Articles | Volume 4, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-943-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-943-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
06 Nov 2023
Research article |
| 06 Nov 2023
| 06 Nov 2023
Cold wintertime air masses over Europe: where do they come from and how do they form?
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Lukas Papritz
Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Tuomas Naakka
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Timo Vihma
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Viewed
Total article views: 4,451 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 16 May 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,254 | 1,010 | 187 | 4,451 | 491 | 219 | 339 |
- HTML: 3,254
- PDF: 1,010
- XML: 187
- Total: 4,451
- Supplement: 491
- BibTeX: 219
- EndNote: 339
Total article views: 3,150 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 06 Nov 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,570 | 453 | 127 | 3,150 | 175 | 151 | 195 |
- HTML: 2,570
- PDF: 453
- XML: 127
- Total: 3,150
- Supplement: 175
- BibTeX: 151
- EndNote: 195
Total article views: 1,301 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 16 May 2023)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 684 | 557 | 60 | 1,301 | 316 | 68 | 144 |
- HTML: 684
- PDF: 557
- XML: 60
- Total: 1,301
- Supplement: 316
- BibTeX: 68
- EndNote: 144
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 4,451 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 4,383 with geography defined
and 68 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,150 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,025 with geography defined
and 125 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,301 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,301 with geography defined
and 0 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Arctic surface snow interactions with the atmosphere: Spatio-temporal isotopic variability during the MOSAiC expedition M. Mellat et al. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2025.00028
- Assessment of the differences in European CH4 emission estimates from three TROPOMI products A. Sicsik-Paré et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-10423-2026
- Physical processes leading to extreme day-to-day temperature change – Part 2: Future climate change K. Hamal & S. Pfahl https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-1009-2026
- Forecasting atmospheric persistence and implications for the predictability of temperature and temperature extremes E. Holmberg et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.4885
- How Well Do Reanalyses Capture Day-to-Day Temperature Variability? X. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030235
- The Role of Air Mass Advection and Solar Radiation in Modulating Air Temperature Anomalies in Poland O. Zawadzka-Mańko & K. Markowicz https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070820
- Overview: quasi-Lagrangian observations of Arctic air mass transformations – introduction and initial results of the HALO–(𝒜 𝒞)3 aircraft campaign M. Wendisch et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8865-2024
- Long-term observed changes in air temperature extremes over Romania (1901-2023) V. Amihăesei et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2026.100941
- Air Temperature Extremes in the Mediterranean Region (1940–2024): Synoptic Patterns and Trends G. Kotsias & C. Lolis https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070852
- Physical processes leading to extreme day-to-day temperature change – Part 1: Present-day climate K. Hamal & S. Pfahl https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-879-2025
- A methodology for tracking cold spells in space and time: development, evaluation and applications W. Osmolska et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-1221-2025
- Cold weather patterns and health impacts across climate regions in a warming world: A systematic review at the global scale S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108311
- Frosty climate, icy relationships: Cold and intimate partner violence in Peru K. Bollman et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103710
- Distinguishing the drivers of strong versus weak cold air outbreaks: A Lagrangian energy budget perspective X. Feng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aosl.2026.100871
- Temperature extremes across elevation gradients: evidence from two German mountain observatories M. Ionita et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1701260
- Influence of high-latitude blocking and the northern stratospheric polar vortex on cold-air outbreaks under Arctic amplification of global warming E. Hanna et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5295/ad93f3
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Arctic surface snow interactions with the atmosphere: Spatio-temporal isotopic variability during the MOSAiC expedition M. Mellat et al. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2025.00028
- Assessment of the differences in European CH4 emission estimates from three TROPOMI products A. Sicsik-Paré et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-10423-2026
- Physical processes leading to extreme day-to-day temperature change – Part 2: Future climate change K. Hamal & S. Pfahl https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-1009-2026
- Forecasting atmospheric persistence and implications for the predictability of temperature and temperature extremes E. Holmberg et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.4885
- How Well Do Reanalyses Capture Day-to-Day Temperature Variability? X. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030235
- The Role of Air Mass Advection and Solar Radiation in Modulating Air Temperature Anomalies in Poland O. Zawadzka-Mańko & K. Markowicz https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070820
- Overview: quasi-Lagrangian observations of Arctic air mass transformations – introduction and initial results of the HALO–(𝒜 𝒞)3 aircraft campaign M. Wendisch et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8865-2024
- Long-term observed changes in air temperature extremes over Romania (1901-2023) V. Amihăesei et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2026.100941
- Air Temperature Extremes in the Mediterranean Region (1940–2024): Synoptic Patterns and Trends G. Kotsias & C. Lolis https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070852
- Physical processes leading to extreme day-to-day temperature change – Part 1: Present-day climate K. Hamal & S. Pfahl https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-879-2025
- A methodology for tracking cold spells in space and time: development, evaluation and applications W. Osmolska et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-1221-2025
- Cold weather patterns and health impacts across climate regions in a warming world: A systematic review at the global scale S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108311
- Frosty climate, icy relationships: Cold and intimate partner violence in Peru K. Bollman et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103710
- Distinguishing the drivers of strong versus weak cold air outbreaks: A Lagrangian energy budget perspective X. Feng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aosl.2026.100871
- Temperature extremes across elevation gradients: evidence from two German mountain observatories M. Ionita et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1701260
- Influence of high-latitude blocking and the northern stratospheric polar vortex on cold-air outbreaks under Arctic amplification of global warming E. Hanna et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5295/ad93f3
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 08 Aug 2026
Short summary
Despite the general warming trend, wintertime cold-air outbreaks in Europe have remained nearly as extreme and as common as decades ago. In this study, we identify six principal cold anomaly types over Europe in 1979–2020. We show the origins of various physical processes and their contributions to the formation of cold wintertime air masses.
Despite the general warming trend, wintertime cold-air outbreaks in Europe have remained nearly...
