Seasonal evolution mechanism of the East Asian winter monsoon and its interannual variability

This study investigates the space–time evolution of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) and its relationship with other climate subsystems. Cyclostationary Empirical Orthogonal Function (CSEOF) analysis and the multiple regression method are used to delineate the detailed evolution of various atmospheric and surface variables in connection with the EAWM. The 120 days of winter (November 17–March 16) per year over 62 years (1948–2010) are analyzed using the NCEP daily reanalysis dataset. The first CSEOF mode of 850-hPa temperatures depicts the seasonal evolution of the EAWM. The contrast in heat capacity between the continent and the northwestern Pacific results in a differential heating in the lower troposphere. Its temporal evolution drives the strengthening and weakening of the Siberian High and the Aleutian Low. The anomalous sea level pressure pattern dictates anomalous circulation, in compliance with the geostrophic relationship. Thermal advection, in addition to net surface radiation, partly contributes to temperature variations in winter. Latent and sensible heat fluxes (thermal forcing from the ocean to the atmosphere) increase with decreased thermal advection. Anomalous upper-level circulation is closely linked to the low-level temperature anomaly in terms of the thermal wind equation. The interannual variability of the seasonal cycle of the EAWM is strongly controlled by the relative strength of the Siberian High to the Aleutian Low. A stronger than normal gradient between the two pressure systems amplifies the seasonal cycle of the EAWM. The EAWM seasonal cycle in the mid-latitude region exhibits a weak negative correlation with the Arctic Oscillation and the East Atlantic/West Russia indices.     

前、后冬的东亚冬季风年际变异及其与东亚降水的关系

利用ERA-Interim的再分析资料和NOAA海温、降水量等资料对前、后冬的东亚冬季风的年际变异特征及其与东亚降水的关系进行对比分析,并讨论了热带和中高纬系统影响东亚冬季风变异的相对重要性。前冬的东亚冬季风变异的主导模态为东亚全区一致变异型,即一致的北风偏弱或偏强;其次为南部变异型,主要表现为在我国南方-南海北部的东北风偏弱或偏强。而后冬的东亚冬季风变异的主导模态则为南部变异型,其次为东亚全区一致变异型。从前冬到后冬,东亚冬季风的主要变异模态的次序出现交叉更替。前、后冬的冬季风主要模态以年际变化为主,但后冬主导模态还显示出冬季风有变强的趋势。前、后冬的东亚冬季风的主导变异模态也影响东亚降水异常的位置。在前冬,冬季风异常主要影响我国华北、渤海-黄海海域以及朝鲜半岛和日本南部区域的降水异常,而后冬的冬季风异常则主要导致我国东南地区及其东侧附近的西北太平洋海区的降水异常。前冬的东亚冬季风的前两种主要变异模态都受到印度洋-太平洋海温和中高纬环流系统共同的影响;后冬的东亚冬季风的前两种主要变异模态则分别主要受ENSO和中高纬系统的影响。      

The interannual variability of East Asian Winter Monsoon and its relation to the summer monsoon

1.IntroductionOvertheEastAsiaregion,themostprominentsurfacefeatureofthewintermonsoonisstrongnortheasterliesalongtheeastflankoftheSiberianhighandthecoastofEastAsia.At500hPathereisabroadtroughcenteredaboutatthelongitudesofJapan.Thedominantfea-tureat2O0hPaistheEastAsianjetwithitsmaximumlocatedatjustsoutheastofJapan.Thisktisassociatedwithintensebaroclinicity,largeverticalwindshearandstrongadvectionofcoldair(StaffmembersofAcademiaSinica,l957,LauandChang,1987;BoyleandChen,1987;Chenetal.,1991…     

Potential impacts of East Asian winter monsoon on climate variability and predictability in the Australian summer monsoon region

