Changes in Surface Energy Partitioning in China over the Past Three Decades

Surface energy balance and the partitioning of sensible heat flux(SHF) and latent heat flux(LHF) play key roles in land–atmosphere feedback. However,the lack of long-term observations of surface energy fluxes,not to mention spatially extensive ones,limits our understanding of how the surface energy distribution has responded to a warming climate over recent decades(1979–2009) at the national scale in China. Using four state-of-the-art reanalysis products with long-term surface energy outputs,we identified robust changes in surface energy partitioning,defined by the Bowen ratio(BR = SHF/LHF),over different climate regimes in China. Over the past three decades,the net radiation showed an increasing trend over almost the whole of China. The increase in available radiative energy flux,however,was balanced by differential partitioning of surface turbulent fluxes,determined by local hydrological conditions. In semi-arid areas,such as Northeast China,the radiative energy was transferred largely into SHF. A severe deficiency in near-surface and soil moistures led to a significant decreasing trend in LHF. The combined effect of increased SHF and decreased LHF resulted in significant upward trends in the BR and surface warming over Northeast China. In contrast,in the wet monsoon regions,such as southern China,increased downward net radiation favored a rise in LHF rather than in SHF,leading to a significant decreasing trend in the BR. Meanwhile,the increased LHF partly cancelled out the surface warming. The warming trend in southern China was smaller than that in Northeast China. In addition to impacts on heat-related events,the changes in the BR also reflected recent cases of extreme drought in China. Our results indicate that information regarding the BR may be valuable for drought monitoring,especially in regions prone to such conditions.     

Large-scale and spatio-temporal extreme rain events over India: a hydrometeorological study

Frequency, intensity, areal extent (AE) and duration of rain spells during summer monsoon exhibit large intra-seasonal and inter-annual variations. Important features of the monsoon period large-scale wet spells over India have been documented. A main monsoon wet spell (MMWS) occurs over the country from 18 June to 16 September, during which, 26.5 % of the area receives rainfall 26.3 mm/day. Detailed characteristics of the MMWS period large-scale extreme rain events (EREs) and spatio-temporal EREs (ST-EREs), each concerning rainfall intensity (RI), AE and rainwater (RW), for 1 to 25 days have been studied using 1° gridded daily rainfall (1951–2007). In EREs, ‘same area’ (grids) is continuously wet, whereas in ST-EREs, ‘any area’ on the mean under wet condition for specified durations is considered. For the different extremes, second-degree polynomial gave excellent fit to increase in values from distribution of annual maximum RI and RW series with increase in duration. Fluctuations of RI, AE, RW and date of occurrence (or start) of the EREs and the ST-EREs did not show any significant trend. However, fluctuations of 1° latitude–longitude grid annual and spatial maximum rainfall showed highly significant increasing trend for 1 to 5 days, and unprecedented rains on 26–27 July 2005 over Mumbai could be a realization of this trend. The Asia–India monsoon intensity significantly influences the MMWS RW.     

Seasonal variability of air-sea fluxes in two contrasting basins of the North Indian Ocean

Latent Heat Flux (LHF) and Sensible Heat Flux (SHF) are the two important parameters in air-sea interactions and hence have significant implications for any coupled ocean-atmospheric model. These two fluxes are conventionally computed from met-ocean parameters using bulk aerodynamic formulations; or the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) bulk flux algorithms. Here COARE 3.5 algorithm is used to estimate the heat flux from two Ocean Moored Buoy Network for northern Indian Ocean (OMNI) buoy met-ocean observations in Arabian Sea (AS) and the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The AS and BoB are two ocean basins which are situated in same latitudinal range, but experience drastically differing in their met-ocean conditions, especially during the monsoon seasons. In this study, we have computed and compared the LHF and SHF at two different buoy locations in the AS and BoB and analysed their variability during three different seasons from November 2012 to September 2013. Additionally, 20 years (1998–2017) of Objectively Analysed (OA) Flux data sets collocated with the OMNI buoy locations were also utilised to the analyse the long period seasonal variabilities. The flux terms show strong seasonal variability with several peaks during the monsoon seasons in both the ocean basins. LHF varies directly with wind speed (WS) and inversely with relative humidity (RH). The correlation of LHF with WS is greater than 0.7 and RH is nearly -0.6 with few exceptions during pre-monsoon season in the AS and southwest monsoon in the BoB. However, SHF is less correlated with WS (∼0.3 to 0.5). The difference of sea surface temperature and air temperature (denoted as SST-AT) plays a significant role in determining SHF with a correlation greater than 0.6 in both the basins.     

