Influence of Intraseasonal Oscillation on the Asymmetric Decays of El Ni?o and La Ni?a

Warm and cold phases of El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exhibit a significant asymmetry in their decay speed. To explore the physical mechanism responsible for this asymmetric decay speed, the asymmetric features of anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric circulation over the tropical Western Pacific (WP) in El Nino and La Nina mature-to-decay phases are analyzed. It is found that the interannual standard deviations of outgoing longwave radiation and 850 hPa zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial WP during El Nino (La Nina) mature-to-decay phases are much stronger (weaker) than the intraseasonal standard deviations. It seems that the weakened (enhanced) intraseasonal oscillation during El Nino (La Nina) tends to favor a stronger (weaker) interannual variation of the atmospheric wind, resulting in asymmetric equatorial WP zonal wind anomalies in El Nino and La Nina decay phases. Numerical experiments demonstrate that such asymmetric zonal wind stress anomalies during El Nino and La Nina decay phases can lead to an asymmetric decay speed of SST anomalies in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific through stimulating di erent equatorial Kelvin waves. The largest negative anomaly over the Nino3 region caused by the zonal wind stress anomalies during El Nino can be threefold greater than the positive Nino3 SSTA anomalies during La Nina, indicating that the stronger zonal wind stress anomalies over the equatorial WP play an important role in the faster decay speed during El Nino.     

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.     

Variability Modes of the Winter Upper-Level Wind Field over Asian MidHigh Latitude Region

In this study,the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset was used to analyze the variability modes of the winter upper-level wind field over Asian mid-high latitude region.As shown by the results,the dominant variability modes of the winter upper-level wind field over Asian mid-high latitude region are characterized by the out-of-phase variation in the intensity of the subtropical and temperate jets over East Asia and the meridional shift of the subtropical jet axis,on interannual and multiannual scales,respectively.The first leading variability mode can be used as a good measure to represent the integral variation of atmospheric general circulation in Asian mid-latitude region.Composite analyses suggest that the first leading variability mode of the winter upper-level wind field is intimately related to the atmospheric circulation and temperature anomalies in the northern hemispheric mid-latitude region.     

An Observed Connection Between Wintertime Temperature Anomalies over Northwest China and Weather Regime Transitions in North Atlantic

In this study, the association between wintertime temperature anomalies over Northwest China and the weather regime transitions in North Atlantic on synoptic scale is analyzed by using observational surface air temperature(SAT) data and atmospheric reanalysis data. Daily SAT anomaly and duration time are used in order to define SAT anomaly cases. Differences with regard to the circulation anomalies over the Ural Mountains and the upstream North Atlantic area are evident. It is found that the colder than normal SAT is caused by the enhanced Ural high and associated southward flow over Northwest China. Time-lagged composites reveal possible connections between the SAT anomalies and the different development phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO). The Ural highs tend to be strengthened during the negative phase of NAO(NAO–) to Atlantic ridge transition, which are closely related to the downstream-propagating Rossby wave activity. The opposite circulation patterns are observed in the warm SAT cases. A cyclonic circulation anomaly is distinctly enhanced over the Urals during the positive phase of NAO(NAO+) to Scandinavian blocking transition, which would cause warmer SAT over Northwest China. Further analyses suggest that the intensified zonal wind over North Atlantic would favor the NAO– to Atlantic ridge transition, while the weakened zonal wind may be responsible for the transition between NAO+ and Scandinavian blocking.     

PREVIOUS CONVECTION ANOMALY IN AUTUMN AND WINTER ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENERAL CIRCULATION OVER EAST ASIA IN WINTER AND SPRING AND APRIL PRECIPITATION IN SHANDONG

