The interannual variation in monthly temperature over Northeast China during summer

The interannual variations of summer surface air temperature over Northeast China （NEC） were investigated through a month-to-month analysis from May to August. The results suggested that the warmer temperature over NEC is related to a local positive 500-hPa geopotential height anomaly for all four months. However, the teleconnection patterns of atmospheric circulation anomalies associated with the monthly surface air temperature over NEC behave as a distinguished subseasonal variation, although the local positive height anomaly is common from month to month. In May and June, the teleconnection pattern is characterized by a wave train in the upper and middle troposphere from the Indian Peninsula to NEC. This wave train is stronger in June than in May, possibly due to the positive feedback between the wave train and the South Asian rainfall anomaly in June, when the South Asian summer monsoon has been established. In July and August, however, the teleconnection pattern associated with the NEC temperature anomalies is characterized by an East Asia/Pacific （EAP） or Pacific/Japan （PJ） pattern, with the existence of precipitation anomalies over the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. This pattern is much clearer in July corresponding to the stronger convection over the Philippine Sea compared to that in August.     

Relationship Between Soil Temperature in May over Northwest China and the East Asian Summer Monsoon Precipitation

This study investigates the relationship between the soil temperature in May and the East Asian summer monsoon （EASM） precipitation in June and July using station observed soil temperature data over Northwest China from 1971 to 2000.It is found that the memory of the soil temperature at 80-cm depth can persist for at least 2 months,and the soil temperature in May is closely linked to the EASM precipitation in June and July.When the soil temperature is warmer in May over Northwest China,less rainfall occurs over the Yangtze and Huaihe River valley but more rainfall occurs over South China in June and July.It is proposed that positive anomalous soil temperature in May over Northwest China corresponds to higher geopotential heights over the most parts of the mainland of East Asia,which tend to weaken the ensuing EASM.Moreover,in June and July,a cyclonic circulation anomaly occurs over Southeast China and Northwest Pacific and an anticyclonic anomaly appears in the Yangtze and Huaihe River valley at 850 hPa.All the above tend to suppress the precipitation in the Yangtze and Huaihe River valley.The results also indicate that the soil temperature in May over Northwest China is closely related to the East Asia/Pacific （EAP） teleconnection pattern,and it may be employed as a useful predictor for the East Asian summer monsoon rainfall.     

Seasonal Prediction for May Rainfall over Southern China Based on the NCEP CFSv2

In this study, we assess the prediction for May rainfall over southern China (SC) by using the NCEP CFSv2 outputs. Results show that the CFSv2 is able to depict the climatology of May rainfall and associated circulations. However, the model has a poor skill in predicting interannual variation due to its poor performance in capturing related anomalous circulations. In observation, the above-normal SC rainfall is associated with two anomalous anticyclones over the western tropical Pacific and northeastern China, respectively, with a low-pressure convergence in between. In the CFSv2, however, the anomalous circulations exhibit the patterns in response to the El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), demonstrating that the model overestimates the relationship between May SC rainfall and the ENSO. Because of the onset of the South China Sea monsoon, the atmospheric circulation in May over SC is more complex, so the prediction for May SC rainfall is more challenging. In this study, we establish a dynamic-statistical forecast model for May SC rainfall based on the relationship between the interannual variation of rainfall and large-scale ocean-atmosphere variables in the CFSv2. The sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the northeastern Pacific and the central-eastern equatorial Pacific, and the 500-hPa geopotential height anomalies over western Siberia in previous April, which exert great influence on the SC rainfall in May, are chosen as predictors. Furthermore, multiple linear regression is employed between the predictors obtained from the CFSv2 and observed May SC rainfall. Both cross validation and independent test show that the hybrid model significantly improve the model''s skill in predicting the interannual variation of May SC rainfall by two months in advance.     

