Teleconnections: Northern hemisphere lower stratospheric geopotential heights and Indian monsoon rainfall

Summary In this study a search for teleconnection is made between the Northern Hemisphere lower stratospheric geopotential heights and Indian Monsoon Rainfall (IMR) through the correlation analysis approach. Monthly grid-point 50 hPa geopotential height data and the June to September IMR are used for the period 1958–1990.Analysis reveal that there are domains over the Northern Hemisphere where the variation of the geopotential heights during the preceding months of the monsoon period are related with the interannual behaviour of the IMR. During January and February significant positive correlations are seen along the lower latitudes (10°–20° N). However, the maximum relationship is seen during March, with high positive correlations over the Canadian sector and negative correlations over the east Asian sector. The correlation configuration weakens considerably, once the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) cases are excluded, suggesting that the correlation pattern obtained may be a manifestation of the ENSO cycle. Implications of these results in the long range forecasting of IMR are also discussed.With 5 Figures     

Outgoing long-wave radiation over the Tropical Pacific and Atlantic Ocean and Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Summary In this paper, the interannual variability of satellite derived outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) is examined in relation to the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (June to September total rainfall; ISMR). Monthly grid point OLR field over the domain i.e. the tropical Pacific and Atlantic region (30°N to 30°S, 110°E to 10°W) and the ISMR for the period 1974–2001 are used for the study. A strong and significant north–south dipole structure in the correlation pattern is found between the ISMR and the OLR field over the domain during January. This dipole is located over the west Pacific region with highly significant negative (positive) correlations over the South China Sea and surrounding region (around north-east Australia). The dipole weakens and moves northwestward during February and disappears in March. During the month of May, the OLR over the central Atlantic Ocean shows a significant positive relationship with the ISMR. These relationships are found to be consistent and robust during the period of analysis and can be used in the prediction of the ISMR.A multiple regression equation is developed, using the above results, for prediction of the ISMR and the empirical relationships are verified using an independent data set. The results are encouraging for the prediction of the ISMR. The composite annual cycle of the OLR, over the west Pacific regions during extreme ISMR is found to be useful in the prediction of extreme summer monsoon rainfall conditions over the Indian subcontinent.     

Response of the Indian summer monsoon circulation and rainfall to seasonal snow depth anomaly over Eurasia

Several observational and modeling studies indicate that the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) is inversely related to the Eurasian snow extent and depth. The other two important surface boundary conditions which influence the ISMR are the Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) to a large extent and the Indian Ocean SST to some extent. In the present study, observed Soviet snow depth data and Indian rainfall data for the period 1951–1994 have been statistically analyzed and results show that 57% of heavy snow events and 24% of light snow events over west Eurasia are followed by deficient and excess ISMR respectively. Out of all the extreme monsoon years, care has been taken to identify those when Eurasian snow was the most dominant surface forcing to influence ISMR. During the years of high(low) Eurasian snow amounts in spring/winter followed by deficient(excess) ISMR, atmospheric fields such as temperature, wind, geopotential height, velocity potential and stream function based on NCEP/NCAR reanalyses have been examined in detail to study the influence of Eurasian snow on the midlatitude circulation regime and hence on the monsoon circulation. Results show that because of the west Eurasian snow anomalies, the midlatitude circulations in winter through spring show significant changes in the upper and lower level wind, geopotential height, velocity potential and stream function fields. Such changes in the large-scale circulation pattern may be interpreted as precursors to weak/strong monsoon circulation and deficient/excess ISMR. The upper level velocity potential difference fields between the high and low snow years indicate that with the advent of spring, the winter anomalous convergence over the Indian region gradually becomes weaker and gives way to anomalous divergence that persists through the summer monsoon season. Also the upper level anomalous divergence centre shifts from over the Northern Hemisphere and equator to the Southern Hemisphere over the Indian Ocean and Australia.     

