Mean dynamical characteristics of the Asian summer monsoon with a global analysis — Forecast system

Summary The dynamical characteristics of Asian summer monsoon are examined with a global spectral model. In addition to the seasonal circulation features, the large scale budgets of kinetic energy, vorticity and angular momentum are examined making use of mean analysis and forecast fields (upto day 5) for summer season comprising June, July and August, (JJA) 1994. Apart from elucidating the systematic errors over the monsoon region, the study expounded the influence of these errors on associated dynamics.The significant errors in the low level flow (850 hPa) evince (i) weakening of south easterly trades and cross equatorial flow into the Northern Hemisphere and (ii) weakening of westerly flow over the North Indian Ocean. Similarly, in the upper level flow (200 hPa) they indicate (i) weakening of Tibetan anti-cyclone and (ii) reduction of return flow into the Southern Hemisphere.The balance requirements in the mean analysis as well as forecast fields are fairly in agreement with the observed over the summer monsoon. The monsoon domain is discerned as the source region of kinetic energy and vorticity. Both are produced in the monsoon region and transported horizontally across. The model forecasts fail to retain the analyzed atmospheric variability in terms of mean as well as transient circulations which is revealed by kinetic energy budget. This is further corroborated by vorticity and angular momentum budgets. It is noticed that the forecasts in all ranges produce feeble monsoon circulation which weakens considerably with increase in the forecast period.With 16 Figures     

Performance of the seasonal forecasting of the Asian summer monsoon by BCC_CSM1.1(m)

This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of Asian summer monsoon prediction skill as a function of lead time and its relationship to sea surface temperature prediction using the seasonal hindcasts of the Beijing Climate Center Climate System Model, BCC_CSM1.1(m). For the South and Southeast Asian summer monsoon, reasonable skill is found in the model's forecasting of certain aspects of monsoon climatology and spatiotemporal variability. Nevertheless, deficiencies such as significant forecast errors over the tropical western North Pacific and the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean are also found. In particular, overestimation of the connections of some dynamical monsoon indices with large-scale circulation and precipitation patterns exists in most ensemble mean forecasts, even for short lead-time forecasts. Variations of SST, measured by the first mode over the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the spatiotemporal features over the Niño3.4 region, are overall well predicted. However, this does not necessarily translate into successful forecasts of the Asian summer monsoon by the model. Diagnostics of the relationships between monsoon and SST show that difficulties in predicting the South Asian monsoon can be mainly attributed to the limited regional response of monsoon in observations but the extensive and exaggerated response in predictions due partially to the application of ensemble average forecasting methods. In contrast, in spite of a similar deficiency, the Southeast Asian monsoon can still be forecasted reasonably, probably because of its closer relationship with large-scale circulation patterns and El Niño-Southern Oscillation.     

A study on the systematic errors of the tropical forecasts: Influence of physical processes

Summary In this paper, an attempt is made to examine the influence of the physical forcings of an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) in the reduction of the systematic errors of the tropical forecasts. A number of major modifications in the parameterization of physical processes were carried out in the operational forecasting system of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) during the period 1984–88 largely in an attempt to reduce the conceptual weaknesses in their formulation. A large number of studies (Slingo et al., 1988; Tiedtke et al., 1988; etc) have demonstrated the positive impact on the reduction of tropical forecast errors to various changes in the treatment of physical processes in the ECMWF model.Keeping in view of these facts, the evaluation of the systematic errors of the ECMWF tropical forecasts is carried out for a period prior to the incorporation of major modifications in the parameterization of physical processes (1984) and corresponding period after such major changes are implemented in the operational AGCM of ECMWF (1988). The paper describes a detailed comparison of the tropical forecast errors for summer monsoon seasons (June-August [JJA]) of 1984 and 1988 in order to bring out the impact on tropical simulation of various improvements in the treatment of physical processes.The results demonstrate a dramatic reduction in the systematic errors of the tropical circulation together with an enhancement of the hydrological cycle to a realistic climatological level with the incorporation of major changes in the treatment of physical processes. Similar improvements are also observed in the winter simulation. In spite of major improvements in the simulation of tropical circulation, the nature of the tropical systematic errors of the ECMWF AGCM, however, remains unchanged. Thus, the inference of the study indicates the requirement of a new approach to the problem of parameterization of physical processes particularly, convection, radiation, boundary layer and their interactions for further reduction of the tropical forecast errors.With 14 Figures     