Why Was the Strengthening of Rainfall in Summer over the Yangtze River Valley in 2016 Less Pronounced than that in 1998 under Similar Preceding El Ni ?no Events?—Role of Midlatitude Circulation in August

It is widely recognized that rainfall over the Yangtze River valley(YRV) strengthens considerably during the decaying summer of El Ni ?no,as demonstrated by the catastrophic flooding suffered in the summer of 1998.Nevertheless,the rainfall over the YRV in the summer of 2016 was much weaker than that in 1998,despite the intensity of the 2016 El Nio having been as strong as that in 1998.A thorough comparison of the YRV summer rainfall anomaly between 2016 and 1998 suggests that the difference was caused by the sub-seasonal variation in the YRV rainfall anomaly between these two years,principally in August.The precipitation anomaly was negative in August 2016—different to the positive anomaly of 1998.Further analysis suggests that the weaker YRV rainfall in August 2016 could be attributable to the distinct circulation anomalies over the midlatitudes.The intensified "Silk Road Pattern" and upper-tropospheric geopotential height over the Urals region,both at their strongest since 1980,resulted in an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over midlatitude East Asia with anomalous easterly flow over the middle-to-lower reaches of the YRV in the lower troposphere.This easterly flow reduced the climatological wind,weakened the water vapor transport,and induced the weaker YRV rainfall in August 2016,as compared to that in 1998.Given the unique sub-seasonal variation of the YRV rainfall in summer 2016,more attention should be paid to midlatitude circulation—besides the signal in the tropics—to further our understanding of the predictability and variation of YRV summer rainfall.     

THE EFFECT OF EQUATORIAL CENTRAL PACIFIC SSTAS ON THE INTERANNUAL VARIATION OF PRECIPITATION OVER SOUTHWEST CHINA DURING SPRING

The interannual variations of rainfall over southwest China (SWC) during spring and its relationship with sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the Pacific are analyzed, based on monthly mean precipitation data from 26 stations in SWC between 1961 and 2010, NCEP/NCAR re-analysis data, and Hadley global SST data. Sensitivity tests are conducted to assess the response of precipitation in SWC to SSTAs over two key oceanic domains, using the global atmospheric circulation model ECHAM5. The interannual variation of rainfall over SWC in spring is very significant. There are strong negative (positive) correlation coefficients between the anomalous precipitation over SWC and SSTAs over the equatorial central Pacific (the mid-latitude Pacific) during spring. Numerical simulations show that local rainfall in the northwest of the equatorial central Pacific is suppressed, and a subtropical anticyclone circulation anomaly is produced, while a cyclonic circulation anomaly in the mid-latitude western Pacific occurs, when the equatorial Pacific SSTAs are in a cold phase in spring. Anomalous northerly winds appear in the northeastern part of SWC in the lower troposphere. Precipitation increases over the Maritime Continent of the western equatorial Pacific, while a cyclonic circulation anomaly appears in the northwest of the western equatorial Pacific. A trough over the Bay of Bengal enhances the southerly flow in the south of SWC. The trough also enhances the transport of moisture to SWC. The warm moisture intersects with anomalous cold air over the northeast of SWC, and so precipitation increases during spring. On the interannual time scale, the impacts of the mid-latitude Pacific SSTAs on rainfall in SWC during spring are not significant, because the mid-latitude Pacific SSTAs are affected by the equatorial central Pacific SSTAs; that is, the mid-latitude Pacific SSTAs are a feedback to the circulation anomaly caused by the equatorial central Pacific SSTAs.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF SEASONAL VARIATION OF RAINFALL OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU DURING SUMMER 1998 AND ITS IMPACT ON EAST ASIAN WEATHER

The seasonal variation of rainy season over the Tibetan Plateau in summer 1998 is analyzed byusing daily observational rainfall data for Lhasa from 1955 to 1996,and rainfall data at 70 stationsfrom January to August of 1998 over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and adjacent regions,as well asTBB data from May to August of 1998.The onset date of rainy season for Lhasa is climatologically6 June.Among the analyzed years,the earliest onset date is 6 May,while the latest may delay to2 July.The obvious inter-decadal variation can be found in the series of onset date.The onset dateof summer 1998 over middle TP (onset date of Lhasa) is 24 June,which is relatively later than thenormal case.The onset for rainy season of 1998 started over southeast and northeast parts of TP and thenpropagated westward and northward.The convection over east and west parts of TP shows thatthere is a quasi 12-15 day oscillation.In June,the convection over middle and lower reaches ofYangtze River is formed by the westward propagation of convection over subtropical westernPacific.while in July.it is formed by the eastward propagation of convection over TP.Besides,it is also found that there exists good negative and obvious advance and lagcorrelation between the convection over the middle and western TP and that over the subtropicalwestern Pacific and southern China.Therefore it can be inferred that a feedback zonal circulationwith a quasi two-three week oscillation exists between the ascending region of TP and descendingregion of subtropical western Pacific,i.e.the convection over TP may affect the subtropical highover western Pacific and vice versa.     

