density function transform is used to correct raw simulated horizontal wind components. The comparison between future climate (2021–2050 and 2070–2099) and the present climate (1971–2000) shows decreases in wind speed, wind power density, and wind energy output over most of the CORDEX‐East Asia region, especially in the tropics. Projected increases are pronounced over the Himalayan regions, the Indo‐China Peninsula, the South China Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean in summer and over northeastern China, parts of Western China and the Indo‐China Peninsula in winter. Interannual and intra‐annual variability of wind power density are projected to intensify significantly for most of the CORDEX‐East Asia region. The occurrence of weak wind speeds (<3 m/s) is projected to increase, while strong wind speeds (>11 m/s) are projected to decrease over most of the ocean. Key Points: Future changes in 100‐m wind energy potentials over CORDEX‐East Asia are evaluated by using CCLM ensemble simulationsThe multivariate bias adjustment method is used to correct raw simulated wind components and is shown to be robust in reducing biasWind energy potentials are projected to decrease over most of the CORDEX‐East Asia region, especially for 2070–2099 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winter temperature in East Asia from 1958 to 2001 has shown an obvious warming trend superposed with a large amplitude of decadal oscillations. To separate the relative contributions of external forcing and internal variability to the decadal change in winter temperature, we propose a method which combines reanalysis data, global atmosphere‐ocean coupled model outputs, and regional climate model. The results show that the weakening of the East Asian winter monsoon accounts for warming trend in the south Mongolia, the southeastern coast of Asia, and the adjacent seas to a large extent. In contrast, radiative forcing causes the warming trend in middle and high latitudes. The increasing concentration of aerosols could have resulted in local cooling in some areas. The winter temperature shows a decadal oscillation of 0.6 °C at a time scale of 8–20 a, which is mainly due to the oscillation of the Siberian‐Mongolia High and volcanic activities. The amplitude of temperature oscillations caused by volcanic activities was one third of that induced by the Siberian‐Mongolia High. Key Points: The winter warming in East Asia during 1958–2001 was due to greenhouse gas emissions and the weakening of the East Asia winter monsoonRadiative‐forced warming had a uniform pattern, while the warming caused by weakening monsoon was located in the eastern coast of EurasiaVolcanic aerosols caused an interdecadal oscillation of 0.2 °C, which was one third of the strength caused by internal variability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last few years have seen a surge of scholarly interest in how cultures have been influenced by climate, climatic changes, and extremes of weather. This "cultural turn" of climate history draws from the archives of society, rather than the archives of nature, and is heavily influenced by interpretative and methodological frameworks drawn from the humanities fields. Attention has been largely focused on European contexts and cultures. This article aims to show, however, that the climate history of Asia is on the cusp of developing its own strong cultural turn and that strong foundations and precedents have already been set. This article has two main objectives. The first is to explore approaches in the history of the climate in East Asia that claim to investigate interactions between climatic changes or extreme events and society and culture. Many of these are macro studies, comparing climatic changes with dramatic events in history. Then, it will take a closer look at scholarship that has focused closely on the ideas and beliefs that characterize a society, showing how regional customs and philosophical systems have developed in relation to weather. It will argue that better integration between the two approaches is needed if we are to fully grasp the interdependence of people and climate, a question that becomes ever more critical as we move further into the Anthropocene. This article is categorized under:Climate, History, Society, Culture > World Historical Perspectives [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study revisits precipitation change in East Asia caused by the Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) and its interannual variation due to the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO). Specifically, boreal‐winter precipitation, derived from weather stations across China, Korea, and Japan, is examined for MJO phases 2–3 and 6–8. Consistent with previous findings, precipitation in southern China and southern Japan increases by up to 36% during MJO phases 2–3, when the MJO convection is located in the Indian Ocean. In contrast, during MJO phases 6–8, precipitation decreases by 13%. More importantly, these MJO‐related precipitation anomalies become larger and more organized when the QBO is in its easterly phase. The difference in precipitation anomalies between the QBO easterly and westerly phases is approximately 40% for MJO phases 2–3 and 70% for MJO phases 6–8 from southern China to Japan. This result reaffirms that the QBO can affect surface weather in the northern extratropics through MJO teleconnection. Plain Language Summary: Deep convections in the tropics influence distant regions via propagation of energy in the form of waves. With its change dominant on the intraseasonal timescale, the Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) is known to change