Analysis of High and Low Rossby Wave Phase Speed Events Over Northern Mid-Latitudes

Abstract: The large-scale, mid-latitude circulation in the upper troposphere is dominated by Rossby waves. The jet stream flows along the wave structure and surface cyclones can be found ahead of the troughs of the waves, propagating eastward. This propagation is here estimated as the zonal phase speed which is quantified using spectral analysis, producing a unique, global daily value for each day of the winter season (DJF) between 1979 and 2019. From this data set phase speed events are defined as periods of more than four consecutive days of the top or bottom 5\% phase speed values, resulting in 15 low phase speed events and 22 high phase speed events. During events of low phase speed the 2m temperature is higher than the climatology at high latitudes and lower over Europe and Siberia. Zonal wind speed at 10m and 250hPa is also found to be lower than the climatology over both the Pacific and Atlantic storm track. Furthermore, low phase speed events are found to be occurring when blocking is present on either one or both storm tracks. During high phase speed events there is an overall increase in zonal wind speed both at 10m and 250hPa over both storm tracks as well as total magnitude of wind over western Europe. These findings suggest a link of high phase speed events to windstorms over Europe. A subjective classification indicates that at the onset of high phase speed events blocking is found mainly in two regions, one at high latitudes outside the Siberian coast and one at low latitudes outside the coast of Japan, suggesting enhanced temperature gradients at the entrance of the Pacific could cause these events.