关于亚洲夏季风爆发及北半球季节突变的物理机理的诊断分析:Ⅰ季风爆发的阶段性特征

该工作将亚洲季风区作为一个复杂的海-陆-气耦合系统,来深入考察季风区海-气、陆-气相互作用的基本事实和物理过程,探讨它们在决定亚洲季风爆发及北半球行星尺度大气环流的季节突变的物理机理。本文是系列文章的第一篇,着重研究亚洲夏季风爆发的区域性和阶段性特征,以及过渡季节热带、副热带地区海-气、陆-气相互作用的基本事实,初步分析了它们之间的联系。研究表明,热带季风对流于4月底到5月初越过赤道进入北半球,首先出现在孟加拉湾东部-中南半岛西南部地区,然后于5月中旬和6月上旬末分别出现在南海和印度半岛地区,呈阶段性爆发的特征。季风对流在孟加拉湾东部-中南半岛西南部地区爆发阶段,在大气环流变化和对流活动中心位置出现区别于南海季风和印度季风爆发的特征。通过对地表感热通量和海表潜热通量的分析,表明热带海洋上海表感热通量甚小于海表潜热通量,南海季风爆发时期印度洋上海表潜热通量显著增大,印度季风爆发后海表潜热通量的高值中心在孟加拉湾和阿拉伯海上建立起来。印度洋上低层增强的过赤道气流引起的强烈的海-气相互作用导致海表水汽的大量蒸发,并通过其输送作用,为季风对流的爆发提供了充足的水汽来源。过渡季节在副热带地区(沿27.5～37.5°N纬带上), 青藏高原和西太平洋上地(海)表感热通量和潜热通量均有迅速的季节变化性, 但趋势相反。当青藏高原上地表感热通量和潜热通量呈阶段性的显著加大, 西太平洋上海表感热通量和潜热通量迅速减小。这种大陆和海洋对大气加热的显著的季节化的差异, 影响着大气环流的季节转变。     

Comparison of NCEP turbulent heat fluxes with in situ observations over the south-eastern Arabian Sea

Turbulent surface heat fluxes (latent and sensible heat) are the two most important parameters through which air–sea interaction takes place at the ocean–atmosphere interface. These fluxes over the global ocean are required to drive ocean models and to validate coupled ocean–atmosphere global models. But because of inadequate in situ observations these are the least understood parameters over the tropical Indian Ocean. Surface heat fluxes also contribute to the oceanic heat budget and control the sea surface temperature in conjunction with upper ocean stratification and ocean currents. The most widely used flux products in diagnostic studies and forcing of ocean general circulation models are the ones provided by the National Centres for Environment Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis. In this study we have compared NCEP reanalysed marine meteorological parameters, which are used for turbulent heat fluxes, with the moored buoy observation in the south-eastern Arabian Sea. The NCEP latent heat flux (LHF) and sensible heat flux (SHF) derived from bulk aerodynamic formula are also compared with that of ship and buoy derived LHF and SHF. The analysis is being carried out during the pre-monsoon and monsoon season of 2005. The analysis shows that NCEP latent as well as sensible heat fluxes are largely underestimated during the monsoon season, however, it is reasonably comparable during the pre-monsoon period. This is largely due to the underestimation of NCEP reanalysis air temperature (AT), wind speed (WS) and relative humidity (RH) compared to buoy observations. The mean differences between buoy and NCEP parameters during the monsoon (pre-monsoon) period are ~21% (~14%) for WS, ~6% (~3%) for RH, and ~0.75% (0.9%) for AT, respectively. The sudden drop in AT during rain events could not be captured by the NCEP data and, hence, large underestimations in SHF. During the pre-monsoon period, major contribution to LHF variations comes from WS, however, both surface winds and relative humidity controls the LHF variations during the monsoon. LHF is mainly determined by WS and RH during the monsoon and, WS is the main contributor during the pre-monsoon.     

