印度洋—西太平洋对流涛动的季节内特征

本文利用30~60天带通滤波资料, 考察了不同季节印度洋—西太平洋区域对流活动季节内尺度变率的主要模态, 发现在不同季节赤道东印度洋(5°S~10°N, 70°E~100°E)和西北太平洋(5°N~20°N, 110°E~160°E)对流活动均存在反相变化的关系, 将之称为季节内尺度的印度洋—西太平洋对流涛动(Indo-West Pacific Convection Oscillation), 简称IPCO。对IPCO两极子区域对流活动进行超前滞后相关分析, 发现IPCO事件形成—发展—消亡的生命周期是由对流活动季节内振荡及其传播造成的。对流扰动首先在赤道中西印度洋形成, 随后逐渐向东发展变强, 在其继续变强的过程中将分两支传播:一支由赤道印度洋向北传播, 至印度半岛南部后逐渐减弱消失;另一支沿赤道继续东传, 在海洋大陆受到抑制, 快速越过海洋大陆到达赤道西太平洋后又开始发展变强, 随后北传至西北太平洋区域逐渐减弱, 最终至我国长江流域中下游到日本区域消失。将这一过程划分为8个位相, 详细分析了不同位相对应的环流场和降水场特征, 最后给出了IPCO事件演化示意图。     

Origins of Quasi-Biweekly and Intraseasonal Oscillations over the South China Sea and Bay of Bengal and Scale Selection of Unstable Equatorial and Off-Equatorial Modes

The daily outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) field in boreal summer shows significant power spectrum peaks on quasi-biweekly (10–20-day) and intraseasonal (20-80-day) timescales over the Indo-western Pacific warm pool, especially over the South China Sea and Bay of Bengal. The quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) originates from off-equatorial western North Pacific, and is characterized by a northwest-southeast oriented wave train pattern, propagating northwestward. The intraseasonal oscillation (ISO), on the other hand, originates from the equatorial Indian Ocean and propagates eastward and northward. Why the equatorial mode possesses a 20–80-day periodicity while the off-equatorial mode favors a 10–20-day periodicity is investigated through idealized numerical experiments with a 2.5-layer atmospheric model. In the off-equatorial region, the model simulates, under a realistic three-dimensional summer mean flow, the most unstable mode that has a wave train pattern with a typical zonal wavelength of 6000 km and a period of 10–20 days, propagating northwestward. This is in contrast to the equatorial region, where a Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) like mode with a planetary (wavenumber-1) zonal scale and a period ranging from 20 to 80 days is simulated. Sensitivity experiments with different initial conditions indicate that the QBWO is an intrinsic mode of the atmosphere in boreal summer in the off-equatorial Indo-western Pacific region under the summer mean state, while the MJO is the most unstable mode in the equatorial region.     

季节内印度洋-西太平洋对流涛动对次季节-季节尺度大气可预报性的影响

利用非线性局部Lyapunov指数和条件非线性局部Lyapunov指数定量估计了季节内印度洋-西太平洋对流涛动（IPCO）和实时多变量Madden-Julian指数（RMM指数）可预报期限,量化了季节内IPCO对S2S尺度大气可预报性的贡献,深入研究了季节内IPCO演变下S2S尺度可预报期限空间分布的变化规律。结果表明：（1）与RMM指数相比,季节内IPCO指数可预报性更强,可预报期限达到31天左右,比RMM指数高出2周以上;（2）印度洋-西太平洋区域S2S尺度大气可预报性最强,可预报期限达到30天以上,其中季节内IPCO是该地区的主要可预报性来源之一,其贡献达到6天,占总可预报期限的25%以上;（3）随着季节内IPCO的演变,印度洋-西太平洋地区S2S尺度大气可预报性有空间结构变化,表现为可预报期限异常的传播和振荡。S2S尺度大气可预报期限正负异常沿季节内IPCO传播路径,一支以赤道中西印度洋为起点北传至印度半岛,一支向东传播,经过海洋性大陆到赤道西太平洋后向北传播,到达日本南部。同时,可预报性异常的传播在在东印度洋和西太平洋表现出反向变化的特征,形成东西两极振荡,当季节内IPCO向正位相发展时,东印度洋具有更强的可预报性,西太平洋具有更弱的可预报性,反之亦然。季节内IPCO的发展（衰退）可使东印度洋（西太平洋）S2S尺度大气可预报性更强,表明模式预报技巧对此具有更大的提升空间。     

