Seasonal Prediction for May Rainfall over Southern China Based on the NCEP CFSv2

In this study, we assess the prediction for May rainfall over southern China(SC) by using the NCEP CFSv2 outputs. Results show that the CFSv2 is able to depict the climatology of May rainfall and associated circulations.However, the model has a poor skill in predicting interannual variation due to its poor performance in capturing related anomalous circulations. In observation, the above-normal SC rainfall is associated with two anomalous anticyclones over the western tropical Pacific and northe...     

华西秋雨起止与秋冬季节大气环流转换

根据1961—2010年平均的逐候NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、1979—2008年平均的逐候CMAP降水资料以及1961—2010年逐候平均的中国553个台站降水资料,讨论了华西秋雨起止日期与秋冬季大气环流转换特征的关系。结果表明,华西地区降水年变化表现为明显的夏、秋双峰特征,8月4—8日(第44候)为双峰间的低谷,10月8—12日(第57候)以后降水降至年平均以下。由此,将华西秋雨建立和结束日期分别确定为8月9—13日(第45候)和10月8—12日(第57候)。华西秋雨的建立对应于东亚夏季风开始向冬季风转变,其标志性环流调整特征是江南地区的西南风转为东南风。东亚经向海平面气压梯度在8月9—13日(第45候)由南高北低转为南低北高,造成850 hPa江南地区的西南风转为东南风,该东南风与来自孟加拉湾的热带西南季风交汇于华西地区,形成风向和水汽的辐合,使得华西地区的降水在夏峰之后再次增强,华西秋雨由此建立。华西秋雨的结束则对应于孟加拉湾热带西南季风结束和东亚冬季风完全建立,其标志性环流调整特征是孟加拉湾地区的西南风转为东北风。随着东亚纬向海平面气压梯度由北向南依次发生东高西低向东低西高的转变,东亚冬季风也逐步向南推进,9月8—12日(第51候)东北冬季风到达江南地区,10月8—12日(第57候)进一步推进到南海地区,此时来自孟加拉湾的热带西南季风消失,造成华西地区完全受大陆冷高压控制,东亚季风经圈环流也转为冬季型哈得来环流,东亚冬季风完全建立,华西秋雨也随之结束。因此,华西秋雨起止可能与东亚夏季风、南亚夏季风向冬季风的转变时间不同步有关,东亚季风与南亚季风的共同作用使得华西秋雨成为亚洲夏季风在中国大陆上的最后一个雨季。     

2012年华南前汛期降水特征及环流异常分析

2012年华南前汛期于4月第2候开始,6月第5候结束。前汛期降水经历了三个不同的阶段：第一阶段是4月第2候至5月第3候的降水集中期（锋面降水）,江南大部和华南大部降水偏多25％以上,第二阶段是5月第4候至6月第2候的少雨期,华南中部和东部降水偏少50％以上,第三阶段是6月第3—5候的第二个降水集中期（季风降水）,江南东南部至华南中西部降水偏多50％以上。对各阶段大气环流距平场的分析结果表明：华南前汛期开始后,偏强的乌拉尔山高压脊导致南下的冷空气偏强,偏强的低层副热带高压使得我国南方为整层水汽输送的异常辐合区,两者共同导致华南前汛期第一阶段的锋面降水较常年同期偏多;南海夏季风在爆发后偏弱和西北太平洋副热带高压（以下简称副高）持续3候异常偏北是导致第二阶段前汛期降水明显偏少的主要原因;第三阶段,南海夏季风异常偏强,副高南落并增强,以及孟加拉湾季风槽的偏强使得华南前汛期此阶段的季风降水偏多。     

