Regional Classification of Intra-seasonal Fluctuations Appeared in Wintertime Daily Mean Temperature Change in East Asia by Cluster Analysis

Abstract

: In this study, the intra-seasonal fluctuation (ISF) of wintertime temperature change in East Asia was classified by a cluster analysis of complete linkage. A ISF of temperature change was defined as a difference of synthesized harmonics (1 to 36 harmonic) of daily temperature averaged for 30 years (1951~1980, 1981~2010). Eight clusters were gained from the ISF curves of 96 stations in East Asia. Regions of the cluster C, G and A1 seem to be affected by the Siberian High (SH) center, whereas the cluster A1, A2, D, B and F by the SH main pathways. Regions of the cluster E are apart from the SH main pathways and appear to be in the area of influence of other factors. Wintertime temperatures in Northwest China (clusters C, G) and Northeast China (cluster A1) were increased very largely. In most clusters, around late January there were less warming periods than the winter mean of the mean ISF of the clusters, before and after this time there were more warming periods than the winter mean.