Moisture transport over the Arabian Sea associated with summer rainfall over Pakistan in 1994 and 2002

In this study,we aimed to elucidate the critical role of moisture transport affecting monsoon activity in two contrasting summers over the Arabian Sea during the years 1994,a relatively wet year,and 2002,a relatively dry year.A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and comparisons of the moisture fields were conducted;we focused on the precipitation and evaporation as well as the moisture transport and its divergence or convergence in the atmosphere.Monthly mean reanalysis data were obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP-I and-II).A detailed evaluation of the moisture budgets over Pakistan during these two years was made by calculating the latent energy flux at the surface(E P) from the divergence of the total moisture transport.Our results confirm the moisture supply over the Arabian Sea to be the major source of rainfall in Pakistan and neighboring regions.In 1994,Pakistan received more rainfall compared to 2002 during the summer monsoon.Moisture flow deepens and strengthens over Arabian Sea during the peak summer monsoon months of July and August.Our analysis shows that vertically integrated moisture transport flux have a significant role in supplying moisture to the convective centers over Pakistan and neighboring regions from the divergent regions of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.Moreover,in 1994,a deeper vertically integrated moisture convergence progression occurred over Pakistan compared to that in 2002.Perhaps that deeper convergence resulted in a more intense moisture depression over Pakistan and also caused more rainfall in 1994 during the summer monsoon.Finally,from the water budget analysis,it has been surmised that the water budget was larger in 1994 than in 2002 during the summer monsoon.     

热带印度洋偶极子与中国夏季年际气候异常关系的年代际变化

利用中国站点观测逐月降水和月平均气温资料以及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,揭示了热带印度洋偶极子(IOD)与中国夏季气候异常关系的年代际变化.结果表明:IOD与中国夏季年际气候异常的关系既有稳定的一面,又存在着年代际变化.较为稳定的关系表现为:IOD与同年夏季长江黄河之间的降水变化存在显著负相关,与四川气温变化存在显著正相关;IOD与次年夏季四川降水存在显著正相关.伴随发生在20世纪70年代末的大尺度环流年代际转型,IOD与中国气候年际异常的联系亦发生变化:IOD正位相年的同年夏季降水异常型,由中国大部分地区偏少变为长江以南(北)偏多(少),气温由西南地区东部偏暖变为长江以南(北)偏冷(暖);次年夏季降水由全国大部分地区偏多变为长江以南(北)偏少(多),气温由全国大部分地区相关不显著变为黄河以南大部分地区显著偏暖.在IOD负位相年,中国夏季气候异常的特征与IOD正位相年相反.在20世纪70年代末的大尺度年代际气候转犁前后,与IOD相关的东亚大气环流异常特征明显不同.在IOD发展阶段,在70年代末以前,印度夏季风和南海季风偏强,副热带高压势力偏弱,导致中国华南大部分地区降水偏少,华北西部以及内蒙古中部等地降水偏多;70年代末以后,东亚大陆中纬度为弱的东风距平,导致新疆北部降水偏少,气温偏高,华南降水偏多.在IOD次年夏季,70年代末以前,华南、河套以及四川等地盛行偏南气流,降水偏多;70年代末以后,南亚高压和西太平洋副高偏西偏强,华南、江南降水偏少.     

Circumglobal wave train and the summer monsoon over northwestern India and Pakistan: the explicit role of the surface heat low

This study examines the influence of the mid-latitude circulation on the surface heat low (HL) and associated monsoon rainfall over northwestern India and Pakistan using the ERA40 data and high resolution (T106L31) climate model ECHAM5 simulation. Special emphasis is given to the surface HL which forms over Pakistan and adjoining areas of India, Iran and Afghanistan during the summer season. A heat low index (HLI) is defined to depict the surface HL. The HLI displays significant correlations with the upper level mid-latitude circulation over western central Asia and low level monsoon circulation over Arabian Sea and acts as a bridge connecting the mid-latitude wave train to the Indian summer monsoon. A time-lagged singular value decomposition analysis reveals that the eastward propagation of the mid-latitude circumglobal wave train (CGT) influences the surface pressure anomalies over the Indian domain. The largest low (negative) pressure anomalies over the western parts of the HL region (i.e., Iran and Afghanistan) occur in conjunction with the upper level anomalous high that develops over western-central Asia during the positive phase of the CGT. The composite analysis also reveals a significant increase in the low pressure anomalies over Iran and Afghanistan during the positive phase of CGT. The westward increasing low pressure anomalies with its north?Csouth orientation provokes enormous north?Csouth pressure gradient (lower pressure over land than over sea). This in turn enables the moist southerly flow from the Arabian Sea to penetrate farther northward over northwestern India and Pakistan. A monsoon trough like conditions develops over northwestern India and Pakistan where the moist southwesterly flow from the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf converge. The convergence in association with the orographic uplifting expedites convection and associated precipitation over northwestern India and Pakistan. The high resolution climate model ECHAM5 simulation also underlines the proposed findings and mechanism.     

