前、后冬的东亚冬季风年际变异及其与东亚降水的关系

利用ERA-Interim的再分析资料和NOAA海温、降水量等资料对前、后冬的东亚冬季风的年际变异特征及其与东亚降水的关系进行对比分析,并讨论了热带和中高纬系统影响东亚冬季风变异的相对重要性。前冬的东亚冬季风变异的主导模态为东亚全区一致变异型,即一致的北风偏弱或偏强;其次为南部变异型,主要表现为在我国南方-南海北部的东北风偏弱或偏强。而后冬的东亚冬季风变异的主导模态则为南部变异型,其次为东亚全区一致变异型。从前冬到后冬,东亚冬季风的主要变异模态的次序出现交叉更替。前、后冬的冬季风主要模态以年际变化为主,但后冬主导模态还显示出冬季风有变强的趋势。前、后冬的东亚冬季风的主导变异模态也影响东亚降水异常的位置。在前冬,冬季风异常主要影响我国华北、渤海-黄海海域以及朝鲜半岛和日本南部区域的降水异常,而后冬的冬季风异常则主要导致我国东南地区及其东侧附近的西北太平洋海区的降水异常。前冬的东亚冬季风的前两种主要变异模态都受到印度洋-太平洋海温和中高纬环流系统共同的影响;后冬的东亚冬季风的前两种主要变异模态则分别主要受ENSO和中高纬系统的影响。      

IMPACT OF ENSO ON THE PRECIPITATION OVER CHINA IN WINTER HALF-YEARS

In this paper, the impact of ENSO on the precipitation over China in the winter half-year is investigated diagnostically. The results show that positive precipitation anomalies with statistical significance appear over southern China in El Nio episodes, which are caused by the enhanced warm and humid southwesterlies along the East Asian coast in the lower troposphere. The enhanced southwesterlies transport more water vapor to southern China, and the convergence of water vapor over southern China increases the precipitable water and specific humidity. In La Nia episodes,although atmospheric elements change reversely, they are not statistically significant as those in El Nio periods. The possible physical mechanism of the different impact of ENSO cycle on the precipitation over southern China is investigated by analyzing the intraseasonal oscillations(ISOs) in El Nio and La Nia winter half-years, respectively. By comparing the characteristics of ISOs in El Nio and La Nia, a physical mechanism is proposed to explain the different responses of the precipitation over China to ENSO in the winter half-year. In El Nio episodes, over western North Pacific(WNP) and South China Sea(SCS) the ISOs are inactive and exert little effect on water vapor transport and convergence, inducing positive precipitation anomalies with statistical significance over southern China in El Nio episodes. In La Nia episodes, however, the ISOs are active, which weaken the interannual variation signals of ENSO over WNP and southern China and lead to the insignificance of the interannual signals related to ENSO. Therefore, the different responses of precipitation over China to ENSO in the winter half-year are possibly caused by the difference of intraseasonal oscillations over WNP and SCS between El Nio and La Nia.     

Diurnal variations of precipitation over the South China Sea

In this study, the diurnal variations of precipitation and related mechanisms over the South China Sea (SCS) are studied using the TRMM and other auxiliary atmospheric data. We have found that: (1) the amplitude and peak time of the diurnal precipitation over SCS exhibit remarkable regional features and seasonal variations. Diurnal variations are robust all the year around over the southern SCS especially over the Kalimantan Island and its offshore area. Over the middle to northern SCS, however, diurnal variations are noticeable only in the summer and autumn; (2) over the northern SCS precipitation peaks in early morning, while over the southern SCS it has two diurnal peaks: one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon; (3) the diurnal variations of precipitation over the SCS are related to the activity of the SCS summer monsoon and the ENSO events. The late afternoon precipitation increases remarkably after the onset of the SCS summer monsoon over the northern SCS. The early-morning rainfall peak is much more significant during La Nina years than during El Nino years; (4) the land–sea breeze is responsible for the diurnal cycle over the Kalimantan Island and its offshore area while the “static radiation–convection” mechanisms may result in the early-morning rainfall peak over the SCS.     