IMPACTS OF MONTHLY ANOMALIES OF INTRASEASONAL OSCILLATION OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA AND SOUTH ASIA ON THE ACTIVITY OF SUMMER MONSOON AND RAINFALL IN EASTERN CHINA

The impact of strong (weak) intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) over South China Sea (SCS) and South Asia (SA) in summer on the SCS and SA summer monsoon and the summer rainfall in Eastern China are studied by using the NCEP-NCAR analysis data and the rainfall data of 160 stations in China from 1961 to 2010. It is found that the impacts are significantly different in different months of summer. The study shows that in June and July cyclonic (anticyclonic) atmospheric circulation over SCS and SA corresponds to strong (weak) ISO over SCS. In August, however, strong (weak) ISO over SCS still corresponds to cyclonic (anticyclonic) atmospheric circulation over SA. In June and August cyclonic (anticyclonic) atmospheric circulation over South Asia corresponds to strong (weak) ISO over SA while a strong (weak) ISO corresponds to anticyclonic (cyclonic) atmospheric circulation over SA in July. Besides, in June the strong (weak) ISO over SA corresponds to cyclonic (anticyclonic) atmospheric circulation over SCS, while in July and August the atmospheric circulation is in the same phase regardless of whether the ISO over SA is strong or weak. The impacts of the strong（weak）ISO over SCS on the rainfall of eastern China are similar in June and July, which favors less (more) rainfall in Yangtze-Huaihe Rivers basin but sufficient (deficient) rainfall in the south of Yangtze River. However, the impacts are not so apparent in August. In South Asia, the strong (weak) ISO in July results in less (more) rainfall in the south of Yangtze River but sufficient (deficient) rainfall in Yangtze-Huaihe Rivers basin. The influence on the rainfall in eastern China in June and August is not as significant as in July.     

Climatology of Transverse Shear Lines Related to Heavy Rainfall over the Tibetan Plateau during Boreal Summer

Based on ERA-Interim data and precipitation data of 2474 stations in China during May–October from1981 to 2013, transverse shear lines(TSLs) were identified, and their climatic characteristics and association with torrential rainfall events over the Tibetan Plateau and the region to its east during boreal summer were analyzed statistically, based on three criteria: the meridional shear of zonal wind, the relative vorticity,and the zero contour line of zonal wind. It was found that TSLs are generally west–east oriented over the Tibetan Plateau, with the highest occurrence frequency in June, and least occurrence in October. The high frequency axis of TSLs, parallel to the terrain of the Tibetan Plateau, shifts southward from May to August, and then slightly northward from September to October. The annual average TSL frequency is65.3 days, and there are obvious interannual and interdecal variations of TSLs. The annual fluctuation of TSL frequency is most distinct in the 1980 s, followed by the 2000 s, with average frequency appearing during1995–2000. It was found that the occurrence frequency of TSLs and that of heavy rainfall events over the Tibetan Plateau are stable during 1981–2013. However, the occurrence frequency of the heavy rainfall events resulting from TSLs is decreasing. More than 50% of the TSLs can lead to heavy rainfall, while 40% of the heavy rainfall events are caused by TSLs. TSLs are closely related to heavy rainfalls in the flooding season of June–August over the Tibetan Plateau.     

