DETERMINATION OF SOUTH CHINA SEA MONSOON ONSET AND EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON INDEX

Results of the definition of South China Sea summer monsoon onset date and East Asian summer monsoon index in recent years are summarized in this paper. And more questions to be resolved are introduced later.     

CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ONSET OF SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON II. INTER-DECADAL VARIATION

By using the 40-year NCEP (1958-1997) grid point reanalysis meteorological data, we analyzed the inter-decadal variation on the climatic characteristics of the onset of South China Sea summer monsoon. The results are as follows. (1) There was great difference on the onset date of the SCS summer monsoon between the first two decades and the last two decades. It was late on the 6th pentad of May for the first two decades and was on the 4th and 5th pentad of May for the next two decades. (2) Except for the third decade (1978-1987), the establishment of the monsoon rainfall was one to two pentads earlier than the onset of the summer monsoon in all other three decades. (3) The onset of the SCS monsoon is the result of the abrupt development and eastward advancement of the southwesterly monsoon over the Bay of Bengal. The four-decade analysis shows that there were abrupt development of the southwesterly monsoon over the Bay of Bengal between the 3rd and 4th pentad of May, but there was great difference between its eastward movement and its onset intensity. These may have important effect to the earlier or later onset of the SCS summer monsoon. (4) During the onset of the SCS summer monsoon, there were great difference in the upper and lower circulation feature between the first two and the next two decades. At the lower troposphere of the first two decades, the Indian-Burma trough was stronger and the center of the subtropical high was located more eastward. At the upper troposphere, the northward movement of the center of subtropical high was large and located more northward after it landed on the Indo-China Peninsula. After comparison, we can see that the circulation feature of the last two decades was favorable to the establishment and development of the SCS summer monsoon.     

COMPOSITE ANALYSIS OF SUMMER MONSOON ONSET PROCESS OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA

Based on the method of composite analysis, the onset process and preceding signs of summer monsoon over the South China Sea (SCS) is investigated. The result indicates that convection activities appear first over the Indo-China Peninsula prior to the onset of the monsoon, then around the Philippines just at the point of onset, implying that the convection activities around the Philippines serve as one of the reasons leading to the SCS monsoon onset. Before the SCS monsoon onset, the equatorial westerly over the Indian Ocean (75°E 95°E ) experiences noticeable enhancement and plays an important role on the SCS monsoon onset. It propagates eastward rapidly and causes the establishment and strengthening of equatorial westerly in the southern SCS, on the one hand, it results in the migration southward of the westerly on south side of the south-China stationary front by means of shift northeastward of the westerly and convection over the Bay of Bengal, on the other. Further study also shows that the intensification of equatorial westerly in the Indian Ocean (75°E 95°E) and the southern SCS is closely related to the reinforcement of the Southern-Hemisphere Mascarene high and Australian high, and cross-equatorial flow northward around Somali, at 85°E and 105°E, respectively.     

ESTABLISHMENT OF SUMMER MONSOON IN SOUTH CHINA SEA AND INTENSITY VARIATION

The 850 hPa wind field data from NCEP and OLR data are used to study the variation behavior of the southwesterly wind and OLR in the South China Sea and their mutual relationship. A monsoon index is putforward that reflects the variation of the southwest monsoon in the region. In the preliminary study or intensity variation and establishment time of the monsoon, it is found that it is of dual peaks on the seasonal scale and the interannual variation of the monsoon intensity and the establishment time are related with sea surface temperature. The summer monsoon is established earlier and with higher intensity in the EI Niño year and vice versa.     

MOISTURE TRANSPORT PATHS AND SOURCES OF SOUTH CHINA ANNUALLY FIRST RAINY SEASON AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONSET OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON

This study simulated the moisture transport process of southern China annually first rainy season (SCAFRS) using a Lagrangian airflow trajectory model (Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory: HYSPLIT), to determine SCAFRS moisture transport characteristics and their relationship with South China Sea summer monsoon (SCSSM). It is found that the moisture transport paths and sources of SCAFRS are closely related to the onset of SCSSM. Divided by SCSSM onset dates, the moisture transport characteristics of SCAFRS are compared quantitatively. Before the onset of SCSSM, precipitation of SCAFRS mainly comes from western Pacific and eastern China. Their contributions are 24% and 25%, respectively. The amount of water vapor carried along the path coming from Bay of Bengal-South China Sea (BSC) is relatively high, but the contribution rate of this path to SCAFRS precipitation is relatively low. Mainly due to strong precipitation over Bay of Bengal before the onset of SCSSM, this region is a moisture sink, which makes most moisture deposit in this region and only a small portion of water vapor transported to southern China. After the onset of SCSSM, most water vapor is transported to southern China by the southwesterly paths. The Indian Ocean is the main moisture source, which contributes almost 25% to SCAFRS precipitation. The contributions of moisture originating from BSC and eastern China to southern China precipitation after the onset of SCSSM are 21% and 18%, respectively.     

