CMIP5全球气候模式对中国地区降水模拟能力的评估

使用多种观测资料和43个参加耦合模式比较计划第五阶段（CMIP5）的全球气候模式模拟数据,评估分析了全球气候模式对中国地区1980-2005年降水特征的模拟能力。结果表明：多数CMIP5模式能够模拟出中国降水由西北向东南递增的分布特点,这与耦合模式比较计划第三阶段（CMIP3）的模式模拟结果类似,但华南地区降水模拟偏少,西部高原地区降水模拟偏多。模式能够较好地模拟出降水冬弱夏强的季节变化特征,但降水模拟系统性偏多。从EOF分析结果来看,多数CMIP5模式可以再现中国地区年平均降水的时空变化特征,集合平均的表现优于CMIP3。多模式集合在月、季、年时间尺度下模拟的平均值优于大部分单个模式的结果。CMIP5中6个中国模式的模拟能力与其他模式相当,其中FGOALS-g2、BCC-CSM1-1-m的模拟能力相对较好。     

CMIP5气候模式对中国东部夏季降水年代际变化的模拟性能评估

使用分类集合的方法评估了第五次耦合模式比较计划(CMIP5)多个耦合模式对中国东部夏季降水年代际变化的模拟性能.结果表明,在评估的38个模式中,仅有6个模式(第1类模式)可以成功再现1970年代末中国东部夏季降水年代际变化的主要特征,即长江流域降水偏多、而华北和华南偏少.这些模式模拟的成功归因于它们能较好再现1970年代末东亚夏季风的年代际减弱及相关的环流场的变化,包括东亚沿海的偏北风异常以及西太平洋副热带高压的偏向西南、强度增强等.而对降水年代际变化模拟很差的第2类模式,则模拟出不出东亚夏季风的这种减弱特征.进一步的分析表明,两类CMIP5模式对太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)空间分布特征都有较好的再现能力,但对PDO年代际转变特征的模拟能力则差异较大.第1类模式能很好地模拟出1970年代末热带海洋的增暖和相关的PDO位相由负到正的转换,而第2类模式所模拟的PDO位相转变与观测完全相反,且也不能模拟出热带中东太平洋海洋的年代际增暖及江淮流域夏季的变冷,因此导致该类模式对1970年代末东亚夏季风的减弱和中国东部夏季雨型的年代际转变没有模拟能力.由此也表明,对耦合模式来说,中国夏季降水年代际变化的模拟能力在很大程度上取决于模式对海洋年代际变化信号的模拟.     

IPCC AR4气候模式对东亚夏季风年代际变化的模拟性能评估

文中使用多种观测资料和分类的方法评估了IPCC AR4(政府间气候变化委员会第4次评估报告)气候模式(亦称Coupled Model Intercomparison Program 3, CMIP3)对东亚夏季风降水与环流年代际变化的模拟性能.结果表明,在评估的19个模式中,有9个模式可以较好地再现中国东部地区多年平均降水场,但仅有3个模式(第1类模式)可以较好地对东亚夏季风降水的年代际变化作出模拟,这3个模式是:GFDL-CM2.0、MIROC3.2(hires)和MIROC3.2(medres),其中模式GFDL-CM2.0具有最好的模拟性能.进一步的分析表明,大部分模式对东亚夏季风变化模拟能力的缺乏是因为这些模式没有抓住东亚夏季风降水变化的主要动力和热力学机制,即东亚地区在过去所出现的大范围对流层变冷和变干.而第1类模式由于较好地再现了东亚地区垂直速度场(动力学因子)和水汽场(热力学因子)的变化特征,因此较好地模拟出中国东部南涝北旱的气候变化特征.本文的评估清楚地表明,当选择不同模式进行集合时,模式对某一研究变量的模拟性能好坏极大地影响了集合的结果.当模拟性能较好的模式在一起进行集合时,所得到的结果更加接近于真实的观测结果.就特定的研究变量而言,这种集合更加优于将可得到的所有模式进行集合.这说明,虽然多模式集合一般优于单个模式的结果,但应考虑使参与集合的模式对所研究变量具有一定的模拟能力.     

