THE ANALYSIS OF MECHANISM OF IMPACT OF AEROSOLS ON EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON INDEX AND ONSET

RegCM4.3, a high-resolution regional climate model, which includes five kinds of aerosols(dust, sea salt,sulfate, black carbon and organic carbon), is employed to simulate the East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) from 1995 to 2010 and the simulation data are used to study the possible impact of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on EASM.The results show that the regional climate model can well simulate the EASM and the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosols. The EASM index is reduced by about 5% by the natural and anthropogenic aerosols and the monsoon onset time is also delayed by about a pentad except for Southeast China. The aerosols heat the middle atmosphere through absorbing solar radiation and the air column expands in Southeast China and its offshore areas. As a result, the geopotential height decreases and a cyclonic circulation anomaly is generated in the lower atmosphere. Northerly wind located in the west of cyclonic circulation weakens the low-level southerly wind in the EASM region. Negative surface radiative forcing due to aerosols causes downward motion and an indirect meridional circulation is formed with the low-level northerly wind and high-level southerly wind anomaly in the north of 25° N in the monsoon area, which weakens the vertical circulation of EASM. The summer precipitation of the monsoon region is significantly reduced,especially in North and Southwest China where the value of moisture flux divergence increases.     

SEASONAL TRANSITION OF EAST ASIAN SUBTROPICAL MONSOON AND ITS POSSIBLE MECHANISM

The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis datasets and Climate Prediction Center(CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation(CMAP) rain data are used to investigate the large scale seasonal transition of East Asian subtropical monsoon(EASM) and its possible mechanism.The key region of EASM is defined according to the seasonal transition feature of meridional wind.By combining the ’thermal wind’ formula and the ’thermal adaptation’ equation,a new ’thermal-wind-precipitation’ relation is deduced.The area mean wind directions and thermal advections in different seasons are analyzed and it is shown that in summer(winter) monsoon period,the averaged wind direction in the EASM region varies clockwise(anticlockwise) with altitude,and the EASM region is dominated by warm(cold) advection.The seasonal transition of the wind direction at different levels and the corresponding meridional circulation consistently indicates that the subtropical summer monsoon is established between the end of March and the beginning of April.Finally,a conceptual schematic explanation for the mechanism of seasonal transition of EASM is proposed.     

THE ROLE OF CLOUDE/RADIATION IN LONG-RANGE NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION*

We investigate the role of clouds and radiation in the general circulation of the atmosphere using a model designed for 30-day predictions.Comprehensive verifications of 30-day predictions for the 500 hPa geopotential height field have been carried out,using the data from ECMWF objective analyses that cover the period from May 5 to June 3,1982.We perform three model simulations,including experiments with interactive cloud formation,without clouds,and without radiative heating.The latter two experiments allow us to study the effects of cloud/radiation interactions and feedbacks on the predicted vertical velocity,and the meridional and zonal wind profiles,averaged over a 30-day period.We demonstrate that the Hadley circulation is maintained by the presence of clouds.The radiative cooling in the atmosphere intensifies the vertical motion in low latitudes and,to some extent,also strengthens the overall meridional circulation.The meridional winds are correctly reproduced in the model if clouds are incorporated.The zonal winds are significantly affected by clouds and radiative cooling.Without an appropriate incorporation of these physical elements,the model results would deviate significantly from observations.The presence of clouds strengthens the westerlies in middle and high levels.In May,the northerly movemen of the jet stream over eastern Asia is,in part,associated with the presence of clouds.     

基于CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星资料的青藏高原云辐射及降水的研究进展

青藏高原上空的云及其相关联的降水和辐射影响了高原上空非绝热加热的空间结构。2006年卫星发射升空的CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星提供了定量的、完整的云垂直结构信息。本文回顾了国内外基于该资料进行的青藏高原上云宏观和微观结构特征,云与降水相关性,云辐射效应以及模式中的云-辐射问题方面的研究。指出抬升的青藏高原上水汽较少,限制了高原上云的垂直高度,对云层厚度和层数有显著压缩作用。在云量及其季节变化上,单层云的相对贡献大于亚洲季风区的其他区域;夏季对流云比较浅薄,积云发生频率最高,云内滴谱较宽;降水云以积云和卷云为主,云对总降水的贡献随着云层数增多而减小,降水增强时高层冰粒子的密集度趋于紧密;夏季青藏高原地区云的净辐射效应在8 km高度存在一个厚度仅1 km左右但较强的辐射冷却层,而在其下（4~7 km高度之间）为强的辐射加热层。最后展望了未来需要进一步开展的研究。     