APPLICATION OF HYSPLIT MODEL IN DEFINITION OF THE ONSET OF SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON

Using NCEP reanalysis data and an airflow trajectory model based on the Lagrangian method, the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model, the daily backward trajectories on the height of 850 hPa above the South China Sea (SCS) area are simulated from April to June. The onset date of the SCS summer monsoon from 1948 to 2009 is determined according to the simulated source of airflow in the monitored area of the SCS. By analyzing the SCS monsoon onset dates over the 62 years, we found that the number of years in which the SCS monsoon onset is earlier accounts for 13%, and the later years 14%, the normal years 73%, of all the 62 years. Analyses with the Lagrangian method, done in comparison with the other two methods which combine wind and potential pseudo-equivalent temperature, were performed to determine the onset dates of the SCS summer monsoon. In some years, the source of the southwest airflow in the monitored area of the SCS is in the subtropical region before the onset of the SCS monsoon, so the airflow from the subtropics can be distinguished with the airflow from the tropics by using the Lagrangian method. The simulation by the trajectory model indicated that in some years, after the onset of SCS summer monsoon, the SCS will be controlled by the southeast wind instead of the southwesterly usually expected.     

利用大尺度环流确定2006年南海夏季风爆发日期

南海夏季风爆发最显著的特征就是南海地区西南风的突然增强和降水的明显增多,往往采用南海地区低层平均风场和(或)对流强度来判别南海夏季风的爆发日期。这种方法在大多数的年份是适用的,但是2006年由于0601号台风“珍珠”的介入,利用南海地区的区域指标来确定南海夏季风的爆发日期就略显不足。要解决以上的问题,必须从更大尺度上去想办法。利用经圈和纬圈环流可以较好地确定2006年南海夏季风的爆发日期。分析结果表明2006年南海夏季风爆发于5月16日(第4候)。     

CONNECTION OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON TO MARITIME CONTINENT CONVECTION AND ENSO

The relationship between the intensity of the South China Sea summer monsoon (SCSSM) and the Nino3.4 index and anomalous atmospheric circulation patterns associated with a strong and weak SCSSM are investigated using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) data and Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) data. The SCSSM is significantly positively correlated with the Nino3.4 index in the succeeding northern autumn and winter. In the strong minus weak SCSSM composite, a positive East Asia-Pacific teleconnection (EAP) pattern and a negative Europe-Asian-Pacific teleconnection (EUP) pattern appear in the 500 hPa height difference field; low-level cross-equatorial flows are strengthened over the Maritime Continent (MC) region; positive (negative) precipitation anomalies occur in the South China Sea and western north Pacific (MC). A possible mechanism through which SCSSM affects ENSO is proposed. A strong (weak) SCSSM strengthens (weakens) cross-equatorial flows over the MC. The anomalous cross-equatorial flows cool (warm) the SST around the MC through enhanced (reduced) surface latent heat fluxes. The cooling (warming) further leads to suppressed (enhanced) convection over the MC, and causes the anomalous westerly (easterly) in the equatorial western Pacific, which favors the onset of El Ni?o (La Ni?a) through modulating the positive air-sea feedback process.     

