Interannual Relationship between the Winter Aleutian Low and Rainfall in the Following Summer in South China

Using observations and reanalysis data, this study investigates the interannual relationship between the winter Aleutian Low(AL) and the rainfall anomalies in the following summer in South China(SC). Results show that the winter AL is significantly positively(negatively) correlated with the SC rainfall anomalies in the following July(August). Specifically, SC rainfall anomalies have a tendency to be positive(negative) in July(August) when the preceding winter AL is stronger than normal. The winter AL-related atmospheric circulation anomalies in the following summer are also examined. When the winter AL is stronger, there is a significant anticyclonic(cyclonic) circulation anomaly over the subtropical western North Pacific in the following July(August). Southerly(northerly) wind anomalies to the west of this anomalous anticyclonic(cyclonic) circulation increase(decrease) the northward moisture transportation and contribute to the positive(negative) rainfall anomalies over SC in July(August). This study indicates that the AL in the preceding winter can be used as a potential predictor of the rainfall anomalies in the following July and August over SC.     

盛夏两类东亚高空西风急流北跳的动力过程

在气候态上,7月底东亚高空西风急流中心突然从40°N北跳到45°N以北.逐年统计分析显示此次急流北跳存在两类典型方式:急流北侧西风强度增强引起的北跳(第一类)和急流中心西风强度的减弱引起的北跳(第二类).本文基于1958年到2002年的NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,采用波活动通量诊断这两类典型北跳相应的动力过程,进一步...     

中国东部夏季风雨带向北推进与条件对称不稳定的关系研究

利用1981～2010年欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）ERA-interim再分析资料和中国741站日降水资料,分析了中国东部夏季风雨季期间,条件对称不稳定（CSI）与季风雨带季节性向北推进的关系。结果表明,逐月强降水距平场显示了雨带强降水中心自华南（4～6月）先北跳到江淮（5～7月）,再到华北（7～8月）的季节性进程,特别是7～8月强降水距平场具有“北多南少”分布特征,与对应的平均雨量场相比,其表征雨带季节性北跳现象更显著。与雨带强降水中心季节性变化一致,大气负湿位涡通量中心亦先在华南停滞（4～6月）、然后移到江淮（5～7月）,最后到达华北（7～8月）。在垂直方向上,CSI区4、5及9月主要在925～600 hPa,而6～8月抬升到700～600 hPa,CSI区也很好地表征了夏季风北进加强、南撤减弱以及所伴随的雨带变化趋势。在春末夏初,夏季风建立初期的华南、江淮雨季集中期,热成风（垂直风切变）作用对倾斜对流有效位能（SCAPE）的贡献占绝对优势,盛夏的华北雨季集中期则相反,浮力作用项（CAPE）占主要作用;同时,热成风作用项的季节分布与强降水中心季节变化一致,但浮力作用项却没有这种变化关系。条件性湿位涡通量指数（CMF index）可指示雨带强降水异常区。     

Alternation of the Atmospheric Teleconnections Associated with the Northeast China Spring Rainfall during a Recent 60-Year Period

Northeast China(NEC) is China’s national grain production base, and the local precipitation is vital for agriculture during the springtime. Therefore, understanding the dynamic origins of the NEC spring rainfall(NECSR) variability is of socioeconomic importance. This study reveals an interdecadal change in the atmospheric teleconnections associated with the NECSR during a recent 60-year period(1961–2020). Before the mid-1980s, NECSR had been related to a Rossby wave train that is coupled with ex...     

夏季东亚高空副热带西风急流季节内异常的环流特征及前兆信号

位于东亚中纬度上空的东亚高空副热带西风急流是东亚季风环流系统中的重要成员,我国夏季降水雨带的季节内变化受东亚高空副热带西风急流位置季节内异常变化影响。根据1979~2008年中国降水资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料以及NOAA ERSST V3月平均海表温度资料,利用统计分析和物理量诊断方法对夏季东亚高空副热带西风急流位置季节内异常的东亚大气环流特征及外强迫信号的物理过程进行了探讨。研究指出:6月东亚高空副热带西风急流位置异常主要受欧亚大陆中高纬东传的Rossby波列位相变化影响,春季北大西洋海温异常是欧亚大陆中高纬度Rossby波列位相变化的最显著的外强迫信号;7月东亚高空副热带西风急流位置异常主要受西太平洋热带向副热带传播的Rossby波列位相变化影响,春季西太平洋热带海温异常是西太平洋热带向副热带传播的Rossby波列位相变化的最显著的外强迫信号;8月东亚高空副热带西风急流位置异常主要受南亚大陆向东亚大陆热带、副热带传播的Rossby波列位相变化影响,春季印度洋海温异常是南亚大陆向东亚大陆热带、副热带传播的Rossby波列位相变化的最显著的外强迫信号。     

