北极涛动与东亚冬季气候在年际尺度上的联系:准定常行星波的作用

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和我国160站月平均气温资料,首先采用线性回归的方法分析了从1958至1998年40个冬季北极涛动(AO)与东亚气候异常的关系.结果表明,当AO处于正位相时,东亚地区200 hPa的急流明显北跳,东亚大槽显著减弱,而在中国的华北、东北到西伯利亚出现大范围的地表南风异常,使得低空从西伯利亚到我国的东北、华北以及韩国、日本有显著的暖异常; 而当AO处于负位相时,则往往出现相反的情形.进一步的相关和合成分析发现,准定常行星波活动可以在AO与东亚气候之间起到桥梁作用.AO可以通过影响中高纬平流层下层的西风强弱,进而影响到准定常行星波的垂直传播,使得对流层下层中高纬地区的行星波振幅发生变化,从而导致低层的西伯利亚高压和阿留申低压同时减弱或增强,最终导致东亚地区异常偏暖或偏冷; 其中低层中高纬地区纬向波数2的扰动对西伯利亚高压和阿留申低压的变化起了最主要的作用.作者提出的AO通过影响准定常行星波的活动而导致东亚气候异常的机理,不但强调了西伯利亚高压的贡献,而且特别从波动的意义上强调了阿留申低压的重要性.文中还讨论了值得进一步研究的有关问题.     

太阳活动11年周期对ENSO事件海温异常演变和东亚降水的影响

本文利用美国NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、海温、降水和反映太阳活动强弱的太阳10.7 cm射电流量资料,研究了1952～2010年太阳活动11年周期对ENSO年海温异常演变以及与之相联系的东亚降水的影响,在此基础上着重分析了ENSO发展期秋季东亚地区降水异常对太阳射电流量高(HS)/低(LS)的不同响应以及相关的物理过...     

东亚冬季风气候变异和机理以及平流层过程的影响

本文综述了近几年来关于东亚冬季风变异特征和机理方面的研究,特别对平流层过程对东亚冬季风和气候异常的可能影响作了回顾和进一步分析.东亚冬季风的变异除了季风强弱变化外,还有东亚冬季风的路径变化;研究表明,前者往往对应全国气温一致的变化,而后者可以引起我国气温的南北反相振荡,并导致东亚冬季风变异存在南北两个子系统.此外,进入本世纪后,东亚冬季风的建立推迟,并且东亚冬季风在盛期明显减弱,但冬季风活动在早春比以往要更为活跃,这些变化与冬季气温南北反相变化也有密切的联系.进一步的分析揭示出东亚气温的南北反相变化是东亚冬季风变异的主要模态之一,而且它与平流层极涡强度密切相关.当异常的平流层极涡向下传播时,可以引起对流层低层北极涛动(AO)的异常以及西伯利亚高压的异常,并在东亚地区出现南北反相的温度变化.有关东亚冬季风变异的成因研究表明,上世纪70年代中后期以后,热带厄尔尼诺—南方涛动(ENSO)的影响变弱,而中高纬的北太平洋涛动(NPO)和乌拉尔地区阻塞强度的影响显著增强,相关研究还揭示了这些变化的原因.此外,东亚冬季风在1987年以后的持续减弱主要与准定常行星波活动年代际变化有关,行星波活动通过波流相互作用可以影响AO以及西伯利亚高压和阿留申低压,从而导致冬季风异常.最后,本文还讨论了太阳活动11年周期变化对东亚冬季气候异常的可能影响和过程.     

我国东北地区冬季气温变化的东亚冬季风背景

利用中国气象局国家气象信息中心1961—2011年我国东北地区72个气象站月平均气温资料及NCEP/NCAR月平均海平面气压、500 hPa高度场及200 hPa与850 hPa风场再分析资料,对东亚冬季风强度与我国东北地区冬季气温序列经去除线性趋势处理后的变化特征进行对比分析。结果表明:去除线性趋势后,东亚冬季风强度与我国东北地区冬季气温序列的相关系数为-0.69,较原始序列更为显著;两者变化的阶段性较为同步,我国东北地区冬季气温于2004年已转入低温阶段,这与东亚冬季风同时转为偏强阶段关系密切;两者均存在20年左右的长周期,同样存在相近的阶段性短周期;我国东北地区冬季气温的增温变化趋势在1986年前后的增暖性气候突变中起重要作用。东亚冬季风强度与我国东北地区冬季气温年代际信号的相关系数达-0.86,较原始序列年代际相关更为显著;两者的年代际变化存在21.5年左右的共同准周期。东亚冬季风强度与我国东北地区冬季气温的年际变化序列存在4年左右的共同准周期。我国东北地区冬季气温的年际和年代际异常存在与东亚冬季风相关联的200 hPa东亚急流、500 hPa东亚大槽、乌拉尔高压、850 hPa风场、地面西伯利亚高压等的异常背景。     

北半球冬季欧亚遥相关型的变化特征及其对我国气候的影响?