Interannual heat content variability in the South China Sea and its response to ENSO

The interannual variability of upper ocean heat content (OHC) in the South China Sea (SCS) for the period of 1987–2006 and its response to ENSO events are investigated. It is found that the variability has a good correspondence with ENSO events, but with opposite phase. Negative OHC anomalies appear during ENSO warm phases, while positive OHC anomalies occur during ENSO cool phases. In addition, negative (positive) OHC anomalies propagate westward obviously during ENSO warm (cool) phases in the northern SCS. In contrast, OHC anomalies in the southern SCS do not exhibit distinct westward propagation during ENSO events. To explore why the OHC anomalies cannot propagate westward in the southern SCS, the interannual variability of oceanic and atmospheric anomaly fields including wind stress curl (WSC), horizontal wind stress, latent heat flux (LHF) and sea level pressure (SLP) is investigated. The results show that after a mature phase of ENSO warm (cool) event, negative (positive) OHC anomalies first appear in the northern SCS, which comes from the western Pacific through Luzon Strait. Then cyclonic (anticyclonic) wind stress anomalies occur in the northern SCS, which leads to positive (negative) WSC anomalies. Meanwhile, positive (negative) LHF anomalies which correspond to oceanic heat loss (gain) occur in this region. The effects of WSC and LHF, combined with the westward propagating negative (positive) OHC anomalies from the western Pacific, may contribute to rapid growth and propagation of the OHC anomalies in the northern SCS. On the contrary, the negative (positive) WSC and LHF anomalies associated with positive (negative) SLP in the southern SCS seem to be the important processes responsible for the weakening and non-propagation of the OHC anomalies in the southern SCS after a mature phase of ENSO warm (cool) event.     

南海、孟加拉湾不对称环流变化对2009年西南特大秋旱的影响

利用NCEP再分析资料及我国160站降水资料,分析了2009年秋季东亚中、低纬环流特征和水汽输送特征及其对西南干旱的影响。同时讨论了秋季不同ENSO状态下东亚地区水汽输送差异,并与2009年进行比较。结果表明:孟加拉湾(简称孟湾)和南海之间环流形势在2009年秋季发生不对称变化,造成两地上空气压梯度减小,孟湾和南海上空分别出现一个反气旋式和气旋式距平环流中心,我国西南至中南半岛处于两距平环流中心之间偏北距平风控制之下,使得进入我国的西南气流异常减弱。水汽输送随之出现变化,南海南部季风低压水汽环流圈异常偏强,孟湾和南海水汽主体经中南半岛重回南海而未进入我国,最终造成我国西南降水异常偏少,出现干旱。这段时间内,西南地区上空出现异常下沉运动,对流活动受到抑制,加剧了干旱程度。在El Ni o年,我国西南及江南地区秋季水汽通量比La Ni a年明显增大,西北及华北则减少。2009年秋季我国的降水分布及南海一带水汽输送特征与普通El Ni o年特征不符,甚至出现相反状态,经对2009年秋季东亚El Ni o影响特征作简单模拟还原和分析,认为上述差异可能与El Ni o反气旋环流影响位置偏北有关。     

Individual and combined impacts of ENSO and East Asian winter monsoon on the South China Sea cold tongue intensity

A region of low sea surface temperature (SST) extends southward in the central part of southern South China Sea during boreal winter, which is called the South China Sea cold tongue (SCS CT). The present study investigates the factors of interannual variation of SST in the SCS CT region and explores the individual and combined impacts of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) on the SCS CT intensity. During years with ENSO alone or with co-existing ENSO and anomalous EAWM, shortwave radiation and ocean horizontal advection play major roles in the interannual variation of the SCS CT intensity. Ocean advection contributes largely to the SST change in the region southeast of Vietnam. In strong CT years with anomalous EAWM alone, surface wind-related latent heat flux has a major role and shortwave radiation is secondary to the EAWM-induced change of the SCS CT intensity, whereas the role of ocean horizontal advection is relatively small. The above differences in the roles of ocean advection and latent heat flux are associated with the distribution of low level wind anomalies. In anomalous CT years with ENSO, low level anomalous cyclone/anticyclone-related wind speed change leads to latent heat flux anomalies with effects opposite to shortwave radiation. In strong CT years with anomalous EAWM alone, surface wind-related latent heat flux anomalies are large as anomalous winds are aligned with climatological winds.

