东亚太平洋地区近地面臭氧的季节和年际变化特征及其与东亚季风的关系

利用东亚清洁背景站近地面臭氧观测资料,结合风场和降水资料,分析东亚各地区臭氧的多年季节变化特征,并探讨东亚太平洋地区臭氧的季节和年际变化与季风的关系以及影响近地层臭氧的主要因子。结果表明：东亚大部分地区与北半球背景站观测一致,近地层臭氧季节变化表现为春季最高、夏季最低的特征;但在东亚中纬度33～43°N,臭氧表现为夏季最高,而在东亚20°N以南地区臭氧则表现为冬末、春初最高。东亚太平洋沿岸近地面臭氧的季节变化主要受东亚冬、夏季风环流的季节变化控制。该地区不同纬度上春季峰值出现时间的差异与亚洲大陆春季不同时期污染物输送路径的差异有关。对东亚太平洋沿岸对流层顶附近位势涡度、高空急流和垂直环流季节变化的分析表明,冬春季可能是平流层向对流层输送的最强期,对近地面臭氧贡献最大。初夏至秋季（5-11月）,平流层向对流层输送较弱,对近地面臭氧贡献较小。东亚太平洋地区夏季风爆发的时间和强度以及季风环流型的年际差异是导致该地区春、夏季臭氧年际变化的主要原因;而季风降水和云带位置以及平流层一对流层交换是造成臭氧年际变化的其他原因。     

气溶胶对东亚夏季风指数和爆发的影响及其机理分析

利用高分辨率区域气候模式RegCM4.3,通过引入沙尘、海盐、硫酸盐、黑碳和有机碳等5种气溶胶,对1995—2010年的东亚夏季风进行数值模拟,研究了自然和人为气溶胶对东亚夏季风的可能影响。结果表明:区域气候模式对东亚夏季风和气溶胶的时空分布都有较好的模拟效果,自然和人为气溶胶造成东亚夏季风指数减小约5%,且除我国东南部地区外,气溶胶使整个季风区的季风爆发时间推迟了1候左右。在我国东南部及近海地区,气溶胶通过吸收太阳辐射对中层大气起到加热作用,气柱受热会出现膨胀,从而造成了低层大气的位势高度下降并激发出气旋式环流距平,气旋式环流距平西侧偏北风能削弱东亚夏季风区低层的偏南气流。气溶胶的加入引起的地表负的辐射强迫造成了空气出现下沉运动并配合低层偏北风和高层偏南风距平,在25 °N以北地区形成了间接经向环流距平,从而也削弱了东亚夏季风的垂直环流。气溶胶增加了我国季风区的水汽通量散度值,从而造成了夏季降水的明显减少,其中我国华北和西南地区为2个主要的降水减少区域。      

东亚季风研究的进展

中国气象科学研究院曾长期组织和从事东亚季风及其对中国天气和旱涝影响的研究。该文对中国气象科学研究院在东亚季风研究方面取得成果进行综述, 并回顾了20世纪50年代以来国内有关季风的研究活动, 也回顾了影响我国天气气候、东亚季风环流系统的提出及其后续的有关东亚和印度季风系统的相互作用, 引发中国大陆暴雨生成的水汽输送, 表达中国大陆季风活动的季风指数设计等研究结果。综述了南海夏季风爆发、梅雨开始、中国雨季开始及传播等有关研究成果; 东亚季风系统中副热带地区低频振荡纬向和经向传播特征及与赤道地区不同之处, 东亚低频振荡对El Ni?o形成及夏季东亚热带和副热带季风爆发的可能影响, 东亚热带和副热带季风低频振荡对中国天气气候的影响等有关成果; 亚洲地区大气热源的计算及其分布, 青藏高原夏季热源对东亚夏季风及降水的可能影响, 青藏高原冬季冷源对El Ni?o生成的可能影响等有关成果; 东亚季风及降水的年际变化特征, 准4年年际振荡的分析及与ENSO形成间的相互作用, 极地对东亚夏季降水的影响及东亚季风年代际变化特征等成果。综述东亚季风系统形成的可能机制, 特别是亚洲大陆—西太平洋海陆热力差异及非洲、印度半岛、中南半岛及澳大利亚陆地与周围海洋对冬夏季风形成、印度和东亚季风系统形成、南海夏季风形成作用的结果。     

