Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of blocking patterns on the duration of frost waves across Iran, the minimum daily temperatures of 60 weather stations were collected from 20 March 1968 to 21 June 2014. The findings, which were obtained based on the distribution tables of reported temperatures and their frequency variation graphs, resulted in identifying 114 frost waves. We obtained the daily weather maps at 500 hPa from NCEP/NCAR during the peak days of durable frosts, and it was revealed that the formation of low pressures over 20°-70°E and the dominant southwest-northeast troughs at 500 hPa facilitated the influx of cold air from both eastern Europe and central Siberia toward Iran, leading to the average frost duration of 12.4 days. Furthermore, low-pressure centers appeared in a dipole pattern in northern Iran over Caspian Sea and created durable frosts with an average duration of 15.4 days. The effect of omega shaped pattern of the geopotential height on durable frosts demonstrated a sharp difference with two recent patterns leading to the frost occurrence with a 13.3-day duration averagely. Additionally, the slow speed of cold western currents in the rex type of blocking from 30° to 50°N caused durable frosts of 14.3 days. Also, we found a specific reduction in the frequency of blocking patterns, which has occurred in the past four decades. Mostly, the blocking and non-blocking patterns cause long- and short-duration frosts over Iran, respectively.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrei, S., and I. Roman, 2012: Severe weather phenomena in southern Romania in association with blocking circulation over Euro-Atlantic area during the cold season. Rom. Rep. Phys., 64, 246–262.
Antokhina, O. Y., P. N. Antokhin, E. V. Devyatova, et al., 2018: 2004-2016 wintertime atmospheric blocking events over western Siberia and their effect on surface temperature anomalies. Atmosphere, 9, 72, doi: 10.3390/atmos9020072.
Azizi, G., T. Akbari, M. Davudi, et al., 2008: A synoptic analysis of January 2008 severe cold in Iran. Phys. Geogr. Res. Quart., 41, 316942. (in Persian)
Azizi, G., M. Miri, and M. Rahimi, 2015: Identification of synoptic patterns influencing formation of temperature anomalies in Iran and Europe. Phys. Geogr. Res. Quart., 47, 91–104, doi: 10.22059/jphgr.2015.53680. (in Persian)
Barati, G. H., and M. Abrifam, 2007: Kermashah Province and precipitable air masses. Proc. Conference on Water Resources of Kermanshah Region, Kermanshah, 16 December, Ministry of Energy-Kermanshah Regional Water Authority, 268–279. (in Persian)
Barati, G. H., B. Alijani, and A. Moradian, 2012: Mid-tropospheric trough and severe frosts in Iran. J. Nat. Environ. Hazards, 1, 63–78, doi: 10.22111/jneh.2013.2456. (in Persian)
Barriopedro, D., R. García-Herrera, A. R. Lupo, et al., 2006: A climatology of Northern Hemisphere blocking. J. Climate, 19, 1042–1063, doi: 10.1175/JCLI3678.1.
Berrisford, P., B. J. Hoskins, and E. Tyrlis, 2007: Blocking and Rossby wave breaking on the dynamical tropopause in the Southern Hemisphere. J. Atmos. Sci., 64, 2881–2898, doi: 10.1175/JAS3984.1.
Cohen, J., J. A. Screen, J. C. Furtado, et al., 2014: Recent Arctic amplification and extreme mid-latitude weather. Nat. Geosci., 7, 627–637, doi: 10.1038/NGEO2234.
Croci-Maspoli, M., C. Schwierz, and H. C. Davies, 2007: A multifaceted climatology of atmospheric blocking and its recent linear trend. J. Climate, 20, 633–649, doi: 10.1175/JCLI 4029.1.
Darand, M., and S. A. Masoudian, 2015: Analysis and recognition of thickness anomaly patterns during extreme cold days in Iran. Geogr. Res., 30, 105–120. (in Persian)
Davini, P., C. Cagnazzo, P. G. Fogli, et al., 2014: European blocking and Atlantic jet stream variability in the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and the CMCC-CMS climate model. Climate Dyn., 43, 71–85, doi: 10.1007/s00382-013-1873-y.
Fatahi, E., and T. Salehi-Pak, 2009: A synoptic patterns analysis of winter freezing in Iran. Geogr. Dev., 13, 127–136, doi: 10.22111/gdij.2009.1232. (in Persian)
Ghavidel, Y., M. Farajzadeh, and S. Motalebzad, 2016: Statistical and synoptic analysis of cold waves in North West of Iran. Res. Geog. Sci., 16, 29–46. (in Persian)
Hong, C. C., and T. Li, 2009: The extreme cold anomaly over Southeast Asia in February 2008: Roles of ISO and ENSO. J. Climate, 22, 3786–3801, doi: 10.1175/2009JCLI2864.1.
