Monsoon Change in East Asia in the 21st Century: Results of RegCM3

The authors investigate monsoon change in East Asia in the 21st century under the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B scenario using the results of a regional climate model, RegCM3, with a high horizontal resolution. First, the authors evaluate the model’s performance compared with NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data, showing that the model can reliably reproduce the basic climatology of both winter and summer monsoons over East Asia. Next, it is found that the winter monsoon in East Asia would slightly weaken in the 21st century with spatial differences. Over northern East China, anomalous southerly winds would dominate in the mid-and late-21st century because the zonal land-sea thermal contrast is expected to become smaller, due to a stronger warming trend over land than over ocean. However, the intensity of the summer monsoon in East Asia shows a statistically significant upward trend over this century because the zonal land-sea thermal contrast between East Asia and the western North Pacific would become larger, which, in turn, would lead to larger sea level pressure gradients throughout East Asia and extending to the adjacent ocean.     

The Variability of Spring Sand-Dust Storm Frequency in Northeast Asia from 1980 to 2011

The characteristic distributions of regional sand-dust storm(SDS) weather processes over Northeast Asia from 1980 to 2011 were investigated using the shared WMO surface station meteorological data,atmospheric sounding data,China high density weather data,NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data,as well as the archived original weather maps of China.The concentration-weighted trajectory(CWT) method was used to calculate the SDS frequency from the discrete station data and to track the large-scale regional SDS weather processes in Northeast Asia.A spline trend analysis method was employed to investigate the variability of the SDS weather systems.The results show that during 1980-2011,the SDS weather processes exhibit both a historical persistence and abrupt transitions with an approximate 10-yr high-low occurrence oscillation.Through composite analysis of atmospheric circulation during high and low SDS years,it is found that the SDS occurrences are closely related to the anomalies of arctic vortex and midlatitude westerly,and the circulation patterns around the Lake Baikal.During the high frequency years,the meridianal flows in the upper and mid troposphere above the high SDS corridor in East Asia(from the Lake Balkhash along Northwest and North China,Korean Peninsula,and Japan Islands) are apparently stronger than the meridianal flows during the low SDS frequency years,favoring the development and transport of SDSs in the midlatitude regions.     

An Assessment of the Quality of Surface Sensible Heat Flux Derived from Reanalysis Data through Comparison with Station Observations in Northwest China

The present study compares seasonal and interdecadal variations in surface sensible heat flux over Northwest China between station observations and ERA-40 and NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data for the period 1960-2000.While the seasonal variation in sensible heat flux is found to be consistent between station observations and the two reanalysis datasets,both land-air temperatures difference and surface wind speed show remarkable systematic differences.The sensible heat flux displays obvious interdecadal variability that is season-dependent.In the ERA-40 data,the sensible heat flux in spring,fall,and winter shows interdecadal variations that are similar to observations.In the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data,sensible heat flux variations are inconsistent with and sometimes even opposite to observations.While surface wind speeds from the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data show interdecadal changes consistent with station observations,variations in land-air temperature difference differ greatly from the observed dataset.In terms of land-air temperature difference and surface wind speed,almost no consistency with observations can be identified in the ERA-40 data,apart from the land-air temperature difference in fall and winter.These inconsistencies pose a major obstacle to the application in climate studies of surface sensible heat flux derived from reanalysis data.     

Influence of the Asian-Pacific Oscillation on Spring Precipitation over Central Eastern China

The linkage between the Asian-Pacific oscillation(APO)and the precipitation over central eastern China in spring is preliminarily addressed by use of the observed data.Results show that they correlate very well,with the positive(negative)phase of APO tending to increase(decrease)the precipitation over central eastern China.Such a relationship can be explained by the atmospheric circulation changes over Asia and the North Pacific in association with the anomalous APO.A positive phase of APO,characterized by a positive anomaly over Asia and a negative anomaly over the North Pacific in the upper-tropospheric temperature,corresponds to decreased low-level geopotential height(H)and increased high-level H over Asia,and these effects are concurrent with increased low-level H and decreased high-level H over the North Pacific.Meanwhile,an anticyclonic circulation anomaly in the upper troposphere and a cyclonic circulation anomaly in the lower troposphere are introduced in East Asia,and the low-level southerly wind is strengthened over central eastern China.These changes provide advantageous conditions for enhanced precipitation over central eastern China.The situation is reversed in the negative phase of APO,leading to reduced precipitation in this region.     