东亚夏季风指数的分类及物理特征分析

利用1961—2010年NCEP再分析资料,分析了较有代表性的16个东亚夏季风指数,讨论了不同季风指数反映的环流及降水之间的异同,探讨了不同季风指数与东亚夏季风不同空间模态之间的可能关联。结果表明,东亚夏季风指数大致分为两类:1)第一类季风指数存在明显的年代际变化,反映了东亚夏季风强弱的整体一致型变化,与东亚夏季风环流第一模态具有很好的对应关系。高指数年,整个东亚区域夏季风活动整体偏强;贝加尔湖地区为深厚气旋性环流控制,副高位置略偏北;华北、东北地区降水显著偏多,长江流域及其以南降水偏少,降水异常型与我国夏季偶极型季风降水相似,这类指数对我国华北地区降水有较好的指示作用。2)第二类季风指数具有明显的年际变化特征,反映的是东亚夏季风强弱的南北反相变化,与东亚夏季风环流第二模态相对应。高指数年,我国东南地区夏季风偏弱,东北部夏季风偏强;西北太平洋为深厚的气旋性距平环流控制,副高偏北,该分布型与东亚—太平洋(EAP)遥相关十分相似;我国东北、内蒙古地区,华南地区降水增多,长江流域降水显著减少,降水异常型与我国夏季三极型季风降水异常型相似,这类指数对我国长江流域降水有较好的指示作用。     

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。     

中国北方地区冬季雨雪年度变化与大气气溶胶分布特征研究

近年来,随着大气观测技术的快速发展,为冬季大雪年际变化研究提供了一些新的观测事实,增加了新的认识。认为大气环流对降雪的年际变化的影响只是重要方面之一。新的观测事实启示研究者,冬雪的年际变化和差异还可能与其他影响气候变化有更为复杂的因素——大气气溶胶特征有关。基于1980-2008年中国气象台站降水量资料和1980-2005年北方地区大气气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）资料,研究中国北方地区大范围多雨雪以及少雨雪年度变化与大气气溶胶分布特征的关系。结果表明：1980-2008年,中国北方地区典型的多雨雪年为1980、1984、1989、1993、1998、2003年和2006年;少雨雪年为1982-1983、1985-1988、1997、2001年和2005年。根据1980-2005年华北逐年冬半年雨雪总量与北方地区同期AOD相关分析,揭示中国北方地区雨雪年度变化与气溶胶光学厚度（AOD_550m）的年度变化存在正相关,相关系数达到0．001的显著性水平。同期资料AOD。。。分析表明,中国北方地区冬季多雨雪与少雨年大气气溶胶光学厚度差异显著,多雨雪年大气气溶胶光学厚度显著偏厚,中国华北北部、东北南部地区AOD正距平的平均值达到1×10。-5×10^-3,冬季北方地区少雨雪年与此差异显著,AOD为显著负距平,其平均值为-5×10^-3。     

高原季风特征及其与东亚夏季风关系的研究

利用ERA-Interim的位势高度场、温度场和风场再分析资料,计算了1988-2017年的传统高原季风指数(Trational Plateau Monsoon Index,TPMI)和动态高原季风指数(Dynamic Plateau Monsoon Index,DPMI),分析了高原季风的空间分布特征和时间演变规律,结合东亚夏季风指数(East Asian Summer Monsoon Index,EASMI),探讨了高原季风与东亚季风的关系。研究表明:(1)高原夏季风从4月开始形成,暖性低值系统在高原上生成;6月暖性低压系统中心形成并达到最强,此时高原夏季风强度也达到最大;10月暖性闭合低压系统向东北方向移动且强度也随之减弱并退出,高原夏季风结束。(2)DPMI和EASMI具有明显的年际变化特征,在关键年高原夏季风和东亚夏季风的强度表现一致。(3)中纬度受东亚季风所影响区域的位势高度场和青藏高原区域的位势高度场均处于同一正相关区域,而且超前两个月的DPMI同EASMI的相关系数最大,表明高原夏季风对东亚夏季风具有一定的指示意义。(4)东亚夏季风经圈环流受高原温度场变化的影响而移动,高原夏季风的低压系统与高原温度场关系密切。     

