Heavy Rainfall Japan August 2021 Linked

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Heavy rainfall in Japan during August 2021 was caused by the co-amplification of atmospheric fluctuations in the tropical and extratropical regions. This phenomenon is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of strong positive anomalies in the tropical Pacific and strong negative anomalies in the North Pacific. The study found that the co-amplification of these fluctuations led to the formation of a stagnant rain front over Japan, resulting in persistent heavy rainfall.

Heavy Rainfall Japan August 2021: Unveiling the Co-amplification of Atmospheric Fluctuations

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Published on: August 14, 2021 Description: More than a million people have been urged to seek shelter as torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in western Japan, ...

Heavy rain in Japan triggers floods and landslides

Earlier this year, Japan experienced record-breaking natural disasters due to persistent heavy rainfall in August 2021. Scientists have been investigating the mechanisms behind this extreme weather event, and their findings shed light on the complex interplay between tropical and extratropical atmospheric fluctuations.

Heavy Rainfall Japan August 2021: Remote Influences: A Tale of Two Regions

During the heavy rainfall, three high/low-pressure systems aligned in a north-south direction over Japan: the Okhotsk high, the trough over the Korean Peninsula, and the northwestern Pacific subtropical high. These systems were unusually intense, leading to persistent heavy rainfall.

Scientists discovered that remote influences from both tropical and extratropical regions played a role in the formation and maintenance of these pressure systems. In the tropics, cumulus convection, or the formation of clouds and thunderstorms, enhanced the northwestern Pacific subtropical high. In the extratropics, an upper-tropospheric blocking high, a large and persistent area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, and a near-surface atmospheric flow induced by an upper-tropospheric anticyclone, or high-pressure system, contributed to the concentration of a small cutoff low near the Korean Peninsula.

Heavy Rainfall Japan August 2021: Co-amplification: A Perfect Storm

The joint action of these tropical and extratropical variations led to a co-amplification of the three pressure systems, resulting in a concentration of water vapor and updrafts around Japan. This atmospheric setup favored persistent heavy rainfall, leading to the widespread natural disasters observed in August 2021.

Scientists believe that understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of the northwestern Pacific subtropical high is crucial in predicting extreme weather events and improving the accuracy of seasonal forecasts. By unraveling the complex interactions between tropical and extratropical atmospheric fluctuations, meteorologists can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of subtropical climate and better prepare for future extreme weather events.

Heavy Rainfall Japan August 2021: The Road Ahead: Unraveling Subtropical Climate Dynamics

The study of the heavy rainfall in Japan in August 2021 marks a significant step forward in understanding subtropical climate dynamics. By focusing on wave dynamics in the tropics and quasi-geostrophic dynamics in the extratropics, scientists are gaining a deeper understanding of the factors that lead to large-scale atmospheric flows and extreme weather events.

Further investigations into these factors will contribute to improved weather forecasting and climate modeling, ultimately benefiting communities worldwide in preparing for and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events.

FAQ’s

1. What caused the record-breaking heavy rainfall in Japan in August 2021?

The heavy rainfall was a result of the co-amplification of three high/low-pressure systems over Japan: the Okhotsk high, the trough over the Korean Peninsula, and the northwestern Pacific subtropical high. These systems were unusually intense, leading to persistent heavy rainfall.

2. What role did remote influences play in the formation and maintenance of the pressure systems?

Remote influences from both tropical and extratropical regions contributed to the formation and maintenance of the pressure systems. In the tropics, cumulus convection enhanced the northwestern Pacific subtropical high, while in the extratropics, an upper-tropospheric blocking high and a near-surface atmospheric flow induced by an upper-tropospheric anticyclone contributed to the concentration of a small cutoff low near the Korean Peninsula.

3. How did the joint action of tropical and extratropical variations lead to persistent heavy rainfall?

4. Why is understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of the northwestern Pacific subtropical high crucial?

Understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of the northwestern Pacific subtropical high is crucial in predicting extreme weather events and improving the accuracy of seasonal forecasts. By unraveling the complex interactions between tropical and extratropical atmospheric fluctuations, meteorologists can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of subtropical climate and better prepare for future extreme weather events.

5. How can further investigations into the factors that lead to large-scale atmospheric flows and extreme weather events benefit communities worldwide?

Links to additional Resources:

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-22893-7 2. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jmsj/99/10/99_10_1049/_article/-char/ja/ 3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169809522002745?dgcid=coauthor.