Interannual and decadal variations of snow cover over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and their relationships to summer monsoon rainfall in China

Interannual and decadal variations of winter snow cover over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) are analyzed by using monthly mean snow depth data set of 60 stations over QXP for the period of 1958 through 1992. It is found that the winter snow cover over QXP bears a pronounced quasi-biennial oscillation, and it underwent an obvious decadal transition from a poor snow cover period to a rich snow cover period in the late 1970’s during the last 40 years.It is shown that the summer rainfall in the eastern China is closely associated with the winter snow cover over QXP not only in the interannual variation but also in the decadal variation. A clear relationship exists in the quasi-biennial oscillation between the summer rainfall in the northern part of North China and the southern China and the winter snow cover over QXP. Furthermore, the summer rainfall in the four climate divisions of Qinling-Daba Mountains, the Yangtze-Huaihe River Plain, the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River showed a remarkable transition from drought period to rainy period in the end of 1970’s, in good correspondence with the decadal transition of the winter snow cover over QXP.     

The variation of evaporation over South China and its relationships to precipitation

The evaporation rate over South China is estimated based on the Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of Precipitation(CMAP)data and the NCEP/DOE reanalysis II data from 1979 to 2007. The temporal variation of evaporation over South China and its relationship to precipitation are discussed. Climatologically,the evaporation rate over South China is the largest in July and smallest in March.In spring and summer,the evaporation rate is approximately one half of the precipitation rate.However,the evaporation rate is approximately equal to the precipitation rate in fall and winter.The year-to-year variation of the evaporation rate over South China is quite in phase with that of the precipitation rate in the period from February to May but out of phase with that of the precipitation rate in early winter.Over South China there is a pronounced decreasing trend in the evaporation in colder seasons and a positive correlation between the evaporation variation and the rainfall variation in spring.In summer,the abnormality of rainfall over South China is closely related to the anomalous evaporation over the northeastern part of the South China Sea and its eastern vicinity.In winter,the rainfall variation in South China has a close linkage with the evaporation variation in a belt area covering the eastern Arabian Sea,the Bay of Bengal,the southeastern periphery of the Plateau,the southern part of South China Sea and the central part of Indonesia.     

盛夏四川盆地西部地区降水年际变化及其对应的环流异常

利用7、8月全国756站站点降水资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料的月平均资料,研究了盛夏四川盆地西部地区降水年际变化的基本特征及其对应的环流异常,并分析了该地区与江南地区降水年际变化的关系及其对应的700 hPa环流异常。结果表明：四川盆地西部地区盛夏降水偏多年,四川盆地上空为显著的南风异常,说明西南涡较常年活跃,同时西太平洋副热带高压偏北;而降水偏少时,上述环流异常符号相反,但更加明显,说明西南涡明显弱于常年,西太平洋副热带高压偏南。此外,四川盆地西部盛夏降水年际变化和我国西北、华北地区降水呈明显的正相关关系,而与江南地区降水有明显的负相关关系。这些关系与对流层低层环流异常有关。     

Upper- and Lower-tropospheric Circulation Anomalies Associated with Interannual Variation of Pakistan Rainfall during Summer

This study investigated the large-scale circulation anomalies, in both the upper and lower troposphere, associated with the interannual variation of rainfall in Pakistan during summer, using the station observation data in this country and circulation data of the NCEP?NCAR reanalysis from 1981 to 2017. Results showed that the upper- and lower-tropospheric circulation anomalies associated with monthly rainfall variability exhibit similar features from June to August, so analyses were performed on June?August circulation and Pakistan rainfall data. The analyzed results indicated that summer rainfall in Pakistan is enhanced when there is an anticyclonic anomaly to the northwest of Pakistan in the upper troposphere and easterly anomalies along the southern foothills of the Himalayas in the lower troposphere, and vice versa. These upper- and lower-tropospheric circulation anomalies were found to be related, but show unique features. The upper-tropospheric anticyclonic anomaly is closely related to the Silk Road Pattern along the Asian westerly jet, while the lower-tropospheric easterly anomalies are related to the cyclonic anomaly to the south of Pakistan, i.e., intensified South Asian monsoon trough. The results presented here suggest that the interannual variability of summer rainfall in Pakistan is a combined result of upper- and lower-tropospheric circulation anomalies, and of extratropical and tropical circulation anomalies.     