     

ENSO对中国冬半年降水影响的不对称性及机制分析

利用1979—2010年观测和再分析资料,诊断分析ENSO对中国华南冬半年降水的影响及其机制。结果表明,在El Ni?o冬半年期间,东亚沿岸上空对流层低层南风的增强导致了水汽输送明显偏多,水汽在华南辐合,使得大气可降水量和比湿增加,降水显著偏多。而在La Ni?a冬半年期间,这些大气要素并没有呈现显著的相反变化,负异常的量值很弱并在统计上不显著。通过进一步分析El Ni?o和La Ni?a冬半年期间季节内振荡的特点,给出一种华南冬半年降水对ENSO信号不对称响应的物理解释。El Ni?o期间,热带西太平洋到南海地区的季节内振荡不活跃,与El Ni?o相联系的西北太平洋反气旋性环流异常造成的水汽输送以及水汽辐合在华南能够稳定维持,致使华南降水明显偏多。但在La Ni?a冬半年期间,季节内振荡很活跃,与La Ni?a相联系的西北太平洋气旋性环流异常受到季节内时间尺度的扰动影响,ENSO的年际变化信号被季节内振荡破坏,使得西北太平洋和华南的年际异常信号不能得到稳定维持,导致与ENSO信号相联系的年际变化在统计上不显著。因此,热带西太平洋到南海地区的季节内振荡强度在El Ni?o和La Ni?a冬半年期间的差异,是华南冬半年降水对ENSO信号不对称响应的一个主要原因。      

春末夏初南亚高压的形成过程及其与ENSO事件的联系

利用ERA-Interim再分析资料,分析了春末夏初南亚高压建立过程的气候特征和可能机制,并讨论了ENSO事件冷、暖位相对南亚高压建立过程年际变化的影响。结果表明,第24候,气候平均的南亚高压形成于中南半岛东南部的对流层高层,这与菲律宾群岛南部和中南半岛局地对流的加强有关。一方面,菲律宾群岛南部对流加强能够在其北部产生负涡度源,在高空热带东风急流的作用下,其下游的南海地区出现负涡度,相应地出现闭合的高空反气旋,南亚高压初步形成。另一方面,中南半岛局地对流令南亚高压中心加强发展,并使其最终位于中南半岛上空。春末夏初菲律宾群岛附近对流的经向摆动决定了南亚高压的形成位置,而中南半岛局地对流的强度则控制着南亚高压的加强北抬。由于菲律宾南部和中南半岛的局地对流都受ENSO事件影响,因此在ENSO事件的冷、暖位相下,南亚高压的形态和位置在其建立过程中差异明显。在暖事件发生后,热带对流在加里曼丹岛以东发展,南亚高压形成于苏门答腊群岛北部至泰国湾上空,此时中南半岛对流偏弱,限制了南亚高压的北抬发展;而在冷事件发生后,热带对流在菲律宾群岛中部加强,同时南亚高压形成于中南半岛中部上空,随后中南半岛对流迅速加强,令南亚高压明显西伸北抬。因此,ENSO事件的冷、暖位相对春末夏初南亚高压的形成位置有显著影响。     

中国南方冬雨与El Niño事件相关关系的年代际差异及其成因

利用1961—2016年中国160站逐月降水资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,采用统计学方法分析了中国南方冬雨与El Niño事件相关关系的年代际差异及其成因。结果表明：1）1961—2016年南方冬雨年际变化显著,且降水量呈现阶段性变化,1961—1988年为少雨期,1989—2016年为多雨期。2）El Niño事件与南方冬雨之间的相关关系存在年代际差异。1961—1988年El Niño事件冬季,500 hPa上中国东部地区位势高度距平的经向差异很小,不利于冷空气向南推进,850 hPa上中国南方南风距平偏小,来自孟加拉湾和南海的水汽较难向中国南方地区输送,且中国南方地区受下沉运动异常影响,对流发展受抑制,故南方冬雨偏少;1989—2016年El Niño事件冬季,500 hPa上中国东部地区位势高度距平的经向梯度较大,有利于冷空气向南推进,850 hPa上南海北部到中国东部出现异常的西南风,有利于孟加拉湾和南海的暖湿气流向中国南方地区输送,且中国南方地区受上升运动异常控制,有利于对流发展,故南方冬雨偏多。     

