Long-lived and short-lived heatwaves in the North China Plain: Characteristics and teleconnection mechanisms

Atmospheric heatwave events have substantial socioeconomic impacts, which have been hotly investigated as extreme events under global climate change. Previous studies indicated that heatwaves in the North China Plain (NCP) are often induced by the local foehn heating of the Taihang Mountains and the circulation anomalies partly due to remote teleconnection. However, limited study classified and analyzed the differences between short-lived and long-lived heatwaves over the NCP, in particular in terms of their formation and maintenance mechanisms. Our results indicate that the anomalous ridge and related enhancement of diabatic heating in the lower troposphere play a more significant role in the persistence of long-lived heatwaves in the NCP. By analyzing wave activity flux and Rossby wave source, we find that circulation and diabatic heating anomalies over Mediterranean Sea and Turkey, related to the precipitation anomalies there, excite Rossby wave train that propagates eastward, triggering and maintaining the anomalous ridge over the NCP. This study highlights the potential predictability of long-lived heatwaves in the NCP from the perspective of Rossby wave teleconnection.