Long-term Variability of Rossby Wave Breaking in the Subtropical Jet Stream Area

Climatology and variability of anticyclonic (AC-type) and cyclonic (C-type) wave breaking in the region of the subtropical jet stream are investigated using the previously developed method for identifying and clustering Rossby wave breaking events. Potential vorticity at an isentropic surface of 350 K from the ERA-Interim and ERA5 reanalyses are used. The results of applying the methods for the two reanalyses are similar. However, there is a high inconsistency for cyclonic wave breaking events, especially in summer. The maximum for both types of wave breaking is registered in summer. There are two main maximum areas for the AC type: Atlantic and Pacific. A specific feature of the C type is the climatic maximum in East Asia, probably due to the summer development of the East Asian monsoon. The intensity of the AC-type wave breaking for the entire Northern Hemisphere during the year demonstrates a positive trend. Seasonal changes of the AC type were also consistent for the two reanalyses, global changes are less consistent for cyclonic wave breakings, and significant trends are basically absent. The regional analysis revealed that the frequency of AC-type wave breaking in summer decreases over the Eastern Atlantic and increases over Europe. The agreed and possibly related changes in the AC and C types are recorded in the Asia-Pacific. In summer, there is a decrease in the C-type occurrence over East Asia and an increase in the AC-type occurrence over the Eastern Pacific. However, these changes were found only for the ERA-Interim and require further analysis and interpretation.