四川盆地夏季降水区域差异及其与季风的联系初探

基于四川盆地逐日气象观测资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析了近46年四川盆地夏季降水变化的区域差异及其与东亚夏季风和高原夏季风的联系。结果表明:盆西和盆东夏季降水序列与全国夏季降水的相关分布分别与我国夏季降水第Ⅰ、Ⅱ类雨型分布相类似。使用一元回归方法,分别得到了与东亚夏季风和高原夏季风相关的环流场,通过对两个环流场季风指数高低值年份的合成分析发现,东亚夏季风的影响主要体现在西北气流和东南气流的辐合带在我国东部地区位置变动以及强度变化;高原夏季风对环流场的影响体现在华北到河套地区一带风向的转换。着重分析了1961和1998年夏季与东亚、高原夏季风相关的环流场,发现东亚夏季风与高原夏季风都对四川盆地夏季降水有重要影响,其中盆西夏季降水主要与高原夏季风有关,盆东夏季降水与东亚夏季风和高原夏季风都有关,但以东亚夏季风为主。     

一个新的东亚副热带夏季风指数的定义

利用1958—2014年夏季NCEP/NCAR大气环流资料和中国486站降水观测资料,通过多种统计诊断方法,从与夏季中国东部3类不同雨型分布相联系的东亚高低层风场变化特征出发,依据与雨带变化密切联系的高层200 hPa纬向风定义了一个新的东亚副热带夏季风指数。分析表明,该指数不仅能反映夏季东亚大气环流的变化特征,兼顾北方冷空气活动和南方东亚夏季风环流变化,同时还能反映夏季中国东部降水南北差异的年际特征。强东亚副热带夏季风指数年,高层中纬度西风急流位置偏北,低层西太平洋副热带高压偏强偏北,有利于冷空气活动位置偏北和东亚东部西南暖湿气流向北推进,中国东部多以Ⅰ类雨型为主;弱东亚副热带夏季风指数年的环流变化刚好相反,中国东部多以Ⅲ类雨型为主。与现有东亚夏季风指数的对比分析表明,该指数在反映中国东部南北区域降水变化的差异方面有很大改进。     

季风指数及其年际变化I·环流强度指数

季风环流可以分解为经向环流和纬向环流。使用NCEP和ECMWF再分析资料,计算亚洲季风区的经向动量环流和纬向动量环流强度的季节内和年际变化,结果表明:对于南亚夏季风和东南亚-西太平洋夏季风,其各自的经向环流和纬向环流的季节内变化和年际变化存在着相当的联系,尤其东南亚-西太平洋夏季风。但南亚夏季风的经向环流和纬向环流的年际变化在不同月份有着不同的关系。对于东亚夏季风,经向环流和纬向环流变化之间的相关在季节内尺度上是线性独立的,而在年际尺度上存在一定的联系。作者指出:这种大尺度上的联系是通过科里奥利力发生作用,并且受热源调节的。同时局地的对流和辐射相互作用则在某种程度上削弱这种联系,导致在不同月份相关程度有所不同。从各季风系统的经向环流之间或纬向环流之间的线性相关看,南亚夏季风,东亚夏季风和东南亚-西太平洋夏季风是相互独立的系统。计算表明,Webster-Yang和Wang-Fan分别提出的南亚夏季风指数在描述纬向环流年际变化上较好,而在经向上勉强令人满意。Wang-Fan提出的描述东南亚-西太平洋夏季风指数,则较好地表示了该区域的经向和纬向环流的年际变化。Goswami提出的季风Hadley环流指数,以及郭其蕴、施能等提出的东亚夏季风指数则较好地描述了相应区域的经向环流圈年际变化,却无法描述相应的纬向环流圈的年际变化。通过计算还表明,NCEP再分析资料和ECMWF再分析资料在1968年以前的南亚季风区和东亚季风区存在着较大的差异。用NCEP再分析资料计算东亚季风区和南亚季风区经向动量环流圈的变率在20世纪60年代较ECMWF的偏大。用NCEP再分析资料计算施能等定义的东亚季风区指数,也较使用ECMWF再分析资料、UCAR的DS010.1及CRU的北半球海平面气压资料计算的偏大。     