气候系统模式FGOALS模拟的南亚夏季风：偏差和原因分析

本文通过与观测和再分析资料的对比,评估了LASG/IAP发展的气候系统模式FGOALS的两个版本FGOALS-g2和FGOALS-s2对南亚夏季风的气候态和年际变率的模拟能力,并使用水汽收支方程诊断,研究了造成降水模拟偏差的原因。结果表明,两个模式夏季气候态降水均在陆地季风槽内偏少,印度半岛附近海域偏多,在降水年循环中表现为夏季北侧辐合带北推范围不足。FGOALS-g2中赤道印度洋"东西型"海温偏差导致模拟的东赤道印度洋海上辐合带偏弱,而FGOALS-s2中印度洋"南北型"海温偏差导致模拟的海上辐合带偏向西南。水汽收支分析表明,两个模式中气候态夏季风降水的模拟偏差主要来自于整层积分的水汽通量,尤其是垂直动力平流项的模拟偏差。一方面,夏季阿拉伯海和孟加拉湾的海温偏冷而赤道西印度洋海温偏暖,造成向印度半岛的水汽输送偏少;另一方面,对流层温度偏冷,冷中心位于印度半岛北部对流层上层,同时季风槽内总云量偏少,云长波辐射效应偏弱,对流层经向温度梯度偏弱以及大气湿静力稳定度偏强引起的下沉异常造成陆地季风槽内降水偏少。在年际变率上,观测中南亚夏季风环流和降水指数与Ni?o3.4指数存在负相关关系,但FGOALS两个版本模式均存在较大偏差。两个模式中与ENSO暖事件相关的沃克环流异常下沉支和对应的负降水异常西移至赤道以南的热带中西印度洋,沿赤道非对称的加热异常令两个模式中越赤道环流季风增强,导致印度半岛南部产生正降水异常。ENSO相关的沃克环流异常下沉支及其对应的负降水异常偏西与两个模式对热带南印度洋气候态降水的模拟偏差有关。研究结果表明,若要提高FGOALS两个版本模式对南亚夏季风气候态模拟技巧,需减小耦合模式对印度洋海温、对流层温度及云的模拟偏差;若要提高南亚夏季风和ENSO相关性模拟技巧需要提高模式对热带印度洋气候态降水以及与ENSO相关的环流异常的模拟能力。     

前期青藏高原积雪与ENSO对南海夏季风强度的协同影响

基于1980—2018年罗格斯大学全球积雪实验室积雪面积、英国气象局哈得来中心海温、欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）第5代再分析（ERA-5）土壤湿度、美国国家环境预报中心和美国国家大气研究中心（NCEP/NCAR）再分析、美国国家海洋大气管理局（NOAA）气候预测中心降水（CMAP）和全球降水气候计划降水（GPCP）等数据,采用相关、合成和回归等分析方法,分析了前期青藏高原积雪和厄尔尼诺-南方涛动（ENSO）年际尺度变化对南海夏季风强度及降水的协同影响。结果表明:在年际尺度上,青藏高原积雪、ENSO与南海夏季风变率有密切关系,当青藏高原春季积雪西部偏多且东部偏少时,夏季高原西部对流层温度偏低,在高原上空产生异常下沉气流并向外辐散,引起中国南海地区对流层中低层为异常下沉气流。另外,赤道中东太平洋海温异常偏高则会使夏季印度洋海温异常偏高,对流层温度偏高,在西北太平洋产生东北风异常,加强西北太平洋和中国南海上空的反气旋性环流异常。在青藏高原积雪和ENSO共同影响下,夏季850 hPa中国南海上空反气旋异常进一步加强,南海夏季风强度减弱,降水减少。      

上游赤道西风在南海夏季风暴发中的重要作用

利用17年（1979～1995）的NMC全球格点分析资料及从NOAA极轨卫星观测的地球向外长波辐射（OLR）资料,研究了南海夏季风暴发的年际变化特征。用本文的定义标准,南海季风从1979年到1995年间暴发的平均日期是5月第4候。南海夏季风暴发前后,南海周围地区对夏季风暴发的直接影响来自南海上游70°～90°E的赤道西风的加强和北抬东伸,同时索马里越赤道气流的加强和阿拉伯海高压在海上消失通过影响赤道西风也间接影响到南海。其中阿拉伯海反气旋的消失可能是南海夏季风暴发的一个重要信号。南海夏季风暴发的年际变化较     