Decadal change in the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation

A decadal change in activity of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) was identified at a broad scale. The change was more prominent during August–October in the boreal summer. The BSISO activity during 1999–2008 (P2) was significantly greater than that during 1984–1998 (P1). Compared to P1, convection in the BSISO was enhanced and the phase speed of northward-propagating convection was reduced in P2. Under background conditions, warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in P2 were apparent over the tropical Indian Ocean and the western tropical Pacific. The former supplied favorable conditions for the active convection of the BSISO, whereas the latter led to a strengthened Walker circulation through enhanced convection. This induced descending anomalies over the tropical Indian Ocean. Thermal convection tends to be suppressed by descending anomalies, whereas once an active BSISO signal enters the Indian Ocean, convection is enhanced through convective instability by positive SST anomalies. After P2, the BSISO activity was weakened during 2009–2014 (P3). Compared to P2, convective activity in the BSISO tended to be inactive over the southern tropical Indian Ocean in P3. The phase speed of the northward-propagating convection was accelerated. Under background conditions during P3, warmer SST anomalies over the maritime continent enhance convection, which strengthened the local Hadley circulation between the western tropical Pacific and the southern tropical Indian Ocean. Hence, the convection in the BSISO over the southern tropical Indian Ocean was suppressed. The decadal change in BSISO activity correlates with the variability in seasonal mean SST over the tropical Asian monsoon region, which suggests that it is possible to predict the decadal change.

     

热带西北太平洋与东南印度洋对流活动年际变化联系的年代际改变

采用美国NOAA卫星观测OLR (outing longwave radiation)资料以及NCEP/NCAR、CM AP月平均资料,利用合成分析等方法,研究了热带西北太平洋(125°～140°E,10°～20°N)与热带东南印度洋(90°～105°E,5°～15°S)对流活动异常的联系。结果表明:热带西北太平洋与东南印度洋对流活动异常的联系有显著的年代际变化; 20世纪80—90年代存在显著的正相关,20世纪90年代至21世纪初有显著的负相关,其后转变为正相关。合成分析表明,热带西北太平洋与东南印度洋对流活动正相关时,两地区均存在反气旋性环流,低层辐散、高层辐合,对流活动弱,不利于降水产生,有降水负异常;当热带西北太平洋与东南印度洋对流活动负相关时,两地区环流异常存在明显差别,热带东南印度洋有正的海温异常,高层辐散、低层辐合,有上升运动,对流活动强,有降水正异常,而热带西北太平洋则相反。热带西北太平洋和热带东南印度洋之间的斜向垂直环流圈将这两个地区联系起来,并决定了这两个地区对流活动负相关关系的形成。     

Coupled model simulations of boreal summer intraseasonal (30–50 day) variability, Part 1: Systematic errors and caution on use of metrics

Boreal summer intraseasonal (30–50 day) variability (BSISV) over the Asian monsoon region is more complex than its boreal winter counterpart, the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), since it also exhibits northward and northwestward propagating convective components near India and over the west Pacific. Here we analyze the BSISV in the CMIP3 and two CMIP2+ coupled ocean–atmosphere models. Though most models exhibit eastward propagation of convective anomalies over the Indian Ocean, difficulty remains in simulating the life cycle of the BSISV, as few represent its eastward extension into the western/central Pacific. As such, few models produce statistically significant anomalies that comprise the northwest to southeast tilted convection, which results from the forced Rossby waves that are excited by the near-equatorial convective anomalies. Our results indicate that it is a necessary, but not sufficient condition, that the locations the time-mean monsoon heat sources and the easterly wind shear be simulated correctly in order for the life cycle of the BSISV to be represented realistically. Extreme caution is needed when using metrics, such as the pattern correlation, for assessing the fidelity of model performance, as models with the most physically realistic BSISV do not necessarily exhibit the highest pattern correlations with observations. Furthermore, diagnostic latitude-time plots to evaluate the northward propagation of convection from the equator to India and the Bay of Bengal also need to be used with caution. Here, incorrectly representing extratropical–tropical interactions can give rise to “apparent” northward propagation when none exists in association with the eastward propagating equatorial convection. Despite these cautions, the use of multiple cross-checking diagnostics enables the fidelity of the simulation of the BSISV to be meaningfully assessed.     