Vertical cloud structures of the boreal summer intraseasonal variability based on CloudSat observations and ERA-interim reanalysis

The boreal summer intraseasonal variability (BSISV), which is characterized by pronounced meridional propagation from the equatorial zone to the Indian Continent, exerts significant modulation of the active/break phases of the south Asian monsoon. This form of variability provides a primary source of subseasonal predictive skill of the Asian summer monsoon. Unfortunately, current general circulation models display large deficiencies in representing this variability. The new cloud observations made available by the CloudSat mission provide an unprecedented opportunity to advance our characterization of the BSISV. In this study, the vertical structures of cloud water content and cloud types associated with the BSISV over the Indian Ocean and subcontinent are analyzed based on CloudSat observations from 2006 to 2008. These cloud structures are also compared to their counterparts as derived from ERA-interim reanalysis. A marked vertical tilting structure in cloud water is illustrated during the northward propagation of the BSISV based on both datasets. Increased cloud liquid water content (LWC) tends to appear to the north of the rainfall maximum, while ice water content (IWC) in the upper troposphere slightly lags the convection. This northward shift of increased LWC, which is in accord with local enhanced moisture as previously documented, may play an important role in the northward propagation of the BSISV. The transition in cloud structures associated with BSISV convection is further demonstrated based on CloudSat, with shallow cumuli at the leading edge, followed by the deep convective clouds, and then upper anvil clouds. Some differences in cloud water structures between CloudSat and ERA-interim are also noted, particularly in the amplitudes of IWC and LWC fields.     

中国地区夏季平均加热率的时空分布特征

The latitude-altitude distributions of radiative fluxes and heating rates are investigated by utilizing CloudSat satellite data over China during summer. The Tibetan Plateau causes the downward shortwave fluxes of the lower atmosphere over central China to be smaller than the fluxes over southern and northern China by generating more clouds. The existence of a larger quantity of clouds over central China reflects a greater amount of solar radiation back into space. The vertical gradients of upward shortwave radiative fluxes in the atmosphere below 8 km are greater than those above 8 km. The latitudinal-altitude distributions of downward longwave radiative fluxes show a slantwise decreasing trend from low latitudes to high latitudes that gradually weaken in the downward direction. The upward longwave radiative fluxes also weaken in the upward direction but with larger gradients. The maximum heating rates by solar radiation and cooling rates by longwave infrared radiation are located over 28-40°N at 7-8 km mean sea level (MSL), and they are larger than the rates in the northern and southern regions. The heating and cooling rates match well both vertically and geographically.     

Has the intensity of the interannual variability in summer rainfall over South China remarkably increased?

It is indicated in this paper that there were substantial differences of interannual variability (IIV) in summer rainfall over South China (RSC) among 1960–1977, 1978–1988, and 1989–2010. Notably, both IIV and mean RSC have significantly increased after 1992/1993. Relative to 1978–1988, the percentage increase of standard deviation (SD) of RSC is 230.32 % for 1993–2010. It indicates remarkable increase in IIV of RSC occurred 1993–2010, concurrent with rainfall increase. The results show that the mid-tropospheric meridional gradient of temperature over East Asia weakened in the later period, resulting in an anomalous cyclonic circulation, transporting more tropospheric moisture to South China and an upward motion at the middle and low levels of the troposphere. Meanwhile, IIV in the mid-tropospheric meridional gradient of temperature over East Asia resulted in IIVs both in the anomalous cyclonic circulation and in vertically integrated moisture content over South China. This scenario led to a significant increase in the IIV of summer rainfall over South China. Compared to 1978–1988, a greater increase in the IIV of warming over Mongolia–northeastern China and of excessive spring snow depth over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau were responsible for the increase in the IIV of the mid-tropospheric meridional gradient of the East Asian temperature during 1993–2010. Moreover, another slight increase in the IIV of summer rainfall over South China occurred in 1960–1977 relative to 1978–1988, which partly resulted from the weakening East Asian summer monsoon variability in the late 1970s.     