中国南海夏季风强、弱年多尺度相互作用能量学特征

中国南海夏季风为东亚季风的主要系统之一,其具有多重尺度特征,除季节平均环流场外,低频（季节内振荡）和高频（天气尺度）扰动也十分活跃,各尺度系统存在明显的年际变化。该研究使用ERA-Interim和NCEP/NCAR两套再分析资料,从季风平均动能（MKE）诊断的角度出发,探讨了1979-2010年中国南海夏季风环流年际变化的能量来源及其和扰动场的相互作用过程。结果表明:中国南海夏季风对流活跃年份,中国南海南部（12°N以南）及中南半岛一带为季风平均动能显著增强区,此与南亚季风区西风急流的增强并向东延伸有关;中国南海北部（12°N以北）及西太平洋为气旋性环流盘踞,季风槽加深。中国南海南部季风平均动能增强的能量源自于扰动动量通量与平均环流的相互作用,强季风年,平均环流失去较少的动能给扰动场（亦即平均环流保留较多的动能）。通过进一步探讨高频（<10 d）及低频（10-90 d）扰动场与平均环流不同分量的（散度、涡度、风垂直切变）相互作用过程,发现季风平均动能的增长主要来自于<10 d扰动与季风平均散度和涡度的相互作用。中国南海北部季风槽区季风平均动能的维持来自于大气热源和平均上升运动的相互作用,但同时有较多的季风平均动能向扰动动能转换,有利于扰动的成长。因此,强季风年,中国南海北部热带气旋生成数目增多,夏季北传的季节内振荡也增强,导致中国南部沿海及华南地区出现较多的灾害天气。      

南海西南季风爆发的气候特征

利用多年的海洋船舶、岛屿站和沿岸站观测记录及卫星观测的高反射云（ＨＲＣ）资料，揭示南海西南季风爆发和建立时期的环流特征及要素变化。在南海，西南季风爆发的平均时间为５月中旬，北部略早（５月１２日），南部略迟（５月２０日），但年际差别可达一个月左右。伴随着西南季风的爆发，南海云量和降水量增多，对流加强，但海区之间具有很大的不均匀性。西南季风建立以后，强对流区稳定于南海中部，季风雨带没有明显的跳跃现象。西南季风爆发之前，南海表层温度迅速升高，其开始时间较季风爆发约提前一个月，海面水温的升高为季风爆发提供了热量和水汽条件。４—５月，南海海面热交换分量（海面吸收的太阳辐射、潜热输送等）发生明显的改变，特别是潜热交换和蒸发量明显增大，它可能是西南季风首先在南海爆发的原因之一。     

ENSO与亚洲中低纬若干海气因子的遥相关及与华南降水的关系

本文在统计近一百年左右华南八站降水与ENSO关系基础上,分别探讨了春末夏初亚洲中纬冷空气活动,南海高压及副高脊、盂加拉湾北部低系统和中南半岛季风与ENSO的遥相关,以及它们对华南3—6月降水的影响;台风活动,南海SST与ENSO遥相关及其对华南7—11月降水的影响。指出,El Nino年春夏东亚中纬冷空气活动偏弱,南海高度场偏低,孟加拉湾北部低系统和中南半岛西南季风较活跃。使El Nino年3—6月华南内陆降水偏少而沿海偏多。在ElNino年,南海SSTA有一个由负转正的过程,它使华南沿海在秋台偏少情况下,秋冬有时还有较大的降水甚至带来洪涝。      

Influence of South China Sea SST and the ENSO on Winter Rainfall over South China

The present study investigates the influence of South China Sea (SCS) SST and ENSO on winter (January--February--March; JFM) rainfall over South China and its dynamic processes by using station observations for the period 1951--2003, Met Office Hadley Center SST data for the period 1900--2008, and ERA-40 reanalysis data for the period 1958--2002. It is found that JFM rainfall over South China has a significant correlation with Nino-3 and SCS SST. Analyses show that in El Nino or positive SCS SST anomaly years, southwesterly anomalies at 700 hPa dominate over the South China Sea, which in turn transports more moisture into South China and favors increased rainfall. A partial regression analysis indicates that the independent ENSO influence on winter rainfall occurs mainly over South China, whereas SCS SST has a larger independent influence on winter rainfall in northern part of South China. The temperature over South China shows an obvious decrease at 300 hPa and an increase near the surface, with the former induced by Nino-3 and the latter SCS SST anomalies. This enhances the convective instability and weakens the potential vorticity (PV), which explains the strengthening of ascending motion and the increase of JFM rainfall over South China.     

