Seasonal Highlights

Climate in China

During the boreal autumn (September-November), most China experienced a warmer season. Seasonal mean surface air temperatures were 1-2℃ above normal in most Northwestern China, most Inner Mongolia, middle-northern Heilongjiang, central Henan, central Hubei, southern Jiangsu, southwestern Yunnan and most Xizang, with temperatures 2-3℃ above normal in some regions of Xinjiang.

For the autumn, precipitation was more than normal in China with uneven distribution of more in the north and less in the south. Precipitations were observed 30%-200% more than normal in most Northwest China, northern North China, southern Northeast China, most Inner Mongolia, most Xizang, southeastern Fujian, most Guangdong and eastern Hainan, with over 200% above normal in locations. Precipitations were 30-50% below normal in most Heilongjiang, northeastern Inner Mongolia, locations of northern Xinjiang and Xizang.

World Climate

During the boreal autumn, most of the world experienced a warmer season. Mean surface air temperatures were observed at least 0.5℃ above normal in most Asia, eastern Europe, most Africa, western Australia, most North America and eastern Brazil, with temperatures 2-4℃ above normal in southern East Europe, West Asia, Central Asia, northern East Asia, most West Siberia, far east of Russia, northern North America and eastern Sahara, with temperatures 4-6℃ above normal in some regions. At the same time, temperatures were 0.5-1℃ below normal in North Europe and middle-eastern Australia, with 1-4℃ below normal in central Australia.

For the season, precipitations were observed near normal in most of the world. Precipitations were at least 30% more than average in central Europe, southern Central Asia, most South Asia, northern East Asia, locations of Russia, most West Africa, most Australia, parts of North America and locations of South America, with over 100% above normal in middle-northern East Asia, eastern Australia and eastern West Africa. In the meantime, precipitations were observed 30-80% below normal in northern East Asia, northwestern South Asia, North Europe, parts of Africa, locations of North America and South America.

General Circulation Features

Northern Hemisphere: During the autumn of 2010, in the mean 500hPa height anomaly field, positive anomalies dominated most of mid-high latitudes. Above 4 dam positive height anomalies covered northeastern Canada, Greenland, most of the Arctic, northern West Asia and Central Asia, with central values above 8 dam over northeastern Canada and Greenland. Meanwhile, negative anomalies with the center below -4 dam dominated middle-western Europe.

Southern Hemisphere: The circulation mainly showed a positive phase of the Antarctic oscillation in the season. In the mean 500hPa height anomaly field, negative anomalies below -4 dam covered the southeast Pacific Basin, with central values below -12 dam over the West Antarctica. Meanwhile, positive anomalies above 4 dam circled over most of mid-high latitudes, with central values above 12 dam over oceans in the southern South Atlantic Ocean.