TELECONNECTION BETWEEN INDIAN MONSOON AND EAST ASIAN CIRCULATION*

Correlation analysis identified that Indian summer rainfall and East Asian 500 hPa geopotential height field are significantly correlated.A teleconnection pattern between Indian monsoon and East Asian summer circulation (IEA pattern) was proposed.We suggested that the Pacific-Japan teleconnection pattern (PJ pattern) primarily influences the meridional position of the northwestern Pacific subtropical high (NPSH) in summer,while IEA pattern partly affects its zonal stretch or the anomaly of geopotential height field over China mainland.The numerical experiments imply that the IEA pattern has important impact on East Asian circulation and it can be stimulated by the SST anomaly of the Indian Ocean.We summarized that there are two ways,a directive way and a selective way,by which ENSO exerts impacts on East Asian summer monsoon.     

Comparative tests and analyses on monsoon and regional precipitation

Summary Due to the strong variation of the Asian monsoon, many countries in Asia often suffer from serious natural disasters. Droughts and floods appear in East China frequently related to the large anomalies of the two branches of East Asian monsoon. Based on rainfall data recorded by 336 Chinese stations in the 1980s, two distinctly opposite rainfall types over East China in summer (JJA) are discovered. Correspondly, 850 hPa anomalous wind fields in the Eastern Hemisphere are also possessed by two types of converse patterns in spring (MAM) and summer (JJA). The onset time and intensity of the Somali jet and the two branches of Southeast and Indian monsoon are quite different. Furthermore, in the 500 hPa geopotential height anomaly fields in spring and summer, the variations of the previous general atmospheric circulation (in spring) are closely correlated to the two kinds of conversely distributed rainfall in summer. These two types of rainfall are also related to two types of conversely distributed sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) in the equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans. To investigate model capabilities refelecting the above observed features, eight numerical experiments are carried out using the IAP 2-L AGCM, with observed monthly mean global SSTs as external forcing and observed atmospheric data on February 15 as initial conditions. The simulated distributions of rainfall anomalies over East China in summer are in good accordance with observations. With conversely distributed SSTAs in the equatorial Pacific, the simulated 850 hPa anomalous wind fields and the 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies are also conversely distributed, and are closely related to the two types of simulated rainfall anomalies over East China. The cross equatorial wind varies in strength, space and time. The simulated distributions of anomalous 500 hPa geopotential height in spring and the anomalous wind at 850 hPa in spring and summer are quite similar to observations.With 10 Figures     

Weakening of Indian summer monsoon rainfall in warming environment

Though over a century long period (1871–2010) the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) series is stable, it does depict the decreasing tendency during the last three decades of the 20th century. Around mid-1970s, there was a major climate shift over the globe. The average all-India surface air temperature also shows consistent rise after 1975. This unequivocal warming may have some impact on the weakening of ISMR. The reduction in seasonal rainfall is mainly contributed by the deficit rainfall over core monsoon zone which happens to be the major contributor to seasonal rainfall amount. During the period 1976–2004, the deficit (excess) monsoons have become more (less) frequent. The monsoon circulation is observed to be weakened. The mid-tropospheric gradient responsible for the maintenance of monsoon circulation has been observed to be weakened significantly as compared to 1901–1975. The warming over western equatorial Indian Ocean as well as equatorial Pacific is more pronounced after mid-70s and the co-occurrence of positive Indian Ocean Dipole Mode events and El Nino events might have reinforced the large deficit anomalies of Indian summer monsoon rainfall during 1976–2004. All these factors may contribute to the weakening of ISMR.     

A possible mechanism for the weakening of El Niño-monsoon relationship during the recent decade