A long-term trend in precipitation of different spatial regions of Bangladesh and its teleconnections with El Niño/Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole

A long-term (1948 to 2012) trend of precipitation (annual, pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons) in Bangladesh was analyzed in different regions using both parametric and nonparametric approaches. Moreover, the possible teleconnections of precipitation (annual and monsoon) variability with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episode and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) were investigated using both average and individual (both positive and negative) values of ENSO index and IOD. Our findings suggested that for annual precipitation, a significant increasing monotonic trend was found in whole Bangladesh (4.87 mm/year), its western region (5.82 mm/year) including Rangpur (9.41 mm/year) and Khulna (4.95 mm/year), and Sylhet (10.12 mm/year) and Barisal (6.94 mm/year) from eastern region. In pre-monsoon, only Rangpur (2.88 mm/year) showed significant increasing trend, while in monsoon, whole Bangladesh (3.04 mm/year), Sylhet (7.17 mm/year), and Barisal (6.94 mm/year) showed similar trend. In post-monsoon, there was no significant trend. Our results also revealed that the precipitation (annual or monsoon) of whole Bangladesh and almost all of the spatial regions did not show any significant correlation with ENSO events, whereas the average IOD values showed significant correlation only in monsoon precipitation of western region. The individual positive IODs showed significant correlation in whole Bangladesh, western region, and its two divisions (Rajshahi and Khulna). So, in the context of Bangladesh climate, IOD has the more teleconnection to precipitation than that of ENSO. Our findings indicate that the co-occurrence of ENSO and IOD events may suppress their influence on each other.

     

South Asian summer monsoon precipitation variability: Coupled climate model simulations and projections under IPCC AR4

Summary South Asian summer monsoon precipitation and its variability are examined from the outputs of the coupled climate models assessed as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment. Out of the 22 models examined, 19 are able to capture the maximum rainfall during the summer monsoon period (June through September) with varying amplitude. While two models are unable to reproduce the annual cycle well, one model is unable to simulate the summer monsoon season. The simulated inter-annual variability from the 19 models is examined with respect to the mean precipitation, coefficient of variation, long-term trends and the biennial tendency. The model simulated mean precipitation varies from 500 mm to 900 mm and coefficient of variation from 3 to 13%. While seven models exhibit long-term trends, eight are able to simulate the biennial nature of the monsoon rainfall. Six models, which generate the most realistic 20th century monsoon climate over south Asia, are selected to examine future projections under the doubling CO₂ scenario. Projections reveal a significant increase in mean monsoon precipitation of 8% and a possible extension of the monsoon period based on the multi-model ensemble technique. Extreme excess and deficient monsoons are projected to intensify. The projected increase in precipitation could be attributed to the projected intensification of the heat low over northwest India, the trough of low pressure over the Indo-Gangetic plains, and the land–ocean pressure gradient during the establishment phase of the monsoon. The intensification of these pressure systems could be attributed to the decline in winter/spring snowfall. Furthermore, a decrease of winter snowfall over western Eurasia is also projected along with an increase of winter snowfall over Siberia/eastern Eurasia. This projected dipole snow configuration during winter could imply changes in mid-latitude circulation conducive to subsequent summer monsoon precipitation activity. An increase in precipitable water of 12–16% is projected over major parts of India. A maximum increase of about 20–24% is found over the Arabian Peninsula, adjoining regions of Pakistan, northwest India and Nepal. Although the projected summer monsoon circulation appears to weaken, the projected anomalous flow over the Bay of Bengal (Arabian Sea) will support oceanic moisture convergence towards the southern parts of India and Sri Lanka (northwest India and adjoining regions). The ENSO-Monsoon relationship is also projected to weaken.     