Observational and Modeling Studies of Impacts of the South China Sea Monsoon on the Monsoon Rainfall in the Middle-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River During Summer

Based on the ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data,the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s merged analysis of precipitation(CMAP),and the fifth-generation PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model version 3(MM5v3),we defined a monsoon intensity index over the East Asian tropical region and analyzed the impacts of summer(June-July) South China Sea(SCS) monsoon anomaly on monsoon precipitation over the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River(MLRYR) using both observational data analysis and numerical simulation methods.The results from the data analysis show that the interannual variations of the tropical monsoon over the SCS are negatively correlated with the southwesterly winds and precipitation over the MLRYR during June-July.Corresponding to stronger(weaker) tropical monsoon and precipitation,the southwesterly winds are weaker(stronger) over the MLRYR,with less(more) local precipitation.The simulation results further exhibit that when changing the SCS monsoon intensity,there are significant variations of monsoon and precipitation over the MLRYR.The simulated anomalies generally consist with the observations,which verifies the impact of the tropical monsoon on the monsoon precipitation over the MLRYR.This impact might be supported by certain physical processes.Moreover,when the tropical summer monsoon is stronger,the tropical anomalous westerly winds and positive precipitation anomalies usually maintain in the tropics and do not move northward into the MLRYR,hence the transport of water vapor toward southern China is weakened and the southwest flow and precipitation over southern China are also attenuated.On the other hand,the strengthened tropical monsoon may result in the weakening and southward shift of the western Pacific subtropical high through self-adjustment of the atmospheric circulation,leading to the weakening of the monsoon flows and precipitation over the MLRYR.     

东亚经向热力差异与华南夏季风及降水年际变化的关系

利用多年海表温度和中国测站近地面温度及降水资料,分析了夏季东亚地区经向热力差异的年际变化与华南夏季降水及华南夏季风环流变化的关系。结果表明:当黄河中下游及其附近地区地表气温偏高(低),华南偏低(高),则华南降水偏多(少),而江黄流域降水偏少(多)。在东亚地区夏季经向热力差异指数偏强年,南海北部至华南地区的夏季西南季风偏强,华南夏季降水偏多;弱指数年情况相反。     

The interannual precipitation variability in the southern part of Iran as linked to large-scale climate modes

The interannual variation of precipitation in the southern part of Iran and its link with the large-scale climate modes are examined using monthly data from 183 meteorological stations during 1974–2005. The majority of precipitation occurs during the rainy season from October to May. The interannual variation in fall and early winter during the first part of the rainy season shows apparently a significant positive correlation with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, a partial correlation analysis used to extract the respective influence of IOD and ENSO shows a significant positive correlation only with the IOD and not with ENSO. The southeasterly moisture flux anomaly over the Arabian Sea turns anti-cyclonically and transport more moisture to the southern part of Iran from the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf during the positive IOD. On the other hand, the moisture flux has northerly anomaly over Iran during the negative IOD, which results in reduced moisture supply from the south. During the latter part of the rainy season in late winter and spring, the interannual variation of precipitation is more strongly influenced by modes of variability over the Mediterranean Sea. The induced large-scale atmospheric circulation anomaly controls moisture supply from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.     

Multi-scale climate variability of the South China Sea monsoon: A review

This review recapitulates climate variations of the South China Sea (SCS) monsoon and our current understanding of the important physical processes responsible for the SCS summer monsoon's intraseasonal to interannual variations. We demonstrate that the 850 hPa meridional shear vorticity index (SCSMI) can conveniently measure and monitor SCS monsoon variations on a timescale ranging from intraseasonal to interdecadal. Analyses with this multi-scale index reveal that the two principal modes of intraseasonal variation, the quasi-biweekly and 30–60-day modes, have different source regions and lifecycles, and both may be potentially predicted at a lead time longer than one-half of their corresponding lifecycles. The leading mode of interannual variation is seasonally dependent: the seasonal precipitation anomaly suddenly reverses the sign from summer to fall, and the reversed anomaly then persists through the next summer. Since the late 1970s, the relationship between the SCS summer monsoon and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has significantly strengthened. Before the late 1970s, the SCS summer monsoon was primarily influenced by ENSO development, while after the late 1970s, it has been affected mainly in the decaying phase of ENSO. The year of 1993 marked a sudden interdecadal change in precipitation and circulation in the SCS and its surrounding region. Over the past 60 years, the SCS summer monsoon's strength shows no significant trend, but the SCS winter monsoon displays a significant strengthening tendency (mainly in its easterly component and its total wind speed). A number of outstanding issues are raised for future studies.