The changing rainy season climatology of mid-Ghana

Daily rainfall data are examined through the temporal analysis of various definitions of variable temporal units (VTUs) consisting of combinations of various starting dates and durations over mid-Ghana. These VTUs are independent of, yet encompass, the starting dates and durations of the major and minor rainy seasons. Within each VTU, total rainfall and number of rainy days are calculated to describe the rainfall characteristics of the unit. Means and variances of each variable are calculated for each unit over two 20-year periods, 1951–1970 (P1) and 1981–2000 (P2). In P2, the major and minor rainy seasons have undergone varying degrees of desiccation. This reduction in rainfall is, however, not temporally or spatially uniform. The widespread decline of mean rainfall totals and number of rainy days during the minor rainy season, often associated with greater inter-annual variability, is particularly threatening to the production of a second crop.     

IMPACT OF LATENT HEAT FLUX ON INDIAN SUMMER MONSOON DURING EL NI?O/LA NI?A YEARS

El Nio or La Nia manifest in December over the Pacific and will serve as an index for the forecasting of subsequent Indian summer monsoon,which occurs from June to mid-September.In the present article,an attempt is made to study the variation of latent heat flux (LHF) over the north Indian Ocean during strong El Nio and strong La Nia and relate it with Indian monsoon rainfall.During strong El Nio the LHF intensity is higher and associated with higher wind speed and lower cloud amount.During El Nio all India rainfall is having an inverse relation with LHF.Seasonal rainfall is higher in YY+1 (subsequent year) than YY (year of occurrence).However there is a lag in rainfall during El Nio YY+1 from June to July when compared with the monthly rainfall.     

IMPACT OF LATENT HEAT FLUX ON INDIAN SUMMER MONSOON DURING EL NI(N)O/LA NI(N)A YEARS

El Ni(n)o or La Ni(n)a manifest in December over the Pacific and will serve as an index for the forecasting of subsequent Indian summer monsoon,which occurs from June to mid-September.In the present article,an attempt is made to study the variation of latent heat flux (LHF) over the north Indian Ocean during strong El Ni(n)o and strong La Ni(n)a and relate it with Indian monsoon rainfall.During strong El Ni(n)o the LHF intensity is higher and associated with higher wind speed and lower cloud amount.During E1 Ni(n)o all India rainfall is having an inverse relation with LHF.Seasonal rainfall is higher in YY+1 (subsequent year) than YY (year of occurrence).However there is a lag in rainfall during El Ni(n)o YY+1 from June to July when compared with the monthly rainfall.     

增温停滞背景下黑潮与湾流区域潜热通量年代际趋势变化差异及其成因分析

本文使用美国伍兹霍尔海洋研究所发布的客观分析海气通量项目数据集及日本海洋科学技术中心的Ishii次表层温盐数据,利用经验正交函数分析方法、小扰动展开、线性回归、海水热力学方程2010等方法,主要研究在增温停滞背景（1979～2000年,升温阶段;2001～2013年,停滞阶段）下,北半球两支西边界流区域即黑潮及其延伸区域（简称黑潮区域）和墨西哥湾流区域（简称湾流区域）海表潜热通量的年代际趋势转变和影响因子,以及内部热含量的年代际变化。结果表明,两支西边界流在增温停滞背景下都发生了年代际尺度的趋势反转,而反转的时间节点以及前后的反转趋势都不相同:黑潮区域潜热通量年代际趋势于2001年左右由正转负;而湾流区域潜热通量年代际趋势于1993年左右由负转正。其影响因子在前后阶段也有不同:通过影响海表饱和比湿进而影响海气比湿差,海表温度是影响黑潮区域全时间段以及湾流区域1993～2013年时间段潜热通量变化的主要因素;而风速通过直接的影响以及对空气湿度的影响也会对潜热通量变化产生间接影响,主要在湾流区域的1979～1992年时间段体现。黑潮及湾流区域0～1000 m海水热含量的年代际变化同样存在差异:黑潮区域表层热含量年代际变化同混合层一致;湾流区域表层热含量年代际变化同深层相异,而表层以下的变化较为一致;两个区域的深层热含量变化都体现了增温停滞的现象,黑潮区域可能存在下层至上层的影响;而湾流区域可能存在上层至下层的影响。黑潮与湾流区域表面的差异可以归结为海洋与大气因素的影响差异,而内部热含量年代际变化的垂直差异可能归结为两区域的结构差异。增温停滞对两区域的变化影响显著,而区域的变化可能存在对增温停滞的反馈。     