daily winter precipitation in East Asia. At the same time, far above in the tropical stratosphere, there is a year‐to‐year variation in zonal wind called the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO). It is widely believed that the MJO is stronger and more persistent when the QBO blows from east to west (easterly) than when it blows from west to east. Based on this belief, how MJO‐induced precipitation in East Asia is affected by the QBO is investigated. As expected, the degree of change in precipitation is larger with a stronger MJO amplitude during easterly QBO winters. During easterly QBO winters, MJO‐induced vertical motion near coastlines of East Asia is amplified by stronger upper‐level circulations. Furthermore, moisture transport from the subtropics is also enhanced with the stronger low‐level circulation in easterly QBO winters. In the sense that the QBO has a longer timescale as well as a longer memory than the MJO, we expect to utilize the QBO to predict MJO‐related surface weather changes in the extratropics better and earlier. Key Points: The MJO‐induced precipitation anomaly in East Asia is significantly influenced by QBO phaseThe MJO teleconnection in East Asia is strengthened during easterly QBO winters, when the MJO amplitude is enhancedThe moisture supply to East Asia by MJO‐induced circulation is enhanced during easterly QBO winters [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of Cenozoic climate patterns in Asia has been linked to uplift of the Tibetan Plateau (TP), retreat of the Paratethys Sea, and global cooling. However, less attention has been placed on the latitudinal change of the TP. Here we report new climate modeling to explore how modern climate changes as a function of topographic growth and spatial migration of the TP. Our results show that the northward displacement of the uplifted proto‐TP within the subtropics can significantly affect the wind and precipitation pattern over East‐Central Asia. By compiling proxy‐based climatic records, paleolatitudinal and paleoelevational evolution models of the proto‐TP, and in comparison with previous modeling under a global paleogeography, we suggest that the northward migration of the proto‐TP in the Paleogene could have intensified the aridity in Central Asia, but its influence on East Asian precipitation and monsoonal circulation could be dependent on the paleogeography and other boundary conditions. Plain Language Summary: The evolution of the Asian monsoons and aridification of Asia's interior are thought to be driven by Tibetan‐Himalayan uplift. Recent geological observations suggest that the uplifted proto‐Tibetan Plateau (proto‐TP) migrated northward in the subtropics since the early Eocene and reached its present position by the latest Oligocene. We therefore simulated the effects of this process on East‐Central Asian climate. Our climate modeling shows the northward migration of the high proto‐TP from 21–29°N to 29–37°N can significantly change the present‐day wind and precipitation patterns over East‐Central Asia. Especially, Central Asia become drier because of the displacement of the anomalous dry belt caused by large‐scale atmospheric subsidence. We further suggest that forcing by the paleolatitudinal migration of the high proto‐TP within the subtropics from the Eocene to the earliest Miocene could have drove the Central Asian paleoclimate to dryer conditions, but migration might not be the sole parameter that governed the East Asian monsoon during the Paleogene. Key Points: The high proto‐Tibetan Plateau migrating northward can notably influence the modern East‐Central Asian climate systemCentral Asian aridification increased with the northward migration of the proto‐Tibetan Plateau in the PaleogeneThe impact of Paleogene proto‐Tibetan Plateau migration on East Asian climate could be dependent on boundary conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines potential benefits of performance‐based multi‐model ensembles (MMEs) in projecting the impacts of climate change on extreme precipitation indices over East Asia (EA) using the data from 19 GCMs in the coupled model intercomparison project 5 (CMIP5). The Taylor skill score is adopted as the measure of the model skills in simulating the spatial and interannual variability of the selected extreme precipitation indices over four EA regions. The overall rank based on the total skill score (TSC) is used to construct two skill‐based MMEs, MME of high‐skill, MMH (MME of low‐skill, MML) that include the top (bottom) seven models, in addition to the simple ensemble of all 19 GCMs (ENS). Inter‐GCM consistency is measured using the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). In the present‐day period, MMH yields higher skill scores than MML and ENS for almost all extreme precipitation indices as well as regions. Regional variations in biases, inter‐model consistency, and TSC are large. The inter‐model consistency is highest for Northern China and Manchuria and is lowest for Southern China. The most notable differences in the key properties of climate change signals from the three MMEs among the three ensembles are that the climate change signals from MMH and ENS exceed the 90% significance level in much larger areas than those from MML. However, the differences in the climate change signals between MMH and MML are generally below the 90% significance level. The SNR of the projected climate change signals shows that MMH yields more consistent climate change signals than ENS/MML. Both the SNR differences and the area in which statistical significance exceed the 90% level suggest that constructing climate change signals from a group of higher‐skill models may