Controls on precipitation distributions in Sri Lanka

Summary The rainfall patterns and regions of the monsoonal island of Sri Lanka have been investigated. On the basis of quality-controlled monthly rainfall data from 110 gauges for the period 1931–60, three major homogeneous rainfall regions were derived based on a variety of rainfall parameters using cluster and discriminant analysis. For each of these regions, identified as the South-west Monsoon (SWM), the Northeast Monsoon (NEM) and the Inter-monsoon II (IMII) regions, multiple regression methods were used to determine the geographical factors influencing the spatial patterns of rainfall. For the NEM and IMII regions, the level of explanation as indicated by the coefficients of multiple determination were reasonable with values generally above 0.60. For the SWM region, the level of explanation was much lower at about 0.20. Examination of the residuals of the regression equations demonstrated the significance of local factors in influencing the patterns of rainfall distribution in Sri Lanka.With 6 Figures     

Oscillatory behavior of monsoon rainfall over Sri Lanka during the late 19th and 20th centuries and its relationships to SSTs in the Indian Ocean and ENSO

Summary In this study, we have analyzed the temporal oscillations of precipitation in meso-scale zones of Sri Lanka to examine potential existence of periodic oscillatory behavior in rainfall. Only a few statistically significant cycles were identified: a 3.5-year cycle in most of central Sri Lanka during the January–March rainfall regime and a cycle of the same length in southwestern Sri Lanka during the October regime. A 2.1-year cycle marks the northeastern parts of Sri Lanka during the December/April contrast rainfall regime. This cycle is shown to be strongly related to Quasi-Biennial Oscillation. October and November rainfall are found to be coupled with ENSO fluctuations, and on average, more than 900 mm more rainfall is observed per month over all stations during El Ni?o than during La Ni?a years. Analysis of relationships between the observed meso-scale rainfall regions and the Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) in the Indian Ocean north of the Equator showed that the northern Indian Ocean can be divided into three particular regions based on similarity in the SST fluctuations: (a) a region with cool upwelling water, (b) non upwelling water, and (c) the Indian Ocean Warm Pool. We found that there are no statistically significant relationships between the observed SST regions in the Indian Ocean and the meso-scale precipitation patterns in Sri Lanka.     

On the recent strengthening of the relationship between ENSO and northeast monsoon rainfall over South Asia

The southeastern parts of India and Sri Lanka receive substantial rainfall from the northeast monsoon (NEM) during October through December. The interannual variability in NEM rainfall is known to be significantly influenced by the El-Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Unlike the southwest monsoon (SWM), the NEM rainfall is enhanced during the warm ENSO events, and vice versa. In the context of the recent weakening of the inverse relationship between Southwest Monsoon (SWM) and ENSO, we examine the secular variations in the positive relationship between ENSO and NEM rainfall over South Asia, showing that their relationship has strengthened over the recent years. Based on the analysis of GISST, IMD/CRU precipitation and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, we suggest that this secular variation of the relationship is due to epochal changes in the tropospheric circulation associated with ENSO over the region.     

西南季风期间斯里兰卡降水的年代际、年际变化及其与热带印度洋的联系

本文主要研究了1979—2016期间斯里兰卡在西南季风期间降水的年代际、年际变化以及与印度洋海温的联系.首先用经验正交的方法分析了斯里兰卡以及周边地区降水的时空分布,发现前两个模态能够解释超过70%的方差.其中第一模态为均一模态,且其PC1以及斯里兰卡7 a滑动平均降水序列都有年代际变化,降水异常在2000年前后异常偏多和偏少.通过合成分析发现2000年之后降水的异常减少与热带西部、中部印度洋的暖海温异常有关.暖海温异常通过调整经向环流引起了斯里兰卡上空的下沉运动,抑制了降水.在第二模态中,负的信号出现在斯里兰卡大部分地区,只有在斯里兰卡北部海角很小地区出现了正的信号.PC2表现出了年际变化,且与热带东南印度洋海温异常有显著的关系.通过Gill-Matsuno响应,热带东南印度洋海温异常造成热带北印度洋上空的气旋性环流异常,引起了水汽的辐合,从而利于降水.     