This study explores potential impacts of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) on summer climate variability and predictability in the Australia–Asian region through Australia–Asia (A-A) monsoon interactions. Observational analysis is conducted for the period of 1959 to 2001 using ERA-40 wind reanalysis and Climate Research Unit rainfall and surface temperature monthly datasets. Statistically significant correlations are established between the Australian summer monsoon and its rainfall variations with cross-equatorial flows penetrating from South China Sea region and northerly flow in the EAWM. The underlying mechanism for such connections is the response of the position and intensity of Hardley circulation to strong/weak EAWM. A strong EAWM is associated with an enhanced cross-equatorial flow crossing the maritime continent and a strengthened Australia summer monsoon westerlies which affect rainfall and temperature variations in northern and eastern part of the Australian continent. Furthermore, partial correlation analysis, which largely excludes El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects, suggests that these connections are the inherent features in the monsoon system. This is further supported by analyzing a global model experiment using persistent sea surface temperatures (SSTs) which, without any SST interannual variations, shows similar patterns as in the observational analysis. Furthermore, such interaction could potentially affect climate predictability in the region, as shown by some statistically significant lag correlations at monthly time scale. Such results are attributed to the impacts of EAWM on regional SST variations and its linkage to surface conditions in the Eurasian continent. Finally, such impacts under global warmed climate are discussed by analyzing ten IPCC AR4 models and results suggest they still exist in the warmed climate even though the EAWM tends to be weaker.     

CMIP5模式中El Ni?o-EAWM关系的模拟对东亚冬季风模拟的影响

本文利用统计学的方法,评估了17个参加第五次国际耦合模式比较计划(CMIP5)的海气耦合模式对东亚冬季风(EAWM)年际变化的模拟。结果表明:多数模式对东亚冬季风的年际变化有一定的模拟能力,其中对东亚大槽年际变化的模拟最好;模式对东亚冬季主要系统的年际变化在空间上的模拟好于强度,对强度的模拟以偏弱为主;通过综合评估得到模拟能力好的模式有:bcc-csm1-1,CCSM4,HadCM3,NorESM1-M。针对模式间对冬季风年际变化模拟能力差别较大的现象,选取了4个模拟能力最好的模式和5个最差的进行讨论;通过评估El Ni?o对东亚冬季环流的影响,发现模式对El Ni?o与EAWM之间相互关系(El Ni?o-EAWM)的模拟能力是模式间对冬季风年际变化模拟偏差较大的原因之一,即对El Ni?o-EAWM模拟好的模式对东亚冬季风年际变化的模拟也好。     

Predictability of the East Asian winter monsoon interannual variability as indicated by the DEMETER CGCMS

The interannual variability of East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) circulation from the Development of a European Multi-Model Ensemble(MME) System for Seasonal to Inter-Annual Prediction(DEMETER) hindcasts was evaluated against observation reanalysis data.We evaluated the DEMETER coupled general circulation models(CGCMs)’ retrospective prediction of the typical EAWM and its associated atmospheric circulation.Results show that the EAWM can be reasonably predicted with statistically significant accuracy,yet the major bias of the hindcast models is the underestimation of the related anomalies.The temporal correlation coefficient(TCC) of the MME-produced EAWM index,defined as the first EOF mode of 850hPa air temperature within the EAWM domain(20-60 N,90-150 E),was 0.595.This coefficient was higher than those of the corresponding individual models(range:0.39-0.51) for the period 1969-2001;this result indicates the advantage of the super-ensemble approach.This study also showed that the ensemble models can reasonably reproduce the major modes and their interannual variabilities for sea level pressure,geopotential height,surface air temperature,and wind fields in Eurasia.Therefore,the prediction of EAWM interannual variability is feasible using multimodel ensemble systems and that they may also reveal the associated mechanisms of the EAWM interannual variability.     