Using OLR and 850 hPa and 200 hPa wind fields data (1979 – 2006), this paper diagnoses the characteristics of convection over the tropical area in preceding autumns and winters in association with April precipitation anomalies in Shandong province. It is found that preceding convection anomalies over the Western Pacific Warm Pool in December have close relationships with the April precipitation in Shandong. Further analysis of the relationship with the general circulation over the East Asia shows that the convection anomaly over the Western Pacific Warm Pool has close relationships with the Main East Asian Trough, the Hadley cell over East Asia and the Walker cell. The characteristics of East Asian atmospheric circulation anomalies accompanied with stronger (weaker) convection are consistent with those of less (more) April precipitation anomalies in Shandong. Therefore, the convection anomaly over the tropics in December may be an important indicator for April precipitation in Shandong.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SEASONAL TRANSITION OF EAST ASIAN MONSOON CIRCULATION AND ASIAN-PACIFIC THERMAL FIELD AND POSSIBLE MECHANISMS

The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, CMAP rainfall and Hadley Centre sea surface temperature (SST) datasets are used to investigate the relationship between the seasonal transition of East Asian monsoon and Asian-Pacific thermal contrast, together with the possible causes. Based on the 250 hPa air temperature over two selected key areas, the Asian-Pacific thermal difference (APTD) index is calculated. Results show that the APTD index is highly consistent with the Asian-Pacific Oscillation (APO) index defined by Zhao et al., in terms of different key areas in different seasons. Moreover, the time point of the seasonal transition of the Asian-Pacific thermal contrast can be well determined by the APTD index, indicative of seasonal variation in East Asian atmospheric circulation from winter to summer. The transition characteristic of the circulation can be summarized as follows. The continental cold high at lower tropospheric level moves eastward to the East China Sea and decreases rapidly in intensity, while the low-level northerlies turn to southerlies. At middle tropospheric level, the East Asia major trough is reduced and moves eastward. Furthermore, the subtropical high strengthens and appears near Philippines. The South Asia high shifts from the east of Philippines to the west of Indochina Peninsula, and the prevailing southerlies change into northerlies in upper troposphere. Meanwhile, both the westerly and easterly jets both jump to the north. The seasonal transition of atmospheric circulation is closely related to the thermal contrast, and the possible mechanism can be concluded as follows. Under the background of the APTD seasonal transition, the southerly wind appears firstly at lower troposphere, which triggers the ascending motion via changing vertical shear of meridional winds. The resultant latent heating accelerates the transition of heating pattern from winter to summer. The summer heating pattern can further promote the adjustment of circulation, which favors the formation and strengthening of the low-level southerly and upper-level northerly winds. As a result, the meridional circulation of the East Asian subtropical monsoon is established through a positive feedback between the circulation and thermal fields. Moreover, the time point of this seasonal transition has a significant positive correlation with the SST anomalies over the tropical central-eastern Pacific Ocean, providing a basis for the short-term climate prediction.     

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of the SST Anomalies in the Tropical Western Pacific on the Blocking Highs over the Northeastern Asia

The effects of the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical western Pacific on the atmospheric circulation anomalies over East Asia are simulated by the IAP-GCM with an observed and idealized distributions of the SST anomalies in the tropical western Pacific,respectively.Firstly,the atmospheric circulation anomalies during July and August,1980 are simulated by three anomalous experiments including the global SST anomaly experiment,the tropical SST anomaly experiment and the extratropical SST anomaly experiment,using the observed SST anomalies in 1980.It is shown that the SST anomalies in the tropical ocean greatly influence the formation and maintenance of the blocking high over the northeastern Asia,and may play a more important role than the SST anomalies in the extratropical ocean in the influence on the atmospheric circulation anomalies.Secondly,the effects of the SST anomalies in the tropical western Pacific on the atmospheric circulation anomalies over East Asia are also simulated w     

A Diagnostic Analysis of Winter Atmospheric Circulation during the 1982-1983 ENSO Event

In this paper, the winter atmospheric circulation, the convection along the equator and their variations of 1982 and 1983 are investigated. It is suggested that there was a well organized three dimensional structure of anomalies of the atmospheric circulations during 1982 winter which may be related to the variations of the convection in the equatorial region.     

