South China Sea Monsoon Experiment （SCSMEX） and the East Asian Monsoon

The SCSMEX is a joint atmospheric and oceanic experiment by international efforts, aiming at studying the onset, maintenance, and variability of the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon, thus improving the monsoon prediction in Southeast and East Asian regions. The field experiment carried out in May-August 1998 was fully successful, with a large amount of meteorological and oceanographic data acquired that have been used in four dimensional data assimilations by several countries, in order to improve their numerical simulations and prediction. These datasets are also widely used in the follow-up SCS and East Asian monsoon study. The present paper has summarized the main research results obtained by Chinese meteorologists which cover six aspects: (1) onset processes and mechanism of the SCS summer monsoon; (2) development of convection and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) during the onset phase and their interaction with large-scale circulation; (3) low-frequency oscillation and teleconnection effect; (4) measurements of surface fluxes over the SCS and their relationship with the monsoon activity; (5) oceanic thermodynamic structures, circulation, and mesoscale eddies in the SCS during the summer monsoon and their relationship with ENSO events; and (6) numerical simulations of the SCS and East Asian monsoon.     

1998 SCSMEX期间亚洲30－60天低频振荡特征的分析

对１９９８年 ５－８月南海季风试验（ＳＣＳＭＥＸ）期间东亚地区 ８５０ ｈＰａ中低纬环流指数、东亚季风指数和长江中下游降水进行了Ｍｏｒｌｅｔ 小波分析,结果表明在此期间这些要素均有明显的３０－６０天周期低频振荡。在此基础上对 ５－８月每隔 ５天的 ８５０ ｈＰａ低频流场进行分析,结果表明：（１）１００°－１５０°Ｅ间东亚从中国东中部大陆经南海和西太平洋的南北半球中明显的存在一个以３０－６０天低频荡为特征的东亚季风低频环流系统,东亚季风活动主要受东亚季风系统中低频活动影响;（２）５月第５候南海热带季风爆发、６月中旬长江中下游人梅及产生大暴雨以及７月中旬以后的该地区大暴雨均与低频气旋带在该地区活动有关,而８月长江上游大暴雨则与低频反气旋伸人到大陆有关;（３）ＳＣＳＭＥＸ期间东亚低频振荡系统的源地有二个,即南海赤道和北半球中太平洋中高纬。南海低频系统向北传播,而中高纬低频系统自东北向西南传播为主。长江中下游６、７月二次大暴雨均与上述二个低频气旋系统自热带向北和中高纬向西南传播并于长江中下游汇合有关;（４）５－８月间东亚季风系统中有二次低频气旋带和二次低频反气旋带活动,这些低频环流系统的活动与印度季风低频环流系统活动并无明     

Impact of the thermal state of the tropical western Pacific on onset date and process of the South China Sea summer monsoon

Since the early or late onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon （SCSM） has a large impact on summer monsoon rainfall in East Asia, the mechanism and process of early or late onset of the SCSM are an worthy issue to study. In this paper, the results analyzed by using the observed data show that the onset date and process of the SCSM are closely associated with the thermal state of the tropical western Pacific in spring. When the tropical western Pacific is in a warming state in spring, the western Pacific subtropical high shifts eastward, and twin cyclones are early caused over the Bay of Bengal and Sumatra before the SCSM onset. In this case, the cyclonic circulation located over the Bay of Bengal can be early intensified and become into a strong trough. Thus, the westerly flow and convective activity can be intensified over Sumatra, the Indo-China Peninsula and the South China Sea （SCS） in mid-May. This leads to early onset of the SCSM. In contrast, when the tropical western Pacific is in a cooling state, the western Pacific subtropical high anomalously shifts westward, the twin cyclones located over the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean and Sumatra are weakened, and the twin anomaly anticyclones appear over these regions from late April to mid-May. Thus, the westerly flow and convective activity cannot be early intensified over the Indo-China Peninsula and the SCS. Only when the western Pacific subtropical high moves eastward, the weak trough located over the Bay of Bengal can be intensified and become into a strong trough, the strong southwesterly wind and convective activity can be intensified over the Indo-China Peninsula and the SCS in late May. Thus, this leads to late onset of the SCSM. Moreover, in this paper, the influencing mechanism of the thermal state of the tropical western Pacific on the SCSM onset is discussed further from the Walker circulation anomalies in the different thermal states of the tropical western Pacific.     

