Strengthened African summer monsoon in the mid-Piacenzian

Using model results from the first phase of the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) and four experiments with CAM4, the intensified African summer monsoon (ASM) in the mid-Piacenzian and corresponding mechanisms are analyzed. The results from PlioMIP show that the ASM intensified and summer precipitation increased in North Africa during the mid-Piacenzian, which can be explained by the increased net energy in the atmospheric column above North Africa. Further experiments with CAM4 indicated that the combined changes in the mid-Piacenzian of atmospheric CO₂ concentration and SST, as well as the vegetation change, could have substantially increased the net energy in the atmospheric column over North Africa and further intensified the ASM. The experiments also demonstrated that topography change had a weak effect. Overall, the combined changes of atmospheric CO₂ concentration and SST were the most important factor that brought about the intensified ASM in the mid-Piacenzian.     

东亚和南亚季风协同作用对西南地区夏季降水的影响

为探究东亚夏季风(EASM,East?Asian?summer?monsoon)和南亚夏季风(SASM,South?Asian?summer?monsoon)相互作用及其强弱变化对西南地区夏季降水的影响,利用1979—2019年西南地区161站逐日降水观测资料和ERA-5提供的1979—2019年全球再分析资料,通过对...     

南亚和东亚热带夏季风强弱不同配置及其对中国夏季降水的影响北大核心

利用NOAA向外长波辐射(OLR)、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和CN05.1降水资料,研究了南亚和东亚热带夏季风强度年际变化关系,及其强弱不同配置对中国夏季降水的影响。结果表明:南亚和东亚热带夏季风强度变化之间存在同相和反相两种配置,定义的强度同相和反相变化指数可以很好地表征该关系。同相变化模态可能与海温异常时的强El Nino(La Nina)影响有关,其反相变化模态受El Nino(La Nina)以及印度洋海盆一致模的影响,同时西太平洋副热带高压和伊朗高压位置东西偏移和强度变化也影响着不同配置的出现。两者不同配置时,对中国夏季降水的影响不同。当变化呈同相偏强时,夏季中国东部地区降水为“中间少南北多”的雨型。当变化呈反相,东亚热带夏季风偏强南亚夏季风偏弱时,夏季中国东部地区降水为“一致偏少”雨型。     

Vertical structures of atmospheric properties in Southeast Tibet during the South Asian summer monsoon in 2013

In June 2013, a field experiment was conducted in Southeast Tibet in which the air temperature, moisture, and wind were measured by using a GPS sounding system. In the present study, based on these observations and ERA-Interim reanalysis data, the vertical structures of these atmospheric properties and the possible influence of the South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) were investigated. On average, the temperature had a lapse rate of 6.8℃km^?1 below the tropopause of 18.0 km. A strong moisture inversion occurred at the near-surface, with a strength of 1.7 g kg^?1 (100 m)^?1 for specific humidity. During the observation period, the SASM experienced a south phase and a north phase in the middle and by the end of June, respectively. The monsoon’s evolution led to large changes in convection and circulation over Southeast Tibet, which further affected the local thermal, moisture, and circulation conditions. The strong convection resulted in an elevated tropopause height over Southeast Tibet during the north phase of the SASM, and the large-scale warm and wet air masses delivered by the monsoon caused high local temperature and moisture conditions.     

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.     

Modelling the Asian summer monsoon using CCAM

A ten-year mean (1989–1998) climatology of the Asian summer monsoon is studied using the CSIRO Conformal-Cubic Atmospheric Model (CCAM) to downscale NCEP reanalyses. The aim of the current study is to validate the model results against previous work on this topic, in order to identify model strengths and weaknesses in simulating the Asian summer monsoon. The model results are compared with available observations and are presented in two parts. In the first part, the mean summer rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures and winds are compared with the observations. The second part focuses on validation of the monsoon onset. The model captures the mean characteristics such as the cross-equatorial flow of low-level winds over the Indian Ocean and near the Somali coast, rainfall patterns, onset indices, northward movements, active-break and revival periods.     