副热带东南太平洋海温对东北夏季降水的影响及可能机制

诊断分析表明,前期副热带东南太平洋海温尤其是前春海温与东北夏季降水存在持续稳定的负相关关系。无论是在年际时间尺度还是年代际尺度上,冬、春、夏季海温演变趋势与降水均呈反位相。尺度分离结果显示,关键区海温与降水的显著负相关主要依赖于其年代际分量,但年际分量也起到较重要贡献。相关分析和合成分析结果都发现,当副热带东南太平洋海温偏低时,其上空可激发出反气旋式距平风场,而在关键区海域西北部激发出气旋式距平环流。同时在所罗门群岛和菲律宾南部分别出现反气旋式和气旋式距平环流。西太平洋副热带高压(副高)位置较常年偏西,副高区为反气旋式距平环流。在东北地区西侧则为气旋式距平环流。在这样的环流背景下,副高西侧的南风加强了源自南海和西太平洋的暖湿气流和北方冷空气在东北地区的交汇,从而使东北夏季多雨。反之,当东南太平洋海温偏高时,其激发的气旋及反气旋距平中心和偏低年刚好相反,副高位置偏东,其西侧的南方水汽输送偏弱,同时东北冷涡也偏弱,冷暖空气汇合形成的低空辐合弱,东北降水因此偏少。这表明,副热带东南太平洋海温异常时确实能激发出一个从关键海区到东北地区的跨越南北半球的气旋-反气旋交替波列,引发北半球中高纬度大气环流异常,从而影响东北夏季降水。     

Sub-seasonal Prediction of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset in the NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2

This study depicts the sub-seasonal prediction of the South China Sea summer monsoon onset(SCSSMO) and investigates the associated oceanic and atmospheric processes, utilizing the hindcasts of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP) Climate Forecast System version 2(CFSv2). Typically, the SCSSMO is accompanied by an eastward retreat of the western North Pacific subtropical high(WNPSH), development of the cross-equatorial flow, and an increase in the east-west sea surface temperat...     

江南南部初夏雨季的降水和环流气候特征

基于1961～2010年气象台站逐日降水资料、同期美国NCEP/NCAR的逐日再分析格点资料,通过气候平均、REOF分析、聚类分析等方法,分析了江南地区初夏降水的地域性和时段性特征,及西太平洋副高和高、低空急流等大气环流的相应演变过程。结果发现:（1）江南南部27.5°～29.5°N存在一个独立于华南前汛期和江淮梅雨的初夏雨季,该雨季平均发生时间为6月11～30日,比江淮梅雨早约8天左右。（2）西太平洋副高的西伸东退是江南南部初夏雨季发生发展的重要环流背景,6月第2候副高发生突变性加速西伸之后雨季开始,雨季期间850 hPa副高西伸脊点基本稳定在最西位置即133°E附近,6月第6候副高东退北抬后雨季结束。（3）低层急流大风带的形成和位置是江南南部初夏雨季阶段的重要动力条件,印度洋和孟加拉湾向东北延伸的低层急流与西太平洋副高西北侧的气流连通形成低层急流大风带,并与北侧上空的高空急流耦合,降水集中区位于低层急流大风带左侧、高空急流入口区右侧。     

Prediction of Wintertime Northern Hemisphere Blocking by the NCEP Climate Forecast System

Daily output from the hindcasts by the NCEP Climate Forecast System version 2(CFSv2) is analyzed to understand CFSv2's skill in forecasting wintertime atmospheric blocking in the Northern Hemisphere.Prediction skills of sector blocking,sector-blocking episodes,and blocking onset/decay are assessed with a focus on the Euro-Atlantic sector(20°W-45°E) and the Pacific sector(160°E-135°W).Features of associated circulation and climate patterns are also examined.The CFSv2 well captures the observed features of longitudinal distribution of blocking activity,but underestimates blocking frequency and intensity and shows a decreasing trend in blocking frequency with increasing forecast lead time.Within 14-day lead time,the Euro-Atlantic sector blocking receives a higher skill than the Pacific sector blocking.Skillful forecast(taking the hit rate of 50%as a criterion) can be obtained up to 9 days in the Euro-Atlantic sector,which is slightly longer than that in the Pacific sector(7 days).The forecast skill of sector-blocking episodes is slightly lower than that of sector blocking in both sectors,and it is slightly higher in the Euro-Atlantic sector than in the Pacific sector.Compared to block onset,the skill for block decay is lower in the Euro-Atlantic sector,slightly higher in the Pacific sector during the early three days but lower after three days in lead time.In both the Euro-Atlantic and the Pacific sectors,a local dipole pattern in 500-hPa geopotential height associated with blocking is well presented in the CFSv2 prediction,but the wave-train like pattern that is far away from the blocking sector can only maintain in the forecast of relative short lead time.The CFSv2 well reproduces the observed characteristics of local temperature and precipitation anomalies associated with blocking.     