孟加拉湾季风爆发对南海季风爆发的影响Ⅰ:个例分析

利用南海季风试验分析场和NCAR向外长波辐射通量(OLR)资料研究了1998年孟加拉湾季风和南海季风爆发期间副热带环流的大尺度和天气尺度特征,探讨了孟加拉湾季风爆发与南海季风爆发之间的物理联系及孟加拉湾季风气旋的对流凝结潜热释放对副热带高压“撤出”南海的影响。结果表明,1998年5月爆发的东亚季风展现出典型的从孟加拉湾地区东传发展到南海地区的过程。随着孟加拉湾季风爆发和对流活动增强、北移,南海北部出现了低层西风和对流活动,领先于副热带高压在南海地区减弱和撤退。结果还显示南海北部地区的对流凝结加热有助于该地区经向温度梯度的反转,在热成风关系的制约下南海上空副热带高压脊面的垂直倾斜由冬季型转向夏季型,季风爆发。     

Atmospheric circulation characteristics associated with the onset of Asian summer monsoon

The onset of the Asian summer monsoon has been a focus in the monsoon study for many years. In this paper, we study the variability and predictability of the Asian summer monsoon onset and demonstrate that this onset is associated with specific atmospheric circulation characteristics. The outbreak of the Asian summer monsoon is found to occur first over the southwestern part of the South China Sea (SCS) and the Malay Peninsula region, and the monsoon onset is closely related to intra-seasonal oscillations in the lower atmosphere. These intra-seasonal oscillations consist of two low-frequency vortex pairs, one located to the east of the Philippines and the other over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean. Prior to the Asian summer monsoon onset, a strong low-frequency westerly emerges over the equatorial Indian Ocean and the low-frequency vortex pair develops symmetrically along the equator. The formation and evolution of these low-frequency vortices are important and serve as a good indicator for the Asian summer monsoon onset. The relationship between the northward jumps of the westerly jet over East Asia and the Asian summer monsoon onset over SCS is investigated. It is shown that the northward jump of the westerly jet occurs twice during the transition from winter to summer and these jumps are closely related to the summer monsoon development. The first northward jump (from 25–28N to around 30N) occurs on 8 May on average, about 7 days ahead of the summer monsoon onset over the SCS. It is found that the reverse of meridional temperature gradient in the upper-middle troposphere (500–200 hPa) and the enhancement and northward movement of the subtropical jet in the Southern Hemispheric subtropics are responsible for the first northward jump of the westerly jet.     

东亚地区夏季风爆发过程

利用中国194站1961～1995年日降水资料及NCEP1979～1997年候格点降水资料,探讨了亚洲地区自春到夏的雨季开始分布。结果表明,东亚地区自春到夏存在副热带季风雨季开始和热带季风雨季开始。前者于4月初开始于华南北部和江南地区,随后向南和向西南扩展,于4月末扩展到华南沿海和中南半岛,这个雨带主要是冷空气和副热带高压西侧转向的SW风以及南亚地区冬春副热带南支西风槽中西风汇合而形成的,是副热带季风雨季开始。后者是南海热带季风爆发后使原来由江南移到华南沿岸的副热带季风雨带随副热带高压北进而北进,前汛期雨季进入盛期,江南出现第二次雨峰,形成梅雨期和江淮及华北雨季。同时,热带季风雨带也自东向西传播到达南亚地区而形成热带季风雨季。还讨论了1998年东亚地区夏季风爆发过程,指出南海夏季风爆发期的季风由副高北侧形成的新生气旋进入南海造成南海中部西风和南海越赤道气流转向的SW季风加强汇合而形成,因而是东亚季风系统中环流系统季节变化造成的,和印度季风无关。在南海季风爆发期阿拉伯海仍由副热带反气旋控制,南亚仍是上述副热带反气旋北侧NW风南下后转向的偏西副热带气流所控制,索马里低空急流仍未爆发,赤道西风并未影响南海。     