我国夏季降水与全球海温的耦合关系分析

利用我国160个台站从1951~2000年的月降水观测资料和NCEP/NCAR的全球海表温度(SST)资料,分析了我国夏季(6、7、8月)降水的时空变化特征及其与海温的相关,并应用奇异值分解(SVD)方法研究了我国夏季降水分布异常与海温变化的耦合关系。结果表明,我国夏季降水异常的雨型分布主要有3种,这些雨型的时间变化除了有明显的年际变化外,还存在显著的年代际变化。尤其是华北地区的降水从1965年左右开始减少,特别是大约1976年后有显著的减少。SVD分析揭示的我国夏季降水和全球海温异常的耦合关系表明,这种耦合关系最主要的时空变化特征表现在年代际变化的时间尺度上。我国华北和东北南部的夏季降水从1976年前后明显减少,与之显著关联的海温异常的关键区包括太平洋、印度洋以及热带和南大西洋。特别是热带中、东太平洋,印度洋,以及热带和南大西洋海水,从1976年前后也明显增暖。本研究揭示的华北持续干旱与印度洋和大西洋海温的年代际变化的耦合关系,在以往的研究中还未见到,因而有必要在今后的研究中加以重视。我国夏季降水和海温的耦合关系,还表现在长江中下游地区的降水异常与太平洋和大西洋海温异常的显著相关上。当南海和黑潮区域以及相邻的热带西太平洋海区海温为正异常时,热带和北大西洋海温也为正异常;而热带中、东太平洋海温为负异常时,长江中下游地区往往偏涝;反之,该地区则偏旱。     

南极海冰涛动对北半球夏季大气环流的影响

南极海冰首要模态呈现偶极子型异常,正负异常中心分别位于别林斯高晋海/阿蒙森海和威德尔海。过去研究表明冬春季节南极海冰涛动异常对后期南极涛动（Antarctic Oscillation,AAO）型大气环流有显著影响,而AAO可以通过经向遥相关等机制影响北半球大气环流和东亚气候。本文中我们利用观测分析发现南极海冰涛动从5～7月（May–July,MJJ）到8～10月（August–October, ASO）有很好的持续性,并进一步分析其对北半球夏季大气环流的可能影响及其物理过程。结果表明,MJJ南极海冰涛动首先通过冰气相互作用在南半球激发持续性的AAO型大气环流异常,使得南半球中纬度和极地及热带之间的气压梯度加大,在MJJ至JAS,纬向平均纬向风呈现显著的正负相间的从南极到北极的经向遥相关型分布。对流层中层位势高度场上,在澳大利亚北部到海洋性大陆区域,出现显著的负异常,在东亚沿岸从低纬到高纬呈现南北走向的“? + ?”太平洋—日本（Pacific–Japan,PJ）遥相关波列,其对应赤道中部太平洋及赤道印度洋存在显著的降水和海温负异常,西北太平洋至我国东部沿海地区存在显著降水正异常和温度负异常;低纬度北美洲到大西洋一带存在的负位势高度异常和北大西洋附近存在的正位势高度异常中心,构成一个类似于西大西洋型遥相关（Western Atlantic,WA）的结构,对应赤道南大西洋降水增加和南撒哈拉地区降水减少。从物理过程来看,南极海冰涛动首先通过局地效应影响Ferrel环流,进而通过经圈环流调整使得海洋性大陆区域和热带大西洋上方的Hadley环流上升支得到增强,海洋性大陆区域特别是菲律宾附近的热带对流活动偏强,激发类似于负位相的PJ波列,影响东亚北太平洋地区的大气环流,而热带大西洋对流增强和北传特征,则通过激发WA遥相关影响大西洋和欧洲地区的大气环流。以上两种通道将持续性MJJ至ASO南极海冰涛动强迫的大气环流信号从南半球中高纬度经热带地区传递到北半球中高纬地区,从而对热带和北半球夏季大气环流产生显著影响。     

