Abstract:

This study used Chinese winter temperature data, the monthly Arctic sea ice concentration index from
the China Meteorological Bureau, and NCEP/NCAR circulation reanalysis data to investigate the effects of
Arctic sea ice on winter temperatures in China using sliding, time-delay, and partial correlation analyses.
The results showed that Arctic sea ice concentration in autumn was correlated with high pressure in West
Siberia in late winter and high pressure in North China, which were responsible for winter temperature
anomalies in northwestern China and between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. Further analysis
found that the winter temperature anomalies in the northwestern region were affected mainly by high pressure
over West Siberia, while the winter temperature anomalies between the Yangtze River and the Yellow
River were affected mainly by high pressure in North China. The influence of Arctic sea ice on the
late-winter high-latitude Eurasian circulation further affected winter temperatures on the plateau.

Key words: Arctic sea ice, warm, timescale, regional difference