IMPACTS OF SURFACE FRICTION AND OROGRAPHICAL FORCING ON THE EAST ASIA COASTAL CYCLOGENESIS

Some numerical simulations from real data were carried out to examine the impacts of surface frictionand orographic forcing on the East Asia coastal cyclogenesis.The results show that the decreasing of the surfacefriction over the ocean is essential for the cyclone development and the mechanical forcing of Qinghai-XizangPlateau acts a damping effect in the initial stage of the cyclone.     

Can Current AGCMs Reproduce Historical Changes in the Atmospheric Diabatic Heating over the Tibetan Plateau?

Recent studies have demonstrated a persistent decreasing trend in the spring sensible heat（SH） source over the Tibetan Plateau（TP） during the past three decades. By comparing simulations from nine state-of-the-art atmospheric general circulation models（AGCMs） driven by historical forcing fields with both observational data and five reanalysis datasets, the authors found that the AGCMs are unable to reproduce the change in the SH flux over the TP. This deficiency arises because the observed decreasing trend in SH flux depends primarily on the change in surface wind speed according to the bulk formula, whereas in the models it is also influenced largely by changes in the land-air temperature difference related to the systematic cold bias. In addition, an obvious discrepancy exists in other aspects of the diabatic heating simulated by the models, suggesting that a significant improvement is required in the physical schemes associated with land surface processes and diabatic heating over the complicated topography.     

An East Asian Subtropical Summer Monsoon Index and Its Relationship to Summer Rainfall in China

Using the monthly mean NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and the monthly rainfall observations at 160 rain gauge stations of China during 1961 1999, and based on major characteristics of the atmospheric circulation over East Asia and the western Pacific, a simple index for the East Asian subtropical summer monsoon （EASSM） is defined. The relationship between this index and summer rainfall in China and associated circulation features are examined. A comparison is made between this index and other monsoon indices. The results indicate that the index defined herein is reflective of variations of both the thermal low pressure centered in Siberia and the subtropical ridge over the western Pacific. It epitomizes the intensity of the EASSM and the variability of summer rainfall along the Yangtze River. Analysis shows that the Siberian low has a greater effect on the rainfall than the subtropical ridge, suggesting that the summer rainfall variability over the eastern parts of China is to a large extent affected by anomalies of the atmospheric circulation and cold air development in the midlatitudes. Taking into account of the effects of both the Siberian low and the subtropical ridge can better capture the summer rainfall anomalies of China. The index exhibits interannual and decadal variabilities, with high-index values occurring mainly in the 1960s and 1970s and low-index values in the 1980s and 1990s. When the EASSM index is low, the Siberian low and the subtropical ridge are weaker, and northerly wind anomalies appear at low levels over the midlatitudes and subtropics of East Asia, whereas southwesterly wind anomalies dominate in the upper troposphere over the tropics and subtropics of Asia and the western Pacific. The northerly wind anomalies bring about frequent cold air disturbances from the midlatitudes of East Asia, strengthening the convergence and ascending motions along the Meiyu front, and result in an increase of summer rainfall over the Yangtze River.     

