Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5763-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5763-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Seasonality of the Quasi-biennial Oscillation signal in water vapor in the tropical stratosphere
Qian Lu
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters/Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Department of Basic Education, Tangshan University, Tangshan 063000, China
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters/Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Chunhua Shi
Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters/Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Chaim I. Garfinkel
Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
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Zefan Ju, Jian Rao, Yue Wang, Junfeng Yang, and Qian Lu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14903–14918, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14903-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14903-2023, 2023
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In the paper, we explored the impact of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) on East China summer rainfall variability. It is novel to find that the combined impact of MJO and QBO is not maximized when the QBO and MJO are in phase to enhance (or suppress) the tropical convection.
Qian Lu, Jian Rao, Chunhua Shi, Dong Guo, Guiqin Fu, Ji Wang, and Zhuoqi Liang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13087–13102, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13087-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13087-2022, 2022
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Existing evidence mainly focuses on the possible impact of tropospheric climate anomalies on the regional air pollutions, but few studies pay attention to the impact of stratospheric changes on haze pollutions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region. Our study reveals the linkage between the stratospheric variability and the regional atmospheric environment. The downward-propagating stratospheric signals might have a cleaning effect on the atmospheric environment in the BTH region.
Chaim I. Garfinkel, Tiffany Shaw, Benny Keller, Edwin P. Gerber, Ian P. White, Martin Jucker, Wuhan Ning, Ori Adam, and Siming Liu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1767, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1767, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
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Midlatitude storm tracks are stronger over ocean basins than continents, and also stronger in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. It is still not clear how Earth's land-ocean distribution, ocean heat transport, and orography, set up this structure. We use an intermediate complexity moist general circulation model to reveal substantial non-additivities in the response to these inhomogeneities, and then diagnose why.
Hongbin Chen, Jian Rao, Seok-Woo Son, Bin Guan, and Mengxin Pan
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-836, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-836, 2026
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We present a global atmospheric river (AR) database derived from ERA5 reanalysis (1940–2024). By employing a novel multi-method fusion algorithm, this database provides AR identification results at a horizontal resolution of 1° × 1° and a temporal resolution of 6 hours. Characterized by enhanced algorithmic robustness and extensive temporal coverage, it offers a valuable resource for further weather and climate research.
Rongzhao Lu and Jian Rao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 3723–3742, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3723-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3723-2026, 2026
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The downward impact of sudden stratospheric warming events (SSWs) on the troposphere is still controversial. We further classify downward-propagating SSWs (DWs) into three types that are followed by cold surges over Eurasia (EA), over North America (NA), and over both (BOTH), respectively. This study reveals the diversity of the DWs and distinguishes their potential impact on both continents in the Northern Hemisphere.
Chaim I. Garfinkel, David Avisar, Scott M. Osprey, Doug Smith, Jian Rao, and Jonathon S. Wright
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-759, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-759, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
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The Quasi-biennial Oscillation (QBO) dominates variability in the tropical stratosphere, & it impacts surface climate in several parts of the world. However, climate models have been shown to systematically under-estimate the influence of the QBO. Here, we re-evaluate this finding using much larger ensemble sizes than have been previously available based on four separate models. We find that the models are comparatively more successful in capturing QBO influences than reported by previous work.
Blanca Ayarzagüena, Amy H. Butler, Peter Hitchcock, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Zac D. Lawrence, Wuhan Ning, Philip Rupp, Zheng Wu, Hilla Afargan-Gerstman, Natalia Calvo, Alvaro de la Cámara, Martin Jucker, Gerbrand Koren, Daniel De Maeseneire, Gloria L. Manney, Marisol Osman, Masakazu Taguchi, Cory Barton, Dong-Chan Hong, Yu-Kyung Hyun, Hera Kim, Jeff Knight, Piero Malguzzi, Daniele Mastrangelo, Jiyoung Oh, Inna Polichtchouk, Jadwiga H. Richter, Isla R. Simpson, Seok-Woo Son, Damien Specq, and Tim Stockdale
Weather Clim. Dynam., 7, 411–437, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-411-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-411-2026, 2026
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Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSWs) are known to follow a sustained wave dissipation in the stratosphere, which depends on both the tropospheric and stratospheric states. However, the relative role of each state is still unclear. Using a new set of subseasonal to seasonal forecasts, we show that the stratospheric state does not drastically affect the precursors of three recent SSWs, but modulates the stratospheric wave activity, with impacts depending on SSW features.
William J. M. Seviour, Justin Finkel, Philip Rupp, Regan Mudhar, Amy H. Butler, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Peter Hitchcock, Blanca Ayarzagüena, Dong-Chan Hong, Yu-Kyung Hyun, Hera Kim, Eun-Pa Lim, Daniel De Maeseneire, Gabriele Messori, Gerbrand Koren, Michael Sigmond, Isla R. Simpson, and Seok-Woo Son
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-230, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-230, 2026
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Variability of the stratospheric polar vortex is thought to play a role in driving weather extremes, but quantifying this role for a given event has proved challenging. Using a new set of perturbed subseasonal forecast experiments from 7 modelling centres we determine the stratospheric contribution to the risk and severity of three recent extreme weather events. The forecast-based methodology that we develop is applicable to understanding a range of other drivers of weather extremes.
