Role of the oceanic channel in the relationships between the basin/dipole mode of SST anomalies in the tropical Indian Ocean and ENSO transition

The relationships between the tropical Indian Ocean basin(IOB)/dipole(IOD) mode of SST anomalies(SSTAs) and ENSO phase transition during the following year are examined and compared in observations for the period 1958–2008.Both partial correlation analysis and composite analysis show that both the positive(negative) phase of the IOB and IOD(independent of each other) in the tropical Indian Ocean are possible contributors to the El Nio(La Nia) decay and phase transition to La Nia(El Nio) about one year later. However, the influence on ENSO transition induced by the IOB is stronger than that by the IOD. The SSTAs in the equatorial central-eastern Pacific in the coming year originate from subsurface temperature anomalies in the equatorial eastern Indian and western Pacific Ocean, induced by the IOB and IOD through eastward and upward propagation to meet the surface. During this process, however the contribution of the oceanic channel process between the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans is totally different for the IOB and IOD. For the IOD, the influence of the Indonesian Throughflow transport anomalies could propagate to the eastern Pacific to induce the ENSO transition. For the IOB, the impact of the oceanic channel stays and disappears in the western Pacific without propagation to the eastern Pacific.     

Climatology and variability of the Indonesian Throughflow in an eddy-permitting oceanic GCM

A quasi-global eddy permitting oceanic GCM, LICOM1.0, is run with the forcing of ERA40 daily wind stress from 1958 to 2001. The modelled Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is reasonable in the aspects of both its water source and major pathways. Compared with the observation, the simulated annual mean and seasonal cycle of the ITF transport are fairly realistic. The interannual variation of the tropical Pacific Ocean plays a more important role in the interannual variability of the ITF transport. The relationshipbetween the ITF and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) also reflects the influence of ENSO. However, the relationship between the ITF transport and the interannual anomalies in the Pacific and Indian Oceans vary with time. During some years, (e.g., 1994), the effect of a strong IOD on the ITF transport is more than that from ENSO.     

印度洋对ENSO事件的响应:观测与模拟

观测事实显示,在El Ni(n～)o期间,伴随着赤道中东太平洋表层海温(SST)的升高,热带印度洋SST出现正距平.作者利用海气耦合模式模拟了印度洋对ENSO事件的上述响应,并进而讨论了其物理机制.所用模式为法国国家科研中心Pierre-Simon-Laplace 全球环境科学联合实验室(IPSL)发展的全球海气耦合模式.该模式成功地控制了气候漂移,能够合理再现印度洋的基本气候态.观测中与ENSO相关的热带印度洋SST变化,表现为全海盆一致的正距平,并且这种变化要滞后赤道中东太平洋SST变化大约一个季度,意味着它主要是对东太平洋SST强迫的一种遥响应,模式结果也支持这一机制,尽管模式中的南方涛动现象被夸大了,使得模拟的与ENSO相关联的SST正距平的位置南移,阿拉伯海和孟加拉湾被负距平(而不是正距平)所控制.研究表明,东太平洋主要通过大气桥影响潜热释放来影响印度洋SST变化.赤道东太平洋El Ni(n～)o事件的发展,导致印度洋上空风场异常自东而西传播;伴随着风场的变化,潜热发生相应变化,并最终导致SST异常的发生.非洲东海岸受索马里急流控制的海域,其SST的变化不能简单地利用热通量的变化来解释.证据显示,印度洋的增暖是ENSO事件发生的结果而不是其前期信号.     