Different Impacts of Intraseasonal Oscillations on Precipitation in Southeast China between Early and Late Summers

This study investigates the influences of boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO), which originates from the equatorial Indian Ocean and prevails over the Indo-Pacific region, on precipitation over Southeast China, including South China and Yangtze River Valley. The results indicate that the BSISO-related precipitation anomalies are remarkably different between early summer (May–June) and late summer (July–August). The BSISO-related precipitation anomalies tend to appear more northward in late summer in comparison with early summer. Accordingly, the BSISO is significantly related to precipitation anomalies over South China during many phases in early summer but related to very weak anomalies during all the phases in late summer. Such northward shifts of precipitation anomalies from early summer to late summer are clearest during phases 4 and 7, when the lower-tropospheric anticyclonic and cyclonic circulation anomalies dominate over the subtropical western North Pacific, respectively. Finally, we explain the differences between early and late summers through the seasonal northward migration of climatological equivalent potential temperature gradient, which is located in the South China during early summer but migrates northward to the YRV during late summer.     

Intraseasonal variability in the equatorial Atlantic-West Africa during March–June

Intraseasonal (30–80 days) variability in the equatorial Atlantic-West African sector during March–June is investigated using various recently-archived satellite measurements and the NCEP/DOE AMIP-II reanalysis daily data. The global connections of regional intraseasonal signals are first examined for the period of 1979–2006 through lag-regression analyses of convection (OLR) and other dynamic components against a regional intraseasonal convective (OLR) index. The eastward-propagating features of convection can readily be seen, accompanied by coherent circulation anomalies, similar to those for the global tropical intraseasonal mode, i.e., the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). The regressed TRMM rainfall (3B42) anomalies during the TRMM period (1998–2006) manifest similar propagating features as for the regressed OLR anomalies during 1979–2006. These coherent features hence tend to suggest that the regional intraseasonal convective signals might be mostly a regional response to, or closely associated with the MJO, and probably contribute to the MJO’s global propagation. Atmospheric and surface intraseasonal variability during March–June of 1998–2006 are further examined using the high-quality TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) sea surface temperature (SST), columnar water vapor, and cloud liquid water, and the QuikSCAT oceanic winds (2000–2006). Enhanced (suppressed) convection or positive (negative) rainfall anomalies approximately cover the entire basin (0°–10°N, 30°W–10°E) during the passage of intraseasonal convective signals, accompanied by anomalous surface westerly (easterly) flow. Furthermore, a unique propagating feature seems to exist within the tropical Atlantic basin. Rainfall anomalies always appear first in the northwestern basin right off the coast of South America, and gradually extend eastward to cover the entire basin. A dipolar structure of rainfall anomalies with cross-equatorial surface wind anomalies can thus be observed during this evolution, similar to the anomaly patterns on the interannual time scale discovered in past studies. Coherent intraseasonal variations and patterns can also be found in other physical components.

Intraseasonal variability of the Tropical Easterly Jet

Summary By analyzing 12-year (1979–1990) 200 hPa wind data from National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis, we demonstrate that the intraseasonal time scale (30–60 days) variability of the Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ) reported in individual case studies occurs during most years. In the entrance region (east of ∼70° E), axis of the TEJ at 200 hPa is found along the near equatorial latitudes during monsoon onset/monsoon revivals and propagates northward as the monsoon advances over India. This axis is found along ∼5° N and ∼15° N during active monsoon and break monsoon conditions respectively. Examination of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis wind data also confirms the northward propagation of the TEJ on intraseasonal time scales. During the intraseasonal northward propagations, axis of the TEJ is found about 10°–15° latitudes south of the well-known intraseasonally northward propagating monsoon convective belts. Because of this 10°–15° displacement, axis of the TEJ arrives over a location about two weeks after the arrival of the monsoon convection. Systematic shifting of the locations by convection, low level monsoon flow and TEJ in a collective way during different phases of the monsoon suggests that they all may be related.     