An East Asian Subtropical Summer Monsoon Index and Its Relationship to Summer Rainfall in China

Using the monthly mean NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and the monthly rainfall observations at 160 rain gauge stations of China during 1961 1999, and based on major characteristics of the atmospheric circulation over East Asia and the western Pacific, a simple index for the East Asian subtropical summer monsoon （EASSM） is defined. The relationship between this index and summer rainfall in China and associated circulation features are examined. A comparison is made between this index and other monsoon indices. The results indicate that the index defined herein is reflective of variations of both the thermal low pressure centered in Siberia and the subtropical ridge over the western Pacific. It epitomizes the intensity of the EASSM and the variability of summer rainfall along the Yangtze River. Analysis shows that the Siberian low has a greater effect on the rainfall than the subtropical ridge, suggesting that the summer rainfall variability over the eastern parts of China is to a large extent affected by anomalies of the atmospheric circulation and cold air development in the midlatitudes. Taking into account of the effects of both the Siberian low and the subtropical ridge can better capture the summer rainfall anomalies of China. The index exhibits interannual and decadal variabilities, with high-index values occurring mainly in the 1960s and 1970s and low-index values in the 1980s and 1990s. When the EASSM index is low, the Siberian low and the subtropical ridge are weaker, and northerly wind anomalies appear at low levels over the midlatitudes and subtropics of East Asia, whereas southwesterly wind anomalies dominate in the upper troposphere over the tropics and subtropics of Asia and the western Pacific. The northerly wind anomalies bring about frequent cold air disturbances from the midlatitudes of East Asia, strengthening the convergence and ascending motions along the Meiyu front, and result in an increase of summer rainfall over the Yangtze River.     

An Index Measuring the Interannual Variation of the East Asian Summer Monsoon ——The EAP Index

Based on the EAP (East Asia/Pacific) teleconnection in the summer circulation anomalies over ther Northern Hemisphere, an index measuring the strength of the East Asian summer monsoon, i.e., the so-called EAP index, is defined in this paper. From the analyses of observed data, it is clearly shown that the EAP index defined in this study can well describe the interannual variability of summer rainfall and surface air temperature in East Asia, especially in the Yangtze River valley and the Huaihe River valley, Korea,and Japan. Moreover, this index can also reflect the interannual variability of the East Asian summer monsoon system including the monsoon horizontal circulation and the vertical-meridional circulation cell over East Asia. From the composite analyses of climate and monsoon circulation anomalies for high EAP index and for low EAP index, respectively, it is well demonstrated that the EAP index proposed in this study can well measure the strength of the East Asian summer monsoon.     

亚洲季风环流在20世纪70年代末之后的减弱(英文)

全球大气环流自２０世纪７０年代末之后的转变可以很清楚地在大气温度、风场等的变化上得到发现。子波分析的结果证实这次转变的时间尺度在２０年以上。本文的研究着重揭示：在对流层中层，亚洲中纬度区域的转变趋势同全球平均的转变趋势相反；更重要的是，在这次转变之后亚洲和非洲的季风环流变弱了，同时热带东太平洋区的贸易风环流也变弱了。而在降水的变化中也可以发现这次转变。     

The Southern Westerlies during the last glacial maximum in PMIP2 simulations

The Southern Hemisphere westerly winds are an important component of the climate system at hemispheric and global scales. Variations in their intensity and latitudinal position through an ice-age cycle have been proposed as important drivers of global climate change due to their influence on deep-ocean circulation and changes in atmospheric CO₂. The position, intensity, and associated climatology of the southern westerlies during the last glacial maximum (LGM), however, is still poorly understood from empirical and modelling standpoints. Here we analyse the behaviour of the southern westerlies during the LGM using four coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations carried out by the Palaeoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project Phase 2 (PMIP2). We analysed the atmospheric circulation by direct inspection of the winds and by using a cyclone tracking software to indicate storm tracks. The models suggest that changes were most significant during winter and over the Pacific ocean. For this season and region, three out four models indicate decreased wind intensities at the near surface as well as in the upper troposphere. Although the LGM atmosphere is colder and the equator to pole surface temperature gradient generally increases, the tropospheric temperature gradients actually decrease, explaining the weaker circulation. We evaluated the atmospheric influence on the Southern Ocean by examining the effect of wind stress on the Ekman pumping. Again, three of the models indicate decreased upwelling in a latitudinal band over the Southern Ocean. All models indicate a drier LGM than at present with a clear decrease in precipitation south of 40°S over the oceans. We identify important differences in precipitation anomalies over the land masses at regional scale, including a drier climate over New Zealand and wetter over NW Patagonia.     