西藏夏季降水的季节内变化特征及其影响系统

利用西藏地区1980-2013年夏季降水量资料、NCEP再分析资料等,分析了西藏地区夏季降水主模态季节内变化特征,尤其是盛夏7和8月降水异常对应的大尺度环流特征和影响系统。结果表明:西藏夏季降水存在明显的季节内变化,6和7月降水主模态的时间系数变化具有较好的持续性,而7和8月降水主模态的时间系数的相关关系明显减弱。西藏地区7和8月降水偏多年,西藏地区上游低层纬向风场均呈西风异常,但是水汽来源有差异;同时欧亚中高纬地区对流层中高层环流存在显著差异。西藏7月降水与南亚高压强度存在显著负相关关系,南亚高压偏强/弱时,降水偏少/多。西藏8月降水与南亚高压的位置关系更密切,南亚高压偏南/北,降水偏多/少。     

Interannual Relationship between the Winter Aleutian Low and Rainfall in the Following Summer in South China

Using observations and reanalysis data, this study investigates the interannual relationship between the winter Aleutian Low(AL) and the rainfall anomalies in the following summer in South China(SC). Results show that the winter AL is significantly positively(negatively) correlated with the SC rainfall anomalies in the following July(August). Specifically, SC rainfall anomalies have a tendency to be positive(negative) in July(August) when the preceding winter AL is stronger than normal. The winter AL-related atmospheric circulation anomalies in the following summer are also examined. When the winter AL is stronger, there is a significant anticyclonic(cyclonic) circulation anomaly over the subtropical western North Pacific in the following July(August). Southerly(northerly) wind anomalies to the west of this anomalous anticyclonic(cyclonic) circulation increase(decrease) the northward moisture transportation and contribute to the positive(negative) rainfall anomalies over SC in July(August). This study indicates that the AL in the preceding winter can be used as a potential predictor of the rainfall anomalies in the following July and August over SC.     

Teleconnection between rainfall over South China and the East European Plain in July and August

In the present reported work, we identified that there is a significant negative relationship between rainfall over South China (SC) and the East European Plain (EEP) in the months of July and August, and investigated the possible reason for this negative relationship. The correlation coefficients between SC and the EEP rainfall were calculated to be ?0.42 for July and ?0.35 for August, both significant at the 95 % confidence level. We report that a wave-like train of circulation anomalies and a pathway of wave-activity flux stretching from Europe to East China connect the anticyclonic anomaly over Europe and the cyclonic anomaly over central and southern China, which are responsible for less EEP rainfall and more SC rainfall. We suggest that the teleconnection between SC and EEP rainfall results from the extension of stationary Rossby waves in the mid-latitudes in the upper troposphere for both July and August. This stationary Rossby wave is contributed to by summer North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and its extension features are determined by the location and intensity of the climatological upper-tropospheric westerly jet. Furthermore, we found that there was an interdecadal change around the mid-1970s in the negative SC–EEP rainfall relationship for both July and August. The negative correlation was significant and strong in the period 1976–2005, but much weaker in the period 1955–1975. The extension of stationary Rossby waves from Europe to East China was responsible for the significant negative relationship during the period 1976–2005.     

近50 a华南盛夏降水的季节内差异及大气环流异常特征分析

基于CRU、CMAP、PREC/L、CN05.1、NCEP/NCAR以及全国160个台站的月降水资料,采用经验正交函数(EOF)分解、依赖于季节的经验正交函数(SEOF)分解、滑动平均、空间相关、回归以及合成分析等多元统计方法研究了近50 a华南盛夏降水异常的基本特征及其季节内差异,并讨论了其大气环流异常。结果表明:(1)盛夏7、8月华南降水异常的空间分布都表现为区域一致性,即整个华南地区都为正(负)异常。(2)华南盛夏降水异常在月季变化的时间尺度上存在着同位相和反位相演变,1963—1993年,华南7、8月降水大致为反相演变,即7月华南全区一致偏涝(旱)而8月一致偏旱(涝);1994—2015年,二者总体表现为同相演变,即7月华南全区降水一致偏涝(旱)时8月亦一致偏涝(旱)。(3)大气遥相关型的变化是同相和反相两种演变模态产生的主要原因,同相期间对流层中层7月表现为欧亚遥相关(EU)和东亚太平洋遥相关(EAP)相互配置,8月表现为类似EU和太平洋北美遥相关(PNA)型;反相期间对流层中层7月表现为类似北美东西遥相关(NAEW)型,8月表现为类似EAP型。(4)西太平洋副热带高压的变化与华南盛夏降水季节内差异密切相关。反相期间7月与8月西太平洋副热带高压的差异主要体现在东西位置变化较大,而同相期间变化不大。     