2011年我国夏季降水动力统计预测与异常成因

该文对2011年我国夏季降水情况进行简要回顾,并对3月制作的夏季降水动力统计客观定量化和动力统计-诊断预测结果进行检验。以长江中下游地区为例,对比说明了两种预测方法选取因子的差异及动力统计-诊断较动力统计客观定量化预测结果有一定提高的原因。在此基础上,分析了导致2011年夏季主雨带较预测结果偏南的影响因素,并进一步探讨了大气环流特别是中高纬度阻塞高压和低纬度西太平洋副热带高压异常的可能成因。结果表明:2011年夏季主雨带偏南主要是中高纬度阻塞形势与低纬度副热带高压的季节内异常振荡及二者逐月不同配置的产物,而中高纬度阻塞形势与低纬度副热带高压的季节内异常振荡是由海温、积雪等外强迫及东亚环流系统内部成员相互作用所致。     

西北太平洋夏季风对中国长江流域夏季降水的影响

利用1979～2005年NCEP/NCAR的环流场再分析资料和降水资料, 通过对季风期降水、 大气环流、 水汽输送及低频振荡等方面的分析, 分别从时间和空间上分析了西北太平洋夏季风与中国长江流域夏季降水的联系。结果表明:(1) 西北太平洋夏季风与中国长江流域夏季降水存在显著的负相关关系, 在西北太平洋夏季风强盛时, 副热带高压异常偏北, 其西侧的偏南气流异常偏弱, 使得我国长江流域形成低层异常环流及水汽输送的辐散区, 从而造成长江流域夏季降水偏少; 而在西北太平洋夏季风减弱的年份, 西太平洋副高异常偏南偏西, 在长江流域以南地区形成异常偏强的偏南风水汽输送, 使得长江流域成为南、 北距平风的汇合区, 其上空对流活动异常活跃, 非常有利于长江流域的降水。 (2) 东亚局地Hadley垂直环流在强、 弱季风年也显著不同, 在强季风年里, Hadley局地环流异常偏弱, 长江流域上空出现的下沉运动距平, 使得该地区降水减弱, 而弱季风年则正好相反。 (3) 西北太平洋夏季风存在显著的气候平均的大气季节内振荡 (CISO), 在西北太平洋夏季风减弱时期, 长江流域降水同时受到源自热带西北太平洋西传CISO和源自热带印度洋东传CISO的共同影响, 可能造成了某种锁相关系, 从而造成降水偏多; 而在强季风年里长江流域只受由西太平洋西传的CISO的影响, 不容易激发降水。     

CLIMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRING PRECIPITATION OVER SOUTHERN CHINA AND ITS INTRASEASONAL OSCILLATION

Based on observations and reanalysis data, the characteristics of the evolution of climatological spring precipitation over Southern China (SPSC) and the associated climatological intraseasonal oscillation (CISO) and atmospheric circulation are studied. Results show that SPSC increases in an oscillatory way. Although the evolution of SPSC is similar in different regions, there are also differences. In different regions of Southern China, the onset dates of the rain season are from the 12th to 24th pentad and the peak dates are after the 20th pentad. CISO is an important component of SPSC, which is not only statistically significant, but also accompanies a dynamically coherent structure. The peak wet/dry phase of each CISO cycle corresponds to a significant rainfall increasing/decreasing period and modulates the evolution of SPSC. The rainfall growth in the second half of March and mid-April is the result of the modulation. The wet/dry phase of CISO is accompanied by low-level convergent (upper-level divergent) and cyclonic (anti-cyclonic) circulation, which favors ascending motion to develop over Southern China.     