The Initial Errors in the Tropical Indian Ocean that Can Induce a Significant “Spring Predictability Barrier” for La Ni?a Events and Their Implication for Targeted Observations

Initial errors in the tropical Indian Ocean (IO-related initial errors) that are most likely to yield the Spring Prediction Barrier (SPB) for La Ni?a forecasts are explored by using the CESM model. These initial errors can be classified into two types. Type-1 initial error consists of positive sea temperature errors in the western Indian Ocean and negative sea temperature errors in the eastern Indian Ocean, while the spatial structure of Type-2 initial error is nearly opposite. Both kinds of IO-related initial errors induce positive prediction errors of sea temperature in the Pacific Ocean, leading to under-prediction of La Ni?a events. Type-1 initial error in the tropical Indian Ocean mainly influences the SSTA in the tropical Pacific Ocean via atmospheric bridge, leading to the development of localized sea temperature errors in the eastern Pacific Ocean. However, for Type-2 initial error, its positive sea temperature errors in the eastern Indian Ocean can induce downwelling error and influence La Ni?a predictions through an oceanic channel called Indonesian Throughflow. Based on the location of largest SPB-related initial errors, the sensitive area in the tropical Indian Ocean for La Ni?a predictions is identified. Furthermore, sensitivity experiments show that applying targeted observations in this sensitive area is very useful in decreasing prediction errors of La Ni?a. Therefore, adopting a targeted observation strategy in the tropical Indian Ocean is a promising approach toward increasing ENSO prediction skill.     

Indian Ocean Dipole mode events and austral surface air temperature anomalies

The impact of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) mode events on austral surface air temperature (SAT) variability was studied both by statistical analysis of observed/assimilated data and experiments with a mechanistic baroclinic atmospheric model.During the period of analysis (January 1958–December 1999), IOD events had the strongest impact on SAT anomalies during austral spring and hence, the analysis was focussed on this season. IOD events induced large scale, intercontinental correlations of SAT anomalies amongst Australia, Africa and South America. Surface temperature consistently rose (fell) abnormally and coherently in the subtropical regions of these continents during positive (negative) IOD events. Variability during non-IOD years was considerably weaker than during IOD years over these regions.Analysis of stream function anomalies at the 200 hPa level (source: NCEP/NCAR reanalysis) revealed a Rossby-wave train extending from the eastern Indian Ocean into the subtropical regions of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Further, the diagnosed Rossby-wave activity flux emanated from the eastern Indian Ocean and propagated along the subtropical and subpolar jet streams qualitatively in agreement with linear wave dynamics. Experiments with idealized forcing in a primitive equation mechanistic atmospheric model suggested that tropical convective anomalies in the Indian Ocean during IOD events likely affects the austral subtropics through stationary Rossby-wave propagation.     

热带印度洋偶极子模态的不对称性及其成因的数值研究

热带印度洋偶极子 (Indian Ocean Dipole) 是印度洋海域内海洋和大气环流年际变化的主要特征模态之一, 在热带海气耦合系统中起到非常重要的作用。同热带太平洋的ENSO现象类似, 热带印度洋偶极子也呈现出显著的不对称性。本文利用中国科学院大气物理研究所发展的全球海洋环流模式, 在观测风应力距平的强迫下, 评估了模式对热带印度洋季节变化、 热带印度洋偶极子 (IOD) 模态及其不对称性的模拟能力, 并且通过数值试验分析了IOD模态不对称性特征及其对气候平均态的影响。对照观测资料, 模式较好地再现了热带印度洋SST在季风驱动下的季节变化特征。在年际时间尺度上, 模式不仅能够再现IOD指数的变化趋势, 而且可以成功模拟出IOD模态的空间分布特征, 即表层和次表层海温在西印度洋表现为正异常, 在东印度洋表现为负异常。可见, 对于热带印度洋而言, IOD模态主要是对风应力异常的响应。热带印度洋海温与Niño3.4指数的相关性分析表明, 模式能够模拟出超前热带太平洋ENSO现象2～4个月时海温的偶极子型分布, 但是不能模拟出滞后ENSO现象2个月左右的全海盆增暖模态, 可能是因为模式试验中没有考虑热通量年际异常的强迫。同时, 模式模拟的IOD模态具有同观测结果相类似的不对称性, 进一步的敏感性试验表明风应力的不对称性对偶极子指数的不对称性贡献较小, 次表层及以下海温的不对称性可能主要受到海洋内部非线性动力过程的影响。通过数值试验, 本文还发现热带印度洋海温的不对称性对气候平均态会有影响, 而这种不对称性长期积累后, 会导致上层热带印度洋温度层结趋于稳定状态。     