Persistence in rainfall occurrence over Tropical south-east Asia and equatorial Pacific

Summary Daily rainfall observations during the principal rainy seasons over a large part of Tropical Asia and the equatorial Pacific are analysed for persistence by fitting Markov chains of various order. Daily rainfall data of 98 stations from India, Sri Lanka and Thailand falling in the monsoonal regime and 9 stations in the non-monsoonal regime of the equatorial Pacific are examined.The appropriate order of Markov chain is determined by analyzing wet and dry spell length characteristics and by applying the Schwarz Baysian Criterion to the arbitrary sequences of 5-day length. Markov chains of order greater than 1 are found to characterize the persistence in rainfall over India and to some extent over wet zones of Sri Lanka and central equatorial Pacific. Simple Markov chains are suggested for Thailand, the dry zone of Sri Lanka and the stations of central equatorial Pacific lying some what away from the equator.With 5 Figures     

斯里兰卡南部西向沿岸流在西南季风期间的动力学研究

北半球夏季,北印度洋环流主要受到西南季风流控制,将热带印度洋水体从西向东进行跨海盆输运,然而在斯里兰卡南部沿岸存在一支与西南季风流方向相反的西向沿岸流,即南斯里兰卡沿岸流（SSLCC）.本文主要利用ECCO2资料进行南斯里兰卡沿岸流的动力学特征研究.结果表明,SSLCC的形成和孟加拉湾局地环流密切相关.当斯里兰卡穹顶区（SLD）环流偏强时,斯里兰卡南部形成局地气旋式涡旋,斯里兰卡东部沿岸流在SLD西部向南流动,随着气旋式涡旋北部转向西流形成强的SSLCC.相比之下,SLD较弱时,沿岸流仅存在斯里兰卡东部沿岸,斯里兰卡东部沿岸流无法向西转向,SSLCC和西南季风流一起向东流动,其可能的主要原因是局地风应力对SLD产生的强度影响.研究还表明,SLD强度对SSLCC流向和强度有着重要影响.     

An objective classification of homogeneous rainfall regimes in Sri Lanka

Summary Homogeneous rainfall regimes in Sri Lanka have been devised through multivariate statistical techniques. The nature of previous subjective classifications are reviewed and the need for an objective classification is stressed. Each of the major classifications of rainfall regimes, micro, meso and macro, throw new light on our understanding of the climates of Sri Lanka. New boundaries between dry/wet and dry/arid zones have emerged and are compared with previous examples. Three rainfall dominance regimes are also identified. Finally a brief account of the micro scale rainfall regimes is given.With 5 Figures     

Factors controlling January�CApril rainfall over southern India and Sri Lanka

Most of the annual rainfall over India occurs during the Southwest (June?CSeptember) and Northeast (October?CDecember) monsoon periods. In March 2008, however, Southern peninsular India and Sri Lanka received the largest rainfall anomaly on record since 1979, with amplitude comparable to summer-monsoon interannual anomalies. This anomalous rainfall appeared to be modulated at intraseasonal timescale by the Madden Julian Oscillation, and was synchronous with a decaying La Ni?a event in the Pacific Ocean. Was this a coincidence or indicative of a teleconnection pattern? In this paper, we explore factors controlling rainfall over southern India and Sri Lanka between January and April, i.e. outside of the southwest and northeast monsoons. This period accounts for 20% of annual precipitation over Sri Lanka and 10% over the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Interannual variability is strong (about 40% of the January?CApril climatology). Intraseasonal rainfall anomalies over southern India and Sri Lanka are significantly associated with equatorial eastward propagation, characteristic of the Madden Julian Oscillation. At the interannual timescale, we find a clear connection with El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO); with El Ni?os being associated with decreased rainfall (correlation of ?0.46 significant at the 98% level). There is also a significant link with local SST anomalies over the Indian Ocean, and in particular with the inter-hemispheric sea surface temperature (SST) gradient over the Indian Ocean (with colder SST south of the equator being conducive to more rainfall, correlation of 0.55 significant at the 99% level). La Ni?as/cold SSTs south of the equator tend to have a larger impact than El Ni?os. We discuss two possible mechanisms that could explain these statistical relationships: (1) subsidence over southern India remotely forced by Pacific SST anomalies; (2) impact of ENSO-forced regional Indian Ocean SST anomalies on convection. However, the length of the observational record does not allow distinguishing between these two mechanisms in a statistically significant manner.     

动力延伸预报产品在辽宁短期气候预测中的释用

基于1961～2000年辽宁53个测站40 a逐年的月气温距平和月降水距平百分率资料,根据EOF(经验正交函数)展开的空间特征向量分布特征,将前3个主要特征向量时间系数作为预报量,将500 hPa高度场的高度距平、地转涡度作为预报因子,利用多元统计回归分析,建立了一套定点、定量预测辽宁各月气温与降水量的数学模型。利用该模型对2001~2005年辽宁53个测站的月气温距平和月降水距平百分率进行逐月预报试验。结果表明:对气温和降水量的趋势预报的评分均比较好,有87%以上的月气温距平预测结果的评分超过66.0分,各月的平均Ps评分均高于66.0分,年平均为75.5分或以上,总平均为83.1分;有70%的月降水距平百分率预测结果的Ps评分超过60.0分,各月的平均Ps评分都高于53.0分,年平均为58.0分以上,总平均为66.5分。但对异常气候的预测效果不明显。     

