Observed and GCM simulated decadal variability of monsoon rainfall in east China

Variability and associated mechanisms of summer rainfall over east China are identified and described using both observations and a general circulation model (GCM) simulation. The observations include two data sets: the 90-station, 1470–1988 annual drought/flood index and the 60-station, 1889–1988 monthly mean precipitation measurements. The GCM data set is a 100-year equilibrium simulation of the present climate. Spectra of the drought/flood index indicate decadal cycles which decrease from north (47 y) to south (21 y). Correlation coefficients show decadal variability in the relationship between index values along the Yangtse River valley and those over northeast and southeast China. Analysis of the measured data confirms this result; for example, the correlation was small during 1889–1918, but significantly negative during 1930–1959. When compared with precipitation measurements, the GCM better simulates monthly means and variances along the Yangtse River valley. Three distinct 30-year periods of interannual variability in summer rainfall are found over this area. During each period, rainfall is negatively correlated with spring surface temperature over a remote region and is identified with variations in a specific component of the east Asian monsoon circulation: (1) when Eurasian temperatures decrease, the thermal contrast across the Mei-Yu front increases and frontal rainfall intensities; (2) lower temperatures over the Sea of Japan/northwest Pacific Ocean are identified with enhanced easterly flow, moisture transport and rainfall; (3) when tropical east Pacific Ocean temperatures decrease, rainfall associated with the low latitude monsoon trough increases. Given that the GCM generates decadal changes in the relationship between the physical mechanisms, the east Asian monsoon and planetary general circulations and east China rainfall, future studies should focus on the predictability of these changes with the use of improved and much longer GCM simulations.     

格点降水资料在中国东部夏季降水变率研究中的适用性

本文使用1951~2010年PREC、CRU、APHRO和GPCC 4种格点降水资料,通过比较其与中国756站点观测降水资料在中国东部(105°E以东)夏季降水变率中的差异,检验和评估了它们的可靠性和适用性。结果表明:中国东部夏季降水变率的前3个主要模态分别是以江淮流域、长江流域和华北与东北南部为核心的经向多中心分布,有明显的年际和年代际变率特征,且干旱特征较洪涝更明显;长江流域夏季降水异常的主周期为3~7 a和20~50 a,而江淮流域和华北地区夏季降水异常的主周期则为准2 a和准10 a。另外,长江与江淮流域和华南地区分别在1970s末和1990s初发生了显著的年代际转变;4种格点降水资料都能很好地再现中国东部夏季降水的时空变率特征,但由于GPCC格点降水资料是基于更多的基站观测和更精细复杂的质量控制方案得到的,因此它具有更高的可靠性。     

A possible abrupt change in summer precipitation over eastern China around 2009

Historical studies have shown that summer rainfall in eastern China undergoes decadal variations, with three apparent changes in the late 1970s, 1992, and the late 1990s. The present observational study indicates that summer precipitation over eastern China likely underwent a change in the late 2000s, during which the main spatial pattern changed from negative–positive–negative to positive–negative in the meridional direction. This change in summer precipitation over eastern China may have been associated with circulation anomalies in the middle/upper troposphere. A strong trough over Lake Baikal created a southward flow of cold air during 2009–15, compared with 1999–2008, while the westward recession of the western Pacific subtropical high strengthened the moisture transport to the north, creating conditions that were conducive for more rainfall in the north during this period. The phase shift of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation in the late 2000s led to the Pacific–Japan-type teleconnection wave train shifting from negative to positive phases, resulting in varied summer precipitation over eastern China.     

Influence of internal decadal variability on the summer rainfall in Eastern China as simulated by CCSM4

The combined impact of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation(AMO) on the summer rainfall in eastern China was investigated using CCSM4. The strongest signals occur with the combination of a positive PDO and a negative AMO(+PDO- AMO), as well as a negative PDO and a positive AMO(-PDO + AMO). For the +PDO- AMO set, significant positive rainfall anomalies occur over the lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley(YR),when the East Asian summer monsoon becomes weaker, while the East Asian westerly jet stream becomes stronger, and ascending motion over the YR becomes enhanced due to the jet-related secondary circulation. Contrary anomalies occur over East Asia for the-PDO + AMO set. The influence of these two combinations of PDO and AMO on the summer rainfall in eastern China can also be observed in the two interdecadal rainfall changes in eastern China in the late 1970 s and late 1990 s.     