东亚下垫面热力异常与南海夏季风爆发早晚和强弱的关系

利用我国南方逐日降水资料及逐月温度资料，采用Mann-Kendall 突变检验方法，并计算极端降水的GPD(Generalized Pareto Distribution)重现值，讨论了气候变暖前后我国南方冬季极端降水事件的变化。结果表明，我国南方冬季气候变暖的突变发生在1991年前后，且气候变暖后我国南方冬季的极端降水强度普遍有所增加。利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料进一步分析气候变暖前后的环流场特征，发现东亚热带冬季风异常与我国华南、江南地区降水异常有显著的相关关系。东亚热带冬季风偏强(弱)，华南、江南地区降水偏少(多)。气候变暖后中高纬度环流经向度加大，有利于北方的冷空气向南输送。此外, 气候变暖后我国南方地面气温升高，海陆热力差异减小，东亚热带冬季风减弱，有利于西太平洋的暖湿气流向我国大陆东南部输送，并在东南部形成异常的水汽通量辐合，有利于形成强降水。气候变暖后，中高纬度与中低纬度异常环流系统的相互作用是我国东南部降水强度增加的主要原因。     

南海夏季风建立日期的确定和东亚夏季风强度指数的选取

对近几年来南海夏季风建立日期的确定和东亚夏季风强度指数的选取方面的研究成果进行比较全面的概述，并提出了有待进一步解决的问题。     

SEASONAL AND INTER-ANNUAL VARIABILITY OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA WARM POOL AND ITS RELATION TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA MONSOON ONSET

The South China Sea warm pool interacts vigorously with the summer monsoon which is active in the region. However, there has not been a definition concerning the former warm pool which is as specific as that for the latter. The seasonal and inter-annual variability of the South China Sea warm pool and its relations to the South China Sea monsoon onset were analyzed using Levitus and NCEP/NCAR OISST data. The results show that, the seasonal variability of the South China Sea warm pool is obvious, which is weak in winter, develops rapidly in spring, becomes strong and extensive in summer and early autumn, and quickly decays from mid-autumn. The South China Sea warm pool is 55 m in thickness in the strongest period and its axis is oriented from southwest to northeast with the main section locating along the western offshore steep slope of northern Kalimantan-Palawan Island. For the warm pools in the South China Sea, west Pacific and Indian Ocean, the oscillation, which is within the same large scale air-sea coupling system, is periodic around 5 years. There are additional oscillations of about 2.5 years and simultaneous inter-annual variations for the latter two warm pools. The intensity of the South China Sea warm pool varies by a lag of about 5 months as compared to the west Pacific one. The result also indicates that the inter-annual variation of the intensity index is closely related with the onset time of the South China Sea monsoon. When the former is persistently warmer (colder) in preceding winter and spring, the monsoon in the South China Sea usually sets in on a later (earlier) date in early summer. The relation is associated with the activity of the high pressure over the sea in early summer. An oceanic background is given for the prediction of the South China Sea summer monsoon, though the mechanism through which the warm pool and eventually the monsoon are affected remains unclear.     

南海暖池的季节和年际变化及其与南海季风爆发的关系

用ＬＥＶＩＴＵＳ和ＮＣＥＰ／ＮＣＡＲ ＯＩＳＳＴ资料，分析了南海暖池的季节和变化特征及其与西太平洋暖池和印度洋暖池的关系，讨论了南海暖池强度指数的年际变化与南海季风爆发时间的联系，结果指出，南海暖池有明显的季节变化牲，１２～２月隆冬季节最弱，３～４月迅速发展北上，６～９月达其盛期，整个南海均为高于２８℃的暖水，１０～１１月迅速减弱南退：在南海暖池盛期，整个南海均为高于２８℃的暖水最大厚度达５５ｍ，     

南海夏季风强度与我国汛期降水的关系

对4种南海夏季风强度指数(1951～1998年)进行了对比分析,发现尽管它们在某些年份有差异,但在年际变化总体趋势上仍表现一致,并且由它们所确定的季风强弱年也基本相同.统计分析了南海夏季风强度与我国汛期降水的关系,结果表明,南海夏季风强(弱)年,我国夏季雨带型呈Ⅰ(Ⅲ)类分布,长江中下游地区夏季(6～7月)少雨干旱(多雨洪涝),广东省后汛期降水以偏涝(正常和偏旱)为主.南海夏季风强度指数与夏季长江中下游区降水和淮河区降水有显著的反相关,与江南区降水和华南后汛期降水有显著的正相关.我国夏季出现的严重洪涝(如1998年长江流域特大洪涝和1994年华南特大暴雨)与南海夏季风的强度异常有关.此外,分析还表明,南海夏季风活动强弱造成的北半球东亚500 hPa位势高度场的经向波列型遥相关是影响中国夏季降水的一个重要机制.     