国家气候中心两个CMIP6模式模拟的东亚夏季风的季节内演变

分析了国家气候中心两个参加第六次国际耦合模式比较计划（CMIP6）的模式BCC-CSM2-MR和BCC-ESM1对东亚夏季风季节内演变的模拟情况,包括气候态特征以及在ENSO（El Ni?o and Southern Oscillation）循环不同位相下的特征。本文同时对比分析了观测海温海冰驱动大气环流模式试验（AMIP试验）以及耦合模式的历史气候模拟试验（Historical试验）的结果。结果表明,模式能够合理地模拟出东亚夏季风环流和降水的气候态特征。相比大气模式,耦合模式能够明显改善对气候态的模拟,特别是耦合模式能够较好地模拟出副热带高压从6～8月向北以及向东移动的季节内演变特征。对于El Ni?o衰减年和La Ni?a年合成来说,大气模式能够在一定程度上模拟出El Ni?o衰减年（La Ni?a年）副高偏西（东）、对流减弱（增强）的特征,但是对于位置和强度的模拟存在偏差,特别是对于其季节内尺度的演变。耦合模式相比大气模式来说,并没有改善对于ENSO循环影响东亚夏季风季节内演变的模拟,这可能和耦合模式模拟的ENSO本身的偏差有关。因此要想改善对于东亚夏季风季节内演变及其年际差异的模拟,除了考虑海气相互作用之外,还需要改进模式对于ENSO的模拟效果。     

滑动窗区空间相关系数加权集合方法及其在IPCC-AR4多模式集合模拟和预测中的应用

本文根据政府间气候变化委员会 (IPCC) 第四次评估报告 (AR4) (简称IPCC-AR4) 中22个耦合模式对20世纪气候模拟 (20C3M) 结果中20世纪晚期亚洲夏季风降水的模拟所显示出各模式模拟能力的较大空间差异, 提出了一种滑动窗区空间相关系数来量化表征这种空间差异特征, 结果表明, 该系数明显优于传统空间相关系数, 其空间分布能够较为细致地描述各模式对较小区域模拟性能的空间差异特征。在此基础上, 本文提出以这种滑动窗区空间相关系数作为各模式的权重系数进行加权集合平均, 并称之为滑动窗区空间相关系数加权集合方法。利用该方法对IPCC-AR4 22个耦合模式所模拟的20世纪晚期亚洲夏季风降水进行加权集合平均, 并将其结果与传统空间相关系数加权集合平均以及等权重多模式集合平均结果进行比较, 表明了利用本文所提出的加权集合方法对20世纪晚期亚洲夏季风降水的集合模拟结果明显优于简单的等权重多模式集合平均结果以及传统空间相关系数加权集合平均结果。鉴于此原因, 本文利用此方法对在A1B (各种能源均衡发展) 排放情景下IPCC-AR4中22个耦合模式所模拟的21世纪各时期亚洲夏季风降水演变趋势进行集合预测。其结果表明: 在A1B排放情景下, 从21世纪中期 (2045～2065年) 开始南亚夏季风降水将比20世纪晚期明显增强; 而东亚夏季风降水相对于20世纪晚期的变化呈现出从南到北经向三极子型异常分布特征, 即华南和华北地区夏季风降水增多, 而长江流域夏季风降水相对于20世纪晚期没有太大变化。并且, 结果还表明亚洲夏季风降水异常这种变化趋势可以延续到21世纪晚期。     