Interdecadal Change of the Relationship Between the Tropical Indian Ocean Dipole Mode and the Summer Climate Anomaly in China

The interdecadal change of the relationship between the tropical Indian Ocean dipole(IOD) mode and the summer climate anomaly in China is investigated by using monthly precipitation and temperature records at 210 stations in China and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for 1957-2005.The results indicate that along with the interdecadal shift in the large-scale general circulation around the late 1970s,the relationship between the IOD mode and the summer climate anomaly in some regions of China has significantly changed.Before the late 1970s,a developing IOD event is associated with an enhanced East Asian summer monsoon,which tends to decrease summer precipitation and increase summer temperature in South China;while after the late 1970s,it is associated with a weakened East Asian summer monsoon,which tends to increase(decrease) precipitation and decrease(increase) temperature in the south(north) of the Yangtze River.During the next summer,following a positive IOD event,precipitation is increased in most of China before the late 1970s,while it is decreased(increased) south(north) of the Yangtze River after the late 1970s.There is no significant correlation between the IOD and surface air temperature anomaly in most of China in the next summer before the late 1970s;however,the IOD tends to increase the next summer temperature south of the Yellow River after the late 1970s.     

中国西南地区5月降水与阿拉伯海季风关系的年代际变化

本文利用1960～2017年中国西南地区115个台站观测降水资料和日本气象厅发布的55年再分析资料集,研究了中国西南地区5月降水变异的主导模态及其与阿拉伯海季风的关系。结果显示,中国西南地区5月降水的第一主导模态主要表现为全区一致的变异特征;该模态与同期5月阿拉伯海季风强度异常关系密切,但两者的关系在20世纪70年代后期发生了显著的年代际变化。在1960～1976年,阿拉伯海季风异常所引起的低层大气环流和水汽输送异常主要集中在阿拉伯海到孟加拉湾一带;阿拉伯海季风异常所引起的大气环流不能到达中国西南地区,因此它对中国西南地区5月降水的影响偏弱。但在1981～2017年,阿拉伯海季风异常可以导致整个北印度洋到南海地区的大气环流异常,进而引起中国西南地区水汽和垂直运动的变化,最终对该地区5月降水产生显著的影响。进一步的研究显示,阿拉伯海季风与中国西南地区5月降水关系的变化可能与季风自身的年代际变率有关。阿拉伯海季风在20世纪70年代末之前变率偏弱,其引起的环流异常也偏弱;相反在20世纪70年代末之后,其变率增强,它引起的大气环流异常也偏强,可以延伸到中国西南地区,进而影响到西南地区的5月降水。因此,季风变率的强弱可能在季风对西南地区5月降水的影响中起着非常重要的作用。     

Temperature variability over the Indian Ocean and its relationship with Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Summary The present study examines the long term trend in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South India Ocean in the context of global warming for the period 1901–2002 and for a subset period 1971–2002. An attempt has also been made to identify the relationship between SST variations over three different ocean areas, and All-India and homogeneous region summer monsoon rainfall variability, including the role of El-Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Annual sea surface temperatures of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South India Ocean show a significant warming trend of 0.7 °C, 0.6 °C and 0.5 °C per hundred years, respectively, and a relatively accelerated warming of 0.16 °C, 0.14 °C and 0.14 °C per decade during the 1971–2002 period. There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between SSTs over the Arabian Sea from the preceding November to the current February, and Indian monsoon rainfall during the period 1901–2002. The correlation coefficient increases from October and peaks in December, decreasing from February to September. This significant relationship is also found in the recent period 1971–2002, whereas, during 1901–70, the relationship is not significant. On the seasonal scale, Arabian Sea winter SSTs are positively and significantly correlated with Indian monsoon rainfall, while spring SSTs have no significant positive relationship. Nino3 spring SSTs have a negative significant relationship with Indian monsoon rainfall and it is postulated that there is a combined effect of Nino3 and Arabian Sea SSTs on Indian monsoon. If the Nino3 SST effect is removed, the spring SSTs over the Arabian Sea also have a significant relationship with monsoon rainfall. Similarly, the Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South Indian Ocean spring SSTs are significantly and positively correlated with Indian monsoon rainfall after removing the Nino3 effect, and correlation values are more pronounced than for the Arabian Sea. Authors’ address: Dr. D. R. Kothawale, A. A. Munot, H. P. Borgaonkar, Climatology and Hydrometeorology divisions, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune 411008, India.     