近52年长江中下游地区夏季年代际尺度干湿变化及其环流演变分析

利用中国气象局国家气象信息中心提供的长江中下游地区353站1961~2012年逐月降水资料,通过计算得到各站点夏季标准化降水指数(SPI)。根据长江中下游地区夏季中旱及以上等级站点数目及其突变检测(Mann-Kendall方法,MK)结果,将时间序列划分为三个时段。在此基础上,利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料及NOAA海洋表面温度重建资料,分析了各个时段前冬至夏季环流背景场的异常特征及其演变过程,并建立了各时段的概念模型。结果表明:(1)长江中下游夏季在第一时段(1961~1973年)呈明显干旱状态;第二时段(1974~1986年)为干旱向湿润转变的阶段;第三时段(1987~2012年)基本转为湿润状态。(2)第二时段为第一时段与第三时段的过渡期,环流背景场在该时段发生明显变化,使得第一时段与第三时段所对应季节的环流距平场相位相反。(3)第一时段,前冬至夏季全球海温持续偏冷,印度洋海温冷异常在夏季尤为显著,南亚高压与西太平洋副热带高压偏弱;前冬,青藏高原北部脊偏弱,蒙古高压明显偏弱;夏季,印度低压偏强、南支槽加深,夏季风水汽输送偏强,而亚洲中高纬度为平直西风气流,北方冷空气不易南下至我国南方地区,冷暖空气交绥受阻,使得长江中下游夏季出现大范围的干旱。第三时段相对于第一时段,前冬至夏季全球海温暖异常,印度洋海温显著偏暖,西太平洋副热带高压偏强;前冬,青藏高原北部脊偏强,蒙古高压异常偏强;夏季,印度低压减弱、南支槽异常偏弱,夏季风水汽输送较弱,水汽滞留在长江流域,且贝加尔湖高压脊发展,脊前冷空气南下,使得长江中下游夏季降水偏多。     

The dynamical effects of divergent wind on the intraseasonal variability of the East Asian circulation

In this paper, the dynamical effects of divergent wind on the intraseasonal variability of atmospheric circulation over East Asia are analyzed by using the function of Rossby-wave source and the energy exchanging function be-tween divergent component and rotational component of the flow.The results analyzed from the observed data show that the advection of vorticity by divergent wind caused by the heating due to the monsoon rainfall in the south to the Yangtze River and the strong convective activities around the Philippines may play an important role in the northward jump of westerly jet stream during the seasonal transition from spring circulation to summer circulation over East Asia. Due to the northward movement of the advection of vorticity by the divergent wind, the energy transformation from divergent component into rotational component can be caused over the Yellow River basin and Northwest China and will cause the intensification of the zonal flow there. Thus, the jet stream abruptly shifts northward to North China.Moreover, the analysed results also show that the advection of vorticity by divergent wind caused by the heating due to the strong convective activities around the Philippines also plays an important role in the intraseasonal varia-bility of the circulation over East Asia during the seasonal transition from summer to winter. With the southward movement of the advection of vorticity by the divergent wind, the energy transformation from divergent component into rotational component can be caused over East Asia, especially over the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin. Therefore, the jet stream gradually moves southward from North China to the Yangtze River basin.     

亚洲热带夏季风指数与中国南方降水的关系

利用1979-2013年夏季全球2.5°×2.5°逐日环流资料和中国气象站点降水观测资料,采用动力学因子(西南风)与热力学因子(Radiation Longwave covting,OLR)相结合定义了标准化的亚洲热带夏季风指数(Tropical Summer Monsoon Index,TSMI).结果 表明,该指数...     