Hozhbarpour, P. G., and B. Alijani, 2007: Frost synoptic analysing of Ardabil Province. Geogr. Dev., 10, 89–106. (in Persian)
Huang, F., X. Y. Tang, S. Y. Lou, et al., 2007: Evolution of dipole-type blocking life cycles: Analytical diagnoses and observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 64, 52–73, doi: 10.1175/JAS 3819.1.
Katsafados, P., A. Papadopoulos, G. Varlas, et al., 2014: Seasonal predictability of the 2010 Russian heat wave. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1531–1542, doi: 10.5194/nhess-14-1531- 2014.
Khosravi, M., N. Safarzaie, and M. Armesh, 2015: Synoptic analysis of winter frosts in Sistan region (Case study: The Frost January 2008). J. Geogr. Plan., 19, 113–140. (in Persian)
Kim, J. A., and H. R. Byun, 2016: Spatiotemporal variability of the latest frosts in Korean Peninsula and causes of atmospheric circulation. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 128, 663–675, doi: 10.1007/s00703-016-0439-z.
Lashkari, H., 2008: Synoptic analysis of surrounding cold wave 2003 in Iran. Phys. Geogr. Res., 66, 1–18.
Lashkari, H., and G. H. Keykhosravi, 2010: Synoptic analysis of January 8th-15th 2006 cold wave in Iran. Spat. Plan., 65, 151–177. (in Persian)
Lejenäs, H., 1989: The severe winter in Europe 1941-42: The large-scale circulation, cut-off lows, and blocking. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 70, 271–281, doi: 10.1175/1520-0477 (1989)070<0271:TSWIET>2.0.CO;2.
Leviäkangas, P., A. Tuominen, R. Molarius, et al., 2011: Extreme Weather Impacts on Transport Systems. VTT Working Papers 168, Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland, 145 pp.
Llasat, M. C., F. Martín, and A. Barrera, 2007: From the concept of “Kaltlufttropfen” (cold air pool) to the cut-off low. The case of September 1971 in Spain as an example of their role in heavy rainfalls. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 96, 43–60, doi: 10.1007/s00703-006-0220-9.
Masoudian, S. A., and M. Darand, 2013: Synoptic analysis of extensive and persistent frosts in Iran. Geogr. Environ. Plan. J., 50, 29–32. (in Persian)
Montazeri, M., and S. Masoudian, 2011: Temperature advection patterns analysis of Iran in cold years. Phys. Geog. Res., 42, 79–94. (in Persian)
Müller, A., P. Névir, L. Schielicke, et al., 2015: Applications of point vortex equilibria: Blocking events and the stability of the polar vortex. Tellus A: Dyn. Meteor. Oceanogr., 67, 29184, doi: 10.3402/tellusa.v67.29184.
Nascimento, E. D. L., and T. Ambrizzi, 2002: The influence of atmospheric blocking on the Rossby wave propagation in Southern Hemisphere winter flows. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 80, 139–159, doi: 10.2151/jmsj.80.139.
Nazari-Pour, H., and A. B. Rigi, 2016: Interaction between Scandinavian Low Pressure with Siberian-European and North West of Iran High Pressure Systems (Aggregate high pressure system) associated with frost wave event in Iran: 11 to 16 December 2003. Geogra. Terr. Spat. Arrang., 5, 103–118, doi: 10.22111/gaij.2016.2273. (in Persian)
Nieto, R., L. Gimeno, L. de la Torre, et al., 2005: Climatological features of cut off low systems in the Northern Hemisphere. J. Climate, 18, 3085–3103, doi: 10.1175/JCLI3386.1.
Omidvar, K., and A. Ebrahimi, 2012: The analysis of cold wave severity between 6 to 15 January 2008 in central provinces of Iran (Isfahan, Kerman and Yazd provinces). Geogr. Environ. Plan. J., 23, 81–98. (in Persian)
Park, T. W., C. H. Ho, and Y. Deng, 2014: A synoptic and dynamical characterization of wave-train and blocking cold surge over East Asia. Climate Dyn., 43, 753–770, doi: 10.1007/s00382-013-1817-6.