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和我国160站地表面气温和降水的观测资料, 首先采用旋转经验正交函数 (REOF) 方法定义了冬季欧亚遥相关型 (EU), 并计算了冬季的欧亚遥相关型指数 (EU指数), 在此基础上分析了欧亚遥相关型的时间和空间变化特征, 并进一步研究了与欧亚遥相关型异常相联系的东亚冬季风系统变化以及我国冬季气温和降水的异常。针对欧亚遥相关型的分析结果表明, 在欧亚大陆上空, 大气内部存在与EU相联系的波列从北大西洋传播到乌拉尔山以东的欧亚大陆地区。在时间变化上, 冬季EU以为年际变率为主, 年代际变化的分量不明显, 其显著周期表现为2～4年。当冬季EU处于正位相时, 与之相关联的东亚大气环流异常表现为: 东亚地区高空的急流增强、 东亚大槽加深, 导致东亚冬季风偏强, 东亚地区温度偏低, 从而使得我国东部降温、 降水减少; 反之, 当冬季EU处于负位相时, 我国东部增温、 降水增加。     

Changes in the East Asian Cold Season since 2000

Using NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data and observational data from meteorological stations in China, the evolution of the East Asian cold season (EACS) and its long-term changes after 2000 were studied. A monsoon tendency index (MTI), defined as the temporal di?erence of the East Asian monsoon index, indi- cates that the winter monsoon setup has been postponed in autumn, while the setup has quickened in early winter. In mid winter, the EACS breakdown process has accelerated, while it has lingered in late winter. The authors suggest that the postponement of monsoon setup in autumn may be caused by strong global warming at the lower levels, which further limits the setup time period and leads to the quickening of the setup process in early winter. Meanwhile, a north-south seesaw of temperature tendency change in China can be observed in December and February, which may be related to large-scale circulation changes in the stratosphere, characterized by a polar warming in mid winter and polar cooling in early spring. This linkage is possibly caused by the dynamical coupling between stratosphere and troposphere, via the variation of planetary wave activities. In spring, the speed of the EACS breakdown has decreased, which favors the revival of the EACS in East Asia.     

冬季北极涛动对东亚表面温度的持续异常影响

利用1950—2013年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和哈德莱中心的海表面温度资料,统计分析了冬季北极涛动 (AO) 对东亚表面温度的影响。研究发现:冬季AO正位相时,东亚大槽减弱,西伯利亚高压减弱,低层风场异常偏南,东亚冬季风减弱,东亚冬季风区温度升高,而负位相时情况相反。冬季高纬度大气变率大,冬季逐月AO与东亚冬季温度的关系表明1月、2月AO分别与东亚表面温度的相关关系皆可持续2个月以上;AO正位相时,西太平洋海温和东亚表面温度均有所升高,由于海洋运动和变化具有缓慢性和持续性,西太平洋海温可以承载长达4个月的AO信号,西太平洋海温可持续影响东亚地区温度,导致AO持续影响东亚表面温度。     

冬季东亚大槽强度年际变化及其与中国气候联系的再分析

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料以及国家气象局整编的中国160站逐月降水和气温资料,定义了一个北半球冬季500hPa东亚大槽强度指数(I_EAT),并分析了该指数所反映的冬季东亚大槽强度的年际变化规律及其与同期中国冬季降水、气温的关系.结果表明:I_EAT指数反映了对流层中层冬季亚洲大陆高压脊与西北太平洋上空的低压槽系统之间的平均经向风强度,且能够较好地反映冬季东亚大槽的强度.东亚大槽的强度在20世纪80年代之前相对较弱,并存在2-3年和准4年的年际变化周期.冬季东亚大槽强弱变化可能与源自地中海地区的罗斯贝波动能量沿亚洲急流东传有关,且这种西风带中的扰动具有准正压结构.I_EAT指数与青藏高原东部地区的冬季降水和气温相关显着.当I_EAT指数为正(负),东亚大槽偏强(弱),对应着中国华中地区以及华东大部分地区冬季总降水量偏少(多),且华中地区冬季平均气温偏高(低).进一步研究发现,在东亚大槽偏强年,华中地区冬季平均气温异常升高主要是由于异常非绝热加热和下沉运动导致的异常动力增温所致.这些研究结果有助于更好地理解由于东亚大槽强度的变化而导致的中国冬季气候变化特征及其原因.     