Simulation of the east asian summer monsoon using a variable resolution atmospheric GCM

The East Asia summer monsoon (EASM) is simulated with a variable resolution global atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) developed at the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, France. The version used has a local zoom centered on China. This study validates the model's capability in reproducing the fundamental features of the EASM. The monsoon behaviors over East Asia revealed by the ECMWF reanalysis data are also addressed systematically, providing as observational evidence. The mean state of the EASM is generally portrayed well in the model, including the large-scale monsoon airflows, the monsoonal meridional circulation, the cross-equatorial low-level jets, the monsoon trough in the South China Sea, the surface cold high in Australia, and the upper-level northeasterly return flow. While the performance of simulating large-scale monsoonal climate is encouraging, the model's main deficiency lies in the rainfall. The marked rainbelt observed along the Yangtze River Valley is missed in the simulation. This is due to the weakly reproduced monsoonal components in essence and is directly related to the weak western Pacific subtropical high, which leads to a fragile subtropical southwest monsoon on its western flank and results in a weaker convergence of the southwest monsoon flow with the midlatitude westerlies. The excessively westward extension of the high, together with the distorted Indian low, also makes the contribution of the tropical southwest monsoon to the moisture convergence over the Yangtze River Valley too weak in the model. The insufficient plateau heating and the resulting weak land-sea thermal contrast are responsible for the weakly reproduced monsoon. It is the deficiency of the model in handling the low-level cloud cover over the plateau rather than the horizontal resolution and the associated depiction of plateau topography that results in the insufficient plateau heating. Comparison with the simulation employing regular coarser mesh model reveals that the local zoom technique improves, in a general manner, the EASM simulation.     

青藏高原、东亚季风区、西北太平洋地区云系结构及相联加热机制的对比分析

应用7年(2006年5月18日—2013年5月18日)的CloudSat卫星观测资料,对比分析了青藏高原、东亚季风区、西北太平洋地区云发生频率的特征,并利用欧洲中心再分析资料,计算了三个地区的视热源、视水汽汇Q₁、Q₂,分析探讨了三个地区与云发生频率相联系的加热机制。结果表明:青藏高原、东亚季风区、西北太平洋地区云的发生频率分别为35%、22%、27%,其中:青藏高原和东亚季风区的低云频率最大,中云次之;西北太平洋地区的高云和低云的频率大,分别为19%和16%。具体云型来看,青藏高原多高层云、雨层云;东亚季风区多高层云和卷云,夏季深对流云频率增大明显;西北太平洋地区多卷云、深对流云和高层云。三个地区视水汽汇Q₂的垂直分布特征及季节变化与云发生频率对应较好,青藏高原的低云(雨层云)、中云(高层云)形成过程中,凝结释放潜热,加热大气;东亚季风区低云(深对流云)、中云(高层云)对加热大气贡献大;西北太平洋地区大气的主要加热机制是深对流云形成过程中凝结释放潜热以及湿静能涡旋垂直输送。      

A study of vertical cloud structure of the Indian summer monsoon using CloudSat data

Precise specification of the vertical distribution of cloud optical properties is important to reduce the uncertainty in quantifying the radiative impacts of clouds. The new global observations of vertical profiles of clouds from the CloudSat mission provide opportunities to describe cloud structures and to improve parameterization of clouds in the weather and climate prediction models. In this study, four years (2007–2010) of observations of vertical structure of clouds from the CloudSat cloud profiling radar have been used to document the mean vertical structure of clouds associated with the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and its intra-seasonal variability. Active and break monsoon spells associated with the intra-seasonal variability of ISM have been identified by an objective criterion. For the present analysis, we considered CloudSat derived column integrated cloud liquid and ice water, and vertically profiles of cloud liquid and ice water content. Over the South Asian monsoon region, deep convective clouds with large vertical extent (up to 14 km) and large values of cloud water and ice content are observed over the north Bay of Bengal. Deep clouds with large ice water content are also observed over north Arabian Sea and adjoining northwest India, along the west coast of India and the south equatorial Indian Ocean. The active monsoon spells are characterized by enhanced deep convection over the Bay of Bengal, west coast of India and northeast Arabian Sea and suppressed convection over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Over the Bay of Bengal, cloud liquid water content and ice water content is enhanced by ~90 and ~200 % respectively during the active spells. An interesting feature associated with the active spell is the vertical tilting structure of positive CLWC and CIWC anomalies over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which suggests a pre-conditioning process for the northward propagation of the boreal summer intra-seasonal variability. It is also observed that during the break spells, clouds are not completely suppressed over central India. Instead, clouds with smaller vertical extent (3–5 km) are observed due to the presence of a heat low type of circulation. The present results will be useful for validating the vertical structure of clouds in weather and climate prediction models.     