El Nino事件对其衰减阶段夏季中国降水季节内演变的影响及其机理

利用1979—2007年NOAA重建海温逐月资料和中国160站夏季降水资料,使用扩展奇异值分解（extended singular value decomposition,ESVD）方法,研究了冬季热带太平洋海温异常与次年夏季中国降水异常季节内演变型之间的关系,指出前冬El Nino事件是与次年夏季中国降水季节内变化相联系的最重要的热带太平洋海温异常模态。相应的降水异常季节内变化情况为：6月在长江以南为正异常,江淮流域有负异常;7月在华南沿海有负降水异常,而正异常北进到长江流域,华北地区也出现正降水异常;8月在长江南北分别为少雨和多雨。进一步研究前冬El Nino事件与次年春夏印度洋、太平洋海温异常、对流层低层风场异常以及副热带高压等的联系,结果表明：El Nio事件发生的次年春夏,热带西太平洋周边存在东负西正的海温异常分布;西太平洋反气旋异常较强;副高在6月、7月偏西偏北,但在8月迅速南退。虽然与El Nino事件相联系的6月与7月、8月的降水型不同,但是西太平洋反气旋异常带来的充沛水汽造成7月长江流域雨季多雨,8月副高迅速南退带来的又一次长江流域降水,造成了El Nino事件发生次年夏季长江流域涝而华南沿海旱的夏季平均降水异常型。     

基于自动识别的近三十年华北地区冬季冷锋活动异常及其可能成因

利用1989—2018年ERA5再分析资料,使用适用于欧亚大陆的冷锋两步客观识别算法,得到冬季冷锋活动数据集。在此基础上,分析了近30年来华北地区冬季冷锋的活动特征,并讨论了冷锋活动异常的可能成因。结果表明:（1）华北地区是东亚大陆上冬季冷锋频数最多、活动最强的区域,且华北地区冷锋活动强度有明显的年际变化;（2）华北地区冷锋活动强年,从北大西洋到欧亚大陆上空存在一个明显的欧亚遥相关（EU）波列正位相,华北地区上空500 hPa为负位势高度异常,表明东亚大槽增强,相应的西伯利亚高压偏强;（3）欧亚大陆北部边缘海区为异常暖平流时,华北地区冷空气活动增强,冷锋活动也增强;（4）大西洋北部的海面温度（SST）异常可能通过激发对流层中、上层的罗斯贝波,该罗斯贝波向东传播经欧洲—西西伯利亚传至中国华北地区,从而影响华北地区的冷锋活动强度。      

Role of the subtropical westerly jet waveguide in a southern China heavy rainstorm in December 2013

An extreme rainstorm hit southern China during 13–17 December 2013, with a record-breaking daily rainfall rate, large spatial extent, and unusually long persistence. We examined what induced this heavy rainfall process, based on observed rainfall data and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data through composite and diagnostic methods. The results showed that a Rossby waveguide within the subtropical westerly jet caused the event. The Rossby wave originated from strong cold air intrusion into the subtropical westerly jet over the eastern Mediterranean. With the enhancement and northward shift of the Middle East westerly jet, the Rossby wave propagated slowly eastward and deepened the India–Burma trough, which transported a large amount of moisture from the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea to southern China. Strong divergence in the upper troposphere, caused by the enhancement of the East Asian westerly jet, also favored the heavy rainfall process over Southeast China. In addition, the Rossby wave was associated with a negative-to-positive phase shift and enhancement of the North Atlantic Oscillation, but convergence in the eastern Mediterranean played the key role in the eastward propagation of the Rossby wave within the subtropical westerly jet.     

Role of natural external forcing factors in modulating the Indian summer monsoon rainfall,the winter North Atlantic Oscillation and their relationship on inter-decadal timescale

We use reconstructed data and multi-centennial integrations performed with the Bergen Climate Model Version 2 to investigate the impact of natural external forcing factors on the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall, the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the potential relationship between the ISM rainfall and the winter NAO on decadal to inter-decadal timescales. The model simulations include a 600-year control integration (CTL600) and a 600-year integration with time-varied natural external forcing factors from 1400 to 1999 (EXT600). Both reconstructed data and the simulation showed increased ISM rainfall 2–3 years after strong volcanic eruptions. Strong volcanic eruptions decrease the Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST), which increases the strength of the southwesterly winds over the Arabian Sea. With negative externally-forced radiative anomaly, the lower stratospheric pole-to-equator winter temperature gradient is enhanced, leading to a positive winter NAO anomaly with a time lag of 1 year. There is no significant correlation between the winter NAO and ISM rainfall in CTL600. However, the ISM rainfall is significantly positively correlated with the winter NAO in EXT600, with the NAO leading by 2–4 years, which is consistent with the NAO–ISM rainfall relationship in the reconstructed data. We suggest that natural external forcing factors regulate the inter-decadal variability of both the winter NAO and the ISM rainfall and thus likely lead to an increased statistical but not causal relationship between them on the inter-decadal timescale over the past centuries.     