太阳活动变化对东亚冬季气候的非对称影响及可能机制

基于1959～2013年的观测和再分析资料以及10.7 cm(2800 MHz)太阳射电通量资料, 本文分析了太阳活动变化与东亚冬季气候的相关关系, 分析结果表明:太阳活动变化与东亚冬季大气环流有较好的相关性, 且在太阳活动的强、弱时期该相关关系存在很大差异, 在强太阳活动时期太阳活动变化与东亚冬季气候的联系更为显著, 而在弱太阳活动时期二者之间的直接联系微弱, 这表明太阳活动变化对东亚冬季气候的影响具有非对称性特征。在太阳活动较强的时期, 随着太阳活动的增强, 东亚中高纬对流层中层的大气环流倾向纬向型, 东亚大槽减弱, 850 hPa出现异常偏南风, 地面上西伯利亚高压以及冬季风减弱, 东亚大部分地区气温显著偏高;而在太阳活动较弱的时期, 太阳活动的年际差异与东亚冬季大气环流之间几乎不存在显著联系。分析太阳活动较强和较弱时期纬向平均纬向风的差异发现, 其间平流层行星波活动、热带西北太平洋海表温度的差异可能是造成这种非对称影响的重要原因。在强太阳活动时期, 平流层行星波在太阳活动的异常增强年有异常的从极地向赤道的水平传播, 高纬地区E-P通量(Eliassen-Palm flux)异常辐散, 导致中高纬西风及北极涛动(AO)增强, 同时热带西北太平洋海温异常偏冷, 海陆热力差异缩小, 大气环流经向度减弱, 东亚冬季风偏弱。     

Diagnostic Comparison of Wintertime East Asian Subtropical Jet and Polar-Front Jet: Large-Scale Characteristics and Transient Eddy Activities

Diagnostic comparison of the East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ) and polar-front jet (EAPJ) in winter season is carried out by using the ERA-40 dataset. The large-scale circulation characteristics and synopticscale transient eddy activities (STEAs) associated with the EASJ and EAPJ are examined. The results show that the EASJ and EAPJ in the upper-level monthly mean data have no clear geographical border, while the distribution of the numbers of jet cores from the daily data exhibits a distinct boundary at the latitudes of the northern Tibetan Plateau. The two areas with large numbers of jet cores correspond to the EASJ and EAPJ regions. The analysis of STEAs over the East Asian region shows a spatial match of STEAs with the EASJ and EAPJ in winter: the strong EASJ is located within the weak southern branch of the STEA while the relatively weak EAPJ appears within the active northern branch of the STEA, indicating that the EAPJ is the jet coexisting with the STEA. Further analysis shows two anomalous modes of the winter EAPJ: the anomalous anticyclonic/cyclonic circulation and the weakened/strengthened local westerly wind. The large-scale circulation anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere related to the first mode are concentrated in the Eurasian mid to high latitudes, and are also influenced by the anomalous circulation in the upstream area. When the local westerly wind over the EAPJ region is weakened/strengthened, the westerly jet in the eastern part of the EASJ and that in the western Pacific region show opposite variations. The corresponding anomalous atmospheric circulation demonstrates the Eurasian (EU) pattern. The EAPJ anomalies are also closely linked with the STEA anomalies over East Asia. The anomalies in the northern branch of the STEA propagate as a wave train along its axis into the East Asian coastal waters, and then migrate eastward to the oceanic region. However, the ones near the southern branch are trapped over the eastern part of East Asia and its coastal waters at 200 hPa.     