The interannual precipitation variability in the southern part of Iran as linked to large-scale climate modes

The interannual variation of precipitation in the southern part of Iran and its link with the large-scale climate modes are examined using monthly data from 183 meteorological stations during 1974–2005. The majority of precipitation occurs during the rainy season from October to May. The interannual variation in fall and early winter during the first part of the rainy season shows apparently a significant positive correlation with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, a partial correlation analysis used to extract the respective influence of IOD and ENSO shows a significant positive correlation only with the IOD and not with ENSO. The southeasterly moisture flux anomaly over the Arabian Sea turns anti-cyclonically and transport more moisture to the southern part of Iran from the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf during the positive IOD. On the other hand, the moisture flux has northerly anomaly over Iran during the negative IOD, which results in reduced moisture supply from the south. During the latter part of the rainy season in late winter and spring, the interannual variation of precipitation is more strongly influenced by modes of variability over the Mediterranean Sea. The induced large-scale atmospheric circulation anomaly controls moisture supply from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.     

Some diabatic indices of the monsoon circulation in the Indian region

The influence of outgoing longwave radiation anomalies on precipitation rates is studied based on the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis during the period of the summer monsoon circulation in the Indian region. The outgoing longwave radiation data are analyzed for 1987 (dry monsoon) and 1988 (wet monsoon) separately for the Arabian Sea, India, and the Bay of Bengal. It is shown that negative outgoing longwave radiation anomalies correspond to a wet Indian monsoon, and positive anomalies are associated with a dry monsoon. Calculations using the reanalysis enable the construction of a numerical algorithm of the interaction of outgoing longwave radiation, convection, and precipitation rates in the monsoon regions. The results obtained in this work are important in the verification of corresponding parameterizations of numerical atmospheric models.     

Influence of ENSO and of the Indian Ocean Dipole on the Indian summer monsoon variability

Indian summer monsoon (ISM) variability is forced from external factors (like the El Niño Southern Oscillation, ENSO) but it contains also an internal component that tends to reduce its potential for predictability. Large-scale and local monsoon indices based on precipitation and atmospheric circulation parameters are used as a measure of ISM variability. In a 9-members ensemble of AMIP-type experiments (with same boundary SST forcing and different initial conditions) their potential predictability is comparable using both local and large-scale monsoon indices. In the sample analyzed, about half of more predictable monsoon years coincide with El Niño and/or positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events. Summer monsoon characteristics during ENSO and IOD years are analyzed through composites computed over a three years period (i.e. one year before and one year after the event peak) to investigate the mutual relationship between the events lagged in time. The connection between ISM and IOD is mostly confined in the summer and autumn, while that with ENSO is stronger and extends more in time. In the coupled model results the IOD influence on the monsoon is large, even because in the model IOD events are intense and easily reproduced due to a strong air-sea feedback in the eastern side of the basin. Monsoon seasons preceding or following an El Niño or a La Niña event are not exactly symmetric, even in terms of their biennial character. In most of the cases, both in reanalysis and model, El Niño and positive IOD events tend to co-occur with larger anomalies either in the Indo-Pacific ocean sector or over India, while La Niña and negative IOD do not. From the observed record, the ENSO-IOD correlation is positive strong and significant since mid-60s and it may correspond with either strong or weak ENSO-monsoon relationship and with strong or weak IOD-monsoon relationship. A main difference between those periods is the relationship between Indian monsoon rainfall and SST in other ocean basins rather than the Indo-Pacific sector alone.     

Influence of the South China Sea Biweekly Sea Surface Temperature on the South China Sea Summer Monsoon Especially during the Indian Ocean Dipole

The influence of the biweekly sea surface temperature (SST) in the South China Sea (SCS) on the SCS summer monsoon, especially during the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is presented using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) SST and rainfall data for April to June from 1999 to 2013. During positive IOD (PIOD) years the biweekly SST anomalies over the SCS lead the rain anomalies by three days, with a significant correlation (r?=?0.8, at the 99% confidence level), whereas during negative IOD (NIOD) years, the correlation is only 0.2. The biweekly SST is observed to influence the westward and northward propagating rainfall anomalies over the SCS and, hence, affect the SCS summer monsoon, especially during PIOD years. No such propagation was seen during NIOD years. The biweekly intraseasonal oscillation of SST in the SCS results in enhanced sea level pressure and surface shortwave radiation, especially during PIOD years. The potential findings here indicate that the biweekly SST in the SCS is strongly (weakly) influenced during PIOD (NIOD) years. Further, it is observed that SST in the SCS has a strong (weak) effect on the SCS summer monsoon by westward and northward propagation of rainfall, especially during PIOD (NIOD) years. When a PIOD or NIOD exists over the tropical Indian Ocean, the SCS SST will be strongly (r?=?0.6, at the 99% confidence level) or weakly correlated with the residual index, respectively.     

