ABRUPT CHANGE IN ELEMENTS AROUND 1998 SCS SUMMER MONSOON ESTABLISHMENT WITH ANALYSIS OF ITS CHARACTERISTIC PROCESS

The latest dataset from the SCS(South China Sea)Monsoon Experiment is used to investigatethe features of abrupt change in some meteorological elements before,during and after the summermonsoon's establishment in 1998 and explore its onset characteristic process.We have arrived at apreliminary conclusion that the 1998 Asian summer monsoon is established first in the SCS as earlyas May 23,which is representative of the earliest indicator of the conversion from a winter into asummer monsoon situation in Asia;the continued retreat eastward of the western Pacificsubtropical high from the SCS region has direct effect on the SCS summer monsoon establishmentbecause the withdrawal favors the release of unstable energy,responsible for the sudden onset ofthe monsoon.Our tentative investigation indicates that the eastward extension of the westerly andrainfall band from the equatorial Indian Ocean into the Indo-China Peninsula and the southwardspreading of an active South-China stationary front,acting as the interaction between mid and lowlatitude systems,are likely to be the characteristic events contributing to the subtropical high'seastward retreating and the summer monsoon's onset over the SCS.     

孟加拉湾季风爆发对南海季风爆发的影响Ⅰ:个例分析

利用南海季风试验分析场和NCAR向外长波辐射通量(OLR)资料研究了1998年孟加拉湾季风和南海季风爆发期间副热带环流的大尺度和天气尺度特征,探讨了孟加拉湾季风爆发与南海季风爆发之间的物理联系及孟加拉湾季风气旋的对流凝结潜热释放对副热带高压“撤出”南海的影响。结果表明,1998年5月爆发的东亚季风展现出典型的从孟加拉湾地区东传发展到南海地区的过程。随着孟加拉湾季风爆发和对流活动增强、北移,南海北部出现了低层西风和对流活动,领先于副热带高压在南海地区减弱和撤退。结果还显示南海北部地区的对流凝结加热有助于该地区经向温度梯度的反转,在热成风关系的制约下南海上空副热带高压脊面的垂直倾斜由冬季型转向夏季型,季风爆发。     

南海夏季风爆发的数值预报模拟实验

1998年5月21日00时（UTC）,对流层上部200hPa的南亚反气旋中心位于（16oN,94oE）附近,850hPa南海的中南部仍为副热带反气旋控制;到21日12时,200hPa的南亚反气旋中心迅速移到（21oN,94oE）附近,同时850hPa的南海副热带反气旋减弱东撤,南海的中南部由东南风转变为西南风,南海夏季风爆发。本文利用美国国家大气研究中心和宾西法尼亚州大学联合研制的中尺度模式（MM5V2）模拟预报这一过程,同时通过敏感性实验研究了区域边界条件和水平分辨率对季风预报模拟实验的影响。     

CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ONSET OF SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON II. INTER-DECADAL VARIATION

By using the 40-year NCEP (1958-1997) grid point reanalysis meteorological data, we analyzed the inter-decadal variation on the climatic characteristics of the onset of South China Sea summer monsoon. The results are as follows. (1) There was great difference on the onset date of the SCS summer monsoon between the first two decades and the last two decades. It was late on the 6th pentad of May for the first two decades and was on the 4th and 5th pentad of May for the next two decades. (2) Except for the third decade (1978-1987), the establishment of the monsoon rainfall was one to two pentads earlier than the onset of the summer monsoon in all other three decades. (3) The onset of the SCS monsoon is the result of the abrupt development and eastward advancement of the southwesterly monsoon over the Bay of Bengal. The four-decade analysis shows that there were abrupt development of the southwesterly monsoon over the Bay of Bengal between the 3rd and 4th pentad of May, but there was great difference between its eastward movement and its onset intensity. These may have important effect to the earlier or later onset of the SCS summer monsoon. (4) During the onset of the SCS summer monsoon, there were great difference in the upper and lower circulation feature between the first two and the next two decades. At the lower troposphere of the first two decades, the Indian-Burma trough was stronger and the center of the subtropical high was located more eastward. At the upper troposphere, the northward movement of the center of subtropical high was large and located more northward after it landed on the Indo-China Peninsula. After comparison, we can see that the circulation feature of the last two decades was favorable to the establishment and development of the SCS summer monsoon.     