Low and high frequency Madden–Julian oscillations in austral summer: interannual variations

The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the main component of intraseasonal variability of the tropical convection, with clear climatic impacts at an almost-global scale. Based on satellite observations, it is shown that there are two types of austral-summer MJO events (broadly defined as 30–120 days convective variability with eastward propagation of about 5 m/s). Equatorial MJO events have a period of 30–50 days and tend to be symmetric about the equator, whereas MJO events centered near 8°S tend to have a longer period of 55–100 days. The lower-frequency variability is associated with a strong upper-ocean response, having a clear signature in both sea surface temperature and its diurnal cycle. These two MJO types have different interannual variations, and are modulated by the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Following a negative IOD event, the lower-frequency southern MJO variability increases, while the higher-frequency equatorial MJO strongly diminishes. We propose two possible explanations for this change in properties of the MJO. One possibility is that changes in the background atmospheric circulation after an IOD favour the development of the low-frequency MJO. The other possibility is that the shallower thermocline ridge and mixed layer depth, by enhancing SST intraseasonal variability and thus ocean–atmosphere coupling in the southwest Indian Ocean (the breeding ground of southern MJO onset), favour the lower-frequency southern MJO variability.     

The Madden–Julian oscillation in ECHAM4 coupled and uncoupled general circulation models

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) dominates tropical variability on timescales of 30–70 days. During the boreal winter/spring, it is manifested as an eastward propagating disturbance, with a strong convective signature over the eastern hemisphere. The space–time structure of the MJO is analyzed using simulations with the ECHAM4 atmospheric general circulation model run with observed monthly mean sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), and coupled to three different ocean models. The coherence of the eastward propagation of MJO convection is sensitive to the ocean model to which ECHAM4 is coupled. For ECHAM4/OPYC and ECHO-G, models for which ~100 years of daily data is available, Monte Carlo sampling indicates that their metrics of eastward propagation are different at the 1% significance level. The flux-adjusted coupled simulations, ECHAM4/OPYC and ECHO-G, maintain a more realistic mean-state, and have a more realistic MJO simulation than the nonadjusted scale interaction experiment (SINTEX) coupled runs. The SINTEX model exhibits a cold bias in Indian Ocean and tropical West Pacific Ocean sea-surface temperature of ~0.5°C. This cold bias affects the distribution of time-mean convection over the tropical eastern hemisphere. Furthermore, the eastward propagation of MJO convection in this model is not as coherent as in the two models that used flux adjustment or when compared to an integration of ECHAM4 with prescribed observed SST. This result suggests that simulating a realistic basic state is at least as important as air–sea interaction for organizing the MJO. While all of the coupled models simulate the warm (cold) SST anomalies that precede (succeed) the MJO convection, the interaction of the components of the net surface heat flux that lead to these anomalies are different over the Indian Ocean. The ECHAM4/OPYC model in which the atmospheric model is run at a horizontal resolution of T42, has eastward propagating zonal wind anomalies and latent heat flux anomalies. However, the integrations with ECHO-G and SINTEX, which used T30 atmospheres, produce westward propagation of the latent heat flux anomalies, contrary to reanalysis. It is suggested that the differing ability of the models to represent the near-surface westerlies over the Indian Ocean is related to the different horizontal resolutions of the atmospheric model employed.     

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.     

Interpretation of interbasin exchange in an isopycnal ocean model

 This work concerns an analysis of inter-basin and inter-layer exchanges in the component ocean part of the coupled ECHAM4/OPYC3 general circulation model, aimed at documenting the simulation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) and related thermohaline circulations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The modeled NADW is formed mainly in the Greenland– Iceland–Norwegian Seas through a composite effect of deep convection and downward cross-isopycnal transport. The modeled deep-layer outflow of NADW can reach 16 Sv near 30 °S in the South Atlantic, with the corresponding upper-layer return flow mainly coming from the “cold water path” through Drake Passage. Less than 4 Sv of the Agulhas “leakage” water contributes to the replacement of NADW along the “warm water path”. In the South Atlantic Ocean, the model shows that some intermediate isopycnal layers with potential densities ranging between 27.0 and 27.5 are the major water source that compensate the NADW return flow and enhance the Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) flowing from the Atlantic into Indian Ocean. The modeled thermohaline circulations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans indicate that the Indian Ocean may play the major role in converting deep water into intermediate water. About 16 Sv of the CDW-originating deep water enters the Indian Ocean northward of 31 °S, of which more than 13 Sv “upwell” mainly near the continental boundaries of Africa, South Asia and Australia through inter-layer exchanges and return to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) as intermediate-layer water. As a contrast, only 4 Sv of Pacific intermediate water is connected to “upwelling” flow southward across 31 °S while the magnitude of northward deep flow across 31 °S in the Pacific Ocean is significantly greater than that in the Indian Ocean. The model suggests that a large portion of the deep waters entering the Pacific Ocean (about 14 Sv) “upwells” continually into some upper layers through the thermocline, and becomes the source of the Indonesian throughflow. Uncertainties in these results may be related to the incomplete adjustment of the model’s isopycnal layers and the sensitivity of the Indonesian throughflow to the model’s geography and topography. Received: 12 August 1997/Accepted: 12 March 1998     