亚洲夏季风爆发前后西北太平洋和孟加拉湾热带气旋活动统计特征

亚洲夏季风爆发始于孟加拉湾,然后向中国南海和印度次大陆扩展,其过程约持续1个月。各地区夏季风爆发时间呈明显的年际变化。利用热带气旋资料和气象再分析资料,统计了1951-2010年孟加拉湾和中国南海夏季风爆发前后西北太平洋热带气旋、孟加拉湾气旋风暴活动和夏季风爆发的关系。结果表明,在孟加拉湾夏季风爆发过程中,共有36 a出现孟加拉湾气旋风暴,并且夏季风爆发偏早年出现风暴的几率最高,为80%。在孟加拉湾夏季风爆发偏早、正常和偏晚3种类型中,孟加拉湾风暴活动频率高峰期多出现在夏季风爆发前后几天内。并且在孟加拉湾风暴活动频率高峰出现前期,西北太平洋热带气旋最先出现活动频率高峰。孟加拉湾夏季风爆发前有40%-50%的年份西北太平洋出现热带气旋活动,其中,夏季风爆发偏早年,爆发前西北太平洋热带气旋活跃的时间偏早（4月第2候）,且多活动在中国南海和菲律宾附近;爆发正常年,西北太平洋热带气旋活跃的时间为4月第4候,多活动在略偏东的海域;爆发偏晚年,西北太平洋热带气旋活跃的时间为5月初,活动区域最偏东。中国南海夏季风爆发过程中,60 a中共有29 a西北太平出现热带气旋,其中爆发偏早和正常年出现热带气旋的频率较高,并且热带气旋多出现在爆发当日和爆发后一段时间。整体来看,亚洲夏季风爆发前,西北太平洋热带气旋活动频率最先开始增强,然后孟加拉湾风暴开始活跃并伴随着孟加拉湾夏季风爆发,夏季风爆发偏早和正常年,孟加拉湾夏季风爆发后,西北太平洋热带气旋再次增强,中国南海夏季风爆发。      

南海夏季风爆发与热带海洋海温和大气环流异常变化关系的研究

用合成和相关分析方法及SVD技术研究了南海夏季风爆发早、晚年份4～6月季风建立时期季风环流的异常及其与热带太平洋-印度洋海温的关系。结果表明,南海夏季风爆发与热带大气环流和海温变异密切相关。（1）当热带中、东太平洋—印度洋（主要在西南部）及南海海温低（高）,西太平洋—澳洲邻近海域海温高（低）时,南海夏季风爆发早（晚）。不同区域海温对季风的影响有明显的季节差异,印度洋主要为晚春至初夏（4～6月）,南海为5～6月,而热带太平洋从前冬一直持续到夏季。（2）不同的海温异常产生不同的季风环流型,南海夏季风爆发早、晚年大气环流的异常变化基本相反。南海夏季风的活动主要受印度季风环流变化的影响,与前期冬春季西太副高的强弱及位置变化密切相关。西太副高弱时,南海夏季风爆发早;反之,爆发晚。（3）热带太平洋—印度洋海温异常引起季风环流和Walker环流的异常变化可能是影响南海夏季风爆发早、晚的物理过程。     