A NUMERICAL STUDY FOR THE EFFECT OF TROPICAL 40-50 DAY OSCILLATION ON ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON

By using a five-layer primitive equation model with P-sigma coordinates,the effect of convective heating source with the oscillation of a dipole pattern over the tropical Indian Ocean-Western Pacific on Asian summer monsoon is investigated.The results from simulations show that the oscillatary heating source may cause oscillations in east-west zonal circulation at the equator,in cross-equatorial flow,in meridional monsoon circulation and in the phase of high-low level circulation over Asia,with period same as that of the oscillating heat source.Furthermore,the influence mechanism of the tropical heating source associated with oscillations on Asian summer monsoon circulation is also studicd.It is clearly shown that the westward propagation of thermally-forced Rossy waves to the west of the oscillatary heating source and the northward propagation of disturbances can give rise to oscillations of the equatorial east-west zonal circulation and monsoonal meridional circulation.Finally,the oscillation of all the Asian summer monsoon circulation is formed.     

A study on the distinct features of the Asian summer monsoon during the years of extreme monsoon activity over India

Summary In this paper, interseasonal characteristics of the Asian summer monsoon in the years of 1987 and 1988 are studied as 1987 is characterized by a large deficiency of monsoon rainfall (drought) and that of 1988 by a large excess monsoon rainfall (flood) over India. In order to compare the similarities and differences seen in the large scale dynamics and energetics of the Asian summer monsoon during the years of extreme monsoon activity, uninitialized analyses (12 Z) of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), U.K. are utilized in this study for the summer monsoon seasons of 1987 and 1988.It is found that the excess rainfall season (1988) is characterized by much stronger tropical easterly jet (TEJ) associated with the upper tropospheric easterlies and the East African low level jet (Somali Jet) associated with lower tropospheric westerlies. Such a feature mainly determines the strength of the reverse Hadley circulation which normally covers the South Asian continent during the northern summer. Further, the energetics of the TEJ show that the monsoon of 1988 has comparatively stronger zones of kinetic energy flux divergence (convergence) at its entrance (exit) regions. These zones of kinetic energy flux divergence are largely maintained by the adiabatic processes over the strong kinetic energy flux divergence zones over the Bay of Bengal and east central Arabian Sea as compared to that of 1987. Apart from this, both the zonal and meridional components of the ageostrophic flows are found to be stronger during 1988 monsoon season. Analysis of the vertically integrated thermodynamical features of the monsoon indicate that the monsoon of 1988 was characterized by an excess import of heat and moisture into the monsoon atmosphere as compared to that of 1987. Further, from the quantitative estimation of certain significant heat and moisture budget parameters during the contrasting monsoon seasons of 1987 and 1988, it becomes evident that considerable differences exist in the quantities of adiabatic production of heat energy, diabatic heating and the moisture source/sink.With 13 Figures     

INTERANNUAL VARIATION OF INDEX OF EAST ASIAN LAND-SEA THERMAL DIFFERENCE AND ITS RELATION TO MONSOON CIRCULATION AND RAINFALL OVER CHINA*

This paper proposes an index of land-sea thermal difference(ILSTD)that describes its zonal and meridional strength responsible for East Asian monsoon circulation to study its relation to the East Asian monsoon circulation and the summer rainfall over China on an interannual basis.Results are as follows:(1)ILSTD can be used to measure the strength of East Asian summer monsoon in such a way that the strong(weak)ILSTD years are associated with strong(weak)summer monsoon circulation.(2)The index also reflects well summer rainfall anomaly over the eastern part of China.In the strong index years,rain belt is mainly located over the northern China,and serious drought emerges in the Jianghuai valleys and mid-lower reaches of the Changjiang River,along with increase of rainfall in North and South China,but in the weak years it is contrary.(3)Besides,the index has obvious QBO and quasi 4-year oscillations,but the periods and amplitudes have significant changes on an interdecadal basis.     