关于南海夏季风建立的大尺度特征及其机制的讨论

使用1998年南海季风试验期间高质量资料和NCEP/NCAR40年再分析资料分析了南海季风建立前后的大尺度环流特征和要素的突变及爆发过程。发现南亚高压迅速地从菲律宾以东移到中南半岛北部,印缅槽加强,赤道印度洋西风加强并向东向北迅速扩展和传播,以及相伴随的中低纬相互作用和西太平洋副高连续东撤是南海夏季风建立的大尺度特征,与此同时,亚洲低纬地区的南北温差和纬向风切变也发生相应的突变。数值实验结果指出,印度半岛地形的陆面加热作用在其东侧激发的气旋性环流对于印缅槽的加强有重要作用,并进而有利于南海夏季风先于印度夏季风爆发。     

THE CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SUMMER MONSOON ONSET OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA I.40-YEAR AVERAGE

By using 40-year NCEP reanalysis daily data (1958-1997), we have analyzed the climatic characteristics of summer monsoon onset in the South China Sea (105°E ~ 120°E, 5°N ~ 20°N, to be simplified as SCS in the text followed) pentad by pentad (5 days). According to our new definition, in the monsoon area of the SCS two of the following conditions should be satisfied: 1) At 850hPa, the southwest winds should be greater than 2m/s. 2) At 850 hPa, θ_se should be greater than 335°K. The new definition means that the summer monsoon is the southwest winds with high temperature and high moisture. The onset of the SCS summer monsoon is defined to start when one half of the SCS area (105°E ~ 120°E,5°N ~ 20°N) is controlled by the summer monsoon. The analyzed results revealed the following: 1) The summer monsoon in the SCS starts to build up abruptly in the 4th pentad in May. 2) The summer monsoon onset in the SCS is resulted from the development and intensification of southwesterly monsoon in the Bay of Bengal. 3) The onset of the summer monsoon and establishment of the summer monsoon rainfall season in the SCS occur simultaneously. 4) During the summer monsoon onset in the SCS, troughs deepen and widen quickly in the lower troposphere of the India; the subtropical high in the Western Pacific moves eastward off the SCS in the middle troposphere; the easterly advances northward over the SCS in the upper troposphere.     

CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ONSET OF SOUTH CHINA SEASUMMER MONSOONⅡ.INTER—DECADAL VARIATION

By using the 40-year NCEP(1958-1997) grid point reanalysis meteorological data.we analyzed the inter-decadal variation on the climatic characteristics of the onset of South China Sea summer monsoon.The results are as follows.(1) There was great difference on the onset date of the SCS summer monsoon between the first two decades and the last two decades,It was late on the 6^th pentad of May for the first two decades and was on the 4^th and 5^th pentad of May for the next two decades.(2)Except for the third decade(1978-1987),the establishment of the monsoon rainfall was one to two pentads earlier than the onset of the summer monsoon in all other three decades.(3) The onset of the SCS monsoon is the result of the abrupt development and eastward advancement of the southwesterly monsoon over the Bay of Bengal.The four-decade analysis shows that there were abrupt development of the southwesterly monsoon over the Bay of Bengal between the 3rd and 4th pentad of May,but there was great difference between its ewastward ovement and its onset intensity.These may have important effect to the earlier or later onset of the SCS summer monsoon.(4) During the onset of the SCS summer monsoon.there were great difference in the upper and lower circulation feature between the first two and the next two decades.At the lower troposphere of the first two decades.The Indian-Burma trough was stronger and the center of the subtropical high was located more eastward.At the upper troposphere.the northward movement of the center of subtropical high was large and located more northward after it landed on the lndo-China Peninsula.After comparison.we can see that the circulation feature of the last two decades was favorable to the establishment and development of the SCS summer monsoon.     