CMIP模式对冬季北半球大气环流与青藏高原冬春季气温相关关系的模拟评估

本文评估了36个CMIP5模式和39个CMIP6模式对近期观测中揭示的北半球冬季大气环流与高原冬春气温之间的相关关系的模拟能力。利用最大协方差(MCA)分析方法,计算并比较了观测和模式中冬季北半球200 hPa位势高度场与同后期青藏高原近地面气温的耦合关系。整体而言,大部分CMIP模式能够模拟出显著的冬季北半球大气环流与青藏高原气温之间的相关关系,且CMIP6模式模拟相关特征和作用机制的能力较CMIP5均有所提升。与观测相比,历史情景下36个CMIP5模式中有26个能够模拟出显著的大气环流与同后期高原气温之间的相关关系,其中对于相关的位势高度场空间模态的模拟明显好于对高原气温异常场空间模态的模拟。同情景下39个CMIP6模式中有37个能模拟出显著相关关系,且CMIP6模式更能模拟出观测中MCA模态的位势高度场上北极涛动(AO)和西太平洋遥相关型(WP)反相位叠加的大气环流特征。在对MCA模态时间变率的模拟上,大部分模式都能重现青藏高原整体变暖的趋势,部分模式能够模拟出观测中位势高度场时间主成分的年际变率,并且CMIP6表现要优于CMIP5。对耦合环流型的动力诊断显示,相比CMIP5模式,CMIP6中有更多模式可以模拟出极地—高原之间的遥相关波列,且对波列结构的模拟更完整。     

BCC_CSM1.1气候模式年代际试验对中国气候的回报能力评估

对比国家气候中心耦合模式BCC_CSM1.1提交CMIP5的历史（Historical）试验和年代际（Decadal）回报试验对中国气候及其年代际变化的模拟。结果表明,Decadal试验回报的中国降水气候分布更接近观测,回报的中国东部气温和降水的年代际距平误差比Historical试验减小明显。对于发生在20世纪70年代末的中国东部降水年代际变化,Decadal试验能回报出长江中下游降水增多的特征,但Historical试验模拟的降水变化与观测相反。由于Decadal试验和Historical试验的区别之一是后者利用观测海温资料进行了初始化,为了探讨观测海温信息的重要性,进一步将Decadal试验与恢复（Nudging）试验（即模式积分过程中,模拟海温始终向观测海温恢复）的模拟结果进行对比。发现Nudging试验能够较好地模拟出“南涝北旱”型降水变化,也能够模拟出相应的东亚急流增强且偏南的特征。这表明气候模式对海温的回报能力是影响其对东亚气候年代际异常模拟的一个重要因素。     

CMIP5模式对中国东部夏季不同强度降水气候态和年代际变化的模拟能力评估

利用东亚地区逐日降水资料,评估了17个CMIP5气候模式对中国东部夏季不同强度降水的时空分布、不同强度降水对1970年代末中国东部夏季总降水量年代际转折的贡献的模拟能力。从夏季不同强度降水占总降水的比重来看,在中国东北和华北地区,小雨和中雨占主导;而在华南和江淮地区,大雨和暴雨则相对更为重要。CMIP5模式可大致模拟出中国东部小雨、大雨和暴雨占总降水比重的空间分布,但对中雨占比的空间分布模拟较差。总体说来,多数CMIP5模式高估了小雨和中雨的比重,但低估了大雨和暴雨的比重,从而导致大多数模式高估东北和华北的总降水量,而低估华南和江淮的总降水量。对1970年代末我国华北和江淮地区夏季降水量的年代际转折,观测资料表明该转折主要体现为大雨和暴雨雨量的年代际转折;仅有少数CMIP5模式能模拟出华北大雨和暴雨年代际减少的特征,使得这些模式对华北地区总降水的年代际变化也有较好的模拟能力。对于江淮区域,由于大雨和暴雨的比重被严重低估,尽管部分模式能模拟出夏季总降水量年代际增加的特征,但却多以小雨、中雨的年代际变化为主。多模式集合并不能显著提高模式对不同强度降水的空间分布的模拟能力,尤其是降水年代际变化的模拟能力。     