Vertical Structures of Convective and Stratiform Clouds in Boreal Summer over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Neighboring Regions

Cloud is essential in the atmosphere, condensing water vapor and generating strong convective or large-scale persistent precipitation. In this work, the relationships between cloud vertical macro- or microphysical properties, radiative heating rate, and precipitation for convective and stratiform clouds in boreal summer over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are analyzed and compared with its neighboring land and tropical oceans based on CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite measurements and TRMM precipitation data. The precipitation intensity caused by convective clouds is twofold stronger than that by stratiform clouds. The vertical macrophysics of both cloud types show similar features over the TP, with the region weakening the precipitation intensity and compressing the cloud vertical expansion and variation in cloud top height, but having an uplift effect on the average cloud top height. The vertical microphysics of both cloud types under conditions of no rain over the TP are characterized by lower-level ice water, ice particles with a relatively larger range of sizes, and a relatively lower occurrence of denser ice particles. The features are similar to other regions when precipitation enhances, but convective clouds gather denser and larger ice particles than stratiform clouds over the TP. The atmospheric shortwave (longwave) heating (cooling) rate strengthens with increased precipitation for both cloud types. The longwave cooling layer is thicker when the rainfall rate is less than 100 mm d^?1, but the net heating layer is typically compressed for the profiles of both cloud types over the TP. This study provides insights into the associations between clouds and precipitation, and an observational basis for improving the simulation of convective and stratiform clouds over the TP in climate models.     

南海夏季风爆发早晚的经向环流异常的机理研究

南海夏季风爆发与东亚地区的局地经向环流密切相关.本文利用线性局地经向环流诊断模式,定量诊断分析了1979~2003年5月1~15日的局地经向环流及其在夏季风爆发早晚年的差异,分析找出了在该关键时段对经向环流异常有正贡献的主要因子,从而确立影响季风爆发的相应天气过程及贡献机制.结果表明,在季风爆发早年期间,局地经向环流异常呈现为"Hadley环流"形态:上升运动(下沉运动)影响南海中北部(江淮地区),低空非地转南风(北风)影响南海中南部(华南和江南地区).季风爆发晚年的情况则与季风爆发早年相反.对造成经向环流异常的各个因子进行定量分析发现,经向分布不均匀的潜热加热的贡献作用最大,其次是温度平流和西风动量输送过程,与越赤道气流有关的边界效应则对南海中南部的低空南风有一定贡献.相应的天气学分析表明,季风爆发偏早年的副热带高空急流强度偏强且位置偏南,其动量输送过程导致对流层上层出现非地转南风、急流轴南侧(北侧)的华南(华北)地区出现高空辐散(辐合)和低层辐合上升(辐散下沉).与此同时,中纬度西风带扰动的南下和副热带高压脊从南海地区的撤出,中低层温度平流导致华中地区冷却和南海中北部增暖,进一步加强低纬地区上升、中纬地区下沉的经向环流异常.华南地区异常的非地转北风与南海中南部异常的非地转南风,显著加强了南海中北部的低空水汽辐合和对流潜热释放,从而激发出强烈上升运动.由此可见,中低纬天气系统配置能有效调节中国东部及南海地区的潜热加热和冷暖平流的南北分布,从而引起与季风爆发对应的局地经向环流的显著变化.     

Baseline predictability of daily east Asian summer monsoon circulation indices

The nonlinear local Lyapunov exponent (NLLE) method is adopted to quantitatively determine the predictability limit of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity indices on a synoptic timescale. The predictability limit of EASM indices varies widely according to the definitions of indices. EASM indices defined by zonal shear have a limit of around 7 days, which is higher than the predictability limit of EASM indices defined by sea level pressure (SLP) difference and meridional wind shear (about 5 days). The initial error of EASM indices defined by SLP difference and meridional wind shear shows a faster growth than indices defined by zonal wind shear. Furthermore, the indices defined by zonal wind shear appear to fluctuate at lower frequencies, whereas the indices defined by SLP difference and meridional wind shear generally fluctuate at higher frequencies. This result may explain why the daily variability of the EASM indices defined by zonal wind shear tends be more predictable than those defined by SLP difference and meridional wind shear. Analysis of the temporal correlation coefficient (TCC) skill for EASM indices obtained from observations and from NCEP’s Global Ensemble Forecasting System (GEFS) historical weather forecast dataset shows that GEFS has a higher forecast skill for the EASM indices defined by zonal wind shear than for indices defined by SLP difference and meridional wind shear. The predictability limit estimated by the NLLE method is shorter than that in GEFS. In addition, the June-September average TCC skill for different daily EASM indices shows significant interannual variations from 1985 to 2015 in GEFS. However, the TCC for different types of EASM indices does not show coherent interannual fluctuations.     