INTERANNUAL VARIATION OF INDEX OF EAST ASIAN LAND-SEA THERMAL DIFFERENCE AND ITS RELATION TO MONSOON CIRCULATION AND RAINFALL OVER CHINA

This paper proposes an index of land-sea thermal difference(ILSTD)that describes its zonal andmeridional strength responsible for East Asian monsoon circulation to study its relation to the EastAsian monsoon circulation and the summer rainfall over China on an interannual basis.Results are asfollows:(1)ILSTD can be used to measure the strength of East Asian summer monsoon in such away that the strong(weak)ILSTD years are associated with strong(weak)summer monsooncirculation.(2)The index also reflects well summer rainfall anomaly over the eastern part of China.In the strong index years,rain belt is mainly located over the northern China,and serious droughtemerges in the Jianghuai valleys and mid-lower reaches of the Changjiang River,along with increaseof rainfall in North and South China,but in the weak years it is contrary.(3)Besides,the index hasobvious QBO and quasi 4-year oscillations,but the periods and amplitudes have significant changes onan interdecadal basis.     

中国南海夏季风强、弱年多尺度相互作用能量学特征

中国南海夏季风为东亚季风的主要系统之一,其具有多重尺度特征,除季节平均环流场外,低频（季节内振荡）和高频（天气尺度）扰动也十分活跃,各尺度系统存在明显的年际变化。该研究使用ERA-Interim和NCEP/NCAR两套再分析资料,从季风平均动能（MKE）诊断的角度出发,探讨了1979-2010年中国南海夏季风环流年际变化的能量来源及其和扰动场的相互作用过程。结果表明:中国南海夏季风对流活跃年份,中国南海南部（12°N以南）及中南半岛一带为季风平均动能显著增强区,此与南亚季风区西风急流的增强并向东延伸有关;中国南海北部（12°N以北）及西太平洋为气旋性环流盘踞,季风槽加深。中国南海南部季风平均动能增强的能量源自于扰动动量通量与平均环流的相互作用,强季风年,平均环流失去较少的动能给扰动场（亦即平均环流保留较多的动能）。通过进一步探讨高频（<10 d）及低频（10-90 d）扰动场与平均环流不同分量的（散度、涡度、风垂直切变）相互作用过程,发现季风平均动能的增长主要来自于<10 d扰动与季风平均散度和涡度的相互作用。中国南海北部季风槽区季风平均动能的维持来自于大气热源和平均上升运动的相互作用,但同时有较多的季风平均动能向扰动动能转换,有利于扰动的成长。因此,强季风年,中国南海北部热带气旋生成数目增多,夏季北传的季节内振荡也增强,导致中国南部沿海及华南地区出现较多的灾害天气。      

Subseasonal forecast skills and biases of global summer monsoons in the NCEP Climate Forecast System version 2

Subseasonal forecast skills and biases of global summer monsoons are diagnosed using daily data from the hindcasts of 45-day integrations by the NCEP Climate Forecast System version 2. Predictions for subseasonal variability of zonal wind and precipitation are generally more skillful over the Asian and Australian monsoon regions than other monsoon regions. Climatologically, forecasts for the variations of dynamical monsoon indices have high skills at leads of about 2 weeks. However, apparent interannual differences exist, with high skills up to 5 weeks in exceptional cases. Comparisons for the relationships of monsoon indices with atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns between skillful and unskillful forecasts indicate that skills for subseasonal variability of a monsoon index depend partially on the degree to which the observed variability of the index attributes to the variation of large-scale circulation. Thus, predictions are often more skillful when the index is closely linked to atmospheric circulation over a broad region than over a regional and narrow range. It is also revealed that, the subseasonal variations of biases of winds, precipitation, and surface temperature over various monsoon regions are captured by a first mode with seasonally independent biases and a second mode with apparent phase transition of biases during summer. The first mode indicates the dominance of overall weaker-than-observed summer monsoons over major monsoon regions. However, at certain stages of monsoon evolution, these underestimations are regionally offset or intensified by the time evolving biases portrayed by the second mode. This feature may be partially related to factors such as the shifts of subtropical highs and intertropical convergence zones, the reversal of biases of surface temperature over some monsoon regions, and the transition of regional circulation system. The significant geographical differences in bias growth with increasing lead time reflect the distinctions of initial memory capability of the climate system over different monsoon regions.     