Interannual and Interdecadal Variations of the Mid-Atlantic Trough and Associated American-Atlantic-Eurasian Climate Anomalies

The mid-Atlantic trough (MAT) is one of the most prominent circulation systems over the subtropical North Atlantic during the boreal summer, and it can be viewed as a bridge linking the climate in the American-Atlantic-Eurasian region. The upper-tropospheric MAT attains its maximum intensity of 200–150?hPa in June and July. An index measuring the variability of MAT intensity is defined, which reveals significant interannual and interdecadal variations of the trough.

On interannual time scales, the variation of MAT is significantly associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation, a southeastward propagating stationary wave that possibly originates from the northeastern Pacific, and the Atlantic Meridional Mode. A stronger trough is associated with warmer surface temperatures and higher pressure over central-northern North America and the extratropical North Atlantic and with colder surface temperatures and lower pressure over the Arctic, the subtropical North Atlantic, and the northeastern Pacific. In the meantime, significant negative precipitation anomalies occur over the north of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, as well as the northeastern Atlantic because of the anomalous low-level northeasterly winds over these areas. On an interdecadal time scale, the variation of MAT seems to be related to the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation. Warmer surface temperatures appear over almost the entire North Atlantic, southern Europe, East Asia, and the North Pacific during the weak phase of the trough. A weak trough is also associated with the dipole pattern of anomalous precipitation over the extratropical North Atlantic, Greenland, and northeastern North America, corresponding to a dipole of low-level atmospheric circulation over these regions.     

Interdecadal change of the controlling mechanisms for East Asian early summer rainfall variation around the mid-1990s

East Asian (EA) summer monsoon shows considerable differences in the mean state and principal modes of interannual variation between early summer (May–June, MJ) and late summer (July–August, JA). The present study focuses on the early summer (MJ) precipitation variability. We find that the interannual variation of the MJ precipitation and the processes controlling the variation have been changed abruptly around the mid-1990s. The rainfall anomaly represented by the leading empirical orthogonal function has changed from a dipole-like pattern in pre-95 epoch (1979–1994) to a tripole-like pattern in post-95 epoch (1995–2010); the prevailing period of the corresponding principal component has also changed from 3–5 to 2–3 years. These changes are concurrent with the changes of the corresponding El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) evolutions. During the pre-95 epoch, the MJ EA rainfall anomaly is coupled to a slow decay of canonical ENSO events signified by an eastern Pacific warming, which induces a dipole rainfall feature over EA. On the other hand, during the post-95 epoch the anomalous MJ EA rainfall is significantly linked to a rapid decay of a central Pacific warming and a distinct tripolar sea surface temperature (SST) in North Atlantic. The central Pacific warming-induced Philippine Sea anticyclone induces an increased rainfall in southern China and decreased rainfall in central eastern China. The North Atlantic Oscillation-related tripolar North Atlantic SST anomaly induces a wave train that is responsible for the increase northern EA rainfall. Those two impacts form the tripole-like rainfall pattern over EA. Understanding such changes is important for improving seasonal to decadal predictions and long-term climate change in EA.     

Tropical influence on Euro-Asian autumn rainfall variability

The connection between autumn rainfall variability in the Euro-Asian domain and tropical climate is documented using state-of-the-art global observational datasets and re-analyses. Results suggest a robust statistical relationship between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and autumn rainfall in parts of southwest Europe, northern Africa and southwest Asia. The correlation between area-mean anomalies over this region (P_ea) and the NIÑO3.4 index is 0.68, stationary over the last 50 years. Global ENSO-like tropical climate anomalies are observed in conjunction with P_ea anomalies confirming the relationship found with the NIÑO3.4 index. Overall, the connection with Indo-Pacific variability is stronger than that with the eastern Pacific.While rainfall anomalies in southwest Europe and southwest Asia appear to largely co-vary as one pattern under the influence of ENSO, our results suggest that different mechanisms may be contributing to the observed anomalies. In the North Atlantic/European region, it is speculated that while a PNA-like mode maybe the prevailing teleconnection mechanism for high P_ea, for low P_ea tropical Atlantic ENSO related SST anomalies may be playing a more relevant role forcing northeastward propagating Rossby waves. Over southwest Asia, a more direct connection to the Indo-Pacific region is suggested by the upper air anomaly observed over southern Asia, possibly the Rossby wave response to enhanced heating in the Indian Ocean.     