RSM模式对中国东部夏季降水模拟能力的检验

本文利用美国国家环境预报中心NCEP(National Centers for Environmental Prediction)区域谱模式RSM(Regional Spectral Model)对中国东部地区夏季降水进行了为期20 a(1984—2003年)、水平分辨率为30 km的高精度模拟,并对模拟所得降水的气候态、年际变率、逐日变化以及极端事件进行了检验,和对造成降水偏差的大气环流特征进行了分析。结果表明RSM模拟所得夏季降水的空间分布、时间变率,以及降水量值都与实况相近,也基本可以再现夏季降水的年际变率分布情况,但是模拟所得的雨带存在偏南且偏弱的特点。对于逐日降水特征,RSM模拟所得季节内逐日降水变化与实况的走势基本一致,再现了夏季降水主要集中于东部和南部的特点,模拟出了江淮地区6月日降水区随时间北抬的特点。对于极端事件,模拟和实测的夏季不同雨强的天数分布对比表明模拟与实况基本接近,但是模拟的降水日大值中心较实况偏北;极端降水指数的计算结果也表明RSM模拟的极端降水情况与实况基本一致。综上,RSM模式对中国东部地区降水有着较好的模拟能力,可以用于中国东部地区的夏季降水气候特征研究。     

人类活动排放的CO2及气溶胶对20世纪70年代末中国东部夏季降水年代际转折的影响

全球变暖背景下,中国东部夏季降水在20世纪70年代末开始较19世纪呈现东北及长江中、下游地区多雨,华北及华南少雨的特征。与此同时,人类活动排放的CO₂及气溶胶量也发生了明显的年代际变化。文中利用地球系统耦合模式（CESM）诊断了中国东部夏季的水分收支对人类活动排放的CO₂及气溶胶年代际变化的响应。发现CO₂排放量增加后,江淮流域的水汽辐合以及中国南方的水汽辐散主要是与质量辐散有关的动力项及与湿度梯度相关的热力项共同作用的结果,但动力作用更显著。气溶胶效应则主要通过动力作用使得江淮流域水汽辐合,而中国南方地区水汽辐散。虽然CO₂和气溶胶对辐射量及温度的影响差别很大,但通过改变温度梯度,热成风效应产生的动力作用都会导致江淮流域上升运动增强,降水增多;而中国南方下沉运动显著,降水减少,与观测结果一致,且CO₂相较于气溶胶的影响更为显著,证实了20世纪70年代末人类活动对中国东部夏季降水年代际转折的影响。      

An Approach for Improving Short-Term Prediction of Summer Rainfall over North China by Decomposing Interannual and Decadal Variability简

A statistical downscaling approach was developed to improve seasonal-to-interannual prediction of summer rainfall over North China by considering the effect of decadal variability based on observational datasets and dynamical model outputs.Both predictands and predictors were first decomposed into interannual and decadal components.Two predictive equations were then built separately for the two distinct timescales by using multivariate linear regressions based on independent sample validation.For the interannual timescale,850-hPa meridional wind and 500-hPa geopotential heights from multiple dynamical models＇ hindcasts and SSTs from observational datasets were used to construct predictors.For the decadal timescale,two well-known basin-scale SST decadal oscillation （the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation） indices were used as predictors.Then,the downscaled predictands were combined to represent the predicted/hindcasted total rainfall.The prediction was compared with the models＇ raw hindcasts and those from a similar approach but without timescale decomposition.In comparison to hindcasts from individual models or their multi-model ensemble mean,the skill of the present scheme was found to be significantly higher,with anomaly correlation coefficients increasing from nearly neutral to over 0.4 and with RMSE decreasing by up to 0.6 mm d-1.The improvements were also seen in the station-based temporal correlation of the predictions with observed rainfall,with the coefficients ranging from-0.1 to 0.87,obviously higher than the models＇ raw hindcasted rainfall results.Thus,the present approach exhibits a great advantage and may be appropriate for use in operational predictions.     

2004年主汛期我国强对流天气灾害统计特征

利用1961-2015年江西省83个国家级气象观测站逐时降水资料,采用经验正交函数（EOF）和Morlet小波变换等方法,分析江西省短历时强降水时空分布特征,探讨当地短历时强降水与暴雨的关系。结果表明：（1）江西省短历时强降水极值与发生频次分布不匀,呈东多西少分布;全省短历时强降水发生频次变化一致,其中浙赣铁路沿线地区是其频次异常敏感区。（2）近55 a江西短历时强降水频次增加趋势明显,与江西区域性增暖呈正响应关系,该时段短历时强降水频次存在21 a和14 a左右年代际周期变化。（3）江西短历时强降水主要出现在4-9月,6月最多;其日变化4-7月呈双峰型,8-9月呈单峰型,强降水频次在16-17时最多。（4）江西短历时强降水与暴雨空间分布的高频中心相同,其相似系数达0.98;54.6%的短时强降水当日出现暴雨,尤其是凌晨至上午发生的短时强降水当日,暴雨概率高达69.2%~76.9%。

     