冬季乌拉尔山阻塞与东亚冬季风的联系分析

利用美国国家环境预报中心和美国大气科学研究中心(NCEP/NCAR)1948/1949~2012/2013年的逐日再分析资料,从年际变化和季节内演变两种时间尺度分析了冬季乌拉尔山阻塞与东亚冬季风的联系。结果表明,从年际变化角度,东亚冬季风综合指数(EAWMII)与冬季乌拉尔山阻塞频数显著相关,且两者的线性趋势与周期一致。当乌拉尔山阻塞频繁发生时,对流层中层西伯利亚反气旋异常,东亚大槽加深;对流层低层表现为贝加尔湖及东亚沿岸北风显著加强,中亚和东亚大部分地区地表温度降低,东亚冬季风较常年加强。乌拉尔山阻塞的由强盛到崩溃的过程对应着西伯利亚高压由加强到减弱东移的季节内演变,850 h Pa风场对应为异常北风由贝加尔湖以北逐渐影响至低纬度菲律宾以东的演变特征。     

Effects of atmosphere-ocean interaction on the interannual variability of winter temperature in Taiwan and East Asia

 This study investigated the ocean-atmosphere interaction effect on the winter surface air temperature in Taiwan. Temperature fluctuations in Taiwan and marine East Asia correlated better with a SST dipole in the western North Pacific than the SST in the central/eastern equatorial Pacific. During the warm (cold) winters, a positive (negative) SST anomaly appears in marine East Asia and a negative (positive) SST anomaly appears in the Philippine Sea. The corresponding low-level atmospheric circulation is a cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomaly over the East Asian continent and an anticyclonic (cyclonic) circulation in the Philippine Sea during the warm (cold) winters. Based on the results of both numerical and empirical studies, it is proposed that a vigorous ocean-atmosphere interaction occurring in the western North Pacific modulates the strength of the East Asian winter monsoon and the winter temperature in marine East Asia. The mechanism is described as follows. The near-surface circulation anomalies, which are forced by the local SST anomaly, strengthen (weaken) the northeasterly trade winds in the Philippine Sea and weaken (strengthen) the northeasterly winter monsoon in East Asia during warm (cold) winters. The anomalous circulation causes the SST to fluctuate by modulating the heat flux at the ocean surface. The SST anomaly in turn enhances the anomalous circulation. Such an ocean-atmosphere interaction results in the rapid development of the anomalous circulation in the western North Pacific and the anomalous winter temperature in marine East Asia. This interaction is phase-locked with the seasonal cycle and occurs most efficiently in the boreal winters. Received: 22 October 1999 / Accepted: 5 June 2000     

Influence of the NAO on Wintertime Surface Air Temperature over East Asia: Multidecadal Variability and Decadal Prediction

In this paper,we investigate the influence of the winter NAO on the multidecadal variability of winter East Asian surface air temperature(EASAT)and EASAT decadal prediction.The observational analysis shows that the winter EASAT and East Asian minimum SAT(EAmSAT)display strong in-phase fluctuations and a significant 60-80-year multidecadal variability,apart from a long-term warming trend.The winter EASAT experienced a decreasing trend in the last two decades,which is consistent with the occurrence of extremely cold events in East Asia winters in recent years.The winter NAO leads the detrended winter EASAT by 12-18 years with the greatest significant positive correlation at the lead time of 15 years.Further analysis shows that ENSO may affect winter EASAT interannual variability,but does not affect the robust lead relationship between the winter NAO and EASAT.We present the coupled oceanic-atmospheric bridge(COAB)mechanism of the NAO influences on winter EASAT multidecadal variability through its accumulated delayed effect of~15 years on the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation(AMO)and Africa-Asia multidecadal teleconnection(AAMT)pattern.An NAO-based linear model for predicting winter decadal EASAT is constructed on the principle of the COAB mechanism,with good hindcast performance.The winter EASAT for 2020-34 is predicted to keep on fluctuating downward until~2025,implying a high probability of occurrence of extremely cold events in coming winters in East Asia,followed by a sudden turn towards sharp warming.The predicted 2020/21 winter EASAT is almost the same as the 2019/20 winter.     