一个反映中国大陆冬季气温变化的东亚冬季风指数的统计预测方法

利用中国160个站逐月温度、NCEP再分析和NOAA-CIRES20世纪再分析等资料, 采用统计分析方法, 就反映中国 东部大陆冬季一致性气温变化模态的能力方面, 对多种东亚冬季风指数进行了评估, 探讨了影响东亚冬季风强弱的主要前期因子及其相应的影响过程, 并据此建立了一个预测冬季风指数的预测模型。研究结果表明:1981 年前、后两个阶段, 朱艳峰 2008年定义的东亚冬季风指数都可以很好地反映中国东部大部分地区的冬季气温异常;北美大陆西侧北太平洋中纬度地区 (35°-50°N,145°-130°W)的前期秋季(9-10月)海温、北极喀拉海地区(75°-82°N,65°-85°E)的前秋海冰密集度和东亚中 纬度地区(30°-50°N,80°-140°E)的前秋高空(300-200hPa)温度异常都具有较强的持续性, 异常信号可从前秋一直持续到 冬季, 进而影响东亚冬季风的强度;根据上述3个前期因子建立了东亚冬季风统计预测模型, 评估发现该模型具有较强的预测 能力, 可用于冬季风强度以及相应的中国东部大陆冬季气温的定性预测。     

Individual and combined impacts of ENSO and East Asian winter monsoon on the South China Sea cold tongue intensity

A region of low sea surface temperature (SST) extends southward in the central part of southern South China Sea during boreal winter, which is called the South China Sea cold tongue (SCS CT). The present study investigates the factors of interannual variation of SST in the SCS CT region and explores the individual and combined impacts of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) on the SCS CT intensity. During years with ENSO alone or with co-existing ENSO and anomalous EAWM, shortwave radiation and ocean horizontal advection play major roles in the interannual variation of the SCS CT intensity. Ocean advection contributes largely to the SST change in the region southeast of Vietnam. In strong CT years with anomalous EAWM alone, surface wind-related latent heat flux has a major role and shortwave radiation is secondary to the EAWM-induced change of the SCS CT intensity, whereas the role of ocean horizontal advection is relatively small. The above differences in the roles of ocean advection and latent heat flux are associated with the distribution of low level wind anomalies. In anomalous CT years with ENSO, low level anomalous cyclone/anticyclone-related wind speed change leads to latent heat flux anomalies with effects opposite to shortwave radiation. In strong CT years with anomalous EAWM alone, surface wind-related latent heat flux anomalies are large as anomalous winds are aligned with climatological winds.

     

A Holocene East Asian winter monsoon record at the southern edge of the Gobi Desert and its comparison with a transient simulation

Climate Dynamics - The East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) exhibits significant variability on intraseasonal, interannual, and interdecadal time scales and the variability can be extended to Holocene...     

Predictability of the East Asian winter monsoon indices by the coupled models of ENSEMBLES

The seasonal predictability of various East Asian winter monsoon （EAWM） indices was investigated in this study based on the retrospective forecasts of the five state-of-the-art coupled models from ENSEMBLES for a 46-year period of 19612006.It was found that the ENSEMBLES models predict five out of the 21 EAWM indices well,with temporal correlation coefficients ranging from 0.54 to 0.61.These five indices are defined by the averaged lower-tropospheric winds over the low latitudes （south of 30°N）.Further analyses indicated that the predictability of these five indices originates from their intimate relationship with ENSO.A cross-validated prediction,which took the preceding （November） observed Nifo3.4 index as a predictor,gives a prediction skill almost identical to that shown by the model.On the other hand,the models present rather low predictability for the other indices and for surface air temperature in East Asia.In addition,the models fail to reproduce the relationship between the indices of different categories,implying that they cannot capture the tropicalextratropical interaction related to EAWM variability.Together,these results suggest that reliable prediction of the EAWM indices and East Asian air temperature remains a challenge.     