A modeling study of the influence of initial soil moisture on summer precipitation during the East Asian summer monsoon

The state-of-the-art WRF model is used to investigate the impact of the antecedent soil moisture on subsequent summer precipitation during the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) period. The control experiment with realistic soil moisture condition can well reproduce the seasonal pattern from low- to high- atmosphere, as well as the spatial distribution of precipitation belt in East China. Compared with the control experiment, the sensitivity experiment in which the initial soil moisture is reduced generates more precipitation along the East China Sea, and less rainfall over both Central and South China. This suggests that the effect of initial soil moisture on monsoonal precipitation in East China is regionally dependent. The influence on precipitation is mostly attributed to the change in precipitation from mid July to late August. The initial soil moisture condition plays a role in changing the seasonal pattern and atmospheric circulation due to the weak heating and geopotential gradient, leading to a reduction in southeasterly flow and moisture flux from South China Sea. The changes between DRY and CTL runs result in reduced southerly wind over the ocean (south of ˜25 °N) and enhanced northerly wind over the land (north of ∼25 °N). The temperature and associated circulation changes due to drier initial soil moisture anomaly result in reduced southerly winds over East China, and therefore a weakened EASM system. The averaged moisture flux decreases significantly over Central China but increases along the East China Sea. In addition, the drier soil moisture perturbation exerts an effect on suppressing (enhancing) vertical velocity over Central China (along the East China Sea), thus leading to more (less) cloud water and rain water. Therefore, the influence of soil moisture exerts an opposite impact on surface precipitation between these two regions, with more and less accumulation rainfall in Central China and along the East China Sea, respectively.     

Deep convective clouds over the northern Pacific and their relationship with oceanic cyclones

Based on combined Cloud Sat/CALIPSO detections, the seasonal occurrence of deep convective clouds(DCCs) over the midlatitude North Pacific(NP) and cyclonic activity in winter were compared. In winter, DCCs are more frequent over the central NP, from approximately 30°N to 45°N, than over other regions. The high frequencies are roughly equal to those occurring in this region in summer. Most of these DCCs have cloud tops above a 12 km altitude, and the highest top is approximately 15 km. These wintertime marine DCCs commonly occur during surface circulation conditions of low pressure, high temperature, strong meridional wind, and high relative humidity. Further, the maximum probability of DCCs,according to the high correlation coefficient, was found in the region 10°–20° east and 5°–10° south of the center of the cyclones. The potential relationship between DCCs and cyclones regarding their relative locations and circulation conditions was also identified by a case study. Deep clouds were generated in the warm conveyor belt by strong updrafts from baroclinic flows. The updrafts intensified when latent heat was released during the adjustment of the cyclone circulation current. This indicates that the dynamics of cyclones are the primary energy source for DCCs over the NP in winter.     

Relationship Between East Asian Winter Monsoon and Summer Monsoon

Using National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Centre for Atmospheric Research(NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data and monthly Hadley Center sea surface temperature(SST) data,and selecting a representative East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) index,this study investigated the relationship between EAWM and East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) using statistical analyses and numerical simulations.Some possible mechanisms regarding this relationship were also explored.Results indicate a close relationship between EAWM and EASM:a strong EAWM led to a strong EASM in the following summer,and a weak EAWM led to a weak EASM in the following summer.Anomalous EAWM has persistent impacts on the variation of SST in the tropical Indian Ocean and the South China Sea,and on the equatorial atmospheric thermal anomalies at both lower and upper levels.Through these impacts,the EAWM influences the land-sea thermal contrast in summer and the low-level atmospheric divergence and convergence over the Indo-Pacific region.It further affects the meridional monsoon circulation and other features of the EASM.Numerical simulations support the results of diagnostic analysis.The study provides useful information for predicting the EASM by analyzing the variations of preceding EAWM and tropical SST.     

