Seasonal Highlights

General Circulation Features

      Northern Hemisphere: During the autumn, the mean 500hPa geopotential height field exhibited a 3-wave pattern at mid-high latitudes. In the height anomaly field, 4 dam above-normal heights were observed over regions from eastern China to the northeastern Pacific via Japan, regions between northeastern America and the North Atlantic, with maximum above 8 dam. Weak negative anomalies dominated region from Far East of Russia to Alaska and northwestern Canada. In this season, the Northwest Pacific subtropical high was stronger and larger than normal and obviously extended more westward than normal.

Southern Hemisphere: The mean 500hPa geopotential height field exhibited a 3-wave pattern at mid-high latitudes. In the height anomaly field, 4 dam above-normal heights were observed over the Polar region while near-normal heights were observed in other regions.

Climate in China

During this autumn, mean surface air temperatures were near or above normal in most of China. Above 1¡æ were anomalies observed in Northeast China, northern North China, southern Xinjiang and western Qinghai, with central values above 2¡æ in the northern and middle Northeast China. In this season, rainfall totals were less than normal in most of China except that about 30% more than normal in the southern Northeast, eastern Sichuan and middle Qinghai. Precipitation totals were 30% ~90% less than normal in most of South China, Middle and Lower reaches of the Yangtze River, regions between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, most of Xinjiang, western Tibet, eastern Northeast China and parts of North China, with no rain in parts of above regions during the season.

Climate in the World

During this autumn, mean surface air temperatures were generally near or above normal. Above 1¡æ positive anomalies were in most of Eurasia north to 35¡ãN, eastern and middle part of U.S.A and Alaska, middle South America and parts of Africa with maximum above 3¡æ.

In this autumn, rainfall totals were 30% less than average in parts of West Europe, Indian Peninsula and the northward nearby regions, most of northern China, most of Australia, parts of Northwest Africa, South Africa and parts of South America, with no rain in parts of above regions. Precipitation totals were above 30% more than average in most of Russia, western West Asia, parts of middle Asia, most of U.S.A, western Canada and parts of South America with center value about 100% ~200%.