yield more reliable projections than constructing MMEs from the entire models or a group of lower‐skilled models. The domains used in the study (SOUTH: 110°–140°E, 20°–30°N, MIDDLE: 110°–140°E, 30°–40°N), NORTH: 110°–140°E, 40°–50°N, EA: 110°–140°E, 20°–50°N) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Asia has been hypothesized to be subdivided into two distinct northern and southern areas, separated by a band of dry climate that was far more severe in the early Tertiary but still exists today. However, this biogeographic hypothesis has rarely been tested using a molecular phylogeographic approach., We genotyped 70 populations throughout the distributional range of Asian butternuts ( Juglans section Cardiocaryon) using eight chloroplast DNA regions, one single-copy nuclear gene, and 17 nuclear microsatellite loci, supplemented with paleodistribution modeling of the major genetic clades., The genetic data consistently identified two clades, one northern, comprising Juglans mandshurica and Juglans ailantifolia, and one southern, comprising Juglans cathayensis. The two clades diverged through climate-induced vicariance of an ancestral northern range during the mid-Miocene and remained mostly separate thereafter, with geographical isolation of the Japanese Islands and refugial isolation or secondary contacts in the late Pleistocene producing further subdivision within the northern clade. But beyond all that, we also discovered a role of environmental adaptation in maintaining and/or reinforcing the north-south divergence., Asian butternuts offer a strong case for the existence of a biogeographic divide between the northern and southern parts of East Asia during the Neogene and into the Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim East Asia is known for its exceptionally high biological diversity and endemism. Various geological and climatic events during the Pliocene and Pleistocene have been invoked to explain this high endemism, and these processes have had different impacts on different organisms. Herein, we investigate the relative role of these historical processes in the genetic evidence for endemism of intraspecific lineages of two East Asian species: the grey-cheeked fulvetta ( Alcippe morrisonia) and the red-headed tree babbler ( Stachyridopsis ruficeps). Location East Asia. Methods We studied the genetic structure based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and evaluated the phylogeographical lineages using coalescent species tree approaches. The influences of different historical processes on diversification among phylogeographical lineages were analysed using coalescent models. We tested correlations between ecological divergence and phylogeographical splits. Results The genetic structure analysis and species tree estimation revealed three deeply divergent lineages within both species. One lineage is endemic to the mountains of Southwest China and the other to Taiwan. Coalescent simulations suggested that lineage diversification mostly occurred during the late Pliocene. Within this time frame, uplift of the mountains of Southwest China and formation of the island of Taiwan are geological events consistent with the geographical isolation and ecological niche divergence of these phylogeographical lineages. Main conclusions Our results suggest that the main driver of avian endemism in East Asia was the formation of new montane and island habitats following the uplift of the mountains of Southwest China and formation of the island of Taiwan in the Pliocene. However, the populations in the two regions were affected differently by the climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene. The mountains of Southwest China were climatically stable during glaciations, allowing populations to persist throughout the Pleistocene and maintain their genetic uniqueness. In contrast, glaciations resulted in lowered sea levels, allowing dispersal between the island of Taiwan and mainland China, thus obscuring the genetic endemism of the Taiwanese populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim A phylogeographical study of the widespread but phylogenetically isolated East Asian endemic tree species Tetracentron sinense (Trochodendraceae) was performed to evaluate whether and how Pleistocene and pre-Pleistocene climate changes helped to influence current phylogeographical patterns, and to describe the current patterns of genetic diversity and their implications for conservation. Location Southwestern and central subtropical China. Methods Sequences of four chloroplast spacer regions were obtained from 157 individuals of T. sinense. A haplotype network was constructed using tcs. Genetic diversity and differentiation, spatial analysis of molecular variance ( SAMOVA) and analysis of molecular variance ( AMOVA) were used to test for genetic structure. beast was used to estimate the divergence times between haplotypes. Historical demographic expansion was tested using pairwise mismatch distribution analysis. Results Of the 21 recovered haplotypes, three were widely distributed, but most were restricted to particular regions. Populations with high haplotype diversity were located in western Hubei, southern Sichuan and southern Chongqing. The two earliest-diverging haplotypes were found in southwestern China. The haplotype distribution of T. sinense demonstrated significant phylogeographical structure ( NST > GST; P < 0.05). The best partitioning of genetic diversity by SAMOVA ( K = 5) produced groups that matched the main tcs-derived clades. Two independent range expansions within SAMOVA-derived groups 2 and 3 were dated to approximately 399 and 311 ka, respectively. The time to the most recent