THE ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUBSYSTEMS OF THE ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON

In this study, the relationship between the subsystems of Asian summer monsoon is analyzed using U.S. National Centers for Environmental Protection/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis and Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of Precipitation monthly mean precipitation data. The results showed that there is significant correlation between the subsystems of Asian summer monsoon. The changes of intensity over the same period show that weak large-scale Asian monsoon, Southeast Asia monsoon and South Asian monsoon are associated with strong East Asian monsoon and decreasing rainfall in related areas. And when the large-scale Asian monsoon is strong, Southeast Asia and South Asia monsoons will be strong and precipitation will increase. While the Southeast Asia monsoon is strong, the South Asia monsoon is weak and the rainfall of South Asia is decreasing, and vice versa. The various subsystems are significantly correlated for all periods of intensity changes.     

THE DIRECT EFFECTS OF AEROSOLS AND DECADAL VARIATION OF GLOBAL SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE ON THE EAST ASIAN SUMMER PRECIPITATION IN CAM3.0

Using the CAM3.0 model, we investigated the respective effects of aerosol concentration increasing and decadal variation of global sea surface temperature(SST) around year 1976/77 on the East Asian precipitation in boreal summer. By doubling the concentration of the sulfate aerosol and black carbon aerosol separately and synchronously in East Asia(100-150 °E, 20-50 °N), the climate effects of these aerosols are specifically investigated. The results show that both the decadal SST changing and aerosol concentration increasing could lead to rainfall decreasing in the center of East Asia, but increasing in the regions along southeast coast areas of China. However, the different patterns of rainfall over ocean and lower wind field over Asian continent between aerosol experiments and SST experiments in CAM3.0 indicate the presence of different mechanisms. In the increased aerosol concentration experiments, scattering effect is the main climate effect for both sulfate and black carbon aerosols in the Eastern Asian summer. Especially in the increased sulfate aerosol concentration experiment, the climate scattering effect of aerosol leads to the most significant temperature decreasing, sinking convection anomalies and decreased rainfall in the troposphere over the central part of East Asia. However, in an increased black carbon aerosol concentration experiment, weakened sinking convection anomalies exist at the southerly position. This weakened sinking and its compensating rising convection anomalies in the south lead to the heavy rainfall over southeast coast areas of China. When concentrations of both sulfate and black carbon aerosols increase synchronously, the anomalous rainfall distribution is somewhat like that in the increased black carbon concentration aerosol experiment but with less intensity.     

Eurasian Winter Cooling: Intercomparison of Reanalyses and CMIP5 Data Sets

A cooling trend in wintertime surface air temperature over continental Eurasia has been identified in reanalysis and the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project phase 5(CMIP5)‘historical’simulations over the period 1989–2009.Here the authors have shown that this cooling trend is related to changes in Arctic sea-ice around the Barents-Kara seas.This study illustrates a consistent spatial and temporal structure of the wintertime temperature variability centered over Asia using state-of-the-art reanalyses and global climate model datasets.Our findings indicate that there is a physical basis for seasonal predictions of near-surface temperatures over continental Asia based on changes to the ice-cover in the Barents-Kara seas.     

2020年1月初怀化一次罕见强对流天气过程分析

利用国家气象观测站常规探测数据、怀化区域自动雨量站和雷达数据以及NCEP1°×1°再分析资料,对怀化2020年1月初一次罕见的强对流天气过程进行了研究分析。结果表明:此次强对流天气在怀化南北部表现出不同的特征,中北部强对流天气属于高架对流类,南部属于斜压锋生类,且强度明显强于中北部;“上干下湿”特征、较强的下沉对流有效位能以及强的垂直风切变,有利于产生雷暴大风、冰雹等强对流天气;中北部受逆温层抑制作用,而南部与中北部相比具有更有利于强对流天气发生发展的水汽条件、辐合上升运动条件以及不稳定条件,这也是造成两者差异的主要原因。雷达分析表明,怀化南部发展较高的强回波单体是造成局地短时强降水出现的主要原因,超级单体导致出现冰雹,低仰角速度大值区预示着雷达大风的产生,风廓线中中层干侵入现象对强对流天气开始、结束有较好的指示意义。     