近期气候预测系统IAP-DecPreS对印度洋偶极子的回报技巧:全场同化和异常场同化的比较

印度洋偶极子（IOD）是热带印度洋年际变率主导模态之一,对于区域乃至全球气候有重要影响。准确预报IOD对于短期气候预测具有重要意义。中国科学院大气物理研究所最近建立了近期气候预测系统IAP-DecPreS,其初始化方案采用“集合最优插值—分析增量更新”（EnOI-IAU）方案,能够同化观测的海洋次表层温度廓线资料。本文分析了IAP-DecPreS季节回报试验对IOD的回报技巧,重点比较了全场同化和异常场同化两种初始化策略下预测系统对IOD的回报技巧。分析表明,8月起报秋季IOD,无论从确定性预报还是概率性预报的角度,基于全场同化的回报试验技巧均高于异常场同化的回报试验。对于5月起报的秋季IOD,基于两种初始化策略的回报试验技巧相当。研究发现,全场同化策略相对于异常场的优势主要源于它提高了对伴随ENSO发生的IOD的预报技巧。ENSO遥强迫触发的热带东印度洋“风—蒸发—SST”正反馈过程是IOD发展和维持的关键。采用全场同化策略的回报结果能够更好地模拟出IOD发展过程中ENSO遥强迫产生的异常降水场和异常风场的空间分布特征;而采用异常场同化策略,模拟的异常降水场和风场偏差较大。导致两种初始化策略预测结果技巧差异的主要原因是,全场同化能够减小模式对热带印度洋气候平均态降水固有的模拟偏差,从而提升了热带印度洋对ENSO遥强迫响应的模拟能力。而异常场同化由于在同化过程中保持了模式固有的气候平均态,因此模拟的热带印度洋对ENSO遥强迫的响应存在与模式自由积分类似的模拟偏差。     

Indian Ocean Dipole-related Predictability Barriers Induced by Initial Errors in the Tropical Indian Ocean in a CGCM

利用GFDL CM2p1模式, 本文探讨了初始海温误差对印度洋偶极子(IOD)事件可预报性的影响. 当热带印度洋存在初始海温误差时, IOD预报发生了冬季预报障碍(WPB)现象和夏季预报障碍(SPB)现象. WPB发生与否与正IOD事件发展位相冬季的厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(ENSO)有关. 即当冬季存在ENSO时, IOD预测不发生WPB现象, 反之亦然. 相比之下, SPB发生与否和ENSO没有必然联系. 此外, 进一步探讨了最容易导致SPB现象的初始海温误差的主要模态, 指出该模态在热带印度洋上表现为东-西偶极子型, 这和前人研究中最容易导致WPB现象的初始海温误差模态相似. 当在热带印度洋上叠加这些初始海温误差后, 热带太平洋上出现了海表温度异常和风场异常, 进而通过大气桥和印尼贯穿流的作用影响热带印度洋, 使之在夏季出现了东-西偶极子型的海表温度异常, 该异常在Bjerknes作用下快速发展, 加强, 最终导致SPB现象的发生.     