华东区域夏季行星边界层大气稳定度的气候特征及其与气溶胶的联系

利用1979-2008年夏季（6—8月）逐日NCEP／NACR再分析资料、MODIS卫星的气溶胶资料等,研究了华东区域夏季行星边界层大气稳定度的气候特征与年际变化,分析了大气稳定度和相应的加热场与气溶胶光学厚度（aerosol optical depth,AOD）的联系。结果表明：华东区域夏季行星边界层大气稳定度在空间上分布不均匀,时间上具有明显的年际变化。边界层中的非绝热加热率、大气稳定度及气溶胶光学厚度三者之间可能存在密切联系。利用经验正交函数分析了华东区域总体理查森数Rib的距平场,得到了边界层稳定度分布的3个主要模态,这3个模态所代表的边界层大气稳定度异常与夏季风环流异常密切相关,特别是P-J型遥相关波列和西太平洋副热带高压在中国东部大气边界层稳定度变化中可能起着非常重要的作用。     

Seasonal Variations of Aerosol Optical Depth over East China and India in Relationship to the Asian Monsoon Circulation

Seasonal variation features of aerosol optical depth (AOD) over East China and India in association with the Asian monsoon system are investigated, based on the latest AOD data derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite, the NCEP Final (FNL) Operational Global Analysis data, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) data, and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data from March 2000 to February 2017. The results indicate that AOD in East China is significantly larger than that in India, especially in spring. The seasonal mean AOD in East China is high in both spring and summer but low in fall and winter. However, the AOD averaged over India is highest in summer and lower in spring, fall, and winter. Analysis reveals that AOD is more closely related to changes in surface wind speed in East China, while no obvious relation is found between precipitation and the AOD distribution on the seasonal timescale. As aerosols are mainly distributed in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), the stability of the ABL represented by Richardson number (Ri) is closely correlated with spatial distribution of AOD. The upper and lower tropospheric circulation patterns significantly differ between East China and India, resulting in different effects on the AOD. The effect of advection associated with lower tropospheric circulation on the AOD and the influence of convergence and divergence on the AOD distribution play different roles in maintaining the AOD in East China and India. These results improve our understanding of the mechanism responsible for and differences among the aerosol changes in East China and India.     

Regional-scale relationships between aerosol and summer monsoon circulation, and precipitation over northeast Asia

We investigated the regional-scale relationships between columnar aerosol loads and summer monsoon circulation, and also the precipitation over northeast Asia using aerosol optical depth (AOD) data obtained from the 8-year MODIS, AERONET Sun/sky radiometer, and precipitation data acquired under the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP). These high-quality data revealed the regional-scale link between AOD and summer monsoon circulation, precipitation in July over northeast Asian countries, and their distinct spatial and annual variabilities. Compared to the mean AOD for the entire period of 2001–2008, the increase of almost 40–50% in the AOD value in July 2005 and July 2007 was found over the downwind regions of China (Yellow Sea, Korean peninsula, and East Sea), with negative precipitation anomalies. This can be attributable to the strong westerly confluent flows, between cyclone flows by continental thermal low centered over the northern China and anticyclonic flows by the western North Pacific High, which transport anthropogenic pollution aerosols emitted from east China to aforementioned downwind high AOD regions along the rim of the Pacific marine airmass. In July 2002, however, the easterly flows transported anthropogenic aerosols from east China to the southwestern part of China in July 2002. As a result, the AOD off the coast of China was dramatically reduced in spite of decreasing rainfall. From the calculation of the cross-correlation coefficient between MODIS-derived AOD anomalies and GPCP precipitation anomalies in July over the period 2001–2008, we found negative correlations over the areas encompassed by 105–115°E and 30–35°N and by 120–140°E and 35–40°N (Yellow Sea, Korean peninsula, and East Sea). This suggests that aerosol loads over these regions are easily influenced by the Asian monsoon flow system and associated precipitation.     