Subseasonal variability during the South China Sea summer monsoon onset

Analysis of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) data for the period 1998–2007 reveals large subseasonal fluctuations in sea surface temperature (SST) of the South China Sea during the summer monsoon onset. These subseasonal SST changes are closely related to surface heat flux anomalies induced by surface wind and cloud changes in association with the summer monsoon onset. The SST changes feed back on the atmosphere by modifying the atmospheric instability. The results suggest that the South China Sea summer monsoon onset involves ocean–atmosphere coupling on subseasonal timescales. While the SST response to surface heat flux changes is quick and dramatic, the time lag between the SST anomalies and the atmospheric convection response varies largely from year to year. The spatial–temporal evolution of subseasonal anomalies indicates that the subseasonal variability affecting the South China Sea summer monsoon onset starts over the equatorial western Pacific, propagates northward to the Philippine Sea, and then moves westward to the South China Sea. The propagation of these subseasonal anomalies is related to the ocean–atmosphere interaction, involving the wind-evaporation and cloud-radiation effects on SST as well as SST impacts on lower-level convergence over the equatorial western Pacific and atmospheric instability over the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.     

Daily modes of South Asian summer monsoon variability in the NCEP climate forecast system

The leading modes of daily variability of the Indian summer monsoon in the climate forecast system (CFS), a coupled general circulation model, of the National Centers for Environmental Predictions (NCEP) are examined. The space?Ctime structures of the daily modes are obtained by applying multi-channel singular spectrum analysis (MSSA) on the daily anomalies of rainfall. Relations of the daily modes to intraseasonal and interannual variability of the monsoon are investigated. The CFS has three intraseasonal oscillations with periods around 106, 57 and 30?days with a combined variance of 7%. The 106-day mode has spatial structure and propagation features similar to the northeastward propagating 45-day mode in the observations except for its longer period. The 57-day mode, despite being in the same time scale as of the observations has poor eastward propagation. The 30-day mode is northwestward propagating and is similar to its observational counterpart. The 106-day mode is specific to the model and should not be mistaken for a new scale of variability in observations. The dominant interannual signal is related to El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and, unlike in the observations, has maximum variance in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. Although the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) mode was not obtained as a separate mode in the rainfall, the ENSO signal has good correlations with the dipole variability, which, therefore, indicates the dominance of ENSO in the model. The interannual variability is largely determined by the ENSO signal over the regions where it has maximum variance. The interannual variability of the intraseasonal oscillations is smaller in comparison.     

Indian Ocean SST, evaporation, and precipitation during the South Asian summer monsoon in IPCC-AR4 coupled simulations

The veracity of modeled air–sea interactions in the Indian Ocean during the South Asian summer monsoon is examined. Representative simulations of the twentieth century climate, produced by coupled general circulation models as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, are the analysis targets along with observational data. The analysis shows the presence of large systematic biases in coupled simulations of boreal summer precipitation, evaporation, and sea surface temperature (SST) in the Indian Ocean, often exceeding 50% of the climatological values. Many of the biases are pervasive, being common to most simulations. The representation of air–sea interactions is also compromised. Coupled models tend to emphasize local forcing in the Indian Ocean as reflected by their large precipitation–SST correlations, at odds with the weak links in observations which suggest the importance of non-local controls. The evaporation–SST correlations are also differently represented, indicating atmospheric control on SST in some models and SST control on evaporation in others. The Indian monsoon rainfall–SST links are also misrepresented: the former is essentially uncorrelated with antecedent and contemporaneous Indian Ocean SSTs in nature, but not so in most of the simulations. Overall, coupled models are found deficient in portraying local and non-local air–sea interactions in the Indian Ocean during boreal summer. In our opinion, current models cannot provide durable insights on regional climate feedbacks nor credible projections of regional hydroclimate variability and change, should these involve ocean–atmosphere interactions in the Indian basin.     