Asymmetry in the tropical Indian Ocean subsurface temperature variability

The empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of subsurface temperature shows a dominant north-south mode of interannual variability in the Tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) at around 100 m depth (thermocline). This subsurface mode (SSM) of variability evolves in September-November (SON) as a response to Indian Ocean Dipole and intensifies during December-February (DJF) reinforced by El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forcing. The asymmetry in the evolution of positive and negative phases of SSM and its impacts on the modulation of surface features are studied. The asymmetry in the representation of anomalous surface winds along the equator and off-equatorial wind stress curl anomalies are primarily responsible for maintaining the asymmetry in the subsurface temperature through positive and negative phases of the SSM. During the positive phase of SSM, downwelling Rossby waves generated by anticyclonic wind stress curl propagate towards the southwestern TIO (SWTIO), the thermocline ridge region of mean upwelling. The warmer subsurface water associated with the downwelling Rossby waves upwells in the region of mean upwelling and warms the surface resulting in strong subsurface-surface coupling. Such interaction processes are however weak during the negative phase of SSM. The asymmetry in the subsurface-surface interaction during the two phases of SSM and its impact on the modulation of surface features of TIO are also reported. In addition to the ENSO forcing, self-maintenance of SSM during DJF season is evident in the positive SSM (PSSM) years through modulation of subsurface surface coupling and air-sea coupling. This positive feedback during PSSM years is maintained by the deepening thermocline, warm SSTs and convection. The asymmetry in the thermocline evolution is more evident in the SWTIO and southern TIO.     

An assessment of Indo-Pacific oceanic channel dynamics in the FGOALS-g2 coupled climate system model

Lag correlations of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs), sea surface height anomalies (SSHAs), subsurface temperature anomalies, and surface zonal wind anomalies (SZWAs) produced by the Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System model: Grid-point Version 2 (FGOALS-g2) are analyzed and compared with observations. The insignificant, albeit positive, lag correlations between the SSTAs in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean (STIO) in fall and the SSTAs in the central-eastern Pacific cold tongue in the following summer through fall are found to be not in agreement with the observational analysis. The model, however, does reproduce the significant lag correlations between the SSHAs in the STIO in fall and those in the cold tongue at the one-year time lag in the observations. These, along with the significant lag correlations between the SSTAs in the STIO in fall and the subsurface temperature anomalies in the equatorial Pacific vertical section in the following year, suggest that the Indonesian Throughflow plays an important role in propagating the Indian Ocean anomalies into the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Analyses of the interannual anomalies of the Indonesian Throughflow transport suggest that the FGOALS-g2 climate system simulates, but underestimates, the oceanic channel dynamics between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. FGOALS-g2 is shown to produce lag correlations between the SZWAs over the western equatorial Pacific in fall and the cold tongue SSTAs at the one-year time lag that are too strong to be realistic in comparison with observations. The analyses suggest that the atmospheric bridge over the Indo-Pacific Ocean is overestimated in the FGOALS-g2 coupled climate model.     

Possible Linkage Between Tropical Indian Ocean SST Anomalies and the Date ofFirst and Last Tropical Cyclones Landfalling in the Chinese Mainland

Bases on the NCEP / NCAR reanalysis products, HadISST dataset, and data of tropical cyclone (TC)landfalling in the Chinese mainland during 1960-2019, the possible impacts of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) mode andIndian Ocean basin (IOB) mode on the last-TC-landfall date (LLD) and first-TC-landfall date (FLD), respectively, areinvestigated in this study. The LLD is in significantly negative correlation with autumn IOD on the interannual time-scale and their association is independent of El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The LLD tends to be earlier when theIOD is positive while becomes later when the IOD is negative. An anomalous lower-level anticyclone is located aroundthe Philippines during October-November, resulting from the change of Walker circulation over the tropical Indo-westPacific Ocean forced by sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies related to a positive IOD event. The Philippinesanticyclone anomaly suppresses TCs formation there and prevents TCs from landfalling in the Chinese mainland due tothe anomalous westerly steering flows over southeast China during October-November, agreeing well with the earlierLLD. However, the robust connection between spring IOB and FLD depends on ENSO episodes in preceding winter.There is an anticyclonic anomaly around the Philippines caused by the tropical SST anomalies through modulating theWalker circulation during May-June when the IOB is warming in the El Ni?o decaying phase. Correspondingly, the TCsgenesis is less frequent near the Philippines and the mid-level steering flows associated with the expanded westernPacific subtropical high are disadvantageous for TCs moving towards southeast China and making landfall during May-June, in accordance with the later FLD. By contrast, cooling IOB condition in spring of a La Ni?a decaying year andnegative IOD cases during autumn could produce a completely reversed atmospheric circulation response, leading to anearlier FLD and a later LLD over the Chinese mainland, respectively.     

