Zeng et al. (2026) Synergistic Effects of Multi‐Timescale Atmospheric Teleconnections on Spring Monthly Droughts in Central‐Eastern China

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-26
• Authors: Z. M. Zeng, Jianqi Sun
• DOI: 10.1029/2025jd045846

Research Groups

Not specified in the abstract.

Short Summary

This study investigates spring monthly drought variations in central-eastern China (CEC) and the synergistic effects of multi-timescale atmospheric teleconnections. It finds that in-phase alignments of high-frequency and low-frequency teleconnections (SCA, WP, NAO) amplify specific atmospheric circulation anomalies, leading to decreased precipitation and increased potential evapotranspiration, thus causing pronounced droughts in the CEC.

Objective

• To investigate the spring monthly drought variations in central-eastern China (CEC) and the possible synergistic effects of multi-timescale atmospheric teleconnections on these droughts.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Central-eastern China (CEC), Lake Balkhash region, Japan region, Scandinavian region, West Pacific region, North Atlantic region (regional to hemispheric scale).
• Temporal Scale: Spring months (March, April, May), monthly variations, high-frequency and low-frequency atmospheric variations.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified in the abstract.
• Data sources: Not specified in the abstract (implied analysis of atmospheric circulation and climate variables).

Main Results

• During March, CEC drought conditions are jointly influenced by both high-frequency and low-frequency variations of the Scandinavian teleconnection (SCA).
• When these multi-timescale SCA variations align in phase, a reinforced dipole atmospheric circulation anomaly (high-pressure over Lake Balkhash and low-pressure over Japan) forms, causing decreased moisture and surface warming in the CEC, which favors less precipitation and more potential evapotranspiration, leading to pronounced droughts.
• When these SCA variations align out of phase, the dipole atmospheric circulation anomaly weakens significantly, resulting in normal conditions in the CEC.
• In April and May, high-frequency drought variations are associated with both the SCA and the West Pacific (WP) teleconnection, while low-frequency variations are modulated by the SCA and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).
• In-phase alignment of these multi-timescale atmospheric teleconnections (SCA, WP, NAO) can amplify the Lake Balkhash-Japan dipole atmospheric circulation, significantly influencing dry conditions in CEC by modulating local precipitation and evapotranspiration.
• Out-of-phase alignment of these teleconnections in April and May does not significantly affect drought conditions in the region.

Contributions

• Identifies the synergistic effects of multi-timescale (high-frequency and low-frequency) atmospheric teleconnections (SCA, WP, NAO) on spring monthly droughts in central-eastern China.
• Elucidates the specific atmospheric circulation mechanism (Lake Balkhash-Japan dipole anomaly) through which in-phase alignments of these teleconnections amplify drought conditions by impacting precipitation and evapotranspiration.
• Differentiates the dominant teleconnection influences and their multi-timescale characteristics across different spring months (March vs. April/May) for CEC droughts.

Funding

Not specified in the abstract.

Citation

@article{Zeng2026Synergistic,
  author = {Zeng, Z. M. and Sun, Jianqi},
  title = {Synergistic Effects of Multi‐Timescale Atmospheric Teleconnections on Spring Monthly Droughts in Central‐Eastern China},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2025jd045846},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jd045846}
}