Risk and the South Asian monsoon

South Asia’s dependence on the monsoon has always been a source of economic uncertainty. This paper examines the history of ways of thinking about the monsoon and risk, focusing on India. The science of meteorology, and a growing interest in ways to mitigate monsoon risk, developed in response to major famines. Piecemeal interventions, including a series of canals and small dams, began India’s hydraulic transformation. By the middle of the twentieth century, massive hydraulic engineering emerged as the dominant solution to controlling the monsoon’s risks. Large dams account for the largest share of government expenditure in independent India, but since the 1960s, intensive and mostly unregulated groundwater exploitation has played a greater role in meeting irrigation needs. The expansion in India’s irrigated area and an expansion in food production. But this has come at a cost: millions have been displaced by dam construction; groundwater exploitation has reached unsustainable levels, and has had an effect on regional climate.     

Impact of Indian summer monsoon on the South Asian High and its influence on summer rainfall over China

By using the monthly ERA-40 reanalysis data and observed rainfall data, we investigated the effect of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) on the South Asian High (SAH) at 200 hPa, and the role played by the SAH in summer rainfall variation over China. It is found that in the interannual timescale the east–west shift is a prominent feature of the SAH, with its center either over the Iranian Plateau or over the Tibetan Plateau. When the ISM is stronger (weaker) than normal, the SAH shifts westward (eastward) to the Iranian Plateau (Tibetan Plateau). The east–west position of SAH has close relation to the summer rainfall over China. A westward (eastward) location of SAH corresponds to less (more) rainfall in the Yangtze-Huai River Valley and more (less) rainfall in North China and South China. A possible physical process that the ISM affects the summer rainfall over China via the SAH is proposed. A stronger (weaker) ISM associated with more (less) rainfall over India corresponds to more (less) condensation heat release and anomalous heating (cooling) in the upper troposphere over the northern Indian peninsula. The anomalous heating (cooling) stimulates positive (negative) height anomalies to its northwest and negative (positive) height anomalies to its northeast in the upper troposphere, causing a westward (eastward) shift of the SAH with its center over the Iranian Plateau (Tibetan Plateau). As a result, an anomalous cyclone (anticyclone) is formed over the eastern Tibetan Plateau and eastern China in the upper troposphere. The anomalous vertical motions in association with the circulation anomalies are responsible for the rainfall anomalies over China. Our present study reveals that the SAH may play an important role in the effect of ISM on the East Asian summer monsoon.     

Effects of intraseasonal oscillation on the anomalous East Asian summer monsoon during 1999

The 1999 East Asian summer monsoon was very unusual for its weak northward advance and remarkably anomalous climate conditions. The monsoonal southwesterly airflow and related rain belt in East Asia were blocked south of the Yangtze River Valley. The monsoonal airflow and major moisture transport conduct shifted eastward and turned northward to Japan from the tropical western Pacific rather than to East China from the South China Sea （SCS） as in normal years. Severe and prolonged drought occurred over extensive areas of North China and heavy precipitation in South China and Japan. The investigation on the possible intrinsic mechanisms related to such an anomalous monsoon year has shown that the unique behavior of intraseasonal oscillation may play an essential role during this process. During this year, the northward propagation of 30-60-day anomalous low-level cyclone/anticyclone collapsed in the region around 20°N and did not extend beyond the latitudes of the Yangtze River basin due to the barrier of strong cold air intrusion from the mid-latitudes. The southwesterly moisture flux on the northwestern flank of the anticyclonic moisture transport system in the western North Pacific, which was regulated by the northward shift of 30-60-day cyclonic/anticyclonic moisture transport, also did not reach the region north of 30°N as well. Under this circumstance, the weak northward advance of the monsoon westerlies and associated northward moisture transport could not arrive in North China and led to the severe droughts there in 1999. The SCS and South China were mostly affected by the airflow in the southern and northern flanks of the same 30-60-day cyclones or anticyclones, respectively, and thus controlled by the nearly reverse zonal wind and moisture convergent/divergent conditions. The rainfall in the SCS and South China showed out-of-phase oscillation through the transient local Hadley circulation, with the rainfall maximum occurring in the SCS （South China） when the 30-60-day anticyclone （cyclone） r     