Summary Observational data are used to explore the relationship between surface air temperature anomaly gradients and Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). The meridional temperature anomaly gradient across Eurasia during January directed towards equator (pole) is a very good precursor of subsequent excess (deficient) Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). This gradient directed towards equator (pole) indicates below (above) normal blocking activity over Eurasia, which leads to less (more) than normal southward penetration of dry and cold mid latitude westerlies over the Indian monsoon region, which ultimately strengthens (weakens) the normal monsoon circulation. These findings suggest a mechanism for the weakening of relationship between El Niño and ISMR.Though there is a strong fundamental association between El Niño (warm ENSO) and deficient Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR), this relationship was weak during the period 1921–1940 and the recent decade (1991–1998). During the El Niño years of 1921–1940 and 1901–1998, the meridional temperature anomaly gradient across Eurasia (Eurasian forcing) during January was directed towards equator. On the other hand, during the El Niño years of 1901–1920 and 1941–1990 this gradient was directed towards pole. Thus during 1921–1940 and 1991–1998, the adverse impact of El Niño on Indian monsoon was reduced by the favorable Eurasian forcing resulting in the weak association between El Niño and ISMR. This finding disagrees with the hypothesis of winter warming over the Eurasian continent as the reason for the observed weakening of this relationship during recent decade.     

2003年北半球大气环流及中国气候异常特征

2002年发生的厄尔尼诺事件于2003年初结束；受这次事件的影响，西太平洋副热带高压冬、春、夏、秋季持续偏强；夏季西伸脊点位置偏西；6、7月脊线位置偏南，8月偏北。初夏6月上中旬有贝加尔湖阻高影响，6月下旬至7月中旬有鄂霍次克海阻高影响；盛夏东亚夏季风异常偏强；青藏高原500hPa高度年趋势偏高，大部分地区冬季积雪少；热带对流强度年趋势偏弱。     

东亚夏季风指数的年际变化与东亚大气环流

文中从夏季东亚热带、副热带环流系统特点出发 ,定义了能较好表征东亚夏季风环流年际变化的特征指数 ,并分析了东亚夏季风指数的年际变化与东亚大气环流及夏季中国东部降水的关系。文中定义的东亚夏季风指数既反映了夏季东亚大气环流风场的变化特征 ,也较好地反映了夏季中国东部降水的年际变化特征。此外 ,还探讨了东亚夏季风指数变化的先兆信号     

Impact of the western North Pacific subtropical high on the East Asian monsoon precipitation and the Indian Ocean precipitation in the boreal summertime

The western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) is a crucial component of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) system and significantly influences the precipitation in East Asia. In this study, distinguished role of WNPSH on the EASM and Indian Ocean monsoon (IOM) are investigated. Based on the boreal summer mean field of 850-hPa geopotential height and its interannual variability, the WNPSH index (WNPSHI) is defined by the areaaveraged geopotential height over the region [110°–150°E, 15°–30°N]. The WNPSHI is significantly related to the precipitation over the East Asian monsoon (EAM) region [105°–150°E, 30°–40°N] and IOM region [70°–105°E, 5°–15°N]. Rainfalls over these two regions have good correlation with WNPSH developments and the geopotential height fields at 850 hPa related to the EAM precipitation and IOM precipitation have remarkably different teleconnection patterns in boreal summer. These features exhibit that EAM and IOM precipitations have different type of development processes associated with different type of WNPSH each other. Focusing on the relationships among the EAM precipitation, IOM precipitation, and the WNPSH variabilities, we assume that WNPSH and EAM precipitation are usually fluctuated simultaneously through the sea surface temperature (SST)-subtropical ridge-monsoon rainfall feedback, whereas the IOM precipitation varies through the different process. To clarify the relationships among WNPSH, EAM, and IOM, two cases are selected. The first one is the case that all of WNPSH, EAM, and IOM are in phase (WE(+)I(+)), and the second one is the case that WNPSH and EAM are in phase and WNPSH/EAM and IOM is out of phase (WE(+)I(?)). These two cases are connected to the thermal forcing associated with SST anomalies over the eastern Pacific and Indian Ocean. This different thermal forcing induces the change in circulation fields, and then anomalous circulation fields influence the moisture convergence over Asian monsoon regions interactively. Therefore, the monsoon rainfall may be changed according to the thermal conditions over the tropics.     