Equilibrium climate response of the East Asian summer monsoon to forcing of anthropogenic aerosol species

We used an online aerosol–climate model to study the equilibrium climate response of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) to increases in anthropogenic emissions of sulfate, organic carbon, and black carbon aerosols from 1850 to 2000. Our results show that each of these aerosol species has a different effect on the EASM as a result of changes in the local sea–land thermal contrast and atmospheric circulation. The increased emission of sulfate aerosol leads to a decrease in the thermal contrast between the land and ocean, a southward shift of the East Asian subtropical jet, and significant northerly wind anomalies at 850 hPa over eastern China and the ambient oceans, markedly dampening the EASM. An increase in organic carbon aerosol results in pronounced surface cooling and the formation of an anomalous anticyclone over the oceans north of 30°N. These effects cause a slight increase in the sea–land thermal contrast and southerly flow anomalies to the west of the anticyclonic center, strengthening the northern EASM. An increase in organic carbon emission decreases the sea–land thermal contrast over southern China, which weakens the southern EASM. The response of the summer 850-hPa winds and rainfall over the East Asian monsoon region to an increase in black carbon emission is generally consistent with the response to an increase in organic carbon. The increase in black carbon emission leads to a strengthening of the northern EASM north of 35°N and a slight weakening of the southern EASM south of 35°N. The simulated response of the EASM to the increase in black carbon emission is unchanged when the emission of black carbon is scaled up by five times its year 2000 levels, although the intensities of the response is enhanced. The increase in sulfate emission primarily weakens the EASM, whereas the increases in black carbon and organic carbon emissions mitigate weakening of the northern EASM.     

夏季东亚地区AOD与地面太阳辐射变化的联系及季风环流异常:季节趋势影响

利用2000—2013年MODIS-Terra卫星产品提供的气溶胶光学厚度(aerosol optical depth,AOD)资料及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料集,使用奇异值分解(singular value decomposition,SVD)方法,分析了夏季东亚地区AOD与到达地面太阳辐射(downward solar radiation flux,DSRF)相联系的主要模态,并分析了其与夏季风变化的关系。夏季多年平均的AOD分布显示,在东亚地区存在两个AOD大值区(0.9),分别位于山东、河南、河北交界处附近以及苏中部分地区。而在福建、台湾及其附近洋面上,夏季AOD的值小于0.4。地面太阳辐射总体上呈现出由南往北递增的分布。比较发现,AOD与地面太阳辐射的气候分布较为相似。在保留季节趋势的情况下,运用SVD方法对两者进行分解,结果表明东亚地区AOD与地面太阳辐射表现出较好的正相关关系。由于相对于年际变化而言,季节趋势是更为主要的部分,因而这种同相关系可归因于季风活动的季节性进程。利用SVD1左场时间系数进行相关分析发现:6月(2013年除外),当中国东部气溶胶AOD大而地面太阳辐射亦大时,在中国东南部以及日本岛南部地区,由于气流辐合增强和存在较强的上升运动,降水偏多,而由于副高位置偏南,使得中国中东部偏北地区水汽供应偏弱,降水偏少。由于地面净太阳辐射增强,华北部分地区异常增暖。8月,大陆上空AOD为负(时间系数为负),地面太阳辐射减少,北方降水增多而南方降水减少,华北地区有一小范围的异常降温。上述结果表明北方气溶胶明显偏少时,云量增加,降水将增多,且辐射明显减弱;说明夏季风的季节进程对气溶胶、到达地面的太阳辐射变化等具有重要影响。     

THE ANALYSIS OF MECHANISM OF IMPACT OF AEROSOLS ON EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON INDEX AND ONSET

RegCM4.3, a high-resolution regional climate model, which includes five kinds of aerosols(dust, sea salt,sulfate, black carbon and organic carbon), is employed to simulate the East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) from 1995 to 2010 and the simulation data are used to study the possible impact of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on EASM.The results show that the regional climate model can well simulate the EASM and the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosols. The EASM index is reduced by about 5% by the natural and anthropogenic aerosols and the monsoon onset time is also delayed by about a pentad except for Southeast China. The aerosols heat the middle atmosphere through absorbing solar radiation and the air column expands in Southeast China and its offshore areas. As a result, the geopotential height decreases and a cyclonic circulation anomaly is generated in the lower atmosphere. Northerly wind located in the west of cyclonic circulation weakens the low-level southerly wind in the EASM region. Negative surface radiative forcing due to aerosols causes downward motion and an indirect meridional circulation is formed with the low-level northerly wind and high-level southerly wind anomaly in the north of 25° N in the monsoon area, which weakens the vertical circulation of EASM. The summer precipitation of the monsoon region is significantly reduced,especially in North and Southwest China where the value of moisture flux divergence increases.     