A climatological study on the role of the South China Sea monsoon onset in the development of the East Asian summer monsoon

The unique role of the South China Sea summer monsoon (SCSSM) onset process in the development of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is demonstrated in this study. The SCSSM onset process is examined in terms of the vertical linkage between the Western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and the South Asian high (SAH). A composite analysis is performed in order to adequately describe the vertical linkage in a synoptic timescale. The South China Sea (SCS) is a key region for the seasonal migrations of the WPSH and the SAH, with the former retreating northeastward, the latter advancing northwestward, and both taking place over the SCS during the SCSSM onset period. The SCSSM onset process is characterized by a significant change in the relative configuration of the ridge lines of the WPSH and the SAH. Just prior to the onset period, the ridge lines intersect vertically over the SCS, thus prohibiting convective activities. During the onset period, the ridge line intersection moves away from the SCS due to the retreating WPSH and the northward shift of the SAH ridge line. This coincides with the emergence of monsoonal convective activities over the SCS and the establishment of a moisture channel from the tropics, which in turn provides favorable conditions for the development of deep convective activity. The northeastward intrusion of the lower level southwesterlies and the moisture supplying channel are closely related to the development of a preexisting twin cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. The northeastward lower level southwesterlies form a monsoonal ascending motion in the SCS, which further merges upward into the northeasterlies to the south of the SAH ridge line. This is a signature of the establishment of the local Hadley circulation, which marks the beginning of the EASM. The frontal system is the most frequent attendant synoptic event during the SCSSM onset. From the viewpoint of synoptic process, the SCSSM undergoes a two-stage onset process which is characterized by the southward intrusion of the frontal system in the earlier stage and the outbreak of the tropical convection in the later stage. The frontal system may act as a trigger for the outbreak of the tropical convection in the later stage. The burst out of the monsoonal convection over the SCS is essential for the breakdown of the vertical intersection between the WPSH and the SAH therein.     

1998年东亚夏季风降水的模拟

利用改进后的p-σ9层混合坐标系模型，采用不同的土壤温度与太阳短波辐射参数化方案，对1998年夏季风降水进行模拟，发现改进的土壤温度计算法和改进的Lacis和Hansen(NEW)短波辐射参数化方法相结合能较好地模拟降水，利用不同的统计方法对模拟结果进行统计检验发现，土壤温度对降水的显著性影响主要体现在降水场的空间分布，通过与实测降水的比较，发现该模式对些时段的降水模拟拟得较好，对有些时段的降水特别是对强降水过程模拟较差，降水量普遍偏小。     

Delay in the onset of South Asian summer monsoon induced by local black carbon in an AGCM

The influence of local black carbon (BC) on monthly mean precipitation and the associated circulation in South Asia is investigated. The results show that the amplified shortwave radiative heating rate by BC absorption enhances convective activity near the Himalayas and the southern Tibetan Plateau with increased rainfall anomalies in April and May, which is consistent with previous studies. However, the enhanced vertical motions and the precipitation ultimately lead towards cooling of the lower troposphere especially in May, which is extended till June. This favored negative rainfall responses in June, implying delay in the onset of South Asian summer monsoon rainfalls over Arabian Sea and western parts of the subcontinent. The negative precipitation response is further associated with the prevailing anomalous high pressure and the anticyclonic wind circulations induced by BC. Thus, we present here one different feature associated with BC-induced elevated heat pump-like circulations in South Asia.     