北印度洋和南海海温及500hPa高度场的相关分析

本文用北印度洋的索马里海区、阿拉伯海、孟加拉湾和南海海区月平均(1951—1972)海温和500hPa高度场(1951—1973)资料分析了各种海区海温的变化特征以及与500hPa高度场的相关。结果表明,在各个海区海温的季节变化、持续性、周期性都存在明显的差异,相互之间有明显的相关性,和500hPa高度场也有较明显的相关关系,尤其是西太平洋和北印度洋的中低纬地区。      

大气再分析资料中潜在可预报性的特征及其差异

利用1957年9月—2002年8月ECMWF和NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料,分别讨论了冬季和夏季SLP(sea level pressure,海平面气压)、500hPa高度、200hPa纬向风和850hPa经向风年际变率的潜在可预报性特征。结果表明:热带地区的潜在可预报性较高,尤其是赤道中东太平洋地区,而中高纬地区的潜在可预报性则较低。比较两套资料潜在可预报性的异同后发现:南半球的差异均明显大于北半球,特别是南极地区;低层变量的差异均大于中高层变量;东亚大陆在冬、夏季均具有一定的潜在可预报性;冬季各变量均表现出东亚冬季风具有较高的年际变率潜在可预报性,且两套资料的差异较小;500hPa位势高度表现的东亚夏季风潜在可预报性在两套资料中较一致,而低层变量(SLP和850hPa经向风)表现的东亚夏季风年际变率潜在可预报性在两套资料中存在较大差异。     

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.     

Association between extreme monsoons and the dipole mode over the Indian subcontinent

Summary The relationship of summer monsoon over India with the Indian Ocean Dipole Mode has been investigated applying simple statistical techniques. While a long time series of 132 years based on 1871–2002 for both summer monsoon rainfall as well as dipole mode index has been used in this study, the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data (1948–2002) are used to examine the circulation features associated with the extreme dipole and monsoon phases. These flow patterns bring out the dynamics of the dipole – monsoon relationship. Lead/lag correlations between the dipole mode index and the Indian monsoon rainfall are computed. Results reveal that numerically the relationship is stronger following the monsoon. The lower troposphere flow patterns at 850 hPa associated with the extreme phases of the dipole and monsoon are consistent with the correlation analysis. Further a strong (weak) summer monsoon favours the development of the negative (positive) dipole event in autumn. The sliding correlations between Indian monsoon rainfall and the dipole mode index suggest that the impact of monsoon over dipole is weakening after 1960s. This weakening relationship has been evidenced by the composites of sea-surface temperature anomalies and circulation patterns. All the above analysis suggests that the summer monsoon has more influence on the dipole mode than vice-a-versa.     

Influence of PDO on South Asian summer monsoon and monsoon–ENSO relation

This study has investigated the possible relation between the Indian summer monsoon and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) observed in the sea surface temperature (SST) of the North Pacific Ocean. Using long records of observations and coupled model (NCAR CCSM4) simulation, this study has found that the warm (cold) phase of the PDO is associated with deficit (excess) rainfall over India. The PDO extends its influence to the tropical Pacific and modifies the relation between the monsoon rainfall and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). During the warm PDO period, the impact of El Niño (La Niña) on the monsoon rainfall is enhanced (reduced). A hypothesis put forward for the mechanism by which PDO affects the monsoon starts with the seasonal footprinting of SST from the North Pacific to the subtropical Pacific. This condition affects the trade winds, and either strengthens or weakens the Walker circulation over the Pacific and Indian Oceans depending on the phase of the PDO. The associated Hadley circulation in the monsoon region determines the impact of PDO on the monsoon rainfall. We suggest that knowing the phase of PDO may lead to better long-term prediction of the seasonal monsoon rainfall and the impact of ENSO on monsoon.     

