Linkage Between European and East Asian Heatwaves on Synoptic Scales

Concurrent extreme weather events in geographically distant areas potentially cause high-end risks for societies. By using network analysis, the present study managed to identify significant nearly-simultaneous occurrences of heatwaves between the grid cells in East Asia and Eastern Europe, even though they are geographically far away from each other. By further composite analysis, this study revealed that hot events first occurred in Eastern Europe, typically with a time lag of 3–4 days before the East Asian heatwave events. An eastward propagating atmospheric wave train, known as the circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) pattern, bridged the sequent occurrences of extreme events in these two remote regions. Atmospheric blockings, amplified by surface warming over Eastern Europe, not only enhanced local heat extremes but also excited a CGT-like pattern characterized by alternative anomalies of high and low pressures. Subsequent downstream anticyclones in the middle and upper troposphere reduced local cloud cover and increased downward solar radiation, thereby facilitating the formation of heatwaves over East Asia. Nearly half of East Asian heatwave events were preceded by Eastern European heatwave events in the 10-day time range before East Asian heatwave events. This investigation of heatwave teleconnection in the two distant regions exhibits strong potential to improve the prediction accuracy of East Asian heatwaves.