The Indian summer monsoon drought of 2002 and its linkage with tropical convective activity over northwest Pacific

The Indian subcontinent witnessed a severe monsoon drought in 2002, which largely resulted from a major rainfall deficiency in the month of July. While moderate El Nino conditions prevailed during this period, the atmospheric convective activity was anomalously enhanced over northwest and north-central Pacific in the 10–20°N latitude belt; and heavy rainfall occurred over this region in association with a series of northward moving tropical cyclones. Similar out-of-phase rainfall variations over the Indian region and the northwest (NW) Pacific have been observed during other instances of El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The dynamical linkage corresponding to this out-of-phase rainfall variability is explored in this study by conducting a set of numerical experiments using an atmospheric general circulation model. The results from the model simulations lend credence to the role of the tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies in forcing the out-of-phase precipitation variability over the NW Pacific and the Indian monsoon region. It is seen that the ENSO induced circulation response reveals an anomalous pattern comprising of alternating highs and lows which extend meridionally from the equatorial region into the sub-tropic and mid-latitude regions of west-central Pacific. This meridional pattern is associated with an anomalous cyclonic circulation over NW Pacific, which is found to favor enhanced tropical cyclonic activity and intensified convection over the region. In turn, the intensified convection over NW Pacific induces subsidence and rainfall deficiency over the Indian landmass through anomalous east-west circulation in the 10–20°N latitude belt. Based on the present findings, it is suggested that the convective activity over NW Pacific is an important component in mediating the ENSO-monsoon teleconnection dynamics.     

20–50-day oscillation of summer Yangtze rainfall in response to intraseasonal variations in the subtropical high over the western North Pacific and South China Sea

The spatio-temporal variability in summer rainfall within eastern China is identified based on empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of daily rain-gauge precipitation data for the period 1979–2003. Spatial coherence of rainfall is found in the Yangtze Basin, and a wavelet transform is applied to the corresponding principal component to capture the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) of Yangtze rainfall. The ensemble mean wavelet spectrum, representing statistically significant intraseasonal variability, shows a predominant oscillation in summer Yangtze rainfall with a period of 20–50 days; a 10–20-day oscillation is pronounced during June and July. This finding suggests that the 20–50-day oscillation is a major agent in regulating summer Yangtze rainfall. Composite analyses reveal that the 20–50-day oscillation of summer Yangtze rainfall arises in response to intraseasonal variations in the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH), which in turn is modulated by a Rossby wave-like coupled circulation–convection system that propagates northward and northwestward from the equatorial western Pacific. When an anomalous cyclone associated with this Rossby wave-like system reaches the South China Sea (SCS) and Philippine Sea, the WNPSH retreats northeastward due to a reduction in local pressure. Under these conditions, strong monsoonal southwesterlies blow mainly toward the SCS–Philippine Sea, while dry conditions form in the Yangtze Basin, with a pronounced divergent flow pattern. In contrast, the movement of an anomalous anticyclone over the SCS–Philippine Sea results in the southwestward extension of the WNPSH; consequently, the tropical monsoonal southwesterlies veer to the northeast over the SCS and then converge toward the Yangtze Basin, producing wet conditions. Therefore, the 20–50-day oscillation of Yangtze rainfall is also manifest as a seesaw pattern in convective anomalies between the Yangtze Basin and the SCS–Philippine Sea. A considerable zonal shift in the WNPSH is associated with extreme dry (wet) episodes in the Yangtze Basin, with an abrupt eastward (westward) shift in the WNPSH generally leading the extreme negative (positive) Yangtze rainfall anomaly by a 3/8-period of the 20–50-day oscillation. This finding may have implications for improving extended-range weather forecasting in the Yangtze Basin.     