全球变暖背景下北极海冰与东亚冬季风关系的变化及其机制

为了进一步了解全球变暖背景下北极海冰与东亚冬季风的关系及其变化,本文选用东亚冬季风北模态及南模态作为东亚冬季风指数,利用滑动相关分析、回归分析及合成分析研究了全球变暖背景下1953—2021年北极海冰密集度与东亚冬季风关系的变化特征及其机制。结果表明:11月巴伦支海海冰密集度与东亚冬季风北模态之间的关系发生了显著变化,从1962—1977年显著正相关转为1983—1999年显著负相关,2000年以后两者无显著关系。1962—1977年11月巴伦支海海冰偏多对应东亚冬季风偏强,这是大气环流影响海冰的结果,11月的大气环流异常特征维持到了冬季,使得欧亚大陆上空大气呈现出北极涛动(Arctic Oscillation,AO)负位相,在增强东亚冬季风的同时将中高纬大陆干冷空气输送至巴伦支海,在表面风应力的作用下巴伦支海海冰增多。1983—1999年则由前一时期的大气环流影响海冰变为海冰影响大气环流,11月巴伦支海海冰显著减少在冬季激发出了北极涛动负位相,加强东亚大槽及东亚高空西风急流,从而使得东亚冬季风偏强。2000年以后北极海冰与东亚冬季风北模态的关系明显减弱,此时东亚冬季风与北极涛动的负相关关系更为显著。     

Predictable climate dynamics of abnormal East Asian winter monsoon: once-in-a-century snowstorms in 2007/2008 winter

In 2008 (January–February), East Asia (EA) experiences the most severe and long-persisting snowstorm in the past 100 years. Results in this study show that 2007/2008 winter is dominant by the third principal mode of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) which explains 8.7% of the total surface air temperature variance over EA. Significantly distinguished from the first two leading modes, the third mode positive phase features an increased surface pressure over the northwestern EA, an enhanced central Siberian high (CSH), a strengthened and northwestward extended western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and anomalously strong moisture transport from western Pacific, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal to EA. It also exhibits an intimate linkage with the sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the Arctic Ocean areas adjacent to northern Eurasian continent, central North Pacific and northeastern Pacific. Such SSTAs emerge in prior autumn and persist through ensuing winter, signifying precursory conditions for the anomalous third EAWM mode. Numerical experiments with a simple general circulation model demonstrate that the Arctic SSTAs excite geo-potential height anomalies over northern Eurasian continent and impacts on the CSH, while the extra-tropical Pacific SSTAs deform the WPSH. Co-effects of them play crucial roles on origins of the third EAWM mode. Based on these results, an empirical model is established to predict the third mode of the EAWM. Hindcast is performed for the 1957–2008 period, which shows a quite realistic prediction skill in general and good prediction ability in the extreme phase of the third mode of the EAWM such as 2007/2008 winter. Since all these predictors can be readily monitored in real time, this empirical model provides a real time forecast tool and may facilitate the seasonal prediction of high-impact weather associated with the abnormal EAWM.     

Stationary Wave Activity Associated with the East Asian Winter Monsoon Pathway

The pathway of the East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) that usually leads to the out-of-phase pattern of surface air temperature between northern and southern East Asia is an important feature in the variability of the EAWM besides its strength.Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 40-year(ERA40) reanalysis dataset,this study investigates the pathway-related stationary wave activity to explore the mechanism of the interannual variations in the EAWM pathway.It reveals that when the southern pathway of the EAWM is strong,the phase of the climatological stationary wave tends to be shifted westward significantly in both the horizontal and vertical directions by an anomalous wavenumber 2 pattern at mid-latitudes,whereas the changes are relatively small in the subtropics.The horizontal changes in the stationary wave phase facilitate a north-south-oriented East Asian trough in the middle troposphere that eventually produces the strong southern pathway of the EAWM.The vertical changes in the stationary wave,in contrast,feature a westward-tilted phase line with height over the North Pacific,indicating enhanced upward propagation of waves into the stratosphere.This result suggests that the phase of stationary waves at mid-latitudes dominate the interannual variations in the EAWM pathway.Moreover,it supports our previous interpretation of the possible role of the North Pacific sea surface temperature(SST) in the EAWM pathway variability.It also implies that the excitation of anomalous mid-latitude stationary waves may be the key in the response of the EAWM pathway to the North Pacific SST.     