强弱南海夏季风年水汽输送路径特征分析

采用印度洋偶极子指数（dipole mode index,简称DMI）、Nino3指数和国内学者定义的5种东亚夏季风指数来比较分析印度洋偶极子（Indian Ocean dipole,简称IOD）、ENSO与东亚夏季风年际变化联系的年代际改变,讨论了这种改变的可能成因。结果表明,东亚夏季风指数分别与DMI、Ni-no3指数的年际变化的联系都呈明显的年代际改变。东亚夏季风指数除了在20世纪80年代及90年代初期与DMI联系较弱之外,其余时段均与DMI具有很好的正相关关系。当季风指数与DMI为正相关时,其与Nino3指数则呈负相关,IOD和ENSO对夏季风具有相反的影响。当季风指数与DMI呈较强的正相关时,其与ENSO的相关较弱;而在70年代末至80年代初季风指数与ENSO呈较强的相关时,其与DMI的关系亦较弱。东亚夏季风与IOD、ENSO年际变化之间的联系呈现此强彼弱的特点。1972—1982年和1983—1993年这两个阶段海温分布的显著不同,可能导致了海气相互作用过程中环流变化的周期及分布的改变,使得东亚夏季风与IOD和ENSO的关系发生年代际改变。     

东亚地区夏季风爆发过程

利用中国194站1961～1995年日降水资料及NCEP1979～1997年候格点降水资料,探讨了亚洲地区自春到夏的雨季开始分布。结果表明,东亚地区自春到夏存在副热带季风雨季开始和热带季风雨季开始。前者于4月初开始于华南北部和江南地区,随后向南和向西南扩展,于4月末扩展到华南沿海和中南半岛,这个雨带主要是冷空气和副热带高压西侧转向的SW风以及南亚地区冬春副热带南支西风槽中西风汇合而形成的,是副热带季风雨季开始。后者是南海热带季风爆发后使原来由江南移到华南沿岸的副热带季风雨带随副热带高压北进而北进,前汛期雨季进入盛期,江南出现第二次雨峰,形成梅雨期和江淮及华北雨季。同时,热带季风雨带也自东向西传播到达南亚地区而形成热带季风雨季。还讨论了1998年东亚地区夏季风爆发过程,指出南海夏季风爆发期的季风由副高北侧形成的新生气旋进入南海造成南海中部西风和南海越赤道气流转向的SW季风加强汇合而形成,因而是东亚季风系统中环流系统季节变化造成的,和印度季风无关。在南海季风爆发期阿拉伯海仍由副热带反气旋控制,南亚仍是上述副热带反气旋北侧NW风南下后转向的偏西副热带气流所控制,索马里低空急流仍未爆发,赤道西风并未影响南海。     

Relationships between interannual variability in the Arabian Sea and Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Summary The interannual variability of the monthly mean upper layer thickness for the central Arabian Sea (5°N-15° N and 60° E-70° E) from a numerical model of the Indian Ocean during the period 1954–1976 is investigated in relation to Indian monsoon rainfall variability. The variability in the surface structure of the Somali Current in the western Arabian Sea is also briefly discussed. It is found that these fields show a great deal of interannual variability that is correlated with variability in Indian monsoon rainfall. Model upper layer thickness (H) is taken as a surrogate variable for thermocline depth, which is assumed to be correlated with sea surface temperature. In general, during the period 1967 to 1974, which is a period of lower than normal monsoon rainfall, the upper ocean warm water sphere is thicker (deeper thermocline which implies warmer surface water); in contrast, during the period 1954–1966, which is a period of higher than normal monsoon rainfall, the upper warm water sphere is thinner (shallower thermocline which implies cooler surface water). The filtered time series of uppper layer thickness indieates the presence of a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) during the wet monsoon period, but this QBO signal is conspicuously absent during the dry monsoon period.Since model H primarily responds to wind stress curl, the interannual variability of the stress curl is investigated by means of an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The first three EOF modes represent more than 72% of the curl variance. The spatial patterns for these modes exhibit many elements of central Arabian Sea climatology. Features observed include the annual variation in the intensity of the summer monsoon ridge in the Arabian Sea and the annual zonal oscillation of the ridge during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The time coefficients for the first EOF amplitude indicate the presence of a QBO during the wet monsoon period only, as seen in the ocean upper layer thickness.The variability in the model upper layer thickness is a passive response to variability in the wind field, or more specifically to variability in the Findlater Jet. When the winds are stronger, they drive stronger currents in the ocean and have stronger curl fields associated with them, driving stronger Ekman pumping. They transport more moisture from the southern hemisphere toward the Indian subcontinent, and they also drive a greater evaporative heat flux beneath the Findlater Jet in the Arabian Sea. It has been suggested that variability in the heat content of the Arabian Sea drives variability in Indian monsoon rainfall. The results of this study suggest that the opposite is true, that the northern Arabian Sea responds passively to variability in the monsoon system.With 10 Figures     