Spring rainfall prediction based on remote linkage controlling using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS)

This paper aims to study the relationship between large-scale synoptic patterns and rainfall in Khorasan Razavi Province. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used in this study to predict rainfall in the period between April and June in Khorasan Razavi Province. We first analyzed the relationship between average regional rainfall and the changes in synoptic patterns including sea-level pressure, sea-level pressure difference, sea-level temperature, temperature difference between sea level and the 1,000-hPa level, the temperature of the 700-hPa level, the thickness between the 500- and 1,000-hPa levels, the relative humidity at the 300-hPa level, and precipitable water content. We have examined the effect of synoptic patterns in these regions on the rainfall in the northeast region of Iran. Then, the ANFIS in the period 1970–1997 has been taught. Finally, we forecast the rainfall for the period 1998–2007. The results show that the ANFIS can predict the rainfall with reasonable accuracy.     

Downscaling daily precipitation over the Yellow River source region in China: a comparison of three statistical downscaling methods

Three statistical downscaling methods are compared with regard to their ability to downscale summer (June–September) daily precipitation at a network of 14 stations over the Yellow River source region from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data with the aim of constructing high-resolution regional precipitation scenarios for impact studies. The methods used are the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM), the Generalized LInear Model for daily CLIMate (GLIMCLIM), and the non-homogeneous Hidden Markov Model (NHMM). The methods are compared in terms of several statistics including spatial dependence, wet- and dry spell length distributions and inter-annual variability. In comparison with other two models, NHMM shows better performance in reproducing the spatial correlation structure, inter-annual variability and magnitude of the observed precipitation. However, it shows difficulty in reproducing observed wet- and dry spell length distributions at some stations. SDSM and GLIMCLIM showed better performance in reproducing the temporal dependence than NHMM. These models are also applied to derive future scenarios for six precipitation indices for the period 2046–2065 using the predictors from two global climate models (GCMs; CGCM3 and ECHAM5) under the IPCC SRES A2, A1B and B1scenarios. There is a strong consensus among two GCMs, three downscaling methods and three emission scenarios in the precipitation change signal. Under the future climate scenarios considered, all parts of the study region would experience increases in rainfall totals and extremes that are statistically significant at most stations. The magnitude of the projected changes is more intense for the SDSM than for other two models, which indicates that climate projection based on results from only one downscaling method should be interpreted with caution. The increase in the magnitude of rainfall totals and extremes is also accompanied by an increase in their inter-annual variability.     

Oceanic influence on the sub-seasonal to interannual timing and frequency of extreme dry spells over the West African Sahel