中国西南区域雨季开始和结束日期划分标准的研究

为了更好地开展区域关键期气候监测业务,满足国家级气象服务的需求,本文从区域角度出发,利用1961～2011年西南地区92个气象观测站的逐日雨量资料和1981～2010年美国国家环境预报中心和国家大气研究中心(NCEP/NCAR)逐日的高低层大气环流再分析资料,研究了西南区域雨季开始和结束日期定义的标准问题。结果表明西南区域多年平均雨季开始日期在5月3候(27候),结束日期在10月3候(57候),季节转换期间高低层环流的突变特征进一步表明了该结论的合理性。并通过对多种雨季开始和结束日期判断标准的对比分析,最终提出了西南雨季开始和结束日期的划分标准。同时,对影响西南地区雨季开始和结束日期变化的机理也进行了初步的讨论。     

2020年夏季我国气候异常特征及成因分析

2020年夏季我国天气气候极为异常,全国平均降水量为373.0 mm,较常年同期偏多14.7％,为1961年以来次多;季节内阶段性特征显著,6—7月多雨带主要位于江南大部—江淮地区,8月则主要在东北、华北及西南地区,致使2020年夏季雨型分布异常,不是传统认识上的四类雨型分布.通过对同期大气环流和热带海温等异常特征分析...     

CFSv2模式产品在汛期海南热带气旋频数预测模型中的应用

利用1982—2014年汛期影响海南的热带气旋频数、NCEP/NCAR逐月再分析资料和CFSv2模式历史回报数据,分析了热带气旋频数特征及同期环流特征,并利用逐步回归构建基于模式有效预测信息的热带气旋频数预测模型。结果表明:汛期影响海南热带气旋频数的异常与同期大尺度环流变化密切相关,且CFSv2模式对其环流影响关键区具有较好的预测技巧,包括南海到热带太平洋的海平面气压、500 h Pa位势高度场、低层风及热带太平洋纬向风切变。据此,利用逐步回归构建热带气旋频数预测模型,其26 a交叉检验中实况与预测相关为0.88,距平同号率达88%;6 a预测试验仅2 a预测与观测反号,可见模型具有良好的稳定性和预测技巧,可为汛期热带气旋频数预测提供依据。     

Sensitivity Analysis of the Super Heavy Rainfall Event in Henan on 20 July (2021) Using ECMWF Ensemble Forecasts

An unprecedented heavy rainfall event occurred in Henan Province, China, during the period of 1200 UTC 19-1200 UTC 20 July 2021 with a record of 522 mm accumulated rainfall. Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan, received 201.9 mm of rainfall in just one hour on the day. In the present study, the sensitivity of this event to atmospheric variables is investigated using the ECMWF ensemble forecasts. The sensitivity analysis first indicates that a local YellowHuai River low vortex(YHV) in the southe...     

Features of the Extremely Severe Drought in the East of Southwest China and Anomalies of Atmospheric Circulation in Summer 2006