大尺度环流的年代际变化对初夏华南持续性暴雨的影响

利用1961-2010年中国逐日降水数据和NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料集,研究了大尺度环流的年代际变化对不同频发年代华南持续性暴雨的影响。结果表明,虽然过去50年里华南持续性暴雨的发生存在两个频发时段(20世纪60年代中期到70年代中期、20世纪90年代初到2010年),其典型环流配置都表现为中高纬度冷空气和低纬度充沛水汽的配合,但不同频发时段的大尺度环流配置明显不同,这种配置使得两个频发时段的暴雨发生特点有所不同,最近20年的暴雨发生次数更多,强度更强,持续时间更长。在频发的1964-1976年,高纬度的冷空气主要来自西西伯利亚上空深厚的低槽前部,而此时南亚高压偏弱,西太平洋副热带高压偏弱、偏东,低纬度的水汽主要来自孟加拉湾印缅低压槽前,可降水量偏小,但垂直速度较大,水汽辐合较旺盛,华南上空大气环流较不稳定;在频发的1991-2010年,鄂霍次克海上空附近的高压脊活跃,高纬度冷空气主要来自高压后部,低纬度西太平洋副热带高压偏强,位置偏西,其西北侧的水汽源源不断输送到华南上空,故可降水量增多,伴随着强大的南亚高压提供的良好的高层辐散条件,华南上空垂直速度增大,水汽辐合明显,强有利的环流配置导致1991-2010年华南持续性暴雨强度更大、范围更广。因此,大气环流的年代际转型使得华南持续性暴雨发生了巨大改变,故在未来做预测时应充分考虑不同年代际环流背景场对华南持续性暴雨的重要影响。     

Spatial and temporal variability of winter and summer precipitation over Serbia and Montenegro

Summary The main characteristics of the spatial and temporal variability of winter and summer precipitation observed at 30 stations in Serbia and Montenegro were analysed for the period 1951–2000. The rainfall series were examined spatially by means of Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) and temporally by means of the Mann-Kendall test and spectral analysis. The Alexandersson test was used to detect the inhomogeneity of the data set.The EOF analysis gave three winter and summer dominant modes of variations, which explained 89.7% and 70.4% of the variance, respectively. The time series associated with the first pattern showed a decreasing trend in winter precipitation. The spectral analysis showed a 16-year oscillation for the dominant winter pattern, around a 3-year oscillation for the dominant summer pattern, and a quasi-cycle of 2.5 years for the winter third pattern.     

Seasonal evolution of the intraseasonal variability of China summer precipitation

Climate Dynamics - Seasonal cycle of China summer precipitation has significant impacts on its subseasonal predictability; yet current understanding of seasonal evolution of the intraseasonal...     

华东地区夏季不同等级降水变化特征分析

采用华东地区78个气象站点逐日降水资料,根据日降水量的5个等级划分,应用线性趋势分析、相关分析等分析了不同等级降水频率和降水量的空间分布及其变化趋势。结果表明:(1)夏季不同等级降水频率在整个华东地区具有明显的地区差异,区域平均的降水频率由大到小依次为小雨、微量降水、中雨、大雨、暴雨。(2)平均的夏季总降水量呈南多北少的分布,各等级降水对总降水量的贡献率由大到小依次为暴雨、大雨、中雨、小雨,暴雨对夏季总降水量的贡献在某些年份可达50%以上。(3)区域平均的夏季降水日数呈下降趋势,但总降水量却有明显的增大趋势。(4)区域平均的某等级降水频率正异常时,华东地区各地该等级降水频率,亦多表现为正异常,尤其中雨以上等级降水频率异常符号在整个华东地区更为一致。(5)华东区域微量降水和小雨发生频率分别与其他等级降水存在显著的反相关关系,而中雨、大雨、暴雨三者发生频率之间无显著相关。     

Interannual to decadal summer drought variability over Europe and its relationship to global sea surface temperature

Interannual to decadal variability of European summer drought and its relationship with global sea surface temperature (SST) is investigated using the newly developed self calibrated Palmer drought severity index (scPDSI) and global sea surface temperature (SST) field for the period 1901–2002. A European drought severity index defined as the average of scPDSI over entire Europe shows quasiperiodic variations in the 2.5–5 year band as well as at 12–13 years suggesting a possible potential predictability of averaged drought conditions over Europe. A Canonical Correlation Analysis between summer scPDSI anomalies over Europe and global SST anomalies reveals the existence of three modes of coupled summer drought scPDSI patterns and winter global SST anomalies. The first scPDSI-SST coupled mode represents the long-term trends in the data which manifest in SST as warming over all oceans. The associated long-term trend in scPDSI suggests increasing drought conditions over the central part of Europe. The second mode is related to the inter-annual ENSO and decadal PDO influence on the European climate and the third one captures mainly the drought pattern associated to Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. The lag relationships between winter SST and summer drought conditions established in this study can provide a valuable skill for the prediction of drought conditions over Europe on interannual to decadal time scales.     