Intraseasonal oscillation of the southwest monsoon over Sri Lanka and evaluation of its subseasonal forecast skill

斯里兰卡的雨季发生于5-9月间,主要受西南季风的控制.本文发现该地区的西南季风降水存在很强的次季节变率,主导周期为10-35天.降水的季节内变化与西传的异常气旋有关.进一步,利用S2S比较计划中欧洲中心的数值预报模式(ECMWF)提供的回报试验数据,评估了当今动力模式对斯里兰卡西南季风次季节变化的预报技巧.结果显示,对季风指数的预测技巧超过30天,而对降水指数的预测技巧大约两周,且模式的预报技巧具有明显的年际差异.分析表明,能否正确模拟出大尺度环流对热带对流的响应是影响斯里兰卡降水预测的重要因子.     

季风湿润区冬季水汽收支年际及年代际变化特征

采用1958—2007年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和我国160站降水资料,对东亚大陆季风湿润区冬季的水汽收支变化与大气环流和我国降水异常特征的关系进行研究。结果表明:冬季水汽收支时间序列表现出明显的长期气候变化趋势。挑选的水汽收支高、低值年不仅能够指示季风湿润区经向风的异常变化,还能够指示东亚冬季风的强弱和降水的异常变化。高值年,蒙古冷高压和阿留申低压偏弱,对流层低层为异常偏南风,整层为异常逆时针环流,30°N以南的辐合和上升运动强,大气水分收入增多,降水增加;低值年则相反。差值合成的异常降水量中心值可达40 mm以上,差值合成的水汽异常输入主要集中在600~900 hPa。合成的经向水汽收支占净收支变化的91.3%,纬向上相差较小。季风湿润区南、北区域的水汽收支及降水的差异明显,纬向的收入支出对此差异贡献较大。水汽收支的年代际特征,不仅能够指示水汽输送的强弱及从海洋输入水汽的多少,还能够指示季风湿润区降水的变化,且差值合成的异常降水量最大可达30 mm以上。     

冬季赤道西太平洋环流状况与后期亚洲季风

基于月平均NCEP再分析资料(1958～1997年)以及中国336个台站月降水总量(195l～1994年),通过合成、相关以及统计显著性检验方法,研究了赤道西太平洋区域冬季环流状况与后期春夏季亚洲(东亚和南亚)季风环流变化的关系.研究结果表明,冬季赤道西太平洋环流状况对后期南亚季风和东亚季风以及我国夏季降水均有显著的滞后影响.冬季赤道西太平洋海域海平面气压偏高(低),对应反气旋(气旋)性环流异常,致使后期东亚和南亚夏季风均偏弱(强)以及我国长江流域夏季降水偏多(少),揭示了实施这种滞后影响的一般特征.     

Characteristics of the Mean Water Vapor Transport over Monsoon Asia

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青藏高原及周围地区大气可降水量的分布、变化与各地多变的降水气候

为了更深入地分析青藏高原及邻近各地多变的降水气候,利用NCEP 1958—1997年月平均比湿、风及高度等再分析资料及我国实测雨量资料等,整体地分析了高原及周围地区气柱可降水量的多年平均特征及其季节变化,也分析了我国南北方大气可降水量的年代际变化和华北及西北区东部干湿年夏季可降水量的差异等。结果表明,高原及周围地区的气柱可降水量有明显的地区及季节变化。本区域内以南亚和东亚夏季风区的可降水量最高,夏季可达60mm或以上;青藏高原上的可降水量最低,冬季为3mm左右。东亚和南亚季风区可降水量的冬夏季节变化最大,夏季的可降水量达冬季值的4倍。华北区干湿夏季的可降水量差异明显,湿年的可降水量可增加20％以上。近40年来华北和西北区东部夏季的气柱可降水量明显减少,而长江流域及江南地区20世纪80年代以来可降水量却部分增加了,呈北干南湿之势,遂形成我国降水北旱南涝的分布格局。这可能与东亚夏季风逐渐趋弱,特别是撤退期逐渐提前有关。另外,我国各地夏季可降水量的平均降水转化率也明显不同,青藏高原上最高,东亚季风区次之,而南疆盆地最低,这也影响了我国多变的降水气候。     

青藏高原汛期降水的时空分布特征

根据1967～2008年青藏高原地区67个气象台站的月平均降水资料,利用线性趋势分析、EOF分解和Morlet小波变换等方法分析了青藏高原地区汛期(5～9月)降水的时空分布特征.结果表明:青藏高原汛期降水存在明显的区域性差异,EOF分解揭示出青藏高原汛期存在3种主要的空间分布型:南北反向型、全区一致型和东南-西北反向型...     