Intra-seasonal drought episodes (extreme dry spells) are strongly linked to crop yield loss in the West African Sahel, especially when they occur at crop critical stages such as juvenile or flowering stage. This paper seeks to expose potentially predictable features in the sub-seasonal to inter-annual occurrence of “extreme dry spells” (extDS) through their links to sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs). We consider two kinds of extreme dry spells: more than 2 weeks of consecutive dry days following a rain event (often found at the beginning of the rainy season, after the first rain events) and more than a week (observed towards the end of the rainy season, before the last rain events). We extract dry spells from daily rainfall data at 43 stations (31 stations in Senegal over 1950–2010 and 12 stations in Niger over 1960–2000) to identify the intra-seasonal distribution of extDS and their significant correlation with local rainfall deficits. Seasonality of distribution and high spatial coherence are found in the timing and the frequency of occurrence of extDS in different rainfall regions over Niger and Senegal. The correlation between the regional occurrence index (ROI), necessary to capture the spatial extent of extDS, and observed global sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) sheds light on the influence of the external factors on the decadal, interannual and sub-seasonal variability of extDS over the West African Sahel. When the global tropics and the Atlantic are warmer than normal, more coherent and delayed June–July extDS are observed after onset of rainy season, as well as early cessation type in August–September. When the Indo-Pacific is cooler and the equatorial south Atlantic is warmer than normal little to no extDS are found in the onset sub-period of the monsoon season. Mostly late types of extDS occur in October as a result of late cessation. These results show potential predictability of extreme dry spells after onset and before cessation of monsoonal rain based on global patterns of sea surface temperature anomalies.     

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE IMPACT OF LATENT HEAT FLUX ANOMALY IN THE TROPICAL WESTERN PACIFIC ON PRECIPITATION OVER SOUTH CHINA IN JUNES

Based on composite analysis and numerical simulations using a regional climate model （RegCM3）, this paper analyzed the impact of the LHF anomaly in the tropical western Pacific on the precipitation over the south of China in June. The results are as follows. （1） Correlation analysis shows that the SC precipitation in June is negatively correlated with the LHF of the tropical western Pacific in May and June, especially in May. The SC precipitation in June appears to negatively correlate with low-level relative vorticity in the abnormal area of LHF in the tropical western Pacific. （2） The LHF anomaly in the tropical western Pacific is a vital factor affecting the flood and drought of SC in June. A conceptual model goes like this： When the LHF in the tropical western Pacific is abnormally increased （decreased）, an anomalous cyclone （anticyclone） circulation is formed at the low-level troposphere to its northwest. As a result, an anomalous northeast （southwest） air flow affects the south of China, being disadvantageous （advantageous） to the transportation of water vapor to the region. Meanwhile, there is an anomalous anticyclone （cyclone） at the low-level troposphere and an anomalous cyclone （anticyclone） circulation at the high-level troposphere in the region, which is advantageous for downdraft （updraft） there. Therefore a virtual circulation forms updraft （downdraft） in the anomalous area of LHF and downdraft （updraft） in the south of China, which finally leads to the drought （flood） in the region.     

江淮梅雨季节强降雨过程特征分析

为了便于识别梅雨季节江淮地区的强降雨过程,促进汛期强降雨过程的预报方法研究,使用中国国家级地面气象站逐日观测资料,提出了一种划分江淮梅雨季节强降雨过程的客观方法,并对江淮梅雨季节内强降雨过程的特征进行了分析。结果表明:该方法能有效划分出江淮梅雨季节的强降雨过程,划分结果与预报业务中的划分结果具有较高的一致性,便于在业务中应用。在江淮梅雨季节内,梅雨期的强降雨过程存在明显的年际变化且与梅雨强、弱密切相关,强梅雨年具有较多的强降雨过程以及过程累积强降雨日,强梅雨年的强降雨过程具有持续性、反复性和频发性的特征。弱梅雨年则相反。近56年来梅雨期强降雨过程累积雨量在整个江淮地区有线性增加的趋势,且江苏南部至浙江北部地区雨量增大的趋势最为显著。梅雨期强降雨过程累积雨量及雨日的空间分布是一致的,最大区域中心均位于安徽西南部、江西东北部及湖北东部等地。按照此客观划分方法确定的梅雨期的强降雨过程累积雨量与梅雨期总雨量具有较为相似的时空变化特征。      

Recent variations in 700 hPa geopotential heights in summer over Europe and the Middle East,and their influence on other Meteorological factors