东亚—西北太平洋地区夏季季节内振荡的年代际变化

本文重点分析对比热带夏季季节内振荡(Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation,BSISO)1987—1995年(P1),1996—2007年(P2)和2008—2017年(P3)三阶段东亚—西北太平洋地区(East Asian-Western North Pacific,EAWNP)5—9月BSISO年代际变化的季节内差异特征。结果表明,在P1和P3两阶段,5—7月EAWNP BSISO强度几乎相同,但P2中每个月均显著增强,表明5—7月EAWNP BSISO经历了P1—P2增强和P2—P3减弱的年代际变化。8月,EAWNP BSISO强度从P1到P3逐渐增强,P3阶段比P1有显著增强,孟加拉湾和东亚副热带区域的BSISO活动增强。和P1相比,南海地区BSISO活动在P2阶段异常活跃,在5—7月强度增强,并且北传显著。在P2阶段,负位相的太平洋年代际(Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation,IPO)对应的赤道西太平洋和印度洋海温增暖,及Walker环流的增强为5—7月BSISO活动提供了水汽和对流发展的有利条件,而南海地区北传对流的叠加作用以及南海海温增暖进一步加强了BSISO的强度和北传。在P3阶段,8月孟加拉湾BSISO活动增强,除了热带印度洋一致增暖和太平洋ENSO型海温为BSISO活动提供水汽和对流发展的条件外,70°~90°E区域局地Hadley环流引起的上升运动也对BSISO的强度增强和北传有贡献。     

南亚高压季节内变化与热带季节内振荡之间的关系

采用观测分析和数值试验等方法,分析夏季南亚高压与热带季节内振荡（ISO）之间的关系,并对两者之间的相互作用进行量化诊断,探讨其物理过程。主要结果表明:南亚高压ISO与热带ISO活动关系密切,当热带ISO处于印度洋位相（第1、2、3位相）,则南亚高压东脊点位置偏西,当ISO处于太平洋位相（第5、6、7位相）,则南亚高压东脊点位置偏东。与热带ISO关系最密切的是南亚高压东部附近区域,即东亚—西太平洋地区（15°～25°N,110°～140°E）,该关键区也是南亚高压ISO最显著区域。在热带ISO的调制下,关键区对流层大气垂直结构产生斜压性异常变化,导致高层南亚高压东脊点的东伸（西退）对应中低层西太平洋副热带高压西脊点的东退（西伸）。在南亚高压与热带ISO之间关系中,主要是热带ISO对南亚高压的影响,南亚高压东部关键区ISO强度40%来源于热带ISO的贡献,而南亚高压对热带ISO平均强度的影响很弱。热带ISO影响南亚高压的物理过程如下,热带ISO从印度洋向东传播至西太平洋时,强对流产生分支,部分由于东亚—西太平洋的有利夏季风背景转为向北传播,ISO向北传播过程中对流强度进一度加强,这就相当于存在一个赤道非对称热源。在热源的作用下,大气产生异常响应,在热源的西北侧,即东亚—西太平洋地区,对流层低层为气旋性环流异常、位势高度负异常,对流层高层为反气旋性环流异常、位势高度正异常,从而导致南亚高压东脊点偏东。而当热带ISO处于印度洋位相时,大气异常响应与上述相反,南亚高压东部位势高度降低,南亚高压东脊点西撤。     

MJO活动对云南5月降水的影响

本文分析了1979～2008年5月MJO(Madden and Julian Oscillation)不同位相上大尺度环流对流和水汽输送的异常情况及其对云南5月降水的影响。按MJO活动中心位置从西向东分为8个位相, 在不同位相上, 云南5月降水呈现出明显的差异:第4～6位相(MJO对流中心位于赤道印度洋中部至西太平洋)降水偏多, 而第7～8位相(赤道太平洋中部以东)和第1～3位相(赤道印度洋中西部)降水偏少, 其中以第6位相的降水正异常和第2位相的负异常最为显著。在MJO 1～8位相中, 对流主体从热带印度洋东移。在第1～3位相, 孟加拉湾还未形成西南向水汽输送, 而云南又处于水汽辐散区, 降水较少;第4位相时对流主体到达90°N附近, 部分对流云系向孟加拉湾北传, 并在孟加拉湾生成气旋性环流, 向云南输送水汽, 云南降水增多;第5位相时对流主体传到南海, 部分对流云系在南海北传, 同时在南海形成北传的气旋性环流;第6位相时赤道MJO对流主体虽然东移出孟加拉湾, 但孟加拉湾和南海的两个气旋性环流依然继续北传, 孟加拉湾气旋东部的西南风和南海气旋西部的东北风在云南交汇, 云南被强烈的水汽辐合区控制, 降水最充沛。第7～8位相时, 对流主体减弱, 东移到南海和西太平洋一带, 孟加拉湾转向为偏北风, 停止向云南输送水汽, 且云南处于水汽辐散区控制, 降水偏少。因此, MJO主体在东传过程中, 激发了热带对流在孟加拉湾和南海两条通道上的北传, 强盛的水汽输送和两个海区气旋环流的有利配置是造成云南5月降水的重要原因。     