亚洲夏季风结构和变动与大气运动流场的斜压和正压特征:正压模分析

使用ＥＣＭＷＦ１９８０—１９８６年７ａ格点资料对大气运动的正压模进行了分析。指出：对流层中大气正压运动流场显示的副热带高压带仅能反映出行星风带的季节性移动；与亚洲夏季风有关且反映季风局地性的则是副热带高压带南侧的东风带上的波状扰动；东风带上的经向风分量存在着纬向传播且传播方向和扰动幅度与印度、东亚季风子系统有关；随着北半球夏季的到来，亚洲季风区大气运动的斜压模有较大的增长且斜压运动动能占气柱内整层平均总动能的绝大部分，而在赤道附近的其他经度上则是正压运动动能的成分明显增长。     

南海夏季风持续异常的特征及其对全球环流的影响II.数值试验

利用T42L9全球大气环流谱模式进行数值试验 ,以揭示南海夏季风强度异常的特征及其影响。控制试验结果表明 ,该模式不仅能够很好地模拟出气候平均的西风带槽脊和高低空气流分布以及它们的季节性变化 ,而且对于与亚洲季风有关的各个主要系统 ,如南亚高压、副高进退及越赤道气流等都有较强的模拟能力。在亚洲季风区及热带太平洋这一大范围区域的大气内部热源异常强迫下 ,模式显示出了南海夏季风持续异常的特征、北半球热带外环流的响应以及亚洲季风区降水异常分布。南海夏季风长时间强度异常所引起的大气内部热源异常 ,一方面通过三维垂直环流的异常联结着南海夏季风对北半球热带内外环流的影响 ,另一方面它又通过持续异常期的波列传播 ,即能量的传播 ,不仅影响我国长江流域降水 ,还会逐渐影响到北半球中高纬环流结构。这样西风带环流形势将会发生相应的变化和调整 ,南海夏季风持续异常影响到了北半球大气环流和天气气候的变化。     

Influence of soil moisture in eastern China on the East Asian summer monsoon

The sensitivity of the East Asian summer monsoon to soil moisture anomalies over China was investigated based on ensembles of seasonal simulations(March–September) using the NCEP GCM coupled with the Simplified Simple Biosphere Model(NCEP GCM/SSi B). After a control experiment with free-running soil moisture, two ensembles were performed in which the soil moisture over the vast region from the lower and middle reaches of the Yangtze River valley to North China(YRNC) was double and half that in the control, with the maximum less than the field capacity. The simulation results showed significant sensitivity of the East Asian summer monsoon to wet soil in YRNC. The wetter soil was associated with increased surface latent heat flux and reduced surface sensible heat flux. In turn, these changes resulted in a wetter and colder local land surface and reduced land–sea temperature gradients, corresponding to a weakened East Asian monsoon circulation in an anomalous anticyclone over southeastern China, and a strengthened East Asian trough southward over Northeast China. Consequently, less precipitation appeared over southeastern China and North China and more rainfall over Northeast China. The weakened monsoon circulation and strengthened East Asian trough was accompanied by the convergence of abnormal northerly and southerly flow over the Yangtze River valley, resulting in more rainfall in this region.In the drier soil experiments, less precipitation appeared over YRNC. The East Asian monsoon circulation seems to show little sensitivity to dry soil anomalies in NCEP GCM/SSi B.     