Wuhan Ning, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Judah Cohen, Ian P. White, and Jian Rao
Weather Clim. Dynam., 7, 277–295, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-277-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-277-2026, 2026
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Whether the zonal structure of a polar vortex matters for surface climate is an open question, with much observational work showing a role but with limited modeling work and demonstration of a causal influence. Here, we isolate this influence using a moist general circulation model. We find that the surface responses differ qualitatively depending on the zonal asymmetries of the shifted polar vortex and concurrently occurring wave reflection events, and provide a mechanistic explanation for why.
Cristiana Stan, Saisri Kollapaneni, Andrea M. Jenney, Jiabao Wang, Zheng Wu, Cheng Zheng, Hyemi Kim, Chaim I. Garfinkel, and Ayush Singh
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 7969–7985, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7969-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7969-2025, 2025
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The diagnostics package is an open-source Python software package used for evaluating the Madden–Julian Oscillation teleconnections to the extratropics, as predicted by subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecast systems.
David Avisar and Chaim I. Garfinkel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4287, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4287, 2025
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We use the Large Ensemble Single Forcing simulations to assess the role of individual forcings to the Mediterranean drying and to clarify the dynamical origin of the model’s prediction variability. A more pronounced North Atlantic warming hole, a stronger stratospheric polar vortex, and a larger poleward shift of the subtropical jet correlate with a stronger drying trend. Aerosols had a detectable influence on Mediterranean climate. Hence, their removal may have an impact in future decades.
Ying Dai, Peter Hitchcock, Amy H. Butler, Chaim I. Garfinkel, and William J. M. Seviour
Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 841–862, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-841-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-841-2025, 2025
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Using a new database of subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasts, we find that with a successful forecast of the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW), S2S models can capture the European precipitation signals after the 2018 SSW several weeks in advance. The findings indicate that the stratosphere represents an important source of S2S predictability for precipitation over Europe and call for consideration of stratospheric variability in hydrological prediction at S2S timescales.
Chaim I. Garfinkel, Zachary D. Lawrence, Amy H. Butler, Etienne Dunn-Sigouin, Irene Erner, Alexey Y. Karpechko, Gerbrand Koren, Marta Abalos, Blanca Ayarzagüena, David Barriopedro, Natalia Calvo, Alvaro de la Cámara, Andrew Charlton-Perez, Judah Cohen, Daniela I. V. Domeisen, Javier García-Serrano, Neil P. Hindley, Martin Jucker, Hera Kim, Robert W. Lee, Simon H. Lee, Marisol Osman, Froila M. Palmeiro, Inna Polichtchouk, Jian Rao, Jadwiga H. Richter, Chen Schwartz, Seok-Woo Son, Masakazu Taguchi, Nicholas L. Tyrrell, Corwin J. Wright, and Rachel W.-Y. Wu
Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 171–195, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-171-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-171-2025, 2025
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Variability in the extratropical stratosphere and troposphere is coupled, and because of the longer timescales characteristic of the stratosphere, this allows for a window of opportunity for surface prediction. This paper assesses whether models used for operational prediction capture these coupling processes accurately. We find that most processes are too weak; however downward coupling from the lower stratosphere to the near surface is too strong.
Rongzhao Lu and Jian Rao
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2179, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2179, 2024
Preprint archived
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The SSWs are classified into downward-propagating (DW) SSWs with noticeable impacts on the troposphere and non-downward-propagating (NDW). The DW events are further classified into three types. This study improves our understanding of the diversity of the SSWs.
Zefan Ju, Jian Rao, Yue Wang, Junfeng Yang, and Qian Lu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 14903–14918, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14903-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-14903-2023, 2023
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In the paper, we explored the impact of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) on East China summer rainfall variability. It is novel to find that the combined impact of MJO and QBO is not maximized when the QBO and MJO are in phase to enhance (or suppress) the tropical convection.
Yuan Xia, Jing Jiao, Satonori Nozawa, Xuewu Cheng, Jihong Wang, Chunhua Shi, Lifang Du, Yajuan Li, Haoran Zheng, Faquan Li, and Guotao Yang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13817–13831, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13817-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13817-2022, 2022
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The layer of sodium atoms is generally located above 80 km. This study reports the significant enhancements of the sodium layer below 75 km where sodium atoms are short-lived. The neutral chemical reactions were suggested as making a critical contribution. The reported results provide clear observational evidence for the role of planetary waves in the variation of metal layers, and have implications for the response of the metal layers to perturbations in the lower atmosphere.