Impact of MJO on the intraseasonal variation of summer monsoon rainfall over India

The summer monsoon rainfall over India exhibits strong intraseasonal variability. Earlier studies have identified Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) as one of the most influencing factors of the intraseasonal variability of the monsoon rainfall. In this study, using India Meteorological Department (IMD) high resolution daily gridded rainfall data and Wheeler?CHendon MJO indices, the intra-seasonal variation of daily rainfall distribution over India associated with various Phases of eastward propagating MJO life cycle was examined to understand the mechanism linking the MJO to the intraseasonal variability. During MJO Phases of 1 and 2, formation of MJO associated positive convective anomaly over the equatorial Indian Ocean activated the oceanic tropical convergence zone (OTCZ) and the resultant changes in the monsoon circulation caused break monsoon type rainfall distribution. Associated with this, negative convective anomalies over monsoon trough zone region extended eastwards to date line indicating weaker than normal northern hemisphere inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The positive convective anomalies over OTCZ and negative convective anomalies over ITCZ formed a dipole like pattern. Subsequently, as the MJO propagated eastwards to west equatorial Pacific through the maritime continent, a gradual northward shift of the OTCZ was observed and negative convective anomalies started appearing over equatorial Indian Ocean. During Phase 4, while the eastwards propagating MJO linked positive convective anomalies activated the eastern part of the ITCZ, the northward propagating OTCZ merged with monsoon trough (western part of the ITCZ) and induced positive convective anomalies over the region. During Phases 5 and 6, the dipole pattern in convective anomalies was reversed compared to that during Phases 1 and 2. This resulted active monsoon type rainfall distribution over India. During the subsequent Phases (7 and 8), the convective and lower tropospheric anomaly patterns were very similar to that during Phase 1 and 2 except for above normal convective anomalies over equatorial Indian Ocean. A general decrease in the rainfall was also observed over most parts of the country. The associated dry conditions extended up to northwest Pacific. Thus the impact of the MJO on the monsoon was not limited to the Indian region. The impact was rather felt over larger spatial scale extending up to Pacific. This study also revealed that the onset of break and active events over India and the duration of these events are strongly related to the Phase and strength of the MJO. The break events were relatively better associated with the strong MJO Phases than the active events. About 83% of the break events were found to be set in during the Phases 7, 8, 1 and 2 of MJO with maximum during Phase 1 (40%). On the other hand, about 70% of the active events were set in during the MJO Phases of 3 to 6 with maximum during Phase 4 (21%). The results of this study indicate an opportunity for using the real time information and skillful prediction of MJO Phases for the prediction of break and active conditions which are very crucial for agriculture decisions.     

The boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation simulated by four Chinese AGCMs participating in the CMIP5 project

The performances of four Chinese AGCMs participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 （CMIP5） in the simulation of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation （BSISO） are assessed. The authors focus on the major characteristics of BSISO： the intensity, significant period, and propagation. The results show that the four AGCMs can reproduce boreal summer intraseasonal signals of precipitation; however their limitations are also evident. Compared with the Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of Precipitation （CMAP） data, the models underestimate the strength of the intraseasonal oscillation （ISO） over the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean （IO） during the boreal summer （May to October）, but overestimate the intraseasonal variability over the western Pacific （WP）. In the model results, the westward propagation dominates, whereas the eastward propagation dominates in the CMAP data. The northward propagation in these models is tilted southwest-northeast, which is also different from the CMAP result. Thus, there is not a northeast-southwest tilted rain belt revolution off the equator during the BSISO＇s eastward journey in the models. The biases of the BSISO are consistent with the summer mean state, especially the vertical shear. Analysis also shows that there is a positive feedback between the intraseasonal precipitation and the summer mean precipitation. The positive feedback processes may amplify the models＇ biases in the BSISO simulation.