东亚海陆热力差指数及其与环流和降水的年际变化关系

利用 196 1～ 1999年海温和地温月平均资料 ,定义了一个海陆热力差指数 ,来表示东亚季风环流的纬向和经向海陆热力差异的变化强度 ,研究了夏季指数与东亚夏季风环流场和中国东部夏季降水的年际变化关系。结果表明 :(1)海陆热力差指数可用来表示东亚夏季风的强弱变化。强指数年东亚季风区低空西南夏季风气流和高层的东风气流明显偏强 ,表明这一年夏季风偏强 ,弱指数年反之。 (2 )海陆热力差指数能较好地反映东部季风区夏季降水的异常状况。强指数年 ,雨带偏北 ,江淮流域和长江中下游明显干旱 ,华南、华北降水偏多 ,弱指数年反之。这一降水异常特征可以从强弱海陆热力差指数年的环流场得到解释。 (3)海陆热力差指数所反映的东亚夏季风具有明显的准 2a和 3～ 6a周期的年际振荡 ,但其振幅和周期具有显著的年代际异常     

东亚季风指数及其与大尺度热力环流年际变化关系

将东西向海平面气压差与低纬度高、低层纬向风切变相结合 ,定义了东亚季风指数 ,该季风指数较好地反映了东亚冬、夏季风变化。其中 ,夏季风指数年际异常对西太平洋副热带高压南北位置变化和长江中下游旱涝具有较强的反映能力。分析表明 :东亚夏季风年际变化与印度洋 -西太平洋上空反 Walker环流及夏季越赤道南北半球间的季风环流呈显著正相关关系。在强、弱异常东亚夏季风年份 ,异常的 Walker环流在西太平洋上的辐合 (辐散 )中心在垂直方向不重合 ,高层 ( 2 0 0 h Pa)速度势与东亚夏季风显著相关区域位于西北太平洋上 ,该异常环流的高层的辐合 (辐散 )通过改变低层空气质量而影响夏季 50 0 h Pa西北太平洋副热带高压。采用 SVD分析进一步发现 :与海温耦合的异常 Walker环流在西太平洋上空的上升支表现出南北半球关于赤道非对称结构 ,亚澳季风区受该异常 Walker环流控制。因而 ,东亚季风与热带海气相互作用可直接通过这种纬向非对称的 Walker环流发生联系。     

Model Study on the Interannual Variability of Asian Winter Monsoon and Its Influence

ＭｏｄｅｌＳｔｕｄｙｏｎｔｈｅＩｎｔｅｒａｎｎｕａｌＶａｒｉａｂｉｌｉｔｙｏｆＡｓｉａｎＷｉｎｔｅｒＭｏｎｓｏｏｎａｎｄＩｔｓＩｎｆｌｕｅｎｃｅＪｉＬｉｒｅｎ（纪立人），ＳｕｎＳｈｕｑｉｎｇ（孙淑清）ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＡｔｍｏｓｐｈｅｒｉｃＰｈｙ...     

季风与ENSO的选择性相互作用:年循环和春季预报障碍的影响

本文主要基于对Webster and Yang（1992）一文的回顾,讨论了年循环在季风和ENSO相互作用中的作用、春季预报障碍（SPB）、Webster-Yang指数（WYI）、以及亚洲夏季风的前期讯号等内容。亚洲季风和ENSO作为全球天气和气候变率的主要来源,它们之间的相互作用存在明显的年变化和季节“锁相”特征:在北半球秋冬季,亚洲季风对流活动最弱,此时ENSO的信号最强;但是到了北半球春季,亚洲季风对流快速爆发,而此时的ENSO信号却迅速衰减。亚洲季风和ENSO位相的错位变化使得热带海—气系统的不稳定性在北半球春季达到最大,此时任意一个微小的扰动都容易快速增长,最终导致基于ENSO的预报技巧减小。亚洲夏季风环流本质上可以看成是大气对副热带地区潜热加热的低频罗斯贝波响应,它具有很强的垂直风切变,这是WYI定义的物理基础。WYI数值越大,代表垂直东风切变越大,即亚洲季风环流增强,反之亦然。利用WYI与前期大气环流场、欧亚雪盖、土壤湿度等物理量进行回归分析,结果表明:当亚洲夏季风增强时,前期冬季和春季,在北印度洋和亚洲副热带地区上空出现东风异常,同时在更高纬度地区伴随出现西风的异常;此外,副热带地区如印度次大陆、中南半岛和东亚的土壤湿度增大;中纬度地区尤其是青藏高原中西部的积雪密度明显减小。这些前期讯号的发现有助于我们构建动力统计模型,进而提高对亚洲夏季风的季节预报水平。     

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.     

