Possible influence of Sudden Stratospheric Warmings on the atmospheric environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Abstract. Using the ERA5 and MERRA2 reanalyses, and surface meteorological observation data, this study explores the possible impact of the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events on the air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. As the duration of split SSW events is longer and the stratospheric signal pulses propagate further downward than displacement SSWs, subseasonal variability of the atmospheric particulates in the BTH is larger during split SSWs. The air particulate concentration is light before the SSW onset due to the enhanced perturbation in the troposphere associated with strengthened planetary waves. The air particulate concentration around the SSW onset dates begins to rise due to weakening of the tropospheric disturbance as the enhanced planetary waves enter the stratosphere. In the decaying period of the SSW, the air particulate concentration decreases as the stratospheric negative Northern Annular Mode (NAM) signal propagates downward. Specifically, in the pre-SSW period of displacement (split) SSW events, a wavenumber-1-like (wavenumber-2-like) anomaly pattern is strengthened. The East Asian Winter Monsoon intensifies as the east Asian trough is deepened especially before the split SSW event onset, leading to a cleaning period. Around the SSW onset period as the tropospheric perturbation diminishes and the East Asian winter monsoon weakens, a surge of air particulate concentration is observed. After the SSW onset, due to the downward propagation of the stratospheric negative NAM signal, cold anomalies form in the northeastern East Asia especially for the split SSWs, corresponding to a cleaning period in the BHT region. The local meteorological conditions during the SSWs are also discussed.