东亚冬季风指数及其对东亚大气环流异常的表征

基于月平均NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、CMAP全球降水资料及中国台站降水和冷空气资料,首先概括了东亚冬季风环流系统的主要成员,并对基于这些环流系统定义的有代表性的4种东亚冬季风指数进行了比较分析。结果表明,4种指数具有比较一致的年际和年代际变化特征,相互间都为显著正相关,表明各指数都能较好地反映出其他环流系统成员的异常。功率谱分析结果显示,所有东亚冬季风指数均具有3—4年的年际变化周期和6.5年周期及9—15年的年代际变化周期。此外绝大部分指数在20世纪80年代之后都有线性减弱的趋势。所有季风指数都能够很好地反映“强(弱)冬季风年,低层西伯利亚高压偏强(弱),阿留申低压偏深(浅),副热带北风气流偏强(弱),东亚副热带地区气温偏低(高),中层东亚大槽偏深(浅)及高层副热带西风急流偏强(弱)”的基本特性。但各指数与冬季影响中国的冷空气次数间均无很好的对应关系。另外,绝大多数指数与东亚地区夏季降水也有较好的滞后关系,表明冬季风不仅对同期环流系统存在作用,而且还可能影响到夏季。     

东亚冬季风的年代际变化及其与全球气候变化的可能联系

对近年来中外关于东亚冬季风(EAWM)年代际变化问题研究进展做了回顾和评述,主要包括以下3个方面内容:(1)东亚冬季风明显受到全球气候变化的影响,从20世纪50年代开始,中国冬季气温经历了一次冷期(从20世纪50年代延续到80年代初中期),一次暖期(从20世纪80年代初中后期延续到21世纪初)和近10-15年(约从1998年开始)出现的气候变暖趋缓期(也称气候变暖停顿期)。(2)东亚冬季风主要表现出强-弱-强3阶段的特征,即从1950年到1986/1987年,明显偏强;从1986/1987年冬季开始,东亚冬季风减弱;约2005年之后,东亚冬季风开始由弱转强。与东亚冬季风的年代际变化特征相对应,东亚冬季大气环流以及中国冬季气温和寒潮都表现出一致的年代际变化。(3)东亚冬季风的年代际变化与大气环流和太平洋海表温度(SST)的区域模态变化密切相关。当北半球环状模/北极涛动(NAM/AO)和太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)处于负(正)位相,东亚冬季风偏强(弱),中国冬季气温偏低(高)。此外,北大西洋年代尺度振荡(AMO)对东亚冬季风也有重要影响,在AMO负位相时,对应东亚冷期(强冬季风),正位相对应暖期(弱冬季风)。因而海洋的年代际变化是造成东亚冬季风气候脉动的主要自然原因,而全球气候变暖对东亚冬季风强度的减弱也有明显影响。     

东亚冬季风年代际变化可能成因的模拟研究

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析月平均海平面气压资料, 定义了一个东亚冬季风强度指数 (I_WI), 并发现20世纪60年代到70年代初期东亚冬季风强度减弱, 其后冬季风强度有所增强, 80年代初期以后东亚冬季风强度又开始减弱。年代际时间尺度上, 冬季陆地表面气温与I_WI的相关性比海洋与I_WI相关性好, 冬季大陆东部的年代际增温与东亚冬季风的年代际减弱之间可能存在密切的联系。利用区域气候模式 (RegCM3) 进行敏感性数值模拟试验发现:减小冬季东亚大陆东北部的长波辐射降温率, 将导致东西向海平面气压差的减小以及低层北风减弱, 反映了东亚冬季风的减弱。近40年来, 特别是20世纪80年代以后东亚冬季风的年代际减弱趋势很可能是东亚区域气候对温室效应的一种区域响应。     

Predictability of South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset

Predicting monsoon onset is crucial for agriculture and socioeconomic planning in countries where millions rely on the timely arrival of monsoon rains for their livelihoods. In this study we demonstrate useful skill in predicting year-to-year variations in South China Sea summer monsoon onset at up to a three-month lead time using the GloSea5 seasonal forecasting system. The main source of predictability comes from skillful prediction of Pacific sea surface temperatures associated with El NiÑo and La NiÑa. The South China Sea summer monsoon onset is a known indicator of the broadscale seasonal transition that represents the first stage of the onset of the Asian summer monsoon as a whole. Subsequent development of rainfall across East Asia is influenced by subseasonal variability and synoptic events that reduce predictability, but interannual variability in the broadscale monsoon onset for East Asian summer monsoon still provides potentially useful information for users about possible delays or early occurrence of the onset of rainfall over East Asia.     