Large-scale Circulation Anomalies Associated with Interannual Variation in Monthly Rainfall over South China from May to August简

Interannual variation in summer rainfall over South China （SC） was investigated on the monthly timescale.It was found that monthly rainfall from May to August exhibits different features of variation,and the amounts are basically independent of each other.There is a significant negative correlation,however,between May and July SC rainfall,which is partially related to the developing phases of ENSO events.It was also found that stronger （weaker） lower-tropospheric winds over SC and the upstream parts are responsible for more （less） SC rainfall in every month from May to August.Despite this monthly consistent enhancement of horizontal winds,the wind anomalies exhibit distinct differences between May-June and July-August,due to the remarkable change in climatological winds between these two periods.More SC rainfall is associated with a lower-tropospheric anticyclonic anomaly over the SCS and the Philippine Sea in May and June,but with a cyclonic anomaly centered over SC in July and August.     

初夏东亚-太平洋大气热源与长江流域及邻近地区7、8月降水异常的关系

用1958～2000年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、中国160站降水量及1958～1998年月平均海温资料分析了中国夏季相邻月份降水异常型的相关特征，及其与大气热源的关系和相关物理过程。结果表明，7月长江流域的降水异常与8月长江和黄河之间地区的降水异常有很好的同号性。7、8月长江流域及附近地区持续性偏旱（涝）与太平洋洋盆尺度的大气热源异常有关，并与前期5、6月热带中、东太平洋大范围的热源异常、青藏高原热源异常也有密切的联系，即当5、 6月赤道东太平洋的大气热源正异常，而赤道中太平洋北侧的热源负异常，则中国7月长江中下游偏涝，8月长江中上游与江淮流域和内蒙古东部偏涝，华南偏旱；反之亦然。前期热带中、东太平洋上空的热源异常中心和与之联系的异常垂直运动中心的西扩和西移，以及青藏高原东部的热源异常中心是影响我国7、8月持续偏旱（涝）的重要环流异常特征。另外，南海－西太平洋海温在前期也已经具有我国夏季长江流域发生旱涝对应的同期海温异常分布型的特征。     

Role of tropical atlantic SST variability as a modulator of El Niño teleconnections

The present study suggests that the off-equatorial North Atlantic (NATL) SST warming plays a significant role in modulating El Niño teleconnection and its impact on the North Atlantic and European regions. The El Niño events accompanied by NATL SST warming exhibit south-north dipole pattern over the Western Europe to Atlantic, while the ENSO teleconnection pattern without NATL warming exhibits a Rossby wave-like pattern confined over the North Pacific and western Atlantic. Especially, the El Niño events with NATL warming show positive (negative) geopotential-height anomalies over the North Atlantic (Western Europe) which resemble the negative phase of the NAO. Consistently, it is shown using a simple statistical model that NATL SSTA in addition to the tropical Pacific SSTA leads to better prediction on regional climate variation over the North Atlantic and European regions. This role of NATL SST on ENSO teleconnection is also validated and discussed in a long term simulation of coupled global circulation model (CGCM).     

北方雨季中国东部降水异常模态的环流特征及成因分析

根据1958～2011年中国东部（105°E以东）316站逐日降水资料及NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料,利用统计分析、物理量诊断等方法,探讨北方雨季（7月11日至8月31日）中国东部降水异常模态及同期、前期的大气环流特征。分析发现,北方雨季中国东部降水异常表现为三个相互独立的降水模态:第一模态为偏西型,当其时间系数为正（负）时,河套地区降水偏多（少）,江淮流域上游降水偏少（多）,南方大部降水偏多（少）;第二模态为北方一致型,当其时间系数为正（负）时,北方降水一致偏多（少）,长江流域降水偏少（多）;第三模态为偏东型,当其时间系数为正（负）时,东北南部至长江中游降水偏多（少）,华东沿海降水偏少（多）。研究发现,造成北方雨季三个降水异常模态的环流特征各不相同:偏西型降水主要受西亚高空副热带西风急流位置南北偏移影响;北方一致型降水主要由东亚-太平洋遥相关波列导致;偏东型降水主要与海陆气压异常对比造成的东亚夏季风变化有关。此外,三个模态与前期环流异常有密切联系。第一模态的正（负）异常由7月上旬200 hPa来自北大西洋的异常波列造成乌拉尔山位势高度负（正）异常和巴尔喀什湖以南位势高度正（负）异常引起。第二模态的正（负）异常与前期7月上旬200 hPa北大西洋上位势高度负（正）异常产生的沿中纬度（高纬度）路径向下游传播的波列有关。第三模态的正（负）异常由春季3月份低层蒙古上空异常的气旋（反气旋）持续至同期造成。     