大样本初始化十年际预测试验（CESM-DPLE）对东亚夏季气候预测的评估

基于气温和降水观测资料以及美国国家环境预报中心/国家大气研究中心（NCEP/NCAR）大气再分析资料,系统评估了大样本初始化十年际预测试验（CESM-DPLE）对1959—2016年东亚夏季气候预测的能力。结果表明,CESM-DPLE能较好地模拟东亚夏季气候以及相关主要大气环流系统的基本态特征,在年际尺度上对东亚气温有很高的预测技巧但对降水几乎没有预测能力。CESM-DPLE再现了北大西洋多年代际振荡（AMO）经由激发遥相关波列所引起的中高纬度大气环流、东亚夏季风和气候的异常。20世纪90年代末之后,北大西洋多年代际振荡由冷位相转为暖位相,遥相关波列位相调整,东亚受异常低压控制,东亚夏季风偏强,夏季气温偏高、降水偏多。总体上,尽管还存在着不足,但CESM-DPLE对东亚夏季温度年际变化以及与20世纪90年代末北大西洋多年代际振荡位相转变相联的东亚夏季气候年代际变化具备一定的预测能力,是目前研究和预测东亚气候变化的一套较好试验数据。      

DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF ANOMALOUS SURFACE SENSIBLE HEAT FLUX IN THE TIBETAN PLATEAU AND ITS VICINITY ON THE EAST ASIAN WINTER MONSOON*

Based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis monthly data,the relation between the surface sensible heat flux,(SHTFL) in the Tibetan Plateau and its vicinity and the East Asian winter monsoon is revealed as follows:on the inter-annual and longer time scales,the difference between SHTFL anomalies in the east and southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau last spring has influence on the East Asian winter monsoon,that is,SHTFL anomaly in the east of the Tibetan Plateau was positive and that in the southern slope was negative last spring,then the East Asian winter monsoon would become more vigorous,and vice versa.Both the most significant period of the difference between SHTFL anomalies in the east and southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau and that of the East Asian winter monsoon index are 2 to 4-year time scales.On the 2 to 4-year time scales,the heterogeneous spatial distribution of SHTFL anomalies in the east and southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau last spring has effect on the East Asian winter monsoon,after SHTFL anomaly in the east of the Tibetan Plateau was positive and that in the southern slope was negative last spring,then the East Asian winter monsoon would be more powerful,and vice versa.The lag influence of the difference of SHTFL anomalies in the east and southern slope of the Tibetan Plateau on the East Asian winter monsoon brings into effect mainly on 2 to 4-year time scales.In the end an reasonable explanation for their relationship has been discussed.     

Influence of Low-frequency Solar Forcing on the East Asian Winter Monsoon Based on HadCM3 and Observations

In this study, we investigate the influence of low-frequency solar forcing on the East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM)by analyzing a four-member ensemble of 600-year simulations performed with Had CM3(Hadley Centre Coupled Model,version 3). We find that the EAWM is strengthened when total solar irradiance(TSI) increases on the multidecadal time scale. The model results indicate that positive TSI anomalies can result in the weakening of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, causing negative sea surface temperature(SST) anomalies in the North Atlantic. Especially for the subtropical North Atlantic, the negative SST anomalies can excite an anomalous Rossby wave train that moves from the subtropical North Atlantic to the Greenland Sea and finally to Siberia. In this process, the positive sea-ice feedback over the Greenland Sea further enhances the Rossby wave. The wave train can reach the Siberian region, and strengthen the Siberian high. As a result, low-level East Asian winter circulation is strengthened and the surface air temperature in East Asia decreases. Overall,when solar forcing is stronger on the multidecadal time scale, the EAWM is typically stronger than normal. Finally, a similar linkage can be observed between the EAWM and solar forcing during the period 1850–1970.     

2009年秋至2010年春我国西南地区严重干旱的成因分析

我国西南地区从2009年秋季到2010年春季发生了严重干旱,这次干旱无论持续时间和发生区域或降水减少程度都是近50年来所罕见的,因而本文利用ERA-40再分析资料和海温资料从热带西太平洋和热带印度洋热力异常对热带西太平洋和南亚上空大气环流的影响来分析了这次西南地区干旱发生的成因。分析结果表明:从2009年秋到2010年春季,热带西太平洋和热带印度洋处于升温状态,它使得热带西太平洋上空产生反气旋异常环流,造成了西南气流异常在我国东南沿海加强,而华南和华中地区上空处于低槽控制,因而在高原东部为槽后西北气流和下沉气流所控制,造成了从孟加拉湾来的水汽很难到达云贵高原,从而引起了此区域降水长期偏少。并且,分析结果还表明了中高纬度地区的环流异常对此次严重干旱也有重要影响。由于从2009年冬季到2010年春季中高纬度准定常行星波传播的极地波导偏强,而低纬波导偏弱,这导致波的E-P通量在60°N附近对流层和平流层为辐合,而在35°N附近对流层中、上层为辐散,从而引起纬向平均西风在60°N附近对流层和平流层减弱,而在35°N附近对流层中、上层加强,造成了北极涛动(AO)为很大的负值。由于AO为负值,东亚冬季冷空气活动强且路径偏东,使得到达西南地区冷空气偏弱,从而引起西南地区持续性严重干旱的发生。     