全球模式NCAR CESM和CAS ESM对亚洲东部夏季气候的模拟性能评估:气候平均态和降水日变化分析

主要评估了美国国家大气研究中心的NCAR CESM（Community Earth System Model,NCAR）和中国科学院的CAS ESM（Earth System Model,Chinese Academy of Sciences）两个地球系统模式对亚洲东部夏季气候态的模拟性能。使用NCAR CESM和CAS ESM各两种不同的水平分辨率,一共进行了4组长达19年（1998~2016年）的数值积分试验,并通过对2 m气温、降水强度和降水日变化等的分析,比较了这两个模式在亚洲东部的模拟性能。结果表明,CAS ESM和NCAR CESM均能模拟出夏季2 m气温和降水强度的大尺度分布特征,但整体上模拟得到的地表面气温偏暖、降水强度偏弱。对于降水日变化而言,观测的日降水峰值在陆地上主要发生在下午到傍晚时段,在海洋上则出现在午夜到凌晨时段。两组低分辨率试验模拟的陆地降水峰值出现过早,且无法模拟出四川盆地的夜间降水峰值和部分海洋地区凌晨或上午的降水峰值。提高分辨率对模式的模拟性能有显著的提升作用。高分辨率下,NCAR CESM和CAS ESM对陆地和海洋的降水日变化模拟性能都明显提高。对降水日变化的定量化分析表明,高分辨率CAS ESM模式对整个亚洲东部降水日变化的模拟最优。目前模式对海陆风的模拟还不太理想,未来要进一步提高模式模拟性能,需要重点完善与气温、降水过程相关的物理参数化方案。     

MM5BATS对东亚夏季气候及其变化的模拟试验

将陆面过程模式BATS耦合到中尺度模式MM5V3中与另一区域气候模式RegCM2一起对1995—2000年夏季东亚的区域气候作了模拟试验,并与实际资料作了比较。模拟试验结果表明：(1)两个模式均能较合理地模拟出6年夏季平均的环流、温度和海平面气压等的变化,MM5BATS的模拟结果要略优于RegCM2的结果;(2)MM5BATS模式较合理地模拟出了6年夏季平均的降水分布,而RegCM2模式的模拟结果偏强;(3)MM5BATS模式较好地模拟出了1997年和1998年夏季环流场的变化,对降水的模拟也比较合理。RegCM2对1997年和1998年降水的模拟基本上都偏强。模拟试验结果还表明,在区域气候模拟中有必要采用更新的模式。     

Differences between CMIP6 and CMIP5 Models in Simulating Climate over China and the East Asian Monsoon

We compare the ability of coupled global climate models from the phases 5 and 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP5 and CMIP6, respectively) in simulating the temperature and precipitation climatology and interannual variability over China for the period 1961–2005 and the climatological East Asian monsoon for the period1979–2005. All 92 models are able to simulate the geographical distribution of the above variables reasonably well.Compared with earlier CMIP5 models, current CMIP6 models have nationally weaker cold biases, a similar nationwide overestimation of precipitation and a weaker underestimation of the southeast–northwest precipitation gradient, a comparable overestimation of the spatial variability of the interannual variability, and a similar underestimation of the strength of winter monsoon over northern Asia. Pairwise comparison indicates that models have improved from CMIP5 to CMIP6 for climatological temperature and precipitation and winter monsoon but display little improvement for the interannual temperature and precipitation variability and summer monsoon. The ability of models relates to their horizontal resolutions in certain aspects. Both the multi-model arithmetic mean and median display similar skills and outperform most of the individual models in all considered aspects.     