2006年北京一次持续浮尘天气过程的分析

使用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料对2006年4月7~11日北京浮尘天气过程的持续性进行分析,指出此次浮尘天气过程主要受500 hPa西西伯利亚冷涡、鄂霍次克海暖高压以及青藏高原高压脊影响;700 hPa有干冷空气不断向北京地区输送,冷平流和斜压性都很强,大风和沙尘暴发生在强冷平流区域;由于华北南部地区近地面至中低层存在弱的不稳定层结,容易产生弱的上升运动。在近地面低压前部偏东风的作用下将沙尘粒子向北京地区输送,北京地区上空大气在中低层基本处于中性或不稳定层结状态,沙尘粒子不易在北京上空沉降,造成较长时间的浮尘天气。     

2006年3月末河南一次沙尘暴过程的天气成因分析

利用常规观测资料、地面自动站加密观测资料以及NCEP1°×1°格点再分析资料,对2006年3月27日发生在河南省的一次沙尘暴过程的天气成因进行了分析。结果表明,这是一次冷锋南下时产生的沙尘暴天气,高空影响系统是携带冷空气东南移并发展的小槽,此短波槽最终替代了原有的东亚大槽。前期降水少导致地表干燥,河南省北部、东部的黄泛平原沙土土层为沙尘暴的发生提供了丰富的沙源。冷锋影响时,强烈的温度平流作用使得风力加大,垂直运动加强。锋生作用使冷锋导致的天气现象更为剧烈。冷锋不仅是静力不稳定能量的触发系统,锋区内还存在对称不稳定,有利于垂直运动进一步加强,将沙尘输送至高空。地面中尺度滤波表明,中尺度低压的形成和发展不仅使得湍流混合加强,同时也加剧了不稳定能量的释放。沙尘在强风、强湍流混合以及强上升气流作用下最终形成沙尘暴。     

春季西太平洋海表面温度对我国江南春雨的影响

利用NCAR提供的第5代全球大气环流模式CAM3.1探讨了春季西太平洋副热带地区海表面温度对我国江南春雨的影响。数值试验结果表明:春季西太平洋副热带地区海表面温度升高可引起同期东亚—西太平洋副热带纬向海陆热力差异减弱,进而引起3—4月青藏高原东南侧的低涡强度减弱,该低涡与西太平洋副热带高压之间的位势梯度减小,中低纬度西太平洋副热带高压强度减弱,其北侧的850 hPa西南风强度相应减弱,因此西南暖湿气流输送也随之减弱,造成江南地区的水汽通量辐合强度明显减弱,这种环流分布状况将不利于出现较强的江南春雨,导致江南春雨强度明显减小。     

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。     

1990年代初夏季东北亚低压的年代际转变

夏季东亚地区对流层低层受到一个陆地低压系统控制;该低压中心位于东亚的北部地区,文中称之为东北亚低压。基于NCEP/DOE、NCEP/NCAR、ERA-40和ERA-Interim四种不同的再分析数据,本文分析了夏季东北亚低压的年代际变化特征,并进一步探讨了其转变的可能物理机理。研究结果表明夏季东北亚低压在1990年代初期存在一次显著的年代际转变, 之后低压强度减弱。对应此次年代际转变,东北亚地区对流层位势高度呈现为正压结构的正异常,其南侧的高空西风急流中心强度减弱。进一步,基于观测和简单线性斜压模式模拟结果,我们提出环贝加尔湖地区夏季气温增加可能是导致1990年代初期之后夏季东北亚低压减弱的原因。     