近百年东亚冬季气温及其大气环流变化型态

利用最新20世纪近百年再分析气象资料,研究近百年东亚冬季气温变化型及其相关的大气环流型态.结果表明近百年内东亚冬季气温主要有两种变化型:第一是东亚西南与东北相反气温变化型,表现在40°N以南及105°E以西地区(西南地区)气温变化与40°N以北及105°E以东地区(东北地区)变化相反;第二是40°N以南气温一致变化型.与第一种气温变化型耦合的大气模态是500hPa欧亚型遥相关、西伯利亚高压及北大西洋涛动.当欧亚型遥相关负位相,北大西洋涛动正位相及西伯利亚高压减弱时,有利于蒙古和我国105° E以东的区域增温而我国西南地区和青藏高原降温,反之亦然.第二种气温变化型耦合大气模态是500hPa西太平洋型遥相关,北太平洋涛动.当西太平洋型遥相关及北太平洋涛动处于正位相时(北太平洋北负南正),东亚40°N以南地区增温,东亚40°N以北地区降温.耦合的大气模态的型态差异,影响各阶段气温的年际变化.近一百年中,欧亚型遥相关和北大西洋涛动在1984～2010期间的型态最显著,是20世纪80年代东亚显著增暖的原因之一.研究还发现20世纪中期后东亚气温的年际变化与极地环流的变化联系紧密,表现在西伯利亚高压范围东扩并与极地环流联系,也是近百年气温趋势上升的一个原因.     

近22 a人为气溶胶对东亚地区夏季风环流影响的数值模拟研究

运用区域气候模式RegCM3耦合入一个化学过程,对东亚地区三类人为排放气溶胶（硫酸盐、黑碳和有机碳）的时空分布特征及其对夏季风环流的影响进行了数值模拟研究。模拟结果显示,气溶胶的引入会引起东亚地区夏季850 hPa风场发生改变,我国江淮以东洋面上空出现了一个气旋式距平环流中心,中心以西的偏北风气流将削弱东亚地区夏季西南季风。通过讨论春季中国地区气溶胶浓度与夏季东亚地区850 hPa经向风的时滞关系,以及夏季中国地区气溶胶浓度与同期东亚地区850 hPa经向风的关系,可以发现,春、夏季中国地区气溶胶浓度均与夏季东亚地区850 hPa经向风有很好的负相关关系,当春季中国北方和夏季中国南方地区气溶胶浓度增加时,中国东部地区夏季偏南季风减弱。这可能与气溶胶改变了大气层顶和地表的辐射强迫,进而引起了海陆气压差异和位势高度场的变化有关。     

Possible Impacts of the Arctic Oscillation on the Interdecadal Variation of Summer Monsoon Rainfall in East Asia

The influences of the wintertime AO (Arctic Oscillation) on the interdecadal variation of summer monsoon rainfall in East Asia were examined. An interdecadal abrupt change was found by the end of the 1970s in the variation of the AO index and the leading principal component time series of the summer rainfall in East Asia, The rainfall anomaly changed from below normal to above normal in central China, the southern part of northeastern China and the Korean peninsula around 1978. However,the opposite interdecadal variation was found in the rainfall anomaly in North China and South China.The interdecadal variation of summer rainfall is associated with the weakening of the East Asia summer monsoon circulation. It is indicated that the interdecadal variation of the AO exerts an influence on the weakening of the monsoon circulation. The recent trend in the AO toward its high-index polarity during the past two decades plays important roles in the land-sea contrast anomalies and wintertime precipitation anomaly. The mid- and high-latitude regions of the Asian continent are warming, while the low-latitude regions are cooling in winter and spring along with the AO entering its high-index polarity after the late 1970s. In the meantime, the precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau and South China is excessive, implying an increase of soil moisture. The cooling tendency of the land in the southern part of Asia will persist until summer because of the memory of soil moisture. So the warming of the Asian continent is relatively slow in summer. Moreover, the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean which are located southward and eastward of the Asian land, are warming from winter to summer. This suggests that the contrast between the land and sea is decreased in summer. The interdecadal decrease of the land-sea heat contrast finally leads to the weakening of the East Asia summer monsoon circulation.