Qian Lu, Jian Rao, Chunhua Shi, Dong Guo, Guiqin Fu, Ji Wang, and Zhuoqi Liang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13087–13102, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13087-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13087-2022, 2022
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Existing evidence mainly focuses on the possible impact of tropospheric climate anomalies on the regional air pollutions, but few studies pay attention to the impact of stratospheric changes on haze pollutions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region. Our study reveals the linkage between the stratospheric variability and the regional atmospheric environment. The downward-propagating stratospheric signals might have a cleaning effect on the atmospheric environment in the BTH region.
Zachary D. Lawrence, Marta Abalos, Blanca Ayarzagüena, David Barriopedro, Amy H. Butler, Natalia Calvo, Alvaro de la Cámara, Andrew Charlton-Perez, Daniela I. V. Domeisen, Etienne Dunn-Sigouin, Javier García-Serrano, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Neil P. Hindley, Liwei Jia, Martin Jucker, Alexey Y. Karpechko, Hera Kim, Andrea L. Lang, Simon H. Lee, Pu Lin, Marisol Osman, Froila M. Palmeiro, Judith Perlwitz, Inna Polichtchouk, Jadwiga H. Richter, Chen Schwartz, Seok-Woo Son, Irene Erner, Masakazu Taguchi, Nicholas L. Tyrrell, Corwin J. Wright, and Rachel W.-Y. Wu
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 977–1001, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-977-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-977-2022, 2022
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Forecast models that are used to predict weather often struggle to represent the Earth’s stratosphere. This may impact their ability to predict surface weather weeks in advance, on subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) timescales. We use data from many S2S forecast systems to characterize and compare the stratospheric biases present in such forecast models. These models have many similar stratospheric biases, but they tend to be worse in systems with low model tops located within the stratosphere.
Peter Hitchcock, Amy Butler, Andrew Charlton-Perez, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Tim Stockdale, James Anstey, Dann Mitchell, Daniela I. V. Domeisen, Tongwen Wu, Yixiong Lu, Daniele Mastrangelo, Piero Malguzzi, Hai Lin, Ryan Muncaster, Bill Merryfield, Michael Sigmond, Baoqiang Xiang, Liwei Jia, Yu-Kyung Hyun, Jiyoung Oh, Damien Specq, Isla R. Simpson, Jadwiga H. Richter, Cory Barton, Jeff Knight, Eun-Pa Lim, and Harry Hendon
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 5073–5092, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-5073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-5073-2022, 2022
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This paper describes an experimental protocol focused on sudden stratospheric warmings to be carried out by subseasonal forecast modeling centers. These will allow for inter-model comparisons of these major disruptions to the stratospheric polar vortex and their impacts on the near-surface flow. The protocol will lead to new insights into the contribution of the stratosphere to subseasonal forecast skill and new approaches to the dynamical attribution of extreme events.
Chen Schwartz, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Priyanka Yadav, Wen Chen, and Daniela I. V. Domeisen
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 679–692, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-679-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-679-2022, 2022
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Eleven operational forecast models that run on subseasonal timescales (up to 2 months) are examined to assess errors in their simulated large-scale stationary waves in the Northern Hemisphere winter. We found that models with a more finely resolved stratosphere generally do better in simulating the waves in both the stratosphere (10–50 km) and troposphere below. Moreover, a connection exists between errors in simulated time-mean convection in tropical regions and errors in the simulated waves.
Shlomi Ziskin Ziv, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Sean Davis, and Antara Banerjee
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 7523–7538, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7523-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7523-2022, 2022
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Stratospheric water vapor is important for Earth's overall greenhouse effect and for ozone chemistry; however the factors governing its variability on interannual timescales are not fully known, and previous modeling studies have indicated that models struggle to capture this interannual variability. We demonstrate that nonlinear interactions are important for determining overall water vapor concentrations and also that models have improved in their ability to capture these connections.
Adam A. Scaife, Mark P. Baldwin, Amy H. Butler, Andrew J. Charlton-Perez, Daniela I. V. Domeisen, Chaim I. Garfinkel, Steven C. Hardiman, Peter Haynes, Alexey Yu Karpechko, Eun-Pa Lim, Shunsuke Noguchi, Judith Perlwitz, Lorenzo Polvani, Jadwiga H. Richter, John Scinocca, Michael Sigmond, Theodore G. Shepherd, Seok-Woo Son, and David W. J. Thompson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2601–2623, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2601-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2601-2022, 2022
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Great progress has been made in computer modelling and simulation of the whole climate system, including the stratosphere. Since the late 20th century we also gained a much clearer understanding of how the stratosphere interacts with the lower atmosphere. The latest generation of numerical prediction systems now explicitly represents the stratosphere and its interaction with surface climate, and here we review its role in long-range predictions and projections from weeks to decades ahead.
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Short summary
Stratospheric water vapor has an impact on global temperature changes. Tropical stratospheric water vapor exhibits a clear imprint of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO). This study compares the water vapor variations associated with the QBO between boreal winter and summer, and the seasonal difference in the stratospheric water vapor distribution under different QBO phases is revealed.
Stratospheric water vapor has an impact on global temperature changes. Tropical stratospheric...
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