Future change of Asian-Australian monsoon under RCP 4.5 anthropogenic warming scenario

We investigate the future changes of Asian-Australian monsoon (AAM) system projected by 20 climate models that participated in the phase five of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). A metrics for evaluation of the model’s performance on AAM precipitation climatology and variability is used to select a subset of seven best models. The CMIP5 models are more skillful than the CMIP3 models in terms of the AAM metrics. The future projections made by the selected multi-model mean suggest the following changes by the end of the 21st century. (1) The total AAM precipitation (as well as the land and oceanic components) will increase significantly (by 4.5 %/°C) mainly due to the increases in Indian summer monsoon (5.0 %/°C) and East Asian summer monsoon (6.4 %/°C) rainfall; the Australian summer monsoon rainfall will increase moderately by 2.6 %/°C. The “warm land-cool ocean” favors the entire AAM precipitation increase by generation of an east-west asymmetry in the sea level pressure field. On the other hand, the warm Northern Hemisphere-cool Southern Hemisphere induced hemispheric SLP difference favors the ASM but reduces the Australian summer monsoon rainfall. The combined effects explain the differences between the Asian and Australian monsoon changes. (2) The low-level tropical AAM circulation will weaken significantly (by 2.3 %/°C) due to atmospheric stabilization that overrides the effect of increasing moisture convergence. Different from the CMIP3 analysis, the EA subtropical summer monsoon circulation will increase by 4.4 %/°C. (3) The Asian monsoon domain over the land area will expand by about 10 %. (4) The spatial structures of the leading mode of interannual variation of AAM precipitation will not change appreciably but the ENSO-AAM relationship will be significantly enhanced.     

Temperature and precipitation in the context of the annual cycle over Asia: Model evaluation and future change

Since the early or late arrival of monsoon rainfall can be devastating to agriculture and economy, the prediction of the onset of monsoon is a very important issue. The Asian monsoon is characterized by a strong annual cycle with rainy summer and dry winter. Nevertheless, most of monsoon studies have focused on the seasonal-mean of temperature and precipitation. The present study aims to evaluate a total of 27 coupled models that participated in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for projection of the time evolution and the intensity of Asian monsoon on the basis of the annual cycle of temperature and precipitation. And future changes of onset, retreat, and intensity of monsoon are analyzed. Four models for good seasonal-mean (GSM) and good harmonic (GH) groups, respectively, are selected. GSM is based on the seasonal-mean of temperature and precipitation in summer and winter, and GH is based on the annual cycle of temperature and precipitation which represents a characteristic of the monsoon. To compare how well the time evolution of the monsoon is simulated in each group, the onset, retreat, and duration of Asian monsoon are examined. The highest pattern correlation coefficient (PCC) of onset, retreat, and duration between the reanalysis data and model outputs demonstrates that GH models’ MME predicts time evolution of monsoon most precisely, with PCC values of 0.80, 0.52, and 0.63, respectively. To predict future changes of the monsoon, the representative concentration pathway 4.5 (RCP 4.5) experiments for the period of 2073-2099 are compared with historical simulations for the period of 1979-2005 from CMIP5 using GH models’ MME. The Asian monsoon domain is expanded by 22.6% in the future projection. The onset date in the future is advanced over most parts of Asian monsoon region. The duration of summer Asian monsoon in the future projection will be lengthened by up to 2 pentads over the Asian monsoon region, as a result of advanced onset. The Asian monsoon intensity becomes stronger with the passage of time. This study has important implication for assessment of CMIP5 models in terms of the prediction of time evolution and intensity of Asian monsoon based on the annual cycle of temperature and precipitation.     