Pacific decadal oscillation and variability of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Recent studies have furnished evidence for interdecadal variability in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The importance of this phenomenon in causing persistent anomalies over different regions of the globe has drawn considerable attention in view of its relevance in climate assessment. Here, we examine multi-source climate records in order to identify possible signatures of this longer time scale variability on the Indian summer monsoon. The findings indicate a coherent inverse relationship between the inter-decadal fluctuations of Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) and the Indian monsoon rainfall during the last century. A warm (cold) phase of the Pacific interdecadal variability is characterized by a decrease (increase) in the monsoon rainfall and a corresponding increase (decrease) in the surface air temperature over the Indian subcontinent. This interdecadal relationship can also be confirmed from the teleconnection patterns evident from long-period sea level pressure (SLP) dataset. The SLP anomalies over South and Southeast Asia and the equatorial west Pacific are dynamically consistent in showing an out-of-phase pattern with the SLP anomalies over the tropical central-eastern Pacific. The remote influence of the Pacific interdecadal variability on the monsoon is shown to be associated with prominent signals in the tropical and southern Indian Ocean indicative of coherent inter-basin variability on decadal time scales. If indeed, the atmosphere–ocean coupling associated with the Pacific interdecadal variability is independent from that of the interannual El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), then the climate response should depend on the evolutionary characteristics of both the time scales. It is seen from our analysis that the Indian monsoon is more vulnerable to drought situations, when El Niño events occur during warm phases of the Pacific interdecadal variability. Conversely, wet monsoons are more likely to prevail, when La Niña events coincide during cold phases of the Pacific interdecadal variability.     

中国东部夏季季节内降水异常及其伴随的热带和中高纬度大气环流演变特征

利用1981—2020年夏季(5—8月)CPC(Climate Prediction Center)逐日降水资料、NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料以及NOAA的向外长波辐射资料,通过经验正交函数(EOF)分解、超前滞后合成等方法,分析了中国东部夏季季节内降水异常的主要模态(即南方型和江淮型降水异常)及其伴随的热带和中高...     

Pacific decadal oscillation and the decadal change in the intensity of the interannual variability of the South China Sea summer monsoon

本研究表明,二十世纪南海夏季风的年际变率强度在一定程度上受到太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)的调控,PDO处于暖(冷)位相时南海夏季风的年际变率强度偏强(弱)。热带太平洋海温的年际变率强度及南海夏季风与ENSO的关系在上述调控中起到重要作用。PDO处于暖位相时,热带太平洋海温变率偏大,ENSO事件偏强,因而沃克环流及西北太平洋反气旋异常的位置和强度均发生改变,最终导致南海夏季风与热带太平洋海温的相互作用更强,南海夏季风年际变率强度增大,反之亦然。     

A skillful method for precipitation prediction over eastern China

降水作为全球水循环的重要组成,与人们的生产生活密切相关.有效的降水预测对于防灾减灾,以及经济的可持续发展至关重要.然而,由于影响降水过程的复杂性,当前降水预测还存在诸多挑战.针对我国东部夏季降水,我们提出年际增量结合经验正交分解的新统计预测方法.首先计算降水年际增量的主模态,然后针对主模态时间序列构建预测模型,用预测的...     

Projection and possible causes of summer precipitation in eastern China using self-organizing map

Self-organizing map (SOM) is used to simulate summer daily precipitation over the Yangtze–Huaihe river basin in Eastern China, including future projections. SOM shows good behaviors in terms of probability distribution of daily rainfall and spatial distribution of rainfall indices, as well as consistency of multi-model simulations. Under RCP4.5 Scenario, daily rainfall at most sites (63%) is projected to shift towards larger values. For the early 21st century (2016–2035), precipitation in the central basin increases, yet decreases occur over the middle reaches of the Yangtze River as well as a part of its southeast area. For the late 21st century (2081–2100), the mean precipitation and extreme indices experience an overall increase except for a few southeast stations. The total precipitation in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in its south area is projected to increase from 7% at 1.5 °C global warming to 11% at 2 °C, while the intensity enhancement is more significant in southern and western sites of the domain. A clustering allows to regroup all SOM nodes into four distinct regimes. Such regional synoptic regimes show remarkable stability for future climate. The overall intensification of precipitation in future climate is linked to the occurrence-frequency rise of a wet regime which brings longitudinally closer the South Asia High (eastward extended) and the Western Pacific Subtropical High (westward extended), as well as the reduction of a dry pattern which makes the two atmospheric centers of action move away from each other.