The spatial-temporal features of the extremely severe drought and the anomalous atmospheric circulation in summer 2006 are analyzed based on the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the characteristic circulation indices given by the National Climate Center of China, and the daily precipitation data of 20 stations in the east of Southwest China (ESC) from 1959 to 2006. The results show that the rainless period started from early June and ended in early September 2006 with a total of more than 80 days, and the rainfall was especially scarce from around 25 July to 5 September 2006. Precipitation for each month was less than normal, and analysis of the precipitation indices shows that the summer precipitation in 2006 was the least since 1959. The extremely severe drought in the ESC in summer 2006 was closely related to the persistent anomalies of the atmospheric circulation in the same period, i.e., anomalies of mid-high latitude atmospheric circulation, western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), westerlies, South Asian high, lower-level flow, water vapor transport, vertical motion, and so on. Droughts usually occur when the WPSH lies anomalously northward and westward, or anomalously weak and eastward. The extreme drought in summer 2006 was caused by the former. When the WPSH turned stronger and shifted to the north and west of its normal position, and the South Asian high was also strong and lay eastward, downdrafts prevailed over the ESC and suppressed the water vapor transfer toward this area. At the same time, the disposition of the westerlies and the mid-high latitude circulation disfavored the southward invasion of cold air, which jointly resulted in the extremely severe drought in the ESC in summer 2006. The weak heating over the Tibetan Plateau and vigorous convective activities over the Philippine area were likely responsible for the strong WPSH and its northwestward shift in summer 2006.     

The Record-breaking Mei-yu in 2020 and Associated Atmospheric Circulation and Tropical SST Anomalies※

The record-breaking mei-yu in the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley (YHRV) in 2020 was characterized by an early onset, a delayed retreat, a long duration, a wide meridional rainbelt, abundant precipitation, and frequent heavy rainstorm processes. It is noted that the East Asian monsoon circulation system presented a significant quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) during the mei-yu season of 2020 that was associated with the onset and retreat of mei-yu, a northward shift and stagnation of the rainbelt, and the occurrence and persistence of heavy rainstorm processes. Correspondingly, during the mei-yu season, the monsoon circulation subsystems, including the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), the upper-level East Asian westerly jet, and the low-level southwesterly jet, experienced periodic oscillations linked with the QBWO. Most notably, the repeated establishment of a large southerly center, with relatively stable latitude, led to moisture convergence and ascent which was observed to develop repeatedly. This was accompanied by a long-term duration of the mei-yu rainfall in the YHRV and frequent occurrences of rainstorm processes. Moreover, two blocking highs were present in the middle to high latitudes over Eurasia, and a trough along the East Asian coast was also active, which allowed cold air intrusions to move southward through the northwestern and/or northeastern paths. The cold air frequently merged with the warm and moist air from the low latitudes resulting in low-level convergence over the YHRV. The persistent warming in the tropical Indian Ocean is found to be an important external contributor to an EAP/PJ-like teleconnection pattern over East Asia along with an intensified and southerly displaced WPSH, which was observed to be favorable for excessive rainfall over YHRV.     

THE ANALYSIS OF MECHANISM OF IMPACT OF AEROSOLS ON EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON INDEX AND ONSET

RegCM4.3, a high-resolution regional climate model, which includes five kinds of aerosols(dust, sea salt,sulfate, black carbon and organic carbon), is employed to simulate the East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) from 1995 to 2010 and the simulation data are used to study the possible impact of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on EASM.The results show that the regional climate model can well simulate the EASM and the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosols. The EASM index is reduced by about 5% by the natural and anthropogenic aerosols and the monsoon onset time is also delayed by about a pentad except for Southeast China. The aerosols heat the middle atmosphere through absorbing solar radiation and the air column expands in Southeast China and its offshore areas. As a result, the geopotential height decreases and a cyclonic circulation anomaly is generated in the lower atmosphere. Northerly wind located in the west of cyclonic circulation weakens the low-level southerly wind in the EASM region. Negative surface radiative forcing due to aerosols causes downward motion and an indirect meridional circulation is formed with the low-level northerly wind and high-level southerly wind anomaly in the north of 25° N in the monsoon area, which weakens the vertical circulation of EASM. The summer precipitation of the monsoon region is significantly reduced,especially in North and Southwest China where the value of moisture flux divergence increases.     