RCP4.5情景下中国季风区及降水变化预估

本文使用国际耦合模式比较计划第五阶段(CMIP5)中共46个全球气候模式的数值试验结果,通过对中国区域的年、夏季和冬季降水气候态的模拟能力评估,择优选取了18个气候模式用来预估RCP4.5情景下21世纪中国季风区范围、季风降水及其强度变化。结果表明,相对于1986~2004年参考时段,RCP4.5情景下多数模式和所有模式集合平均在不同时段内均模拟出中国季风区面积、季风降水及其强度的增加趋势,最明显的时段出现在2081~2099年。其中,季风区面积扩张是导致季风降水增加的主要因素。在机制上,热力与动力条件变化均有利于季风降水强度的增加以及更多的水汽进入中国东部,从而引起季风区范围的扩大。     

Global Monsoon Changes under the Paris Agreement Temperature Goals in CESM1(CAM5)

Based on experiments with the Community Earth System Model, version 1(Community Atmosphere Model, version 5)[CESM1(CAM5)], and an observational dataset, we found that CESM1-CAM5 is able to reproduce global monsoon(GM)features, including the patterns of monsoon precipitation and monsoon domains, the magnitude of GM precipitation(GMP,the local summer precipitation), GM area(GMA), and GM percentage(the ratio of the local summer precipitation to annual precipitation). Under the Paris Agreement temperature goals, the GM in CESM1-CAM5 displays the following changes:(1)The GMA is ambiguous under the 1.5℃ temperature goal and increases under the 2.0℃ temperature goal. The increase mainly results from a change in the monsoon percentage.(2) The GM, land monsoon and ocean monsoon precipitation all significantly increase under both the 1.5℃ and 2.0℃ goals. The increases are mainly due to the enhancement of humidity and evaporation.(3) The percentages of GM, land monsoon and ocean monsoon feature little change under the temperature goals.(4) The lengths of the GM, land monsoon and ocean monsoon are significantly prolonged under the temperature goals.The increase in precipitation during the monsoon withdrawal month mainly accounts for the prolonged monsoons. Regarding the differences between the 1.5℃ and 2.0℃ temperature goals, it is certain that the GMP displays significant discrepancies.In addition, a large-scale enhancement of ascending motion occurs over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and South China under a warming climate, whereas other monsoon areas experience an overall decline in ascending motion. This leads to an extraordinary wetting over Asian monsoon areas.     

气溶胶影响亚洲夏季风机理的数值研究

利用NCEP/NCAR （National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research）2001-2010年再分析资料,检验了全球气候系统模式CESM中大气模块CAM （Community Atmosphere Model）对亚洲夏季风和大气热源的模拟能力。结果显示,模式可以再现亚洲夏季风和大气热源的主要特征。通过敏感试验探讨人为气溶胶影响亚洲夏季风的机理,分析、讨论了气溶胶引起的非均匀加热的变化对辐散风和无辐散风强度的影响,在机理上解释了亚洲夏季风减弱的原因。结果表明,人为气溶胶浓度的升高使东亚夏季风强度在中国东南地区、中南半岛北部和印度半岛北部减弱。而中国东南部季风的减弱促使中国内陆降水减少,沿海降水增多。进一步分析人为气溶胶浓度升高的作用发现,其改变了大气热源的分布,造成阿拉伯海、孟加拉湾和中国南海大气热源增强,中国东部地区和中南半岛大气热源减弱,其中气溶胶通过影响凝结潜热来改变大气热源,主要是对对流过程的影响。此外,大气热源分布的变化改变了季风区的热力结构,使中国东南地区、中南半岛北部的加热减弱,从而减少了全位能的产生,使得全位能向辐散风的转换减小,辐散风减弱;同时,中国东南部、中南半岛北部季风由于辐散风向无辐散风转换的减弱,无辐散风减弱,最终导致了夏季风强度的减弱。而且,人为气溶胶对亚洲夏季风的影响主要通过大气热力和动力过程的响应产生作用。     

