FIRST TRANSITION OF THE CIRCULATIONS IN ASIA AROUND MID－MAY FROM 7－YEAR MEAN ECMWF DATA

The time evolution of the general circulation over the South China Sea and surrounding areas during the period from April to June is studied using ECMWF data of 1980-1986. The first transition from the second (6-10 May ) to the third (11-15 May ) pentads is characterized by the distinct change of low-level (850 hpa ) winds from southeasterlies to southwesterlies along 15°N over the South China Sea, and by the sudden movement of the center of South Asian high in the upper troposphere (200 hpa ) from 10-15°N to 15-20°N over Southeast Asia. Corresponding to the abrupt change in circulations, the gradients of the temperature and humidity intensity along latitudes center on 30°N over East Asia at 850 hpa. The time sequence of the 850- 200 hpa layer thickness shows that the layer-mean temperature over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau-East China Plain region increases abruptly at the same time. The corresponding sudden increase of the vertically integrated heat source over the warming areas reveals that the heat source plays an evident role in the drastic changes. The time series of over the northern part of the South China Sea shows that the drastic increase of the areamean is also found but it is 5-10 days late than the change of corresponding wind fields. The time series of Xisha SST shows a continuous increase to about 29. 5°until May 10 when the abrupt changes in circulation occur.