Summary Recent variations in atmospheric circulation in the eastern Mediterranean are analyzed and discussed. Interdecadal differences in mean monthly 700 hPa geopotential heights for June, July, and August in the period 1951–1980 show a trend of decreasing pressure of the subtropical high pressure belt over the Sahara Desert. The decrease is observed in the magnitude of the high pressure, in its areal extent, and in its northward position. Broader variations in other meteorological variables, such as rainfall regimes, temperature fields, wind variability, and evapotranspiration rates, are discussed in relation to variations in pressure fields and in indices of circulation such as the North Atlantic Oscillation. The trend from the 1950s through the 1970s was towards more temperate summer climate in the region.With 5 Figures     

On the long-term context of the 1997–2009 ‘Big Dry’ in South-Eastern Australia: insights from a 206-year multi-proxy rainfall reconstruction

This study presents the first multi-proxy reconstruction of rainfall variability from the mid-latitude region of south-eastern Australia (SEA). A skilful rainfall reconstruction for the 1783–1988 period was possible using twelve annually-resolved palaeoclimate records from the Australasian region. An innovative Monte Carlo calibration and verification technique is introduced to provide the robust uncertainty estimates needed for reliable climate reconstructions. Our ensemble median reconstruction captures 33% of inter-annual and 72% of decadal variations in instrumental SEA rainfall observations. We investigate the stability of regional SEA rainfall with large-scale circulation associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) over the past 206 years. We find evidence for a robust relationship with high SEA rainfall, ENSO and the IPO over the 1840–1988 period. These relationships break down in the late 18th–early 19th century, coinciding with a known period of equatorial Pacific Sea Surface Temperature (SST) cooling during one of the most severe periods of the Little Ice Age. In comparison to a markedly wetter late 18th/early 19th century containing 75% of sustained wet years, 70% of all reconstructed sustained dry years in SEA occur during the 20th century. In the context of the rainfall estimates introduced here, there is a 97.1% probability that the decadal rainfall anomaly recorded during the 1998–2008 ‘Big Dry’ is the worst experienced since the first European settlement of Australia.     

Trends in Australian rainfall: contribution of tropical cyclones and closed lows

Over the past 40 years there have been significant changes in Australian rainfall with increases in the north-west and decreases in the east. Tropical cyclones (TCs) and other closed low pressure systems are important synoptic systems that provide a large proportion of Australia’s annual rainfall. This study examines the proportion of rainfall that can be attributed to TCs over the 1970–2009 period, and to TCs combined with other closed lows over the 1989–2009 period. The contribution of these systems to Australian rainfall trends is also analysed. Tropical cyclones are found to have little influence on rainfall trends over the full time period. However, when the more recent 21-year period is considered, TCs and other closed low pressure systems can partially explain the positive rainfall trend in the north-west. Similarly, other closed low pressure systems, such as cut-off lows and east coast lows, can explain some of the negative rainfall trend in the south-east. The contribution of TCs and other closed low pressure systems to rainfall trends in the north and south-east is found to be predominantly due to respective increases and decreases in the rainfall producing efficiency of the systems. An understanding of the influence of these synoptic systems on Australian rainfall in the current climate is vital for evaluating how Australia's water budget may change in future climates.     

西南地区春季及其各月降水的气候特征分析

利用1951～2017年我国西南地区26个台站的降水观测资料,本文研究了该地区春季及其各月降水的基本气候特征。结果表明:5月是春季我国西南地区降水最多的月份,其占春季总降水的55.3%,此外,5月降水年际变化强度最大;西南地区春季及其各月降水均具有显著的年代际变化特征,5月降水在春季降水的年代际变化特征中占据主导地位;在年代际突变特征方面,西南地区春季降水存在显著的年代际突变特征,其在1970年代后期发生了减少突变,而在1990年代中后期发生了增加突变;在变化趋势方面,春季西南区域平均降水的变化趋势不明显,但从空间上看,西南地区东部表现出显著增多的趋势,而西部则表现出显著减少的趋势;在周期方面,西南地区春季及其4～5月降水均具有显著的年际和年代际变化周期,需要说明的是,3月降水没有明显的年代际变化周期,总体上看,5月降水在春季降水周期变化中占据主导地位。     