冬夏东亚季风环流对太平洋热状况的响应

冬夏隔季韵律关系一直是我国长期天气预报和短期气候预测的一个重要依据,然而迄今为止对它们之间的物理过程及成因机理并不十分清楚。利用NCEP/NCAR全球2.5°×2.5°网格月平均再分析资料,研究1951~2000年冬夏东亚季风环流异常变化与太平洋海面温度(SST)的关系及对关键海温区响应机理。研究指出:冬夏东亚季风环流隔季韵律关系及其年际变化与赤道东太平洋海面温度异常(SSTA)变化密切相关,冬季赤道东太平洋出现La Ni~na(El Ni~no)型的SST分布,有利冬、夏东亚季风环流加强(减弱),其影响过程通过赤道Walker环流强(弱)以及东亚地区Hadley环流强(弱)过程完成。冬季赤道东太平洋海温变化是冬、夏东亚环流季节以及年际变化的一个重要外强迫因子。     

Simulation of East Asian Summer Monsoon with IAP CGCM

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Predictability of the western North Pacific summer climate demonstrated by the coupled models of ENSEMBLES

The Asian monsoon system, including the western North Pacific (WNP), East Asian, and Indian monsoons, dominates the climate of the Asia-Indian Ocean-Pacific region, and plays a significant role in the global hydrological and energy cycles. The prediction of monsoons and associated climate features is a major challenge in seasonal time scale climate forecast. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of the interannual predictability of the WNP summer climate has been performed using the 1-month lead retrospective forecasts (hindcasts) of five state-of-the-art coupled models from ENSEMBLES for the period of 1960–2005. Spatial distribution of the temporal correlation coefficients shows that the interannual variation of precipitation is well predicted around the Maritime Continent and east of the Philippines. The high skills for the lower-tropospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) spread over almost the whole WNP. These results indicate that the models in general successfully predict the interannual variation of the WNP summer climate. Two typical indices, the WNP summer precipitation index and the WNP lower-tropospheric circulation index (WNPMI), have been used to quantify the forecast skill. The correlation coefficient between five models’ multi-model ensemble (MME) mean prediction and observations for the WNP summer precipitation index reaches 0.66 during 1979–2005 while it is 0.68 for the WNPMI during 1960–2005. The WNPMI-regressed anomalies of lower-tropospheric winds, SSTs and precipitation are similar between observations and MME. Further analysis suggests that prediction reliability of the WNP summer climate mainly arises from the atmosphere–ocean interaction over the tropical Indian and the tropical Pacific Ocean, implying that continuing improvement in the representation of the air–sea interaction over these regions in CGCMs is a key for long-lead seasonal forecast over the WNP and East Asia. On the other hand, the prediction of the WNP summer climate anomalies exhibits a remarkable spread resulted from uncertainty in initial conditions. The summer anomalies related to the prediction spread, including the lower-tropospheric circulation, SST and precipitation anomalies, show a Pacific-Japan or East Asia-Pacific pattern in the meridional direction over the WNP. Our further investigations suggest that the WNPMI prediction spread arises mainly from the internal dynamics in air–sea interaction over the WNP and Indian Ocean, since the local relationships among the anomalous SST, circulation, and precipitation associated with the spread are similar to those associated with the interannual variation of the WNPMI in both observations and MME. However, the magnitudes of these anomalies related to the spread are weaker, ranging from one third to a half of those anomalies associated with the interannual variation of the WNPMI in MME over the tropical Indian Ocean and subtropical WNP. These results further support that the improvement in the representation of the air–sea interaction over the tropical Indian Ocean and subtropical WNP in CGCMs is a key for reducing the prediction spread and for improving the long-lead seasonal forecast over the WNP and East Asia.