Advances in Earth Science

   

Impact and Mechanisms of Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity in Anthropogenic Aerosol Forcing on the Summer Extreme High Temperature Trends in China

Shen Zhan1, 2, Wang Hai1, 2*#br#   

  1. (1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; 2. College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China)
  • About author:Shen Zhan, research areas include climate effects of anthropogenic aerosol forcing. E-mail: szhan2001@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by International Cooperation and Exchange Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42011540386).

Shen Zhan, Wang Hai. Impact and Mechanisms of Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity in Anthropogenic Aerosol Forcing on the Summer Extreme High Temperature Trends in China[J]. Advances in Earth Science, DOI: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2026.003.

Abstract:Observational data indicate that, against the backdrop of global warming, extreme hightemperature events in China have increased significantly over the past few decades. Clarifying the differential mechanisms by which anthropogenic aerosols from different regions influence this trend in China is of great importance for predicting future changes. Based on the historical simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), including all-forcing, anthropogenic aerosol single-forcing, and greenhouse gas single-forcing experiments, the influence of anthropogenic aerosol emissions from different regions on the trends of extreme high temperature in China and the underlying physical mechanisms are systematically investigated. The study reveals that during 1950-1979, increased anthropogenic aerosol emissions in both East Asia and Europecollectively contributed to a reduction trend in the extreme high temperature in China. East Asian aerosols primarily induced surface cooling by reflecting and scattering shortwave radiation. While European aerosols modified the thermal structure of the atmosphere in the source region, triggering an eastward-propagate atmospheric wave train, resulting in upper-level convergence, negativegeopotential height anomalies, and cold advection associated with northerlies in East Asia. During 1980-2009, the reduction in European anthropogenic aerosol emissions excited an anti-phase atmospheric teleconnection pattern, leading to the upper-level divergence, positive geopotential height anomalies, and warm advection associated with southerlies in East Asia. This counteracted the cooling effect induced by the continuous increased in East Asian aerosol emissions in northern China, resulting in an “increase in the north and decrease in the south” spatial pattern of the extreme high temperature trends. After 2010, the combined effect of reduced anthropogenic aerosol emissions in both East Asia and Europe further accelerated the increase trend of the extreme high temperature in China. The study clearly elucidates the fundamental differences in the mechanisms by which anthropogenic aerosol forcing from different regions influences the extreme high temperature changes in China: East Asian aerosols primarily exert a direct impact by altering local radiative forcing, whereas European aerosols indirectly modulate the extreme high temperature trends by influencing East Asian atmospheric circulation through remote atmospheric teleconnection processes. These findings enhance the understanding of the remote climatic effects of anthropogenic aerosol forcing and provide a theoretical basis for improving future predictions of the extreme high temperature events.
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