南海夏季风建立的气候特征及其机制的讨论

使用1998年南海季风试验期问高质量资料和NCEP／NCAR40年再分析资料分析了南海季风建立前后的大尺度环流特征和要素的突变及爆发过程。发现南亚高压迅速从菲律宾以东移到中南半岛北部，孟加拉湾槽加深加强，赤道印度洋西风加强并向东向北迅速扩展和传播，以及伴随的中低纬相互作用和西太平洋副高连续东撤是南海夏季风建立的大尺度特征。与此同时，亚洲低纬地区的南北温差和纬向风切变也发生相应的突变。数值试验结果表明，印度半岛地形的陆面加热作用在其东侧激发的气旋性环流对于孟加拉湾槽的加强有重要作用，并进而有利于南海夏季风先于印度夏季风爆发。     

1998年南海及其附近地区夏季风的爆发特征及其机制分析

利用NCEP/NCAR 1998年再分析资料和SS T资料, 研究了1998年南海季风爆发的特征及其机制。结果显示, 南海及其附近地区夏季风爆发分为3个阶段, 并具有不同的特征, 在南海季风爆发前, 南海海温已提前突然增温达极高值, 感热通量梯度在海陆之间的转换可能是引起东亚副热带季风和南海季风爆发的重要因子。     

2011年南海夏季风爆发过程及其与长江中下游梅雨的联系

采用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、FY2E-TBB及台站降水资料,对2011年南海夏季风爆发前后的环流特征进行分析。结果表明:2011年强对流活动由孟加拉湾扩展到南海地区,同时伴随着南亚高压移至中南半岛北部,西太平洋副热带高压向东撤出南海地区,南海夏季风于5月第4候(第28候)爆发;季风爆发后,印度-孟加拉湾季风槽形成,南海地区低空开始盛行西南气流,并伴有对流降水的发展和温、湿等要素的突变。随着季风活动的推进,我国雨带北抬,长江中下游一带进入梅雨期,出现降水大值区。通过分析发现长江中下游梅雨与南海夏季风均受副热带高压影响,且两者的强度为显著的负相关关系,梅雨开始时间与南海夏季风爆发时间呈显著的正相关关系。2011年南海夏季风偏弱,爆发时间偏早,长江中下游梅雨强度偏强,入梅时间异常偏早。     

The Interannual Variations of the Summer Monsoon Onset overthe South China Sea

Summary Interannual variations of the summer monsoon onset over the South China Sea (SCS) have been studied using data from over seventeen years (1979–1995) of NMC global analysis and of Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) observed with NOAA polar-orbitting satellites. It was found that the summer monsoon onset in the SCS occurs abruptly with a sudden change of zonal wind direction from easterly to westerly and an exploding development of deep convection in the whole SCS region in the middle of May. Based on the criteria defined in this paper for the SCS summer monsoon onset, the average onset date over the SCS from 1979 to 1995 is around the fourth pentad of May. The airflow and general circulation over the SCS changes dramatically after the onset. The ridge of the subtropical high in the western Pacific in the lower troposphere weakens and retreats eastward from the SCS region with an establishment of westerly winds over the whole region. During the SCS monsoon onset, the most direct impact in the vicinity of the SCS are the equatorial westerlies in the Bay of Bengal through their eastward extension and northward movement. An indirect influence on the SCS onset is also caused by the enhancement of the Somali cross-equatorial flow and the vanishing Arabian High over the sea; the latter may be a signal for the SCS onset. There are quite significant interannual variations in the SCS onset. In the years of a delayed onset, the most profound feature is that the easterly winds stay longer in the SCS than on average. Deep convection activities are suppressed. The direct cause is the abnormal existence of the western Pacific subtropical high over the SCS region. Moreover, compared to the average, the equatorial westerlies in the Bay of Bengal are also weaker in the years of a delayed onset. No significant changes for the cross-equatorial flow at 105 °E are observed for these years. It has also been found that the interannual variations of the SCS onset are closely related with the ENSO events. In the years of a delay, the Walker circulation is weaker, and the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the western Pacific are negative. Received April 14, 1997 Revised July 11, 1997     

TBB DATA-REVEALED FEATURES OF ASIAN-AUSTRALIAN MONSOON SEASONAL TRANSITION AND ASIAN SUMMER MONSOOM ESTABLISHMENT

Based on T_BB data from Meteorological Institute Research of Japan, study is carried out of the features of seasonal transition of Asian-Australian monsoons and Asian summer monsoon establishment,indicating that the transition begins as early as in April, followed by abrupt change in May-June; the Asian summer monsoon situation is fully established in June. The winter convective center in Sumatra moved steadily northwestward across the "land bridge" of the maritime continent and the Indo-China Peninsula as time goes from winter to summer, thus giving rise to the change in large scale circulations that is responsible for the summer monsoon establishment over SE Asia and India; the South China Sea to the western Pacific summer monsoon onset bears a close relation to the active convection in the Indo China Peninsula and steady eastward retreat of the subtropical TBB high-value band,corresponding to the western Pacific subtropical high.     