ENERGY BALANCE IN 40－50 DAY PERIODIC OSCILLATION OVER THE ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON REGION DURING THE 1979 SUMMER

Based on calculations of data from FGGE Level III b, a discussion is made of the energy balance in the 40－50 day periodic oscillation over the Asian monsoon region during the 1979 summer. It is found that the main source of 40－50 day periodic perturbation is the monsoon region extending from central South Asia to Southeast Asia. In the upper layer over the North Pacific subtropical area (10－20oN, 150oE－150oW) pres-sure work turns into kinetic energy that maintains 40－50 day periodic perturbation associated with the variation in position and intensity of the mid-Pacific trough. The mean energy budget in the three-dimensional space (0－30oE, 30oE－150oW, 100－1000 hPa) indicates that the 40－50 day periodic perturbation transports kinetic energy to a seasonal mean and a transient perturbation wind field.     

夏季索马里越赤道气流垂直结构特征及其与南亚夏季风的关系

采用1950-2009年NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析风场资料,对夏季低空索马里越赤道气流的垂直结构及其与南亚夏季风的关系进行研究.结果表明:夏季索马里越赤道气流在垂直方向上从低层至高层先增强,在925 hPa高度上达到最大值后逐渐减弱.某些年份索马里越赤道气流核心可向上延伸至850 hPa高度,而某些年份则维持在925 hPa高度上.索马里越赤道气流垂直结构不同时,其对应的南亚夏季风也有所不同,这种差异主要体现在对流层低层风场的变化,以及南亚夏季风的强弱差异方面.总体来说,索马里急流核心高度延伸至850 hPa时,对应的南亚夏季风偏强;急流核心高度维持在925 hPa时,南亚夏季风偏弱.     

The East Asian summer monsoon: an overview

Summary The present paper provides an overview of major problems of the East Asian summer monsoon. The summer monsoon system over East Asia (including the South China Sea (SCS)) cannot be just thought of as the eastward and northward extension of the Indian monsoon. Numerous studies have well documented that the huge Asian summer monsoon system can be divided into two subsystems: the Indian and the East Asian monsoon system which are to a greater extent independent of each other and, at the same time, interact with each other. In this context, the major findings made in recent two decades are summarized below: (1) The earliest onset of the Asian summer monsoon occurs in most of cases in the central and southern Indochina Peninsula. The onset is preceded by development of a BOB (Bay of Bengal) cyclone, the rapid acceleration of low-level westerlies and significant increase of convective activity in both areal extent and intensity in the tropical East Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. (2) The seasonal march of the East Asian summer monsoon displays a distinct stepwise northward and northeastward advance, with two abrupt northward jumps and three stationary periods. The monsoon rain commences over the region from the Indochina Peninsula-the SCS-Philippines during the period from early May to mid-May, then it extends abruptly to the Yangtze River Basin, and western and southern Japan, and the southwestern Philippine Sea in early to mid-June and finally penetrates to North China, Korea and part of Japan, and the topical western West Pacific. (3) After the onset of the Asian summer monsoon, the moisture transport coming from Indochina Peninsula and the South China Sea plays a crucial “switch” role in moisture supply for precipitation in East Asia, thus leading to a dramatic change in climate regime in East Asia and even more remote areas through teleconnection. (4) The East Asian summer monsoon and related seasonal rain belts assumes significant variability at intraseasonal, interannual and interdecadal time scales. Their interaction, i.e., phase locking and in-phase or out-phase superimposing, can to a greater extent control the behaviors of the East Asian summer monsoon and produce unique rythem and singularities. (5) Two external forcing i.e., Pacific and Indian Ocean SSTs and the snow cover in the Eurasia and the Tibetan Plateau, are believed to be primary contributing factors to the activity of the East Asian summer monsoon. However, the internal variability of the atmospheric circulation is also very important. In particular, the blocking highs in mid-and high latitudes of Eurasian continents and the subtropical high over the western North Pacific play a more important role which is quite different from the condition for the South Asian monsoon. The later is of tropical monsoon nature while the former is of hybrid nature of tropical and subtropical monsoon with intense impact from mid-and high latitudes.