夏季逐月东亚高空急流异常对我国降水的影响

根据1981～2010年NCEP/DOE再分析资料与中国160站降水资料,利用统计学、物理量诊断等方法,探讨夏季东亚季风环流系统重要成员——东亚高空西风急流位置、强度逐月变化与我国降水的关系。分析表明:6～8月东亚高空西风急流比各自气候态位置偏南(北)时,易造成6月华南、江南地区降水、7月江淮流域降水以及8月长江中上游地区降水偏多(少)。本文重点分析2010年6月、2007年7月及2006年8月东亚高空西风急流位置异常时东亚高、低纬度环流特征及其对我国降水影响的物理成因。研究发现:2010年6月东亚高空西风急流稳定在35°N以南。急流轴南侧(北侧)为强辐散(辐合)距平,相应低层辐合(辐散),造成江南、华南地区从低层至高层的强上升运动,配合整层偏西水汽通量距平,为该地区持续性降水提供了有利的动力和水汽条件;2007年7月东亚高空急流位置偏南、强度偏弱,急流月内尺度扰动偏强,使得东亚中高纬度冷空气活动频繁,造成淮河流域出现持续性暴雨;2006年8月东亚高空西风急流位置持续偏北、强度偏强,有利西太平洋副高西伸、北抬,我国四川—重庆地区受副高控制,出现了极端高温干旱天气。     

Why Was the Strengthening of Rainfall in Summer over the Yangtze River Valley in 2016 Less Pronounced than that in 1998 under Similar Preceding El Niño Events?——Role of Midlatitude Circulation in August

It is widely recognized that rainfall over the Yangtze River valley (YRV) strengthens considerably during the decaying summer of El Niño, as demonstrated by the catastrophic flooding suffered in the summer of 1998. Nevertheless, the rainfall over the YRV in the summer of 2016 was much weaker than that in 1998, despite the intensity of the 2016 El Niño having been as strong as that in 1998. A thorough comparison of the YRV summer rainfall anomaly between 2016 and 1998 suggests that the difference was caused by the sub-seasonal variation in the YRV rainfall anomaly between these two years, principally in August. The precipitation anomaly was negative in August 2016——different to the positive anomaly of 1998. Further analysis suggests that the weaker YRV rainfall in August 2016 could be attributable to the distinct circulation anomalies over the midlatitudes. The intensified "Silk Road Pattern" and upper-tropospheric geopotential height over the Urals region, both at their strongest since 1980, resulted in an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over midlatitude East Asia with anomalous easterly flow over the middle-to-lower reaches of the YRV in the lower troposphere. This easterly flow reduced the climatological wind, weakened the water vapor transport, and induced the weaker YRV rainfall in August 2016, as compared to that in 1998. Given the unique sub-seasonal variation of the YRV rainfall in summer 2016, more attention should be paid to midlatitude circulation——besides the signal in the tropics——to further our understanding of the predictability and variation of YRV summer rainfall.     

成都地区地闪时空特征分析

利用XDD03A型闪电定位仪所取得的3年资料,初步研究了成都周边地区地闪特征。地闪中正地闪占绝大多数,其平均强度为6045 A,略高于负地闪的5974 A。地闪强度基本集中在12000 A以下。地闪活动具有明显的日变化,总体呈单峰单谷形式,地闪频次在60以上的峰值时段是18:00~24:00和01:00,频次在10以下的谷值时段是10:00~13:00,夜间闪电活动明显大于日间。正地闪频次日变化趋势和总地闪相同,负地闪频次日变化趋势除一些小波动外,和正地闪、总地闪相同。正负地闪频次的月变化趋势相同,6、7、8月闪电数较多,4、5、9、10月闪电数较少。通过统计分析,发现各月地闪频次和对应的各月降水量有较好的相关性。成都周边地区地闪活动密集,6、7、8月的地闪密度大大超过4、5、9、10月。