2002年南海季风建立及其雨带变化的天气学研究

利用南海海 气通量观测试验资料结合NCEP ,GPCP以及GMS - 5云图资料 ,综合分析了 2 0 0 2年 5～ 6月南海西南季风建立过程及其雨带变化 ,确定 5月 14日西沙及北部海区西南季风爆发 ,5月 15日整个南海季风爆发 ,季风爆发时间属于正常年 ;季风爆发时风向、风速、云量、降水、湿度、辐射及海面温度等要素都发生突变。这种突变是由大气环流的突变造成的。季风爆发前后大气环流变化过程是 :80～ 90°E越赤道气流加强 ,同时印缅低压加深 ,孟加拉湾南北向气压梯度增大 ,而后东亚大陆上气旋发展东移 ,副热带高压东撤 ,孟加拉湾低压槽前的赤道西风突然加强越过中南半岛 ,南海北部首先出现强西南风 ,继而南海季风迅速地全面爆发。孟加拉湾西南风加强到南海季风爆发是一个连续的过程 ,大陆冷空气南下起了重要的作用。南海季风爆发时呈现单雨带型 ,而后由单雨带型转变为双雨带型 ,雨带受副热带高压和季风系统共同影响 ,并且随着副热带高压移动位置变化。     

亚洲季风季节进程的若干认识

简要归纳了不同时期随着观测资料的更新对亚洲季风季节进程的若干认识。南海季风试验前,研究认识了东亚季风系统与南亚季风系统的区别。南海季风试验后,对季风进程有了更多的认识,江南副热带雨季开始于4月初,中印半岛热带雨季开始于4月底,南海热带雨季突然建立于5月中旬,都具有半年际的干湿转换。南海中部季风爆发后,亚洲季风在南亚、青藏高原东侧和东亚-太平洋地区全面爆发并由南向北推进。利用近年来高分辨率资料并考虑热带地区半岛陆海地形与热力的影响,认识到亚洲存在5个夏季季风槽与降水相联系的系统,它们分别是西南亚(阿拉伯海)夏季热带季风、南亚(孟加拉湾)夏季热带季风、东南亚(南海)夏季热带季风、西北太平洋夏季热带季风和东亚夏季副热带季风。     

南海夏季风爆发机制的数值实验研究

通过3个数值实验和对1998年及1996年南海夏季风爆发的对比分析以及多年资料统计研究发现,南海夏季风何时爆发与南海局部地区的海温高低和南海经度上南北海温差异的大小关系不密切,主要决定于南海及其周围大范围地区的环流形势。南海季风爆发前10天内,其环流特征是低层850hPa上,西太平洋副热带高压脊经菲律宾西伸控制南海,南亚至东南亚为宽广的低槽区所控制,高空200hPa上,南亚高压位于阿拉伯海至南海一带,中心位于孟加拉湾东侧和中南半岛西侧的低纬地区,广大北方为西风气流所控制。     

Overview of the South China sea monsoon experiment

The present paper gives an overview of the key project “ South China Sea Monsoon Experiment(SCSMEX)” operated by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China during the period of 1996-2001. The SCSMEX is a joint atmospheric and oceanic field experiment which aims to better understandthe onset, maintenance, and variability of the summer monsoon over the South China Sea (SCS). It is a large-scale international effort with many participating countries and regions cooperatively involved in this experiment. With the field observation in May-August 1998, a large amount of meteorological and oceanic data was acquired, which provides excellent datasets for the study of the SCS monsoon and the East Asian monsoon and their interaction with the ocean. The preliminary research achievements are as follows. (1) The earliest onset of the Asian monsoon over the SCS and Indo-China Peninsula has been well documented. From the viewpoint of the synoptic process, its onset is closely related to the early rapid development of a twin cyclone to the east of Sri Lanka. The conceptual model of the SCS monsoon onset in 1998 was put forward. The 50-year time series of the SCS monsoon onset date was also made. (2) Two major modes, namely the 30-60-day and 10-20-day oscillations were ascertained. The influences of the abnormal SCS monsoon on the precipitation over eastern China and its modes were identified. A strong(weak) monsoon over the SCS usually leads to less (more) precipitation over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, and more (less) precipitation in North China. (3) During the monsoon onset over the SCS, a wide variety of organized mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) were observed by a Doppler radar array deployed over the northern SCS. The relationship between large-scale circulations and MCSs during the monsoon onset process in 1998 was clearly revealed. It was suggested that there is a kind of positive feedback mechanism between large-scale circulations and MCSs. (4) The SST over the SCS during the early period influences the timing of the monsoon onset date and the monsoon‘s intensity. During the monsoon onset, the ocean undergoes a process of energy release through air-sea interaction. During the break phase of the SCS monsoon, the ocean demonstrates the process of energy re-accumulation. Obvious differences in the air-sea turbulent flux exchange between the southern and northern parts of the SCS due to different characteristic features of the atmosphere and sea structure were observed in those regions.(5) The verification of impact of intensive observations on the predictive performance is made by the use of regional models. The air-sea coupled regional climate model (CRCM) was also developed under the SCSMEX Project . The simulation of the oceanic circulation in 1998 produced with the model was well compared with the observations.     