1998 SCSMEX期间亚洲30－60天低频振荡特征的分析

对１９９８年 ５－８月南海季风试验（ＳＣＳＭＥＸ）期间东亚地区 ８５０ ｈＰａ中低纬环流指数、东亚季风指数和长江中下游降水进行了Ｍｏｒｌｅｔ 小波分析,结果表明在此期间这些要素均有明显的３０－６０天周期低频振荡。在此基础上对 ５－８月每隔 ５天的 ８５０ ｈＰａ低频流场进行分析,结果表明：（１）１００°－１５０°Ｅ间东亚从中国东中部大陆经南海和西太平洋的南北半球中明显的存在一个以３０－６０天低频荡为特征的东亚季风低频环流系统,东亚季风活动主要受东亚季风系统中低频活动影响;（２）５月第５候南海热带季风爆发、６月中旬长江中下游人梅及产生大暴雨以及７月中旬以后的该地区大暴雨均与低频气旋带在该地区活动有关,而８月长江上游大暴雨则与低频反气旋伸人到大陆有关;（３）ＳＣＳＭＥＸ期间东亚低频振荡系统的源地有二个,即南海赤道和北半球中太平洋中高纬。南海低频系统向北传播,而中高纬低频系统自东北向西南传播为主。长江中下游６、７月二次大暴雨均与上述二个低频气旋系统自热带向北和中高纬向西南传播并于长江中下游汇合有关;（４）５－８月间东亚季风系统中有二次低频气旋带和二次低频反气旋带活动,这些低频环流系统的活动与印度季风低频环流系统活动并无明     

Dynamical linkage of tropical and subtropical weather systems to the intraseasonal oscillations of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall. Part I: observations

The Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) over the Western Ghats (WG) and the Bay of Bengal (BoB) is marked by the intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) with preferred 10–20-day and 30–50-day bands. On the basis of pentad Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis Precipitation and daily sea level pressure and winds at 850?hPa derived from European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecast reanalysis, we present the structure and evolution of the ISOs linked to the ISMR variations over the WG and the BoB and the associated anomalies of the atmospheric circulation using the approaches of wavelet analysis, bandpass filtering and composite analysis. This study reveals that the activities of both the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) contribute strongly to the structure and propagation of the ISOs on intraseasonal time scales. Northward development and propagation of the ITCZ plays a critical role in the northward-propagating ISOs, but not in the westward-propagating BoB 10–20-day ISOs. The latter ISOs may be linked, instead, to the activity of synoptic-scale weather systems to the east over the western tropical Pacific. The enhanced ITCZ in the tropical Indian Ocean plays a strong role in the sudden strengthening of the WPSH during the transition from the break to active phase of the 30–50-day ISOs. We find that the strong WPSH in the Asian summer monsoon season, with generally northward advance and eastward withdrawal, promotes the formation of a northwest to southeast tilted anomalous rainfall belt over the East Asian tropical summer monsoon region and the western tropical Pacific in the 30–50-day low-frequency band. Positive (Negative) elongated rainfall anomalies with an unbroken northwest-southeast tilt, strong easterly (westerly) anomalies in the tropical Pacific, and northward advance and eastward movement of strong (weak) WPSH are favorable for maintaining the eastward propagation of the 30–50-day ISOs in the Pacific. Daily high-resolution sea surface temperature obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is used to explain the propagation features of the 10–20-day ISOs in the Indian Ocean.     

The Dipole Mode of the Summer Rainfall over East China during 1958–2001

By examining the second leading mode(EOF2)of the summer rainfall in China during 1958–2001 and associated circulations,the authors found that this prominent mode was a dipole pattern with rainfall decreasing to the north of the Yangtze River and increasing to the south.This reverse relationship of the rainfalls to the north and to the south of the Yangtze River was related with the meridional circulations within East Asia and the neighboring region,excited by SST in the South China Sea-northwestern Pacific....     

近40年青藏高原季风变化的主要特征

通过计算1961－1995的逐日青藏高原季风指数，初步确定了高原夏季风开始和结束的时间，在此基础上研究了季风指数的年际变化特征以及和500hPa高度场、东亚季风之间的可能联系。结果表明：夏季风开始和结束的时间呈反相关关系；高原季风的年际和年代变化明显；高原冬季风强（弱）与同期高原及乌拉尔山500hPa高度场偏高（低）以及东亚冬季风偏强（弱）相联系；高原夏季风偏强（弱）与同期贝湖至高原南部500hPa高度场偏低（高）、西亚和中国东部高度场偏高（低）以及东亚夏季风偏强（弱）相联系。