全球变暖背景下亚非典型干旱区降水变化及其与水汽输送的关系研究

分析比较了中蒙(35°N~50°N,75°E~105°E)、中亚(28°N~50°N,50°E~67°E)和北非(15°N~32°N,17°W~32°E)三个典型干旱区水汽输送特征的异同,及其1961~2010年间的降水时空变化,分析了水汽来源和输送变化及其可能原因。结果显示,由于受不同的气候系统影响,中蒙、北非和中亚干旱区的降水在年内变化上有着显著不同。中蒙和北非干旱区降水呈现夏季风降水的特征;而中亚干旱区降水则为更多受到冬季风的影响。1961~2010年,随着全球气温上升,中蒙干旱区冬季纬向水汽输送增加而经向输送减少,总水汽输送增加;中亚干旱区冬季纬向输送减少而经向增加,总水汽输送减少;北非干旱区冬季纬向输送增加而经向输送减少,总水汽输送增加。夏季中蒙和北非干旱区经向、纬向输送均减小,中亚干旱区夏季纬向输送减少而经向减少,总输送增加。相应的,中蒙干旱区年、冬季和夏季降水分别以4.2、1.3和1.0 mm/10 a的趋势增加;而中亚干旱区冬季(1.2 mm/10 a)和夏季(0.1 mm/10 a)降水增加,年降水则呈减少趋势(-0.8 mm/10 a);北非干旱区年降水和夏季降水分别以0.5 mm/10 a和0.1 mm/10 a的速率增加。冬季中蒙干旱区主要水汽来源是水汽经向输送,而中亚干旱区水汽主要为纬向输送,经纬向水汽均为净输出是北非干旱区降水极少的主要原因,平均总水汽输送量约为-9.48×104 kg/s。冬季低纬度和高纬度环流通过定常波影响干旱区冬季降水。中蒙和中亚干旱区冬季降水主要受西太平洋到印度洋由南向北的波列影响,北非干旱区冬季降水主要和北大西洋上空由北到南的波列相联系。各干旱区的降水对海温变化有着不同的响应:中蒙干旱区冬季降水与冬季太平洋西海岸和印度洋海温呈显著正相关,夏季与海温相关不显著;中亚干旱区与地中海和阿拉伯海温相关,且与阿拉伯海温为正相关。     

Dependence of Indian monsoon rainfall on moisture fluxes across the Arabian Sea and the impact of coupled model sea surface temperature biases

The Arabian Sea is an important moisture source for Indian monsoon rainfall. The skill of climate models in simulating the monsoon and its variability varies widely, while Arabian Sea cold sea surface temperature (SST) biases are common in coupled models and may therefore influence the monsoon and its sensitivity to climate change. We examine the relationship between monsoon rainfall, moisture fluxes and Arabian Sea SST in observations and climate model simulations. Observational analysis shows strong monsoons depend on moisture fluxes across the Arabian Sea, however detecting consistent signals with contemporaneous summer SST anomalies is complicated in the observed system by air/sea coupling and large-scale induced variability such as the El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation feeding back onto the monsoon through development of the Somali Jet. Comparison of HadGEM3 coupled and atmosphere-only configurations suggests coupled model cold SST biases significantly reduce monsoon rainfall. Idealised atmosphere-only experiments show that the weakened monsoon can be mainly attributed to systematic Arabian Sea cold SST biases during summer and their impact on the monsoon-moisture relationship. The impact of large cold SST biases on atmospheric moisture content over the Arabian Sea, and also the subsequent reduced latent heat release over India, dominates over any enhancement in the land-sea temperature gradient and results in changes to the mean state. We hypothesize that a cold base state will result in underestimation of the impact of larger projected Arabian Sea SST changes in future climate, suggesting that Arabian Sea biases should be a clear target for model development.     