1998年和2016年北大西洋海温异常对中国夏季降水影响的数值模拟研究

基于1979-2016年ERA-Interim再分析资料和CAM5.3模式,研究了2016年和1998年北大西洋海温异常对中国夏季降水以及大尺度环流的可能影响及其机制。结果表明,这两年前夏（6-7月）长江中下游及其以南地区降水均异常偏多,但1998年降水异常较2016年更为显著。后夏（8月）,2016年长江以南地区降水异常偏多,长江-黄河流域降水异常偏少,而1998年降水异常分布与之相反。2016年和1998年夏季中国东部降水异常的差异与西北太平洋对流层低层异常反气旋以及欧亚中高纬度环流变化的共同作用直接相关。敏感性数值试验的结果表明,北大西洋海温异常的显著差异是导致2016年和1998年夏季中国东部降水以及大尺度环流异常存在明显差异的重要原因之一。一方面,北大西洋海温异常可以通过改变欧亚中高纬度环流进而对中国夏季降水产生影响。1998年北大西洋海温异常自热带至副极地呈类似"+ - +"型分布,这种海温异常型能够在前夏欧亚中高纬度地区激发出双阻型的环流异常响应。2016年北大西洋海温异常自热带至副极地呈相对弱的"- + -"型分布,欧亚中高纬度环流异常响应总体偏弱。另一方面,北大西洋海温异常还可以通过影响热带纬向环流进而对西北太平洋对流层低层异常反气旋起调制作用。1998年北大西洋海温异常对夏季西北太平洋异常反气旋起增强作用,这与热带印度洋-太平洋海温的强迫作用相协调。然而,2016年北大西洋海温异常则有利于西北太平洋异常反气旋的减弱,这与热带印度洋-太平洋海温的强迫作用相反。因此,在这3个大洋的协同作用下,2016年和1998年前夏西北太平洋异常反气旋均偏强,但前者的振幅弱于后者。在后夏,1998年西北太平洋对流层低层仍受异常反气旋控制,2016年则为异常气旋控制。      

The Impact of Mid- and High-Latitude Rossby Wave Activities on the Medium-Range Evolution of the EAP Pattern During the Pre-Rainy Period of South China

Based on the NCEP DOE AMIP II daily reanalysis data (1979–2005), the evolution of the East Asia/Pacific (EAP) teleconnection pattern during the pre-rainy period of South China is studied on the medium-range time scale. It is found that positive and negative EAP patterns share a similar generation process. In the middle and upper troposphere, Rossby wave packets emanating from the northeast Atlantic or Europe prop-agate toward East Asia along the Eurasian continent waveguide and finally give rise to the three anomaly centers of the EAP pattern over East Asia. Among the three anomaly centers, the western Pacific subtropical center appears the latest. Rossby wave packets propagate from the high latitude anomaly center toward the mid-latitude and the subtropical ones. The enhancement and maintenance of the subtropical anomaly center is closely associated with the subtropical jet waveguide and the incoming Rossby wave packets from the upstream. In the lower troposphere, Rossby wave packets emanate from the subtropical Asia toward East Asia. Positive and negative EAP patterns could not be regarded as "mirrors" to each other with simply reversed phase. For the positive pattern, the positive height anomaly center around the Scandinavia Peninsula keeps its strength and position during the mature period, and the Rossby wave packets thus propagate persistently toward East Asia, facilitating a longer mature time of the positive pattern. As for the formation of the negative EAP pattern, however, the incoming Rossby wave energy from the upstream contributes to both the enhancement and southeastward movement of the negative anomaly belt from the Yenisei River to the Bering Strait and the positive anomaly center around Mongolia. At the peak time, the two anomlous circulations are evolved into the Northeast Asia and the mid-latitude anomaly centers of the negative pat- tern, respectively. The energy dispersion of Rossby wave packets is relatively fast due to the predominant zonal circulation in the extratropics, causing a shorter mature period of the negative pattern. During the pre-rainy period of South China, the prevalence of the EAP pattern significantly affects the rainfall over the region south of the Yangtze River. The positive (negative) EAP pattern tends to cause positive (negative) precipitation anomalies in that region. This is different from the earlier research findings based on monthly mean data.