Comparison of the Double Summer Monsoon Troughs over East Asia

Based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, an investigation has been carried on the comparison of the double summer monsoon troughs over East Asia, which refer to the subtropical summer monsoon trough (subtropical-trough) and the South China Sea summer monsoon trough (SCS trough), respectively. The results show that the SCS trough is stronger than the subtropical-trough either in convergence or convection. The subtropical-trough extends up to higher levels and inclines northward with altitude, while, the SCS trough extends up to a lower level, and its position is seldom changed. The SCS trough establishes early and abruptly with the low level positive relative vorticity appearing suddenly, and retreats slowly, but the subtropical-trough establishes step by step with the positive relative vorticity initially over the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Guangxi areas spreading gradually northeastward, and withdraws rapidly. The onset of SCS trough is obviously indicated by the reverse of the easterly, but the establishment of the subtropical-trough is characteristic of the westerly enhancement. The subtropical-trough has clearly frontal property, yet the SCS trough has not.     

A Study on the Mesoscale Convective Systems during the Summer Monsoon Onset over the South China Sea in 1998 Part II: Effect of Mesoscale Convective Systems on Large-Scale Fields

1. Introduction The strong convective weather is developed under the favorable large-scale circulations, which demon- strated the large-scale weather system's controlling ef- fect on strong convections. Once the convection is formed, it will produce the feedback effect on the large-scale environmental conditions by transporting momentum, heat and moisture upward, and influence or change the environmental wind, humidity, tem- perature, atmospheric stratification fields and so on, thus forming t…     

A Study on the Mesoscale Convective Systems during the Summer Monsoon Onset over the South China Sea in 1998 Part Ⅱ: Effect of Mesoscale Convective Systems on Large-Scale Fields

The apparent heat sources and apparent moisture sinks, and large-scale wind, temperature as well as the surface pressure fields during the summer monsoon onset over the northern South China Sea (SCS) in 1998 were diagnosed. The results suggested that there was a kind of positive feedback mechanism between large-scale circulations and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Before the monsoon onset, the largescale background provided favorable synoptic and dynamic conditions for the summer monsoon onset and the formation of mesoscale convective activities, whereas after the summer monsoon onset, occurrence of the persistent and extensive mesoscale convective activities produced obvious feedback effect on large-scale circulations. Because of the release of latent heating produced by enhanced convective activities, the intense atmospheric heating appeared over the northern SCS, which resulted in: (1) the meridional temperature gradient over the SCS reversed from upper-level to low-level and then the large-scale circulations were changed seasonally;(2) correspondingly, the surface pressure over the northern SCS deepened continually and formed a broad monsoon trough and the obvious pressure-fall areas, thus making the subtropical high move out of the SCS eventually;(3) with the development of the low pressure circulations in the middle and low troposphere, the MCSs further enhanced and extended southward, which was conducive to the SCS monsoon onset and maintenance over the middle and southern SCS;and (4) the deepening of monsoon trough facilitated the monsoon flow and moisture transport on its southern side, thus the monsoon onset reaching peak period.     

黑潮地区海温影响南海夏季风爆发日期的数值试验

采用合成分析和相关分析等方法讨论了季节转换时期（４～６月）黑潮地区海温异常同海夏季风爆发时间和西太平洋副高位置与强度的影响。教值模拟结果进一步表明,该地区海温正针导致西太平洋副高位置偏南,强度偏强,南海夏季风建立较晚,弱度偏北 ,江淮流流域偏涝;反之亦然。