Impact of winter blocking on surface air temperature in East Asia: Ural versus Okhotsk blocking

Atmospheric blockings and their impacts on wintertime surface air temperature in East Asia are investigated by using three blocking indices. Blockings two specific regions that indirectly or directly modulate Asian climate variability analyzed: Ural (UR) over Asia’s northwest Okhotsk (OK) northeast. Both lead to cold anomalies but through slightly different mechanisms. In the typical case of UR blocking, associated with a mid-level trough develops east quasi-stationary slowly moves southeastward as Siberian high intensifies. Four days after onset, experiences significant cooling due advection anomalous gradient adiabatic cooling. During OK event, preexisting anomaly northern Eurasia is pushed westward expansion blocking. The meridional flow blocking-induced dipolar circulation North Pacific further reinforces Asia, minor contribution vertical processes. both types persists even decaying phase, an offset between diabatic heating.