Overview of the South China sea monsoon experiment

The present paper gives an overview of the key project “ South China Sea Monsoon Experiment(SCSMEX)” operated by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China during the period of 1996-2001. The SCSMEX is a joint atmospheric and oceanic field experiment which aims to better understandthe onset, maintenance, and variability of the summer monsoon over the South China Sea (SCS). It is a large-scale international effort with many participating countries and regions cooperatively involved in this experiment. With the field observation in May-August 1998, a large amount of meteorological and oceanic data was acquired, which provides excellent datasets for the study of the SCS monsoon and the East Asian monsoon and their interaction with the ocean. The preliminary research achievements are as follows. (1) The earliest onset of the Asian monsoon over the SCS and Indo-China Peninsula has been well documented. From the viewpoint of the synoptic process, its onset is closely related to the early rapid development of a twin cyclone to the east of Sri Lanka. The conceptual model of the SCS monsoon onset in 1998 was put forward. The 50-year time series of the SCS monsoon onset date was also made. (2) Two major modes, namely the 30-60-day and 10-20-day oscillations were ascertained. The influences of the abnormal SCS monsoon on the precipitation over eastern China and its modes were identified. A strong(weak) monsoon over the SCS usually leads to less (more) precipitation over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, and more (less) precipitation in North China. (3) During the monsoon onset over the SCS, a wide variety of organized mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) were observed by a Doppler radar array deployed over the northern SCS. The relationship between large-scale circulations and MCSs during the monsoon onset process in 1998 was clearly revealed. It was suggested that there is a kind of positive feedback mechanism between large-scale circulations and MCSs. (4) The SST over the SCS during the early period influences the timing of the monsoon onset date and the monsoon‘s intensity. During the monsoon onset, the ocean undergoes a process of energy release through air-sea interaction. During the break phase of the SCS monsoon, the ocean demonstrates the process of energy re-accumulation. Obvious differences in the air-sea turbulent flux exchange between the southern and northern parts of the SCS due to different characteristic features of the atmosphere and sea structure were observed in those regions.(5) The verification of impact of intensive observations on the predictive performance is made by the use of regional models. The air-sea coupled regional climate model (CRCM) was also developed under the SCSMEX Project . The simulation of the oceanic circulation in 1998 produced with the model was well compared with the observations.     

Discussion of Some Problems as to the East Asian Subtropical Monsoon

Based on NCEP/NCAR gridded reanalysis, TRMM precipitation data, CMAP, and rainfall observations in East China, a study is conducted with focus on the timing and distinctive establishment of the rainy season of the East Asian subtropical monsoon （EASM） in relation to the South China Sea （SCS） tropical summer monsoon （SCSM）. A possible mechanism for the EASM is investigated. The results suggest that 1） the EASM rainy season begins at first over the south of the Jiangnan region to the north of South China in late March to early April （i.e., pentads 16-18）, and then the early flooding period in South China starts when southerly winds enhance and convective rainfall increases pronouncedly; 2） the establishment of the EASM rainy season is earlier than that of its counterpart, the SCSM. The EASM and the SCSM each is featured with its own independent rain belt, strong southwesterly wind, intense vertical motion, and robust low-level water vapor convergence. The SCSM interacts with the EASM, causing the EASM rainy belt to move northward. The two systems are responsible for the floods/droughts over the eastern China; and 3） in mid-late March, the eastern Asian landmass （especially the Tibetan Plateau） has its thermal condition changing from a cold to a heat source for the atmosphere. A reversal of the zonal thermal contrast and related temperature and pressure contrasts between the landmass and the western Pacific happens. The argument about whether or not the dynamic and thermal effects of the landmass really act as a mechanism for the earlier establishment of the EASM rain belt is discussed and to be further clarified. Finally, the article presents some common understandings and disagreements regarding the EASM.     

青藏高原的热力和机械强迫作用以及亚洲季风的爆发I. 爆发地点

使用欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）的客观分析资料、ECMWF/TOGA补充数据集,美国NMC气候分析中心的向外长波辐射（OLR）资料以及国家气候中心存档的中国336个测站的降水资料,研究了1989年春天青藏高原和邻近地区的热力特征和环流特征,及其对亚洲季风区季节转换的影响。文中集中分析了表面感热和潜热通量的时空分布特征。结果表明:1989年亚洲季风的爆发由三个接续的阶段组成。第一阶段是5月上旬在孟加拉湾东岸,称为孟加拉（BOB）季风爆发阶段。第二阶段是5月20日左右开始的中国南海（SCS）季风爆发阶段。第三阶段是6月10日左右开始的印度上空的南亚季风（或称印度季风）的爆发阶段。分析表明,正是由于青藏高原的热力和机械强迫作用才使亚洲季风首先在孟加拉湾地区出现。BOB季风环流提供了有利的背景条件,使SCS季风接着爆发。最后随着亚洲热带流型的西移,印度季风爆发才发生。     

