Open AccessDynamical response of atmospheric circulation to below-normal East Sea sea surface temperatures associated with heavy snowfall in eastern Korea
Author(s) -
Taekyun Kim,
Yoonjae Kim,
JaeHong Moon,
Emilia Kyung Jin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
environmental research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.37
H-Index - 124
ISSN - 1748-9326
DOI - 10.1088/1748-9326/ab8dd9
Subject(s) - snow , climatology , atmosphere (unit) , sea surface temperature , environmental science , atmospheric circulation , atmospheric sciences , flux (metallurgy) , geology , atmospheric model , oceanography , meteorology , geography , materials science , geomorphology , metallurgy
Prior studies have shown that above-normal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) enhance snowfall over Korea. Here, we show that heavy snow is also associated with below-normal East Sea SSTs, and we investigate the dynamical response of the atmosphere to this surface condition using observations and numerical modeling. The results indicate that anomalous southeasterly/easterly winds are induced by heavy snowfall-related cold SST anomalies, and consequently, the moisture flux is converged. The existence of the southeasterly winds and the accompanied moisture flux convergence appear to be instrumental in producing the heavy snowfall events. The anomalous southeasterly/easterly winds associated with heavy snowfall-related cold SST anomalies reduce the climatological northwesterly/westerly winds, leading to relatively warm and wet conditions over the east coast of Korea that are favorable for forming and intensifying snowfall events in the region.