印度洋偶极子与热带太平洋海洋表面温度异常多时间尺度相互作用初析

本文利用交叉谱方法, 将印度洋偶极子 (简称IOD) 与ENSO的相关关系分解到不同的时间尺度上来分析, 进而通过对海气耦合过程的初步分析, 讨论了不同时间尺度上IOD与ENSO的相互作用。结果表明, IOD与ENSO在准1～2年、 准3年、 准4年等三个时间尺度上存在显著相关, 同时, IOD还存在一个独立于ENSO的模态, 主要表现在准8个月时间尺度上。从海气相互作用的角度看, 在与ENSO相关的三个特征时间尺度上, IOD年际变率主要通过引发热带印度洋纬向风异常并且东传到太平洋, 从而引起热带中东太平洋海温的年际变率。与ENSO相对独立的IOD模态则没有类似的纬向风异常东传过程。此外, 在上述四个不同时间尺度上, 产生IOD变率的印度洋海气耦合过程不尽相同, 各具特点。     

Tropical Indian Ocean variability revealed by self-organizing maps

The tropical Indian Ocean climate variability is investigated using an artificial neural network analysis called self-organizing map (SOM) for both observational data and coupled model outputs. The SOM successfully captures the dipole sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) pattern associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and basin-wide warming/cooling associated with ENSO. The dipole SSTA pattern appears only in boreal summer and fall, whereas the basin-wide warming/cooling appears mostly in boreal winter and spring owing to the phase-locking nature of these phenomena. Their occurrence also undergoes significant decadal variation. Composite diagrams constructed for nodes in the SOM array based on the simulated SSTA reveal interesting features. For the nodes with the basin-wide warming, a strong positive SSTA in the eastern equatorial Pacific, a negative Southern Oscillation, and a negative precipitation anomaly in East Africa are found. The nodes with the positive IOD are associated with a weak positive SSTA in the central equatorial Pacific or positive SSTA in the eastern equatorial Pacific, a positive (negative) sea level pressure anomaly in the eastern (western) tropical Indian Ocean, and a positive precipitation anomaly over East Africa. The warming in the central equatorial Pacific appears to correspond to El Niño Modoki discussed recently. These results suggest usefulness of SOM in studying large-scale ocean–atmosphere coupled phenomena.     

Decadal and interannual variability of the Indian Ocean Dipole

This study investigates the decadal and interannual variability of the Indian Ocean Dipole （IOD）. It is found that the long-term IOD index displays a decadal phase variation. Prior to 1920 negative phase dominates but after 1960 positive phase prevails. Under the warming background of the tropical ocean, a larger warming trend in the western Indian Ocean is responsible for the decadal phase variation of the IOD mode. Due to reduced latent heat loss from the local ocean, the western Indian Ocean warming may be caused by the weakened Indian Ocean westerly summer monsoon. The interannual air-sea coupled IOD mode varies on the background of its decadal variability. During the earlier period （1948-1969）, IOD events are characterized by opposing SST anomaly （SSTA） in the western and eastern Indian Ocean, with a single vertical circulation above the equatorial Indian Ocean. But in the later period （1980-2003）, with positive IOD dominating, most IOD events have a zonal gradient perturbation on a uniform positive SSTA. However, there are three exceptionally strong positive IOD events （1982, 1994, and 1997）, with opposite SSTA in the western and eastern Indian Ocean, accompanied by an El Nifio event. Consequently, two anomalous reversed Walker cells are located separately over the Indian Ocean and western-eastern Pacific; the one over the Indian Ocean is much stronger than that during other positive IOD events.     