关于东亚副热带季风若干问题的讨论

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析格点资料、TRMM卫星降水资料、中国东部站点降水资料和CMAP降水资料,重点讨论了东亚副热带季风雨季的起始时间、建立特征及其和南海夏季风的关系,同时也讨论了东亚副热带季风的可能机制。结果表明：（1）东亚副热带季风雨季于3月底—4月初（第16—18候）在江南南部和华南北部首先开始,伴随着降水的开始是偏南风的增强和对流性降水的显著增加,华南前汛期开始。（2）东亚副热带季风雨季的建立早于热带季风雨季,在热带季风建立后两者的雨带、强西南风带、强垂直运动带、强低空水汽辐合带均是分离的,南海热带季风在其建立后,与东亚副热带季风发生相互作用,促使副热带季风雨带季节性北进,两者共同影响中国的旱涝。（3）3月中下旬,东亚大陆（包括青藏高原）上空大气由冷源转为热源,东亚大陆与西太平洋之间的纬向热力差异及其相应的温度和气压对比均发生反转。东亚大陆（包括青藏高原）的动力和热力作用究竟是否是东亚副热带季风雨带提前建立的机制值得进一步研究。文章最后讨论了有关东亚副热带季风的共识与分歧。     

青藏高原地面热源对亚洲季风爆发的热力影响

利用多年NCEP/NCAR再分析全球逐候平均气象场资料和逐旬感热、潜热资料，对亚洲夏季风爆发期间青藏高原及其邻近地区地面加热场的特征进行分析。着重讨论了高原和邻近地区感热加热对亚洲夏季风爆发的影响，具体分析了高原感热加热对亚洲夏季风推进的影响机制，以及对热带低层西风气流的作用。结果发现，中纬度主原的感热加热所造成的经、纬向热力差异是导致亚洲夏季风爆发的原因。亚洲夏季风建立区域和时间的差异与高原感热加热的区域性有关。高原感热加热在南海夏季风爆发前后对南海地区低层西风所流所起的作用不同，在季风爆发前是加速低层西风，在季风爆发后起削弱西风气流的作用。对亚洲夏季风爆发早年和晚年的感热加热进行了对比分析，发现亚洲夏季风爆发时间的年际变化与热源的年际变化有关。     

南海夏季风期间水汽输送的气候特征

通过分析NCEP/NCAR 1973～1998年(共26年)4～8月的再分析比湿场和风场资料,研究了南海夏季风期间的水汽输送特征.夏季,东亚上空水汽水平输送特征在各月有很大差异,这是夏季风环流系统演变的结果.孟加拉湾南部地区是中国长江中下游和南海地区重要的水汽源地,来自上游孟加拉湾南部地区的水汽输送对南海季风的爆发具有重要意义.经向水汽输送主要有利于20～30°N之间华南地区的水汽辐合.从总的收支看,南海地区是一个水汽汇区.南海季风爆发早晚年的水汽输送通道存在明显差别.在爆发偏早年,从赤道印度洋到南海地区的输送通道建立早且维持时间长,4～5月南海易成为水汽辐合区;在偏晚年,南海地区水汽则是辐散的,不利于形成季风性降水.南海季风爆发早晚年与长江中下游旱涝年的水汽输送有一定联系.     

关于南海夏季风建立的大尺度特征及其机制的讨论

使用1998年南海季风试验期间高质量资料和NCEP/NCAR40年再分析资料分析了南海季风建立前后的大尺度环流特征和要素的突变及爆发过程。发现南亚高压迅速地从菲律宾以东移到中南半岛北部,印缅槽加强,赤道印度洋西风加强并向东向北迅速扩展和传播,以及相伴随的中低纬相互作用和西太平洋副高连续东撤是南海夏季风建立的大尺度特征,与此同时,亚洲低纬地区的南北温差和纬向风切变也发生相应的突变。数值实验结果指出,印度半岛地形的陆面加热作用在其东侧激发的气旋性环流对于印缅槽的加强有重要作用,并进而有利于南海夏季风先于印度夏季风爆发。     

