Record-breaking heatwave in North China during the midsummer of 2023

Abstract

In midsummer 2023, a record-breaking extreme heatwave hit North China, causing significant impacts on people's daily lives and production. This study comprehensively analysed the unique features of this extreme event based on five indices describing the intensity, frequency and impact range. The results show that four of these indices broke the historical record in 2023, and the spatial extent (T_max >40°C) is the second highest in history. The number of hot days with T_max >40°C (T_max >35°C) even reached 23 times (4.2 times) the normal. The combined results of these five indices undoubtedly indicate that this heatwave event is featured by high intensity, long duration, numerous extremely hot days and wide impact range. Furthermore, physical mechanism study revealed that the abnormally warm high-pressure system persisted in dominating North China, resulting in descending airflow and temperature increases. The enhanced and unprecedented westward extending Western North Pacific Subtropical High, the enhanced and eastward extending Iran Subtropical High and the abnormal high-pressure over southwestern China form an east–west connected anomalous high-pressure zone, blocking the water vapour transport from lower latitude oceans to North China. Noticeably, North China has experienced a reduction in precipitation since about 2 months preceding this extreme heatwave, leading to severe soil moisture deficiency and reduced evaporation. Consequently, it increased surface sensible heat flux that led to a rise in temperature. This local land-atmosphere positive feedback mechanism plays a crucial role in the intensification and maintenance of this extreme heatwave event.