The Comparative Environment of Beijing and Topeka during the Thunderstorm Season

Abstract

Beijing, People's Republic of China, and Topeka, Kansas, United States of America, are located at approximately the same latitude and are affected by similar synoptic weather patterns. However, their thunderstorm climatology differs significantly. Rowinsonde data from the two stations are compared. It is found that the typical distribution of the oceanic subtropical high pressure areas subtly modifies the synoptic scale environment accounting for the observed differences.