Heavy Snowfall in Kanto and on the Pacific Ocean Side of Northern Japan Associated with Western Pacific Blocking

Yamazaki, A.; Honda, Meiji; Kuwano-Yoshida, Akira

doi:10.2151/sola.2015-013

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In this study, the characteristics of large-scale variabilities related to the P-, M-, and PM-type snowfalls will be evaluated. Similar studies on large-scale variabilities and local precipitation events have been conducted (Yamashita et al 2012;Yamazaki et al 2015;Ueda et al 2015); however, to the best of our knowledge, previous studies have not classified the large-scale (10 3 -10 4 km) characteristics that determine local snowfall distributions (10 -10 2 km). Our results will describe a dynamical connection between the global atmospheric variability and local precipitation, where the scale gap is ~ 10 2 km.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

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Regional Snowfall Distributions in a Japan-Sea Side Area of Japan Associated with Jet Variability and Blocking

Yamazaki

Honda

Kawase

2019

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

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This study found that regional snowfall distributions in a Japan-Sea side area of Japan are controlled by intraseasonal jet variability, particularly the 10-day-timescale quasi-stationary Rossby waves across the Eurasian continent and the atmospheric blocking over the East Asian region. This study was mainly focused on the Niigata area, which is representative of heavy snowfall areas in Japan. Based on previous studies, three types of dominant snowfall distributions were defined: (1) the plain (P) type, which is characterized by heavy snowfall events predominant in coastal regions of the Niigata area; (2) the mountain (M) type, which occurs in the mountainous regions; and (3) the PM type, which occurs across the whole Niigata area. Our results revealed that all distribution types were related to the southward shift of the westerly jet over Japan associated with an intensified trough, i.e., cyclonic anomalies, originating from quasi-stationary Rossby waves along westerly jets over Eurasia (Eurasian jets). The cyclonic anomalies were found to be also related to blocking cyclones because the frequency of blocking events considerably increased in the East Siberian region. The mechanisms leading to trough intensification were different among the events of the three snowfall types. The formation of Siberian blocking with relatively different positions and different paths of quasi-stationary Rossby wave packet propagation along Eurasian jets was evident in the distribution types. Therefore, local-scale snowfall distributions in the Japan-Sea side area are determined by anomalous large-scale circulations, which can be evidently distinguished in the global reanalysis data.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…This approach could be useful because large-scale (general circulation) fields generally have longer timescales and thus longer inherent predictability than mesoscale fields (cf. Inaba and Kodera 2010;Yamazaki et al 2015). The results of the general circulation forecasts could be used to predict local snowfall events.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional Snowfall Distributions in a Japan-Sea Side Area of Japan Associated with Jet Variability and Blocking

Yamazaki

Honda

Kawase

2019

Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan

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“…A strong blocking anticyclone maintained over the northwestern Pacific for about two weeks would contribute such synoptic conditions (e.g., Yamazaki et al 2015). Approaches from both global and local viewpoints are necessary for understanding of record heavy snowfall events (e.g., Tachibana et al 2007), also considering the Kuroshio path which would decide cyclone paths or intensification (Nakamura et al 2012;Hirata et al 2015).…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A blocking anticyclone developed over the northwestern Pacific which had an equivalent barotropic structure (Figs. 5a, c, and e) would effectively turn cyclones northward (Yamazaki et al 2015).…”

Section: Synoptic Conditions Related To Persistent Snowfallmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synoptic Conditions Causing an Extreme Snowfall Event in the Kanto-Koshin District of Japan on 14-15 February 2014

Honda

Yamazaki

Kuwano-Yoshida

et al. 2016

SOLA

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“…Extratropical cyclones often bring heavy precipitation in the midlatitudes, as revealed by case studies (Hardy et al, 2017;Honda et al, 2016;Lackmann, 2002;Lackmann & Gyakum, 1999;Yamamoto, 2012) and statistical studies (Catto et al, 2015;Catto & Pfahl, 2013;Hayasaki & Kawamura, 2012;Pfahl et al, 2014;Pfahl & Wernli, 2012;Utsumi et al, 2017;Yamazaki et al, 2015). In the vicinity of Japan, extratropical cyclones frequently develop around the Kuroshio warm current (Adachi & Kimura, 2007;Chen et al, 1991;Sanders & Gyakum, 1980;Yoshiike & Kawamura, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Role of the Kuroshio Current in the Formation of Frontal Structure of an Extratropical Cyclone Associated with Heavy Precipitation

et al. 2019

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In this study, the authors examined how the Kuroshio Current affected the frontal structure of an extratropical cyclone associated with heavy precipitation. We focused on an extratropical cyclone and related heavy precipitation on Miyake Island, which is situated near the Kuroshio Current, in January 2017. We first investigated the frontal structure and the attendant precipitation using observational data and objective analysis data. As the cyclone grew around the Kuroshio Current, a nonclassic front (outer front) intensified to the north of a warm front. A line‐shaped precipitation band developed along the outer front, contributing to the heavy precipitation on Miyake Island. The outer front lay along a sea surface temperature (SST) front associated with the Kuroshio Current in its early life stage. To clarify the impact of the SST front on the formation of the incipient outer front, we next conducted cloud‐resolving numerical experiments using SST distributions with and without the oceanic frontal structure. In the real SST experiment, sensible heat supply from the Kuroshio Current was large, while the amount from the ocean on the northern side of the warm current was small. This meridional difference in sensible heating caused frontogenesis along the SST front, which created the incipient front. Consequently, the real SST experiment reproduced the formation of the front. In contrast, the SST sensitivity experiments did not simulate such a sensible heating pattern or front formation. Thus, the Kuroshio Current played a key role in forming the incipient outer front and contributed to the heavy precipitation.

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Heavy Snowfall in Kanto and on the Pacific Ocean Side of Northern Japan Associated with Western Pacific Blocking

Cited by 19 publications

References 11 publications

Regional Snowfall Distributions in a Japan-Sea Side Area of Japan Associated with Jet Variability and Blocking

Regional Snowfall Distributions in a Japan-Sea Side Area of Japan Associated with Jet Variability and Blocking

Synoptic Conditions Causing an Extreme Snowfall Event in the Kanto-Koshin District of Japan on 14-15 February 2014

Key Role of the Kuroshio Current in the Formation of Frontal Structure of an Extratropical Cyclone Associated with Heavy Precipitation

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