物理协调大气变分客观分析模型及其在青藏高原的应用II:那曲试验区云—降水、热量和水汽的变化特征

本文利用约束变分客观分析法构建的物理协调大气变分客观分析模型,通过融合地面、探空、卫星等多源观测资料和ERA-Interim再分析资料,建立了青藏高原那曲试验区5年（2013～2017年）长时间序列的热力、动力相协调的大气分析数据集,并以此分析那曲试验区大气的基本环境特征与云—降水演变和大气动力、热力的垂直结构。分析表明:（1）试验区350 hPa以上风速的季节变化非常明显,风速在冬季11月至次年2月达到最大（＞50 m s?1）,盛夏7～8月风速的垂直变化最弱,温度的垂直变化最强,大气高湿区在夏秋雨季位于350～550 hPa,在冬春干季升至300～400 hPa。（2）试验区6～7月上旬降水最多;春、秋、冬三季,300～400 hPa高度层作为大气上升运动和下沉运动的交界处,是云量的集中区;夏季,增多的水汽和增强的大气上升运动导致高云和总云量明显增多,中、低云减少。（3）夏季的地表潜热通量与大气总的潜热释放最强,大气净辐射冷却最弱,高原地区较强的地面感热导致试验区500 hPa以下的近地面全年存在暖平流,500 hPa以上则由于强烈的西风和辐射冷却存在冷平流。此外,试验区整层大气全年以干平流为主,但在夏季出现了较弱的湿平流。（4）视热源Q₁具有明显的垂直分层特征:全年500 hPa以下大气表现为冷源,300～500 hPa和100～150 hPa表现为热源,150～300 hPa则在冬春干季表现为冷源,在夏秋雨季表现为热源,不同高度层的冷、热源的形成原因不同,其中夏季由于增强的上升运动、感热垂直输送和水汽凝结潜热以及高云的形成,因此几乎整层大气表现为热源。     

Onset of southwesterly wind over eastern China and associated atmospheric circulation and rainfall

Using the 5-day averaged data from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis, and precipitation from rain gauge stations in China for the period 1981–2000, we investigated seasonal variations and associated atmospheric circulation and precipitation of the southwesterly wind over eastern China. The southwesterly wind over eastern China begins earliest over southeastern China and strengthens gradually from spring to the early summer, as it extends northward. The strengthening of the spring southwesterly wind, the tropospheric upward motion, and the convergence of low-level water vapor over southeastern China results in the beginning of the local rainy season. The beginning of the Mei-yu (Plum rainfall) is connected with the northward march of the southwesterly wind. The southwesterly wind reaches the valley of the Yangtze River in the early summer and northern China in the middle summer. This signifies an onset of the large-scale southwesterly wind over eastern China. Accordingly, the rain belt over southeastern China moves to the valley of the Yangtze River in the early summer and to northern China in the middle summer. Moreover, the southerly wind extends southward to the South China Sea from the spring to summer, though it does not stretch from the South China Sea to southeastern China at those times. The strengthening of the southerly wind over southeastern China is associated with a weakening/strengthening of the eastward/westward subtropical tropospheric temperature gradient between southwestern China and the western North Pacific. The developments of a low-pressure system over southwestern China and the subtropical high-pressure system over the western North Pacific may contribute to the strengthening of the southwesterly wind. A northward advance of the high-pressure system favors the southwesterly wind stretching from southeastern China to northern China. The onset of the Indian summer monsoon also strengthens the summer southwesterly wind over eastern China.     

Cloud Microphysical Budget Associated with Torrential Rainfall During the Landfall of Severe Tropical Storm Bilis (2006)

Effects of vertical wind shear, radiation, and ice clouds on cloud microphysical budget associated with torrential rainfall during landfall of severe tropical storm Bilis (2006) are investigated by using a series of analysis of two-day grid-scale sensitivity experiment data. When upper-tropospheric upward motions and lower-tropospheric downward motions occur on 15 July 2006, the removal of vertical wind shear and ice clouds increases rainfall contributions from the rainfall type (CM) associated with positive net condensation and hydrometeor loss/convergence, whereas the exclusion of cloud radiative effects and cloud-radiation interaction reduces rainfall contribution from CM. The elimination of vertical wind shear and cloud-radiation interaction increases rainfall contribution from the rainfall type (Cm) associated with positive net condensation and hydrometeor gain/divergence, but the removal of cloud radiative effects and ice clouds decreases rainfall contribution from Cm. The enhancements in rainfall contribution from the rainfall type (cM) associated with negative net condensation and hydrometeor loss/convergence are caused by the exclusion of cloud radiative effects, cloud-radiation interaction and ice clouds, whereas the reduction in rainfall contribution from cM results from the removal of vertical wind shear. When upward motions appear throughout the troposphere on 16 July, the exclusion of all these effects increases rainfall contribution from CM, but generally decreases rainfall contributions from Cm and cM.     

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.