Seasonal prediction of Indian summer monsoon in NCEP coupled and uncoupled model

This study has identified probable factors that govern ISMR predictability. Furthermore, extensive analysis has been performed to evaluate factors leading to the predictability aspect of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) using uncoupled and coupled version of National Centers for Environmental Prediction Coupled Forecast System (CFS). It has been found that the coupled version (CFS) has outperformed the uncoupled version [Global Forecast System (GFS)] of the model in terms of prediction of rainfall over Indian land points. Even the spatial distribution of rainfall is much better represented in the CFS as compared to that of GFS. Even though these model skills are inadequate for the reliable forecasting of monsoon, it imparts the capacious knowledge about the model fidelity. The mean monsoon features and its evolution in terms of rainfall and large-scale circulation along with the zonal and meridional shear of winds, which govern the strength of the monsoon, are relatively closer to the observation in the CFS as compared to the GFS. Furthermore, sea surface temperature–rainfall relation is fairly realistic and intense in the coupled version of the model (CFS). It is found that the CFS is able to capture El Niño Southern Oscillation ISMR (ENSO-ISMR) teleconnections much strongly as compared to GFS; however, in the case of Indian Ocean Dipole ISMR teleconnections, GFS has the larger say. Coupled models have to be fine-tuned for the prediction of the transition of El Niño as well as the strength of the mature phase has to be improved. Thus, to sum up, CFS tends to have better predictive skill on account of following three factors: (a) better ability to replicate mean features, (b) comparatively better representation of air–sea interactions, and (c) much better portrayal of ENSO-ISMR teleconnections. This study clearly brings out that coupled model is the only way forward for improving the ISMR prediction skill. However, coupled model’s spurious representation of SST variability and mean model bias are detrimental in seasonal prediction.     

Probabilities and distribution of monsoon rainfall in normal, flood and drought years over India

Summary The paper deals with the variability of summer-monsoon rainfall during normal, flood and drought years over India. During flood years the monsoon rainfall increases mostly all over parts of the country and large area less than 100 cm isohytel covers Orissa and adjoining Madhya Pradesh. During drought years the rainfall amount decreases over the entire country and isohytel of 100 cm shrinks to almost a point. The variability of monsoon rainfall from flood to normal to drought years depends upon the number of depression/low-pressure area which form over the North Bay and move inland. To understand the intraseasonal and interannual variability of the monsoon rainfall, daily and seasonal anomalies has been performed by using the Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis. Further Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis is carried out on these data to find out the nature of rainfall distribution in different monsoon categories namely normal, flood and drought years. This technique thus serves to identify spatial and temporal patterns characteristics of possible physical significance. Received July 25, 2000/Revised September 26, 2000     

On the relations of the rainfall variability and distribution with the mean rainfall over India

Summary Along with averages, rainfall variability and distribution are important climatological information. In this study, using 114 years (1871–1984) data of 306 stations, it is demonstrated that the variability and spatial distribution of annual, summer monsoon and monthly rainfall are highly dependent upon the respective period mean rainfall variation over India. The magnitude of three selected absolute measures of variability, e.g. standard deviation, absolute mean deviation and mean absolute interannual variability is found to increase linearly with mean rainfall.In order to describe the relation between the rainfall frequency distribution and the mean rainfall, a linear regression between the rainfall amount expected with a specified exceedance/non-exceedance probability and the mean rainfall amount is presented. Highly significant linear curves for a large number of probabilities specified in an average probability diagram clearly demonstrate the dependence of the rainfall frequency distribution on mean rainfall over India.With 8 Figures     

DERF产品在江西汛期降水预测中的释用

利用T63月动力延伸预报DERF模式输出的北半球500hPa位势高度场资料和江西省83站逐月降水量实况资料,运用EOF迭代方法对江西省2005-2009年汛期4-6月逐月降水距平百分率进行解释应用预测试验.结果表明,预测模型对江西汛期降水趋势预测的评估效果比较好.月降水距平百分率的预测Ps评分总体平均为72%,平均距平...     

Large scale aspects of India-China summer monsoon rainfall

This study investigates the dominant modes of variability in monthly and seasonal rainfall over the India-China region mainly through Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis. The EOFs have shown that whereas the rain-fall over India varies as one coherent zone, that over China varies in east-west oriented bands. The influence of this banded structure extends well into India.Relationship of rainfall with large scale parameters such as the subtropical ridge over the Indian and the western Pacific regions, Southern Oscillation, the Northern Hemispheric surface air temperature and stratospheric winds have also been investigated. These results show that the rainfall over the area around 40oN, 110oE over China is highly related with rainfall over India. The subtropical ridge over the Indian region is an important predictor over India as well as over the northern China legion.