On the relative roles of El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole events on the Monsoon Onset over Kerala

Interannual variations of the monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK) have been studied using data from over 60?years (1948?C2009) of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and outgoing long-wave radiation. The sea surface temperature fields over the North Indian Ocean associated with the MOK have been examined in association with El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events which originate in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, respectively. An analysis of the tropical convective maximum showed significant differences in its strength and location during the El Nino, IOD, early, normal, and delayed MOK composites. Further, we also looked into the role of the convective systems formed over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal on MOK. The most significant features during early (delayed) MOK years is the abnormal persistence of westerlies (easterlies) several days prior to MOK and enhanced (suppressed) deep convection over the southeastern Arabian Sea and the southern Bay of Bengal. Moisture builds up over peninsular India several pentads prior to MOK during La Nina, negative IOD, and concurrent La Nina and negative IOD years as compared to the El Nino, positive IOD, and concurrent El Nino and positive IOD years, indicating its significant role on MOK. The monsoon Hadley cell and Walker circulations are weaker (stronger) during a delayed (early) MOK. Further, the sea surface temperature anomalies in the western Pacific are negative (positive) during delayed (early) MOK.     

Signature of a southern hemisphere extratropical influence on the summer monsoon over India

The weakening relationship of El Nino with Indian summer monsoon reported in recent years is a major issue to be addressed. The altered relationships of Indian monsoon with various parameters excite to search for other dominant modes of variability that can influence the precipitation pattern. Since the Indian summer monsoon circulation originates in the oceanic region of the southern hemisphere, the present study investigates the association of southern extratropical influence on Indian summer monsoon using rainfall and reanalysis parameters. The effect of Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index during the month of June associated with the onset phase of Indian summer monsoon and that during July–August linked with the active phase of the monsoon were analysed separately for a period from 1951 to 2008. The extra-tropical influence over the monsoon is illustrated by using rainfall, specific humidity, vertical velocity, circulation and moisture transport. The June high SAM index enhances the lower level wind flow during the onset phase of monsoon over Indian sub-continent. The area of significant positive correlation between precipitation and SAM in June also shows enhancement in both ascending motion and specific humidity during the strong phase of June SAM. On the other hand, the June high SAM index adversely affects July–August monsoon over Indian subcontinent. The lower level wind flow weakens due to the high SAM. Enhancement of divergence and reduction in moisture transport results in the Indian monsoon region due to the activity of this high southern annular mode. The effect is more pronounced over the southwest region where the precipitation spell has high activity during the period. Significant correlation exists between SAM and ISMR, even after removing the effect of El Nino. It indicates that the signals of Indian summer monsoon characteristics can be envisaged to a certain extend using the June SAM index.     

春夏季赤道中东太平洋海温异常变化与东亚夏季风关系的研究

利用1951—2003年的Ni?o1+2, 3, 4和3.4区的海温异常指数, 分析了各个海区3—8月海温异常随时间的变化与我国夏季降水的关系。研究发现4个海区海温异常变化与我国长江流域、江南地区、华北地区以及西北东部地区的夏季降水都有较高的相关性。合成分析表明:在海温异常随时间变化为正的年份, 上述地区的夏季降水偏少; 在海温异常随时间变化为负的年份, 情况正好相反。在此基础上, 分析了Ni?o3.4区的海温异常变化和高低空纬向风垂直切变之间的关系, 发现海温异常变化与东亚夏季风的环流场之间也有很好的关系。由合成分析结果发现, 在海温异常变化分别为正和负的年份, 500 hPa高度距平场、850 hPa纬向风距平场、850 hPa流场距平场, 200 hPa纬向风距平场及高低空纬向风距平切变均具有显著的差异, 尤其是在长江流域以南、南海及我国的东北地区都呈相反的分布形势。因此, Ni?o3.4区的海温异常随时间的变化可以为东亚夏季风和我国夏季降水的预报提供一定的依据。