ENSO对印度洋偶极子非对称性的影响及机制研究北大核心

利用海表温度再分析资料、NCEP/NCAR大气环流再分析资料以及MPI-ESM1-2-LR气候模式PI-Control试验输出数据等,通过对不同强度的厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(El Nino-Southern Oscillation, ENSO)事件所对应的印度洋偶极子(Indian Ocean Dipole, IOD)事件的分析,探讨了ENSO对IOD偏度的调制作用。结果表明,伴随着赤道中东太平洋明显的正海温偏度,秋季印度洋海表温度存在西正东负的偏度。IOD与ENSO之间呈现出较强的非线性关系,且大部分强的正IOD事件对应着强El Nino事件。强El Nino位相下,IOD事件相关的海温与风场表现出很强的响应,强于La Nina事件产生的响应,表现为强的非对称性;相比较而言,弱El Nino事件与La Nina事件下引起的印度洋海温和风场的强度相当,并没有显著的非对称性。因此,ENSO可通过激发非对称的大气遥相关对IOD强度非对称性产生调制作用,印度洋海表温度偏度很大程度上是由强El Nino事件导致的强正IOD事件所贡献。     

POSSIBLE INFLUENCES OF THE TROPICAL INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE ON THE EASTWARD PROPAGATION OF MJO

Based on multiple datasets, correlation and composite analyses, and case studies, this paper investigated possible influences of the Indian Ocean dipole （IOD） mode on the eastward propagation of intraseasonal oscillation in the tropical atmosphere. The results showed that （1） the 30-60 day outgoing longwave radiation anomalies in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the 30-60 day 850-hPa zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean were significantly correlated with the IOD index; （2） during positive IOD years, the anomalously cold water in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the 850-hPa anomalous easterlies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean might act as barriers to the continuously eastward propagation of the intraseasonal convection, which interrupts the Madden-Julian oscillation （MJO） propagation in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and western Pacific; and （3） during negative IOD years, the anomalously warm water in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the low-level westerly anomalies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean favor the eastward movement of MJO.     

A DIAGNOSIS OF THE INTERANNUAL VARIABILITY OF SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND SURFACE WIND FIELD IN THE TROPICAL OCEANS AND ITS CORRELATIVE CHARACTERS WITH ENSO CYCLE*

Utilizing the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis monthly datasets,and based on the filter and standard deviation calculation,the interannual variability of sea surface temperature (SST) and 1000 hPa wind field for the tropical Pacific,Indian and Atlantic Oceans is investigated for the past 20 years (1979-1998).The characters of space-time evolution in SST anomalies (SSTA) for each ocean and corresponding wind anomaly field are acquired by using rotated principal component (RPC) and linear regression analysis methods.Using the method of correlation analysis.the characters of three tropical oceans correlated with ENSO are investigated.The contemporary correlation between the SSTA in the Indian Ocean and in the equatorial eastern Pacific is positive,and there is a weak negative correlation between the SSTA in the equatorial east Atlantic Ocean and in the equatorial eastern Pacific.The lead-lag correlation analysis indicates that the SSTA in the equatorial Indian Ocean lags the dominant Pacific ENSO mode by 3 months,and the SSTA in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean leads ENSO mode by 6 months.The ENSO-correlated components in tropical Indian Ocean and tropical Atlantic Ocean display much the same amount of total variance in each ocean,i.e..14% in the Indian Ocean and 12% in the Atlantic Ocean and the maximums are all above 40%.     

热带印度洋春季海表温度异常与南海夏季风强度变化的关系

利用50年的Reynolds月平均海表温度资料和NCEP/NCAR全球大气再分析资料,分析了热带印度洋春季海温异常对南海夏季风强度变化的影响。结果表明:1)热带印度洋春季海表温度距平(SSTA)的模态主要是全区一致型(USBM)和热带南印度洋偶极型(SIODM),USBM模态既有年际时间尺度的变化特征,又有年际以上时间尺度的变化特征,既包含有对冬季ENSO信号响应的变化特征,又有独立于ENSO的变化特征;SIODM模态主要表现为独立于ENSO的年际时间尺度变化。2)USBM模态与南海夏季风强度变化呈显著负相关关系,且二者都是对冬季ENSO信号的响应,USBM模态的年际变化不能独立于ENSO信号影响南海夏季风的强度变化。3)经(1~8年)带通滤波及去除ENSO信号的热带印度洋春季SSTA的SIODM型分布是影响南海夏季风强度变化的主要模态,表现为热带东南印度洋为负(正)、其他海区为正(负)时,南海夏季风强度增强(减弱),大气环流对热带东南印度洋SSTA热力作用的响应是造成这一关系的直接原因,SIODM型的SSTA分布与南海夏季风年际异常关系在热带印度洋长期变化趋势的暖位相期显著,在长期变化趋势的冷位相期不显著。     