Influence of aerosol on clouds over the Indo-Gangetic Plain, India

Using Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer Aerosol Index (AI) and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis clouds data for the period 1979–1992, the influence of aerosol on the clouds (low and high cloud cover) over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) in India has been brought out for the first time in the present study. AI shows increasing tendency over the IGP suggesting that aerosol loading over this region increased significantly during the study period. In our analysis, High Cloud Cover (HCC) shows increasing trend and Low Cloud Cover (LCC) shows decreasing trend over the IGP during the same period. During pre-monsoon season when aerosol loading is more, HCC increases in positive correlation with AI. On the other hand, LCC show decreasing trend and is anti-correlated with AI. During summer monsoon, aerosol shows increasing trend but their effect on HCC and LCC is not seen to be significant. Similarly, the role of humidity on aerosol induced changes in HCC and LCC over the IGP region was also analyzed. In the low to moderate humid areas of IGP region (western and middle IGP), increasing AI leads to increase in HCC and decrease in LCC. On the other hand, in high humid areas (eastern IGP), increase in AI does not show any significant effect on HCC, but LCC shows positive trend. Therefore, we strongly argue that increasing aerosol loading enhances Cloud Condensation Nuclei over the region which in turn, alters the microphysical properties of clouds by reducing the size of cloud droplets, and atmospheric humidity controls the aerosol effect on clouds. During the recent period (2005–2010), similar features have also been observed over the IGP region.     

Climatic change and quasi-oscillations in central-west Argentina summer precipitation: main features and coherent behaviour with southern African region

Summer rainfall variability (October to March) shows inter-annual to multi-decadal fluctuations over a vast area of subtropical Argentina between 28°S–38°S and 65°W–70°W. Statistically significant oscillations of quasi-period in the bands of 18–21, 6, 4 and 2 years can be found throughout the region and intra-regionally, though the latter are variable. The lower frequency variation produces alternating episodes of above and below normal rainfall each lasting roughly 9 years. This quasi-fluctuation appears to be shared with the summer rainfall region of South Africa and were in-phase related one another until mid-1970s. The teleconnection between both subtropical regions could be generated by an atmospheric-oceanic bridge through the global sea surface temperatures (SSTs), particularly those of the equatorial-tropical South Atlantic. From mid-1970s, the alternating wet and dry pattern has been interrupted in the Argentine region producing the longest, as yet unfinished, wet spell of the century. Thus, a significant change of the long-term variation was observed around 1977 toward lower frequencies. Since then the statistical model that explains more than 89% of the variance of the series until 1977, diverges from the observed values in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition the Yamamoto statistical index, employed to detect a climatic jump, reaches its major value in 1973 at the beginning of the current long wet spell. Therefore the change could be located between 1973 and 1977. Application of the t-student's test gives significant differences of mean values for pre-1977 and post-1977 sub-samples from both individual time series and the regional index series. The spectral analysis also shows changes in energy bands in concordance with the features of the change that occurred from mid-1970s. The change gives rise to a significant increment of more than 20% in average of normal rainfall over the region. Conversely, a drought between mid-1980s and the 1990s has been observed in the South African counterpart with severe characteristics, thereby continuing the quasi-18-year oscillation. Consequently, the low-frequency coherent behaviour between both the Argentine and South African regions is lost from the mid-1970s. The analysis of association of wet/dry spells and warm/cold, El Niño/La Niña episodes appears to be not significant at scales of year-to-year variability although at decadal to multi-decadal scales the association could be relevant. More than one process of multi-decadal variability of global SSTs could influence the Argentine summer rainfall region and the former bi-decadal teleconnection. Finally, potential hypothetical factors of change are discussed, such as the strengthening of direct and indirect mechanisms of moisture flux transport associated with global warming, low-level atmospheric circulation changes and/or to SSTs mean condition long-term variations over tropical and subtropical South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans.