Climatic Characteristics of Extreme Maximum Temperature and its Causes in East China
华东极端高温气候特征及成因分析

The temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the frequency of extreme maximum temperature (EMT) days as well as mean maximum temperature (MMT) during the EMT days in East China have been analyzed by using daily maximum surface air temperature from 1960 to 2005, the West Pacific subtropical high intensity and area index, the equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature and the number of landfall typhoons. The results show that the EMT days and the MMT during the EMT days have large temporal variation and regional difference. In the past 45 years, the EMT days show more-less-more inter-decadal variability and the MMT during the EMT days has a higher-lower-higher inter-decadal variability. There are more EMT days in the south-central and southwest parts of East China, and less in the east coastland area and north part. The MMT during the EMT days is relatively higher in the most part of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces in the middle and west parts of East China. In addition, the EMT days and the MMT during the EMT days show different type and timing of jump change. In East China, particularly, in its southern part, the EMT days are positively correlated with the West Pacific subtropical high intensity and area index, the Ni o4 4 SST in the last half part of previous year, and the number of landfall typhoons in China. Urbanization also increases the frequency of EMT days.