EFFECTS OF INDIAN OCEAN SSTA WITH ENSO ON WINTER RAINFALL IN CHINA

Based on Hadley Center monthly global SST, 1960-2009 NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and observation rainfall data over 160 stations across China, the combined effect of Indian Ocean Dipole （IOD） and Pacific SSTA （ENSO） on winter rainfall in China and their different roles are investigated in the work. The study focuses on the differences among the winter precipitation pattern during the years with Indian Ocean Dipole （IOD） only, ENSO only, and IOD and ENSO concurrence. It is shown that although the occurrences of the sea surface temperature anomalies of IOD and ENSO are of a high degree of synergy, their impacts on the winter precipitation are not the same. In the year with positive phase of IOD, the winter rainfall will be more than normal in Southwest China （except western Yunnan）, North China and Northeast China while it will be less in Yangtze River and Huaihe River Basins. The result is contrary during the year with negative phase of IOD. However, the impact of IOD positive phase on winter precipitation is more significant than that of the negative phase. When the IOD appears along with ENSO, the ENSO signal will enhance the influence of IOD on winter precipitation of Southwest China （except western Yunnan）, Inner Mongolia and Northeast China. In addition, this paper makes a preliminary analysis of the circulation causes of the relationship between IOD and the winter rainfall in China.     

Generation and termination of Indian Ocean dipole events in 2003, 2006 and 2007

Evolution of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events in 2003, 2006 and 2007 is investigated using observational and re-analysis data products. Efforts are made to understand various processes involved in three phases of IOD events; activation, maturation and termination. Three different triggers are found to activate the IOD events. In preceding months leading to the IOD evolution, the thermocline in southeastern Indian Ocean shoals by reflection of near equatorial upwelling Rossby waves at the East African coast into anomalous upwelling equatorial Kelvin waves. Strengthening (weakening) of northern (southern) portion of ITCZ in March/April and May/June of IOD years, leads to strengthening of alongshore winds along Sumatra/Java coasts. With the combined shallow thermocline and increased latent heat flux due to enhanced wind speeds, the SST in the southeastern Indian Ocean cools in following months. On intraseasonal time scales convection-suppressing phase of Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) propagates from west to east in May/June of IOD year, and easterlies associated with this phase of MJO causes further shoaling of thermocline in southeastern Indian Ocean, through anomalous upwelling Kelvin wave. All these three mechanisms appear to be involved in initiating IOD event in 2006. On the other hand, except the strengthening/weakening of ITCZ, all other mechanisms are involved in activation of 2003 IOD event. Activation of 2007 IOD event was due to propagation of convection-suppressing MJO in May/June and strengthening of mean winds along Sumatra/Java coast from March to June through changes in convection. The IOD events matured into full-fledged events in the following months after activation, by surface heat fluxes, vertical and horizontal advection of cool waters supported by local along-shore upwelling favorable winds and remote equatorial easterly wind anomalies through excitation of upwelling Kelvin waves. Propagating MJO signals in the tropical Indian Ocean brings significant changes in evolution of IOD events on MJO time scales. Termination of 2003 and 2007 IOD events is achieved by strong convection-enhancing MJOs propagating from west to east in the tropical Indian Ocean which deepen the thermocline in the southeastern equatorial Indian Ocean. IOD event in 2006 was terminated by seasonal reversal of monsoon winds along Sumatra/Java coasts which stops the local coastal upwelling.