Peterson, T. C., R. R. Jr. Heim, R. Hirsch, et al., 2013: Monitoring and understanding changes in heat waves, cold waves, floods, and droughts in the United States: State of knowledge. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 94, 821–834, doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00066.1.
Pezza, A. B., and T. Ambrizzi, 2005: Cold waves in South America and freezing temperatures in São Paulo: Historical background (1888-2003) and case studies of cyclone and anticyclone tracks. Rev. Bras. de Meteorol., 20, 141–158.
Porebska, M., and M. Zdunek, 2013: Analysis of extreme temperature events in Central Europe related to high pressure blocking situations in 2001-2011. Meteor. Z., 22, 533–540, doi: 10.1127/0941-2948/2013/0455.
Rahimi, M., S. Hajjam, A. Khalili, et al., 2007: Risk analysis of first and last frost occurrences in the Central Alborz Region, Iran. Int. J. Climatol., 27, 349–356, doi: 10.1002/joc.1405.
Rousta, I., M. Doostkamian, E. Haghighi, et al., 2016: Statistical- synoptic analysis of the atmosphere thickness pattern of Iran’s pervasive frosts. Climate, 4, 41, doi: 10.3390/cli4030041.
Ruddell, D., D. Hoffman, O. Ahmad, et al., 2013: Historical threshold temperatures for Phoenix (urban) and Gila Bend (desert), central Arizona, USA. Climate Res., 55, 201–215, doi: 10.3354/cr01130.
Schoetter, R., J. Cattiaux, and H. Douville, 2015: Changes of western European heat wave characteristics projected by the CMIP5 ensemble. Climate Dyn., 45, 1601–1616, doi: 10. 1007/s00382-014-2434-8.
Sillmann, J., M. Croci-Maspoli, M. Kallache, et al., 2011: Extreme cold winter temperatures in Europe under the influence of North Atlantic atmospheric blocking. J. Climate, 24, 5899–5913, doi: 10.1175/2011JCLI4075.1.
Simmonds, I., and H. A. Rashid, 2001: An investigation of a dramatic cold outbreak over Southeast Australia. Aust. Meteor. Mag., 50, 249–261.
Snyder, R. L., and J. P. de Melo-Abreu, 2005: Frost Protection: Fundamentals, Practice, and Economics. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 181 pp.
Tomczyk, A. M., K. Szyga-Pluta, and A. Majkowska, 2015: Frost periods and frost-free periods in Poland and neighbouring countries. Open Geosci., 7, 812–823, doi: 10.1515/geo-2015- 0061.
Tyrlis, E., and B. J. Hoskins, 2008: Aspects of a Northern Hemisphere atmospheric blocking climatology. J. Atmos. Sci., 65, 1638–1652, doi: 10.1175/2007JAS2337.1.
Woollings, T., D. Barriopedro, J. Methven, et al., 2018: Blocking and its response to climate change. Curr. Climate Change Rep., 4, 287–300, doi: 10.1007/s40641-018-0108-z.
Yadav, R. K., 2016: On the relationship between Iran surface temperature and Northwest India summer monsoon rainfall. Int. J. Climatol., 36, 4425–4438, doi: 10.1002/joc.4648.
Yadav, R. K., 2017: Midlatitude Rossby wave modulation of the Indian summer monsoon. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 143, 2260–2271, doi: 10.1002/qj.3083.
Yadav, R. K., K. Rupa Kumar, and M. Rajeevan, 2009: Increasing influence of ENSO and decreasing influence of AO/NAO in the recent decades over Northwest India winter precipitation. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 114, D12112, doi: 10.1029/2008 JD011318.
Yadav, R. K., J. H. Yoo, F. Kucharski, et al., 2010: Why is ENSO influencing Northwest India winter precipitation in recent decades? J. Climate, 23, 1979–1993, doi: 10.1175/2009JCLI 3202.1.
Yadav, R. K., G. Srinivas, and J. S. Chowdary, 2018: Atlantic Niño modulation of the Indian summer monsoon through Asian jet. npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 1, 23, doi: 10.1038/s416 12-018-0029-5.
Yue, Y. J., Y. Zhou, J. A. Wang, et al., 2016: Assessing wheat frost risk with the support of GIS: An approach coupling a growing season meteorological index and a hybrid fuzzy neural network model. Sustainability, 8, 1308, doi: 10.3390/su8121308.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jafari Hombari, F., Barati, G. & Moradi, M. Evaluation of the Relationship between Blocking Patterns and Duration of Spring Frost Waves: The Case of Iran. J Meteorol Res 34, 586–600 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-020-9140-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-020-9140-8