THE CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SUMMER MONSOON ONSET OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA I.40-YEAR AVERAGE

By using 40-year NCEP reanalysis daily data (1958-1997), we have analyzed the climatic characteristics of summer monsoon onset in the South China Sea (105°E ~ 120°E, 5°N ~ 20°N, to be simplified as SCS in the text followed) pentad by pentad (5 days). According to our new definition, in the monsoon area of the SCS two of the following conditions should be satisfied: 1) At 850hPa, the southwest winds should be greater than 2m/s. 2) At 850 hPa, θ_se should be greater than 335°K. The new definition means that the summer monsoon is the southwest winds with high temperature and high moisture. The onset of the SCS summer monsoon is defined to start when one half of the SCS area (105°E ~ 120°E,5°N ~ 20°N) is controlled by the summer monsoon. The analyzed results revealed the following: 1) The summer monsoon in the SCS starts to build up abruptly in the 4th pentad in May. 2) The summer monsoon onset in the SCS is resulted from the development and intensification of southwesterly monsoon in the Bay of Bengal. 3) The onset of the summer monsoon and establishment of the summer monsoon rainfall season in the SCS occur simultaneously. 4) During the summer monsoon onset in the SCS, troughs deepen and widen quickly in the lower troposphere of the India; the subtropical high in the Western Pacific moves eastward off the SCS in the middle troposphere; the easterly advances northward over the SCS in the upper troposphere.     

ADVANCE AND RETREAT OF THE SUMMER MONSOON IN CHINA

By using the daily-14 year(1983—1996)NCEP/NCAR 2.5°×2.5° reanalysis data,wecarefully study in each pentad the advance and retreat of the summer monsoon in China and givento it a new definition.This definition considered the intensity of southwesterly winds at 850 hPatogether with its degree in temperature and moisture.The result revealed that:(1)The advance of the summer monsoon in China shows three abrupt northward shifts andfour relatively stationary stays.The four stable stages correspond to the peak of the pro-summerrainy period in South China,the“Meiyu”season in the Changjiang(Yangtze)-Huaihe RiverValleys.the rainy season in the downstream of the Huanghe(Yellow)Riyer Valleys and the rainyseason in northern China.The retreat of the summer monsoon is so fast that it totally retreatsfrom the mainland at about the mid-August.(2)The northward advance of summer monsoon in China is basically controlled by theseasonal variation latitudinally of the upper level planetary westerlies.It is in roughly accord withthe temporal variation in the position of 15 m s~(-1) isotaeh at 200 hPa.The fast retreat of thesummer monsoon is mainly due to the blocking effect of the Tibetan Plateau.(3)The advance of 500 hPa subtropical high of the western Pacific is also in aecordanee withthe advance of the summer monsoon in China.During the advancement of the summer monsoon,the eastward movement of the subtropical high shows great meaning that it creates the essentialcondition for the convergence of southward intrusion cold airs with the warm and humidsouthwesterly winds,which result in precipitation.There are three manifest eastward movementsof the subtropical high during its northward advancement.They coincide correspondingly to thebeginning of the peak of the pre-summer rainy period in South China,the“Meiyu”season in theChangjiang(Yangtze)-Huaihe River Valleys and finally the rainy season in northern China.Thewestern part of the subtropical high moves eastward to the region of Japan in late July and thebeginning of August.It then stays there for quite a long time which results in the straightmovement of cold airs intruding from the north to the east of Tibetan Plateau,i.e.the easternregion of China.This provides good condition for the fast southward retreat of the summermonsoon.(4)The intensifieation and development of the Tibetan high at 200 hPa are closely related to the eastward movement of the subtropical high,they often occur simultaneously.     

太阳活动11年周期变化对南海夏季风爆发的可能影响

利用1948—2017年再分析资料以及反映太阳周期活动的太阳黑子数资料,研究了太阳活动11年周期变化对南海夏季风爆发早晚的可能影响及相关的物理过程,发现太阳黑子数与南海夏季风建立日期之间存在显著的正相关关系,即太阳活动偏强(弱)年南海夏季风爆发偏晚(早)。对相关大气环流特征进行合成分析表明,太阳活动峰值(谷值)年,5月菲律宾附近上空往往出现异常反气旋(气旋),西太平洋副热带高压偏强、西伸(偏弱、东撤)。一方面,这与赤道以南海洋性大陆的对流活动异常以及与之相联系的局地经向环流密切相关,另一方面,热带印度洋-西太平洋沿赤道的纬向Walker环流异常对此也有一定贡献。进一步的研究揭示出太阳活动影响南海夏季风爆发的信号最初很可能来源于平流层温度的响应,随着太阳辐射增强,春季前期整个南半球对流层下层-平流层上层一致偏暖,温度梯度的变化削弱了对流层的平均经圈环流,导致大气质量的重新分布,引起低层出现负的南极涛动(AAO)型分布,在南半球中纬度地区形成气旋性环流异常,造成索马里越赤道气流建立偏晚,进而有利于南海夏季风爆发的推迟。     