东亚副热带西风急流位置变化与亚洲夏季风爆发的关系

利用1961～2000年的NCEP/NCAR候平均再分析资料,初步探讨了季节转换期间东亚副热带西风急流南北和东西向位置变化与亚洲季风爆发之间的联系。结果表明,亚洲夏季风爆发伴随着东亚副热带西风急流轴线的北跳和急流中心西移,急流轴北跳至35°N以北的青藏高原上空,南支西风急流消失,亚洲季风环流形势建立。南海季风爆发早年,低纬的东风向北推进的时间早,到达的纬度偏北,中纬的西风急流强度偏弱,季风爆发晚年则相反。同时,南海夏季风爆发早年,青藏高原上空急流核出现较早,西太平洋上空急流核减弱较快,急流中心“西移”较早。而在南海夏季风爆发晚年,西太平洋上空的急流核减弱较迟,青藏高原上空急流核形成偏晚,急流中心“西移”较迟。此外,急流中心东西向位置和强度变化与江淮流域梅雨的开始和结束也有密切关系。     

2002年南海季风建立及其雨带变化的天气学研究

利用南海海 气通量观测试验资料结合NCEP ,GPCP以及GMS - 5云图资料 ,综合分析了 2 0 0 2年 5～ 6月南海西南季风建立过程及其雨带变化 ,确定 5月 14日西沙及北部海区西南季风爆发 ,5月 15日整个南海季风爆发 ,季风爆发时间属于正常年 ;季风爆发时风向、风速、云量、降水、湿度、辐射及海面温度等要素都发生突变。这种突变是由大气环流的突变造成的。季风爆发前后大气环流变化过程是 :80～ 90°E越赤道气流加强 ,同时印缅低压加深 ,孟加拉湾南北向气压梯度增大 ,而后东亚大陆上气旋发展东移 ,副热带高压东撤 ,孟加拉湾低压槽前的赤道西风突然加强越过中南半岛 ,南海北部首先出现强西南风 ,继而南海季风迅速地全面爆发。孟加拉湾西南风加强到南海季风爆发是一个连续的过程 ,大陆冷空气南下起了重要的作用。南海季风爆发时呈现单雨带型 ,而后由单雨带型转变为双雨带型 ,雨带受副热带高压和季风系统共同影响 ,并且随着副热带高压移动位置变化。     

NUMERICAL SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS OF THE IMPACTS OF LOCAL LAND-SEA THERMODYNAMIC CONTRASTS ON THE SCS SUMMER MONSOON ONSET

1INTRODUCTIONAmongdrivingfactorsfortheEastAsianmonsoonareplanetary-scaleland-seathermodynamiccontrast(e.g.betweentheEurasiancontinentandthePacificOcean)andsub-planetary-scaleone(e.g.betweentheIndochinaandtheSouthChinaSea).ItisovertheSouthChinaSea(SCS)andadjoiningareasthattheEastAsiansummermonsoonfirstbreaksout.ItthenadvancestotheregionsofEastAsiaandSouthAsia.ItisthereforenaturaltofindlocalgeographicandtopographiceffectsoftheSCSregionevidentlyshownontheonsetoftheSCSsummermonsoon…     

南海夏季风演变的气候学特征

本文总结南海北部地区夏季风演变的气候学特征，发现南海地区５月第３候对流层高层东风和北风爆发，对流层低层西风第１次跃升，东亚经向季风环流圈开始形成，这可以成为南海地区夏季风爆发的标志。对流层低层西风在６月中旬开始的第２次连续跃升对应江淮地区的梅雨爆发期。类似地，中国大陆夏季对流层低层５月初和６月初有两次爆发性增暖过程，第２次比第１次强烈得多。南海北部地区对流层低层纬向风速、比湿盛夏呈双峰型，纬向风速峰值分别出现在６月第５候和８月第４候，比湿峰值分别出现在６月第６候和８月第５候。比湿突升对应纬向风速突升，但略落后于风速峰值出现的时间。南海北部地区季风爆发前，温度是波动式上升的，南海季风爆发后，温度是波动式下降的。中国大陆东部及南海地区夏季对流层低层比湿分布有３次突变，即４月中旬南海北部比湿突增，并开始出现高比湿中心，而南海南部为最大比湿中心；５月中旬最大比湿中心已从南海南部跳到了南海北部－华南并向江淮流域扩展；６月中旬江淮流域比湿突增并一直维持到８月，同时南海南部高比湿带消失。而５月中旬ＯＬＲ有一次突变，ＯＬＲ低值区爆发性向北扩张，这对应于南海地区夏季风的爆发。而孟加拉湾地区夏季风演变的气候学特征与南海地区有较