common ancestor of all haplotypes was 9.6 (95% highest posterior density: 27.0-2.2) Ma, but most of the haplotype diversity appeared during the Quaternary. Main conclusions The extant distribution of T. sinense is likely to have been shaped by both pre-Quaternary and Pleistocene climate changes. Southwestern China may have served as an important refugium for T. sinense throughout the Neogene, while the species also occupied multiple refugia during the late Pleistocene glacial periods. Populations of T. sinense were resolved into five allopatric groups, between which there is apparently no seed movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of elevated O3 (80 nmol mol−1) was studied on antioxidant system in the previous-year needles (P-needles) of Pinus armandii under the background of global climate change. CAT (catalase) did not play an important role in defensing O3 pollution, as no significant change was observed in its activity in P-needles exposed to elevated O3 during the entire growth season. Ascorbate (AsA) was more sensitive to elevated O3, as the O3-induced decrease in its content was observed at Day 45. It suggests that AsA consumption was a crucial way for protecting against O3 pollution. After 75 days of O3 exposure, increase in superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activities occurred in P-needles ( p < 0.05), whereas glutathione reductase activity was significantly increased after 105 days of O3 treatment ( p < 0.05). Dehydroascorbate reductase and monoascorbate reductase activities also increased after 75 days of elevated O3 exposure. However, the elevated antioxidant capability did not suppress the generation of reactive oxygen species, and as a result, increase in malondialdehyde content was noted ( p < 0.05). Noticeably, no change was observed in electrolyte leakage during the entire growth season under elevated O3 fumigation. It indicates that O3-induced oxidative stress was not severe in the needles of P. armandii. In other words, P. armandii has certain tolerance to O3 pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess the genetic and archaeological evidence for the migration of modern humans out of Africa to the circum-Pacific region and compare the migration patterns with Late Pleistocene and Holocene changes in sea level and climate. Location Southern and eastern Asia, Australia, and Oceania. Methods Review of the literature and detailed compilations of data on early human settlements, sea level, and climate change. Results The expansion of modern humans out of Africa, following a coastal route into southern Asia, was initially thwarted by a series of large and abrupt environmental changes. A period of relatively stable climate and sea level from c. 45,000 yrbp to 40,000 yrbp supported a rapid coastal expansion of modern humans throughout much of Southeast Asia, enabling them to reach the coasts of northeast Russia and Japan by 38,000–37,000 yrbp. Further northwards, migrations were delayed by cold northern climates, which began to deteriorate rapidly after 33,000 yrbp. Human migrations along the coast of the Bering Sea into the New World appear to have occurred much later, c. 14,000 yrbp, probably by people from central Asia who were better adapted to cold northern climates. Cold, dry climates and rapidly changing sea levels leading into and out of the Last Glacial Maximum inhibited coastal settlement, and many of the sites occupied prior to 33,000 yrbp were abandoned. After 16,000 yrbp, the sea-level rise slowed enough to permit coastal ecosystems to develop and coasts to be re-colonized, but abrupt changes in climate and sea level inhibited this development until after 12,000 yrbp. Between 12,000 yrbp and 7000 yrbp there was a dramatic increase in reef and estuary/lagoon ecosystems, concurrent with a major expansion of coastal settlements. This early Holocene increase in coastal environments and the concomitant expansion of human coastal-resource exploitation were followed by corresponding declines in both phenomena in the mid-Holocene, c. 6000–4000 yrbp. This decline in coastal resources is linked to the drop in sea level throughout the Pacific, which may have caused the widespread population dislocations that ultimately led to the human expansion throughout Oceania. Main conclusions Climate and sea-level changes played a central role in the peopling of the circum-Pacific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of bulk organic matter in soil and lake sediment sequences has been widely used to infer past climate changes. The specific climatic representation of the isotopic signature, however, lacks for examination. With excellent gradients of temperature and precipitation, as well as the gradients of vegetation zone, central East Asia provides an ideal background for developing the relationship between the δ13C and the climatic parameters. Analysis of surface soil organic matter from a transect that crosses the various climatic and vegetation zones reveals a significant linear correlation between δ13C and the mean precipitation from May to September yet a very poor relationship between δ13C and temperature. The close correlation between the δ13C and the precipitation is also corroborated by measurement of some C3 shrubs along the transect. Precipitation in the arid central East Asia is a key factor controlling the relative competition or the distribution of plant species with different photosynthetic pathways, thus the carbon isotope signature in the bulk organic matter. Its variation, therefore, can be recovered by measurement of δ13C in soils or lake sediment sequences with terrestrial organic matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]