2018/2019年冬季浙江罕见持续阴雨天气的环流异常与海温强迫

利用NCEP/NCAR全球再分析资料、地面观测资料和自动站降水资料,分析了2018/2019年冬季浙江罕见连续阴雨寡照天气过程中冬季风环流和南支槽等环流异常,并从西风带波动、海温强迫等方面研究了局地环流异常的成因。结果表明:2018/2019年冬季连阴雨事件中雨日、日照破历史记录,雨量较常年同期明显偏多。主要的环流异常为西北太平洋异常反气旋（WNPAC）明显偏北,同时阿留申低压和西伯利亚高压亦偏北,东亚地区40°N以南有强的偏南风异常,冬季风偏弱;南支槽较常年偏强,保证了浙江上空有持续的水汽和扰动输送。对流层中层存在沿欧洲向东亚—西太平洋传播的波动能量,波能在东亚地区一直向南传播至20°N以南,可能导致WNPAC明显北抬和南支槽加强。ENSO是WNPAC的重要强迫源,ENSO暖位相使得海洋性大陆出现异常对流冷却,而浙江上空对流加强,ENSO对南支槽活动强度亦有明显的制约作用。中国近海海温偏高是WNPAC和阿留申低压明显偏北的重要影响因素。2018/2019年冬季局地环流异常可能由ENSO和中国近海海温协同强迫所致。     

Surface and upper-level features associated with wintertime cold surge outbreaks in South Korea

The surface and upper-level features associated with a sharp drop of wintertime daily temperature over South Korea is investigated in this study. This sharp drop in daily temperature is called a cold surge and is one of the most hazardous weather phenomena in East Asian winters. An upper-level baroclinic wave of 60°wavelength propagating eastward at a phase speed of 12°longitude per day across the continent of northern China from the west of Lake Baikal toward the eastern coast of China causes the outbreak of cold air over South Korea. The cooling associated with the upper-level baroclinic wave is found at all altitudes under the geopotential height-fall center near the tropopause. The development in the ridge seems to derive the early evolution of the eastward-propagating sinusoidal wave, whereas the trough is connected directly with the tropospheric temperature-drop. An enhancement of the wintertime East Asian jet stream after the outbreak of a cold surge is a response to the steep temperature gradient associated with the developing baroclinic wave.     

East Asian summer monsoon circulation structure controlled by feedback of condensational heating

The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) features strong humid low-level southerly flows and abundant rainfall over the subtropical East Asia. This study identified how condensational heating generated by the EASM rainfall can affect the EASM circulation by contrasting two 10-member ensembles of atmospheric General Circulation Model experiments with Community Climate Model version 3/National Center for Atmospheric Research respectively with and without feedback of condensational heating over the East Asian domain. Major results inferred from the experiments are as follows. Condensational heating is found to absolutely dominate diabatic heating over East Asia. Exclusion of the feedback of condensational heating leads to a significant weakening of summertime tropospheric warming over land and thus a large reduction of the land-sea thermal contrast between entire Asian continent and surrounding oceans. Associated with this, the lower-level EASM flows are weakened, South Asian High at 200 hPa migrates southward with reduced intensity and breaks over East Asia with southerly flows prevailing in the upper troposphere, in contrast to northerly flows in reality. Consequently, local EASM meridional cell disappears and the baroclinic structure featured by the EASM circulation that is dynamically determined by convective condensational heating over East Asia is altered to a barotropic structure. Therefore, it is concluded that the feedback of condensational heating acts to largely enhance lower-level flows of the EASM and essentially determine its baroclinic structure and meridional cell, once the solar radiation and inhomogeneity of the Earth’s surface form low-level monsoon flows in East Asia by enhancing land-sea thermal contrast.     

东亚-北太平洋偶极型气压场及其与东亚季风年际变化的关系

利用美国NCEP/NCAR的月平均再分析资料,研究东亚-太平洋地区地面气压的耦合模态与东亚副热带季风异常的关系,结果表明:在亚洲大陆和北半球太平洋之间气压场的偶极子模态主要反映了东亚地区东西向气压梯度的异常.从20世纪60年代到70年代中期,东亚-太平洋的这种偶极子表现为蒙古地区气压偏低和太平洋地区气压偏高的特征,而从20世纪70年代后期到90年代,则表现为蒙古地区气压偏高和太平洋地区气压偏低的特征.在偶极子指数值较高的年份,冬季(或夏季)蒙古高压(或蒙古低压)和太平洋阿留申低压(或太平洋副热带高压)较强