Projections of the East Asian Winter Monsoon under the IPCC AR5 Scenarios Using a Coupled Model: IAP-FGOALS

Responses of the East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) in future projections were studied based on two core future projections of CMIP5 in coordinated experiments with the IAP-coupled model FGOALS2-s.The projected changes of EAWM in climatology,seasonality,and interannual variability are reported here;the projections indicated strong warming in winter season.Warming increased with latitude,ranging from 1 C to 3 C in the Representative Concentration Pathways simulation RCP4.5 projection(an experiment that results in additional radiative forcing of ～4.5 W m 2 in 2100) and from 4 C to 9 C in the RCP8.5 projection(an experiment that results in additional radiative forcing of ～8.5 W m 2 in 2100).The northerly wind along the East Asian coastal region became stronger in both scenarios,indicating a stronger EAWM.Accordingly,interannual variability(described by the standard deviation of temperature) increased around the South China Sea and lower latitudes and decreased over eastern China,especially in North China.The two EAWM basic modes,defined by the temperature EOF analysis over East Asia,were associated with the Arctic Oscillation(AO) and stratospheric polar vortex.The future projections revealed more total variance attributable to the secondary mode,suggesting additional influences from the stratosphere.The correlation between AO and the leading mode decreased,while the correlation between AO and the secondary mode increased,implying increased complexity regarding the predictability of EAWM interannual variations in future projections.     

东亚冬季风异常对区域气溶胶分布的影响

气溶胶已是东亚地区最主要的大气污染物之一,其时空分布会受到东亚季风气候的影响。利用2000～2014年MODIS/AOD（Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Aerosol Optical Depth）和NCEP月平均气象场再分析资料,本研究分析了东亚冬季风长期变化趋势、气溶胶年际变化规律,探讨了东亚冬季风强度变化对气溶胶分布的影响。基于MODIS/AOD,发现近10年东亚地区冬季AOD呈现上升趋势,最大值为2007年的0.44,高值区覆盖四川盆地、华北平原及长江中下游大部分地区。风场特征类冬季风指数分析表明,东亚冬季风存在明显的年际和年代际差异,近年出现逐渐减弱的趋势。强冬季风年,海陆气压差增大、东亚大槽加深增强,东亚地区偏北风异常,风场的增强将引导更多冷空气南下,从而给东亚大部分地区带来明显的降温天气;弱年相反。气象场差异引起气溶胶分布变化,强年较强的偏北风将气溶胶向南方输送,东亚地区AOD出现“北低南高”的空间分布;弱年偏北风较弱,导致气溶胶集中在华北平原一带,AOD出现“北高南低”的空间分布。     

近40年来东亚冬季风的年代际时空变化趋势

利用经验正交函数－奇异值分解（EOF－SVD）综合分析方法和1961～2000年NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料对近40年来东亚冬季风和冬季表面气温的年代际变化特征及其相关关系进行了分析。研究结果表明, EOF得到的冬季海平面气压场主成分空间结构（第一特征向量）及其时间系数可以较好地反映出东亚冬季风的变化, 而且可以同时得到东亚冬季风强度和南扩程度的变化, 具有一定的优越性。通过对冬季海平面气压和表面气温年代际分量的EOF－SVD综合分析, 发现了东亚冬季风强度减弱、南扩加强的年代际变化趋势, 冬季表面气温则表现出中高纬地区海陆热力差异减弱、低纬地区海陆热力差异加强的年代际变化特征, 两者之间存在很好的对应关系。另外, 大陆冬季表面气温与海平面气压的年代际对应关系比海洋的更加显著, 表明对温室效应的区域气候响应与东亚冬季风的年代际变化之间可能存在较为密切的联系。