南海夏季风强度指数及其变化特征

依据南海夏季风活动的基本特征，设计了一个动力不因子（西南风分量）与热力学因子（OLR）相结合标准化的南海夏季风强度指数Is。并计算出1975－1999年6、7、8中各月及夏季Is的数据，给出了强、弱夏季风月和年。分析了其变化特征和Is与夏季风爆发早晚，及与广东和我国降水的关系。结果表明：近35年来，南海夏季风年际变化有准10年和准3－4年变化周期。南海夏季风爆发早（晚），则该年夏季风大多偏强（弱）。南海夏季风强（弱）年，广东后汛期偏涝（旱），前汛期降水正常或偏旱（正常），我国东北、华北大部和江南大部夏季降水偏多（少），而长江中下游和华北西部以及华西偏少（多）。     

REASONS FOR THE LATE ONSET AND ANOMALOUS SOUTHWARD PERSISTENCE OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON IN 2005

Features of atmospheric circulation and thermal structures are discussed using the NCAR/NCEP data to reveal the reasons for the late onset and anomalous southward persistence of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon (SCSSM) in 2005. The results show that three factors are crucial. First, a strong Arabian High overlaps with a high-latitude blocking high and channels strong cold air to southern Asia. Second, the Tibetan Plateau has a bigger snow cover than usual in spring and the melting of snow cools down the surface. Third, the Somali Jet breaks out at a much later date, being not conducive to convection over Indochina. The former two factors restrict atmospheric sensible heating over the Tibetan Plateau and nearby regions while the third one limits latent heating over Indochina. All of the factors slow down atmospheric warming and postpone the onset of SCSSM. Long after the onset of SCSSM, strong cold air over India advances the Southwest Monsoon northward slowly, resulting in weaker convection and latent heating over the Tibetan Plateau and nearby areas. The negative feedback conversely inhibits further northward movement of Southwest Monsoon.     

赤道涡旋与南海夏季风爆发

文中应用１９７９－１９９５年共１７ａ的８５０ｈＰａ风场资料和ＮＯＡＡ卫星的ＯＬＲ资料，分析了南海夏季风爆发的特征。证实南海夏季风爆发，落后于同纬度的中南半岛和菲律宾岛屿地区。但在南海的东部和西部，季风爆发几乎是同时的，具有某种驻波的特征。文中还证实，大多数年份的４，５月间在１０５°Ｅ附近有赤道涡旋形成，这个涡旋引导它上游的赤道西风或南半球西风进入南海南部，为南海的季风爆发创造有利条件。这种涡旋不活跃的年份，季风爆发往往偏晚。它们之间可能存在某种联系。４月中旬，这个涡旋的形成和１０５°Ｅ越赤道气流的初步建立是同时的。进入５月份，这支越赤道气流逐渐加强。南海夏季风的活动与这支气流可能关系密切。如果称位于１０５°Ｅ附近的赤道涡旋为东亚的爆发涡旋，它显然与南亚季风的情况有较大差别。南亚的爆发涡旋与季风爆发的关系是直接的，而在东亚，则是间接的，这也说明了东亚季风比南亚季风更具有复杂性。     

GENERAL SITUATION ABOUT ACTIVITY OF SUMMER MONSOON OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA IN 2004 ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON INDEX

Based on daily NCEP reanalysis data, OLR and satellite rainfall data, the characteristic of the activities of South China Sea summer monsoon(SCSSM) in 2004 were analyzed. The results showed that the establishment of SCSSM was little later than normal and the intensity was stronger than normal. Influenced by the location of the northwest Pacific subtropical high, which was much northward and westward than normal, SCSSM was active mainly in the South China Sea areas. There existed obvious intraseasonal oscillation and two significant periods of SCSSM, one was about 20-30 days and the other about 40-50 days. The transportation of moisture was concentrated on the South China Sea and the northwest Pacific regions, reducing the northward transportation and resulting in drought in southern China