Spatio-temporal variability and predictability of summer monsoon onset over the Philippines

The spatio-temporal variability of boreal summer monsoon onset over the Philippines is studied through the analysis of daily rainfall data across a network of 76 gauges for the period 1977 to 2004 and the pentad Merged Analysis of Precipitation from the US Climate Prediction Center from 1979 to 2006. The onset date is defined using a local agronomic definition, namely the first wet day of a 5-day period receiving at least 40 mm without any 15-day dry spell receiving <5 mm in the 30 days following the start of that period. The onset is found to occur rather abruptly across the western Philippines around mid-May on average and is associated with the set-up of a “classical” monsoonal circulation with low-level easterlies subsequently veering to southerly, and then southwesterly. The onset manifests itself merely as a seasonal increase of rainfall over the eastern Philippines, where rainfall occurs throughout most of the year. Interannual variability of the onset date is shown to consist of a spatially coherent large-scale component, rather similar over the western and eastern Philippines, with a moderate to high amount of local-scale (i.e. station scale) noise. In consequence, the large-scale signal can be easily retrieved from any sample of at least 5–6 stations across the network although the local-scale coherence and fingerprint of the large-scale signal of the onset date are found to be stronger over the central Philippines, roughly from Southern Luzon to Northern Mindanao. The seasonal predictability of local onset is analyzed through a cross-validated canonical correlation analysis using tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean sea surface temperature in March and the 850 hPa May wind field from dynamical forecast models as predictors. The regional-scale onset, defined as the average of standardized local-scale anomalies in onset date, shows good predictive skill (r ≈ 0.8). Moreover, most of the stations show weak to moderate skill (median skill = 0.28–0.43 depending on the scheme) with spatial averaging across stations typically increasing skill to >0.6.     

Influence of the Northeast Cold Vortex on Flooding in Northeast China in Summer 2013

Severe flooding occurred in Northeast China (NEC) in summer 2013. Compared with the rainfall climatology of the region, the rainy season began earlier in 2013 and two main rainy periods occurred from late June to early July and from mid July to early August, respectively. During the summer season of 2013, the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) was located farther westward, which strengthened the southerly winds on its west side in the lower troposphere. Under this circulation pattern, more water vapor was transported to North China and NEC. Another moisture transport pathway to NEC was traced to the cross-equatorial flow over the Bay of Bengal. In mid–high latitudes in summer 2013, the Northeast Cold Vortex (NECV) was much stronger and remained stable over NEC. Thus, the cold air flow from its northwest side frequently met with the warm and wet air from the south to form stronger moisture convergence at lower levels in the troposphere, resulting in increased precipitation over the region. Correlation analysis indicated that the NECV played a more direct role than the WPSH. Synoptic analyses of the two heaviest flood cases on 2 and 16 July confirmed this conclusion. The four wettest summers in NEC before 2000 were also analyzed and the results were consistent with the conclusion that both the WPSH and the NECV led to the intense rainfall in NEC, but the NECV had a more direct role.     

南海强夏季风(1994年)和弱夏季风(1998年)建立的机理分析

用NCEP／NCAR的再分析资料和局地纬向平均Hadley环流(反Hadley环流)诊断方程,探讨南海强夏季风年(1994年)建立初期(5月1～5日)和弱夏季风年(1998年)建立初期(5月21～25日)的物理机理。数值诊断结果表明：强南海夏季风年(1994年)建立初期候平均气压梯度力(地转风)作用相对较小,而弱夏季风年(1998年)则相对较大。1994年5月第1候候平均非地转南风比1998年5月第5候候平均非地转南风强的主要原因是1994年南海地区稳定度较小。对1994年5月第1候南海地区近地面候平均最大非地转南风起正贡献的主要因子为：潜热加热,纬向温度平流,垂直温度对流,边界效应;对1998年5月第5候南海地区近地面候平均最大非地转起主要贡献因子为：潜热加热,边界效应,垂直温度对流。