A modeling study of the influence of initial soil moisture on summer precipitation during the East Asian summer monsoon

The state-of-the-art WRF model is used to investigate the impact of the antecedent soil moisture on subsequent summer precipitation during the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) period. The control experiment with realistic soil moisture condition can well reproduce the seasonal pattern from low- to high- atmosphere, as well as the spatial distribution of precipitation belt in East China. Compared with the control experiment, the sensitivity experiment in which the initial soil moisture is reduced generates more precipitation along the East China Sea, and less rainfall over both Central and South China. This suggests that the effect of initial soil moisture on monsoonal precipitation in East China is regionally dependent. The influence on precipitation is mostly attributed to the change in precipitation from mid July to late August. The initial soil moisture condition plays a role in changing the seasonal pattern and atmospheric circulation due to the weak heating and geopotential gradient, leading to a reduction in southeasterly flow and moisture flux from South China Sea. The changes between DRY and CTL runs result in reduced southerly wind over the ocean (south of ˜25 °N) and enhanced northerly wind over the land (north of ∼25 °N). The temperature and associated circulation changes due to drier initial soil moisture anomaly result in reduced southerly winds over East China, and therefore a weakened EASM system. The averaged moisture flux decreases significantly over Central China but increases along the East China Sea. In addition, the drier soil moisture perturbation exerts an effect on suppressing (enhancing) vertical velocity over Central China (along the East China Sea), thus leading to more (less) cloud water and rain water. Therefore, the influence of soil moisture exerts an opposite impact on surface precipitation between these two regions, with more and less accumulation rainfall in Central China and along the East China Sea, respectively.     

Lidar depolarization measurements for aerosol source and property studies over Chungli (24.58° N, 121.1° E)

Aerosol depolarization ratio and aerosol optical depth (AOD) were measured at Chungli (24.58° N, 121.1° E), Taiwan during the period from 2002–2004. The depolarization ratios of background aerosol have values mostly less than 0.06. The maximum AOD in the altitude range of 0.7 to 2km occurs in the summer (June–August) while between 2 and 5km, the spring (March–May) shows the maximum. The former is mainly related to strong convection and humidity; however the latter is due to anthropogenic aerosols transported from East China and Southeast Asia based on calculations of backward trajectories. This seasonal variation of AOD inferred from different transport mechanisms and aerosol compositions which are supported by the height distributions of aerosol extinction and origins.     

Responses of East Asian summer monsoon to historical SST and atmospheric forcing during 1950–2000

The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) circulation and summer rainfall over East China have experienced large decadal changes during the latter half of the 20th century. To investigate the potential causes behind these changes, a series of simulations using the national center for atmospheric research (NCAR) community atmospheric model version 3 (CAM3) and the geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory (GFDL) atmospheric model version 2.1 (AM2.1) are analyzed. These simulations are forced separately with different historical forcing, namely tropical sea surface temperature (SSTs), global SSTs, greenhouse gases plus aerosols, and a combination of global SSTs and greenhouse gases plus aerosols. This study focuses on the relative roles of these individual forcings in causing the observed monsoon and rainfall changes over East Asia during 1950–2000. The simulations from both models show that the SST forcing, primarily from the Tropics, is able to induce most of the observed weakening of the EASM circulation, while the greenhouse gas plus (direct) aerosol forcing increases the land-sea thermal contrast and thus enhances the EASM circulation. The results suggest that the recent warming in the Tropics, especially the warming associated with the tropical interdecadal variability centered over the central and eastern Pacific, is a primary cause for the weakening of the EASM since the late 1970s. However, a realistic simulation of the relatively small-scale rainfall change pattern over East China remains a challenge for the global models.