Fig. 8: Schematic diagram showing the changes in precipitation over East Asia following sea–air coupling.

The diagram highlights the impact of sea-coupled processes on factors including ocean evaporation (E), cloud fraction, the 2-m temperature (T2), land evaporation (ET), land–sea thermal asymmetry (LOTC), upward solar radiation (SWU) and water vapor transport. These changes collectively contribute to a decrease in summer (June–July–August) precipitation over East Asia. The changes in the asymmetries of the sea–land thermal contrasts and the ocean evaporation have important roles in driving these changes. In the diagram, the symbols ‘+’ and ‘−’ represent increases or decreases in the respective variables, respectively.