Search

The Ural blocking (UB) high is a weather system closely related to the cold air process during winter, which could trigger extreme cold events in East Asia. By retrieving five single blocking indexes, including accumulation frequency, central latitude, blocking intensity, mean duration and north rim, it is found that the UB in winter occurs more frequently, grows stronger, lasts longer and is located more northward after 2002, compared with 1985–2001. In order to describe the UB comprehensively, a new comprehensive blocking index (CBI) is developed based on the above five blocking indexes. The CBI can also reflect the interdecadal change of UB synthetically. Analysis on the corresponding atmospheric circulation shows that the relationship between the UB and atmospheric circulation, such as the polar vortex and jet, is closer in 2002–2018 than in 1985–2001. Compared with the atmospheric circulation in 1985–2001, the most prominent feature in 2002–2018 is that the intensity of the polar vortex is weaker at 100 hPa, and that the subtropical jet moves northward. Meanwhile, the East Asian trough downstream of the Urals deepens at 500 hPa and the Siberian high strengthens, indicating that the East Asia winter monsoon is stronger during 2002–2018. Further analysis on atmospheric waves and baroclinicity demonstrates that the meridional circulation of planetary waves strengthens, especially the 2-waves, which may increase the frequency of the UB and shift its location northward after 2002. Additionally, the baroclinicity ( − ∂ T / ∂ y ) in the mid-high latitudes is weakened during winter since 2002, which is also beneficial for the establishment of meridional circulation, causing a stronger intensity and longer duration of the UB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ural blocking (UB) event is an important large‐scale weather system dominating cold waves in East Asia. This paper investigates the thermal‐dynamical variation characteristics associated with UB evolution via 32 UB events in winter during 1979–2016. The results show that transport of stationary heat and momentum changes prominently from 3 and 6 days before and after UB establishment. Specifically, on 3 days prior to the UB event establishment, an apparent convergence of stationary heat flux ({v*T*}), which can extend from lower‐middle troposphere to the tropopause, is observed at around 60°N in the Urals region. The diagnosis shows that the convergence of stationary heat flux weakens the meridional temperature gradient (−∂T∂y) and thermal wind, and thus the zonal westerly weakens. The convergence of ({v*T*}) also support formation of the warm centre structure of UB event. Meanwhile, convergence of momentum flux reverses to be a divergence in the Urals region (60°N), which contributes to decrease of the zonal wind. The heat and momentum flux reduce the intensity of the westerly and are beneficial for the establishment of UB event. Along with UB event establishment, the convergence of stationary heat flux weakens, and the divergence of momentum flux strengthens, accompanying with decrease of wind speed at middle latitudes and maintaining of the UB event. Six days later, the convergence of stationary heat flux disappears and divergence of momentum flux changes to be convergence and then the UB event collapses. Further analyses also suggest that the polar front jet (PFJ) enhances (weakens) coincidently before (after) the establishment of UB, which is attributed to the strengthening (weakening) of the convergence of ({u*v*}) around 70°N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]