Fig. 1: Evolutions of temperature and energy associated with the 2022 mega-heatwave over central-eastern China.

Spatial patterns of (a) maximum 2-m air temperature anomalies (°C) and (b) 3-month Standardized Precipitation Index in the 2022 mid-late summer (July–September), and time-pressure cross sections of (c) air temperature (°C) and (d) total energy (kJ kg⁻¹) anomalies averaged over central-eastern China (105°–123°E, 25°–34°N). Shown also are the time series of area-averaged central-eastern China (e) land surface temperature (°C; red line) and column-mean (from surface to 150 hPa) air temperature (°C; blue line), plus (f) column integrated (from surface to 150 hPa) total energy (MJ m⁻²; black line) and its components of internal energy (coral), geopotential energy (orange), latent energy (blue), and kinetic energy (green). The domain of central-eastern China is outlined by the red box in (a, b). The developing, mature, and decaying phases of the heatwave are marked by vertical dashed lines in (c, d), and by pale yellow, light pink, and light blue shadings in (e, f).