CMIP5/AMIP GCM simulations of East Asian summer monsoon

The East Asian summer monsoon （EASM） is a distinctive component of the Asian climate system and critically influences the economy and society of the region.To understand the ability of AGCMs in capturing the major features of EASM,10 models that participated in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project/Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project （CMIP5/AMIP）,which used observational SST and sea ice to drive AGCMs during the period 1979-2008,were evaluated by comparing with observations and AMIP Ⅱ simulations.The results indicated that the multi-model ensemble （MME） of CMIP5/AMIP captures the main characteristics of precipitation and monsoon circulation,and shows the best skill in EASM simulation,better than the AMIP Ⅱ MME.As for the Meiyu/Changma/Baiyu rainbelt,the intensity of rainfall is underestimated in all the models.The biases are caused by a weak western Pacific subtropical high （WPSH） and accompanying eastward southwesterly winds in group Ⅰ models,and by a too strong and west-extended WPSH as well as westerly winds in group Ⅱ models.Considerable systematic errors exist in the simulated seasonal migration of rainfall,and the notable northward jumps and rainfall persistence remain a challenge for all the models.However,the CMIP5/AMIP MME is skillful in simulating the western North Pacific monsoon index （WNPMI）.     

Variability and teleconnections of South and East Asian summer monsoons in present and future projections of CMIP5 climate models

Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) model outputs of the South and East Asian summer monsoon variability and their tele-connections are investigated using historical simulations (1861-2005) and future projections under the RCP4.5 scenario (2006-2100). Detailed analyses are performed using nine models having better representation of the recent monsoon teleconnections for the interactive Asian monsoon sub-systems. However, these models underestimate rainfall mainly over South Asia and Korea-Japan sector, the regions of heavy rainfall, along with a bias in location of rainfall maxima. Indeed, the simulation biases, underestimations of monsoon variability and teleconnections suggest further improvements for better representation of Asian monsoon in the climate models. Interestingly, the performance of Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator version 1.0 (ACCESS1.0) in simulating the annual cycle, spatial pattern of rainfall and multi-decadal variations of summer monsoon rainfall over South and East Asia appears to more realistic. In spite of large spread among the CMIP5 models, historical simulations as well as future projections of summer monsoon rainfall indicate multi-decadal variability. These rainfall variations, displaying certain epochs of more rainfall over South Asia than over East Asia and vice versa, suggest an oscillatory behaviour. Teleconnections between South and East Asian monsoon rainfall also exhibit a multi-decadal variation with alternate epochs of strengthening and weakening relationship. Furthermore, large-scale circulation features such as South Asian monsoon trough and north Pacific subtropical high depict zonal oscillatory behaviour with east-west-east shifts. Periods with eastward or westward extension of the Mascarene High, intensification and expansion of the upper tropospheric South Asian High are also projected by the CMIP5 models.     

Projected changes in South Asian summer monsoon by multi-model global warming experiments

South Asian summer monsoon (June through September) rainfall simulation and its potential future changes are evaluated in a multi-model ensemble of global coupled climate models outputs under World Climate Research Program Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (WCRP CMIP3) dataset. The response of South Asian summer monsoon to a transient increase in future anthropogenic radiative forcing is investigated for two time slices, middle (2031–2050) and end of the twenty-first century (2081–2100), in the non-mitigated Special Report on Emission Scenarios B1, A1B and A2 .There is large inter-model variability in the simulation of spatial characteristics of seasonal monsoon precipitation. Ten out of the 25 models are able to simulate space–time characteristics of the South Asian monsoon precipitation reasonably well. The response of these selected ten models has been examined for projected changes in seasonal monsoon rainfall. The multi-model ensemble of these ten models projects a significant increase in monsoon precipitation with global warming. The substantial increase in precipitation is observed over western equatorial Indian Ocean and southern parts of India. However, the monsoon circulation weakens significantly under all the three climate change experiments. Possible mechanisms for the projected increase in precipitation and for precipitation–wind paradox have been discussed. The surface temperature over Asian landmass increases in pre-monsoon months due to global warming and heat low over northwest India intensifies. The dipole snow configuration over Eurasian continent strengthens in warmer atmosphere, which is conducive for the enhancement in precipitation over Indian landmass. No notable changes have been projected in the El Niño–Monsoon relationship, which is useful for predicting interannual variations of the monsoon.