夏季亚洲-太平洋涛动与中国近海热带气旋活动的关系

采用联合台风警报中心的台风最伟路径资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析了夏季亚洲-太平洋涛动(Asian-Pacif-ic Oscillation,简称APO)与东亚近海-西北太平洋大气环流的关系,并进一步探讨了APO与中国近海热带气旋(tropical cy-clone,简称TC)活动的关系.研究表明:(1)夏季APO强弱与同期西北太平洋及中国东部近海TC活动存在密切关系,即在APO强(弱)年,西北太平洋TC活动偏西(东)和偏北(南),中国东部近海TC明显增多(减少);(2)当APO偏强(弱)时,中国东部近海大气环流有(不)利于TC的维持和发展,表现为低层存在异常气旋性(反气旋性)环流,对流层高低层纬向风垂直切变减小(增大),且对流加强(减弱);(3)APO强弱也影响着TC引导气流的方向:在APO强(弱)年,西北太平洋副热带高压(以下简称副高)偏北和偏东(偏南和偏西),副高南侧偏东气流减弱(加强),有利于TC的向西北行或在偏北(南)纬度西行,进入中国东部近海的TC增多(减少);(4)APO强弱也影响着南海-热带西太平洋TC源地上空的大气环流,在APO强(弱)年,南海-热带西太平洋季风槽偏北、偏西(偏南、偏东),热带西太平洋TC活动偏北和偏西(偏南和偏东),有利于进入中国东部近海TC的增多(减少).     

Comparisons of Low-Level Circulation Characteristics between ECHAM5/MPI-OM Results and NCEP/NCAR Re-Analysis Data in East Asia

Regional climate models(RCMs) can provide far more precise information than general circulation models(GCMs).However,RCMs depend on GCM results or re-analysis products providing boundary conditions,especially for future climate scenarios.Meanwhile,the capacity of RCMs to reproduce precipitation is strongly connected to its performance on circulation and moisture transport simulations in the low troposphere,which is the key problem with RCMs at present.In the Regional Climate Model Inter-comparison Project for East Asia(RMIP III),the results of ECHAM5/MPI-OM(the European Centre-Hamburg model version 5/Max Planck Institute Ocean Model,simplified as E5OM here) are used to drive RCMs for the past(1978?2000) climate simulation and future(2038?70) climate scenarios.Therefore,it is necessary to test E5OM’s ability to represent atmospheric circulation,which defines the large-scale circulation for RCMs.Here,comparisons between the E5OM results and NCEP/NCAR(simplified as NCEP) re-analysis data in the low troposphere for the years 1978 to 2000 are performed.The results show that E5OM results can generally reproduce atmospheric circulations in the low troposphere.However,differences can be detected in East Asian summer and winter monsoon simulations.For summer,there is an anti-cyclone circulation for the difference of wind vector at 850 hPa in Southeast China,the Indo-China Peninsula,the South China Sea,and the northwestern Pacific.For winter,due to the weaker northwesterly wind in Northeast Asia,the northeasterly wind from the Indo-China Peninsula to Taiwan in E5OM extends northward with greater intensity than that in NCEP.These differences will have a considerable influence on the low level atmospheric circulation and water vapor transport as well as the location and intensity of the precipitation.Therefore,when E5OM results are to be used as initial and boundary conditions to drive RCMs,the differences between NCEP and E5OM should be considered.     

FGOALS模式对中国西南地区干旱气候的模拟研究

本文利用台站资料、NCEP资料及FGOALS模式结果对全球变暖背景下西南地区的干旱及其成因进行比较分析,结果表明:西太平洋副热带高压较常年异常偏弱偏东,中高纬环流场比较平直;由南向北的水汽输送较常年偏弱,中低层水汽通量和湿润年相比表现为辐散;而西南地区上游的青藏高原地区对流活动减弱,低涡活动减弱,都是导致该地区降水偏少,从而形成高温干旱的主要原因。与NCEP资料相比,FGOALS模式模拟的中高层位势高度偏低,越往高层,偏差越大;FGOALS模拟的暖湿水汽输送位置较为偏南;垂直运动大值区偏西。