The characteristics of 30–60 day oscillation and its relations to the interannual oscillations

The characteristics of 30-60 day oscillation (hereafter called LFO ) of the outgoing longwave radiation data (OLR) and its relations to the interannual oscillations of the sea surface temperature (SST) are investigated by using the daily OLR data for the period from January, 1979 to December, 1987 and the corresponding monthly SST data. II is found that the LFO the band the interannual oscillations of the SST monthly anomaly (SSTA) interact each oth-er and they all relate to the occurrence and development of El Nino events closely. Before El Nino event happens, it contributes to the SST’s warming up and to the SST’s quasi-biennial oscillation (called QBO for brevity) and three and half years oscillation (called SO for short) being in warm water phase in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific (ECP and EEP) that the LFO in the equatorial western Pacific (EWP) enhances and propagates eastward; When El Nino event takes place, the LFO, SSTA and SSTA’s QBO and SO in the EEP interact and strengthen each other; But the warmer SST and the SSTA’s QBO and SO in the warm water phase in the EEP contribute to the LFO's weak-ening in the equatorial Pacific. Moreover, these contribute to the SST in the EEP becoming cold and the SSTA’s QBO and SO in the EWP being in cold water phase and then impel the El Nino event to end.     

Modulation of decadal ENSO-like variation by effective solar radiation

Prediction of the Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly in the coming decades is a challenge as the SST anomaly changes over time due to natural and anthropogenic climate forcing. The climate changes in the mid-1970s and late-1990s were related to the decadal Pacific SST variability. The changes in the mid-1970s were associated with the positive phase of decadal El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-like SST variation, and the changes in the late-1990s were related to its negative phase. However, it is not clear whether this decadal SST variability is related to any external forcing. Here, we show that the effective solar radiation (ESR), which includes the net solar radiation and the effects of volcanic eruption, has modulated this decadal ENSO-like oscillation. The eastern Pacific warming (cooling) associated with this decadal ENSO-like oscillation over the past 139 years is significantly related to weak (strong) ESR. The weak ESR with strong volcanic eruption is found to strengthen the El Niño, resulting in an El Niño-like SST anomaly on the decadal time scale. The strong eruptions of the El Chicho’n (1982) and Pinatubo (1991) volcanoes reduced the ESR during the 1980s and 1990s, respectively. The radiation reduction weakened the Walker circulation due to the “ocean thermostat” mechanism that generates eastern Pacific warming associated with a decadal El Niño-like SST anomaly. This mechanism has been confirmed by the millennium run of ECHO-G model, in which the positive eastward gradient of SST over the equatorial Pacific was simulated under the weak ESR forcing on the decadal time scale. We now experience a reversal of the trend in the ESR. The strong solar radiation and lack of strong volcanic eruptions over the past 15 years have resulted in strong ESR, which should enhance the Walker circulation, leading to a La Niña-like SST anomaly.     

Coupling ocean–atmosphere intensity determines ocean chlorophyll-induced SST change in the tropical Pacific

Phytoplankton pigments (e.g., chlorophyll-a) absorb solar radiation in the upper ocean and induce a pronounced radiant heating effect (chlorophyll effect) on the climate. However, the ocean chlorophyll-induced heating effect on the mean climate state in the tropical Pacific has not been understood well. Here, a hybrid coupled model (HCM) of the atmosphere, ocean physics and biogeochemistry is used to investigate the chlorophyll effect on sea surface temperature (SST) in the eastern equatorial Pacific; a tunable coefficient, α, is introduced to represent the coupling intensity between the atmosphere and ocean in the HCM. The modeling results show that the chlorophyll effect on the mean-state SST is sensitively dependent on α (the coupling intensity). At weakly represented coupling intensity (0 ≤ α < 1.01), the chlorophyll effect tends to induce an SST cooling in the eastern equatorial Pacific, whereas an SST warming emerges at the strongly represented coupling intensity (α ≥ 1.01). Thus, a threshold exists for the coupling intensity (about α = 1.01) at which the sign of SST responses can change. Mechanisms and processes are illustrated to understand the different SST responses. In the weak coupling cases, indirect dynamical cooling processes (the adjustment of ocean circulation, enhanced vertical mixing, and upwelling) tend to dominate the SST cooling. In the strong coupling cases, the persistent warming induced by chlorophyll in the southern subtropical Pacific tends to induce cross-equatorial northerly winds, which shifts to anomalous westerly winds in the eastern equatorial Pacific, consequently reducing the evaporative cooling and weakening indirect dynamical cooling; eventually, SST warming maintains in the eastern equatorial Pacific. These results provide new insights into the biogeochemical feedback on the climate and bio-physical interactions in the tropical Pacific.

     

全球变暖背景下热带太平洋海温长期趋势研究

热带太平洋对全球的气候有重要作用。然而,关于全球变暖背景下热带太平洋海温长期趋势的研究,迄今为止仍有争议。本文利用多套海表温度资料和次表层海温资料,基于无参的趋势估计方法（Theil-Sen趋势）,分析了热带太平洋海表温度长期趋势及赤道太平洋次表层海温长期趋势。多套资料的结果均表明在全球变暖背景下,热带太平洋冷舌区为长期冷趋势,而冷舌区之外的热带太平洋区域为长期暖趋势,即似La Ni?a（La Ni?a-like）海温长期趋势。此海温长期趋势是由热带太平洋冷舌模态所引起。当冷舌模态为正位相时,对应热带太平洋冷舌区为冷海温异常,而冷舌区之外的热带太平洋为暖海温异常。冷舌模态时间序列主要为长期趋势,而造成冷舌模态长期趋势的机制是全球变暖强迫下的海洋动力反馈过程。赤道太平洋的表层和次表层海温似La Ni?a型的长期趋势,是冷舌模态在表层海温和次表层海温上的不同体现。     

1997／1998年El Nino事件发生、发展可能机制的进一步研究

基于美国哥伦比亚大学Lamont—Doherty地球观象台LDEO（Lamont—DohertyEarth Observatory）海表温度资料和NCEP／NCAR再分析风场资料,分析了1997／1998年El Nino3期间西太平洋暖池海表温度和西风距平的时间演变特征,同时也分析了东太平洋暖池海表温度和北风距平的时间演变特征。结果表明,1997／1998年El Nino3事件期间,西太平洋暖池海表温度变化及异常西风和东太平洋暖池海表温度变化及异常北风都与Nino3指数变化密切相关。将东、西太平洋暖池及异常北风、西风一并结合起来考虑,进一步研究了1997／1998年El Nino3事件发生、发展的可能机制：异常西风驱动西太平洋暖池东端暖水向东伸展直接有利于赤道东太平洋海表温度增加;异常西风激发东传的暖Kelvin波对东太平洋的冷上升流有抑制作用,从而有利于赤道东太平洋海表温度增加;东传的异常西风可以通过埃克曼漂流效应将赤道两侧的海表暖水向赤道辐合从而加强了赤道附近的下沉流,也有利于赤道东太平洋赤道附近海表温度增加。几乎与此同时,北风距平通过产生北风吹流将东太平洋暖池暖水由北向南输送至赤道附近直接导致Nino3区海表温度增加。上述增温因素的叠加作用共同导致了1997／1998年El Nino事件迅速发生、异常强大。     

近赤道海温对西太平洋副高强度的影响机理——模糊映射诊断

针对近赤道海温对西太平洋副高影响的复杂性和不确定性问题,引入自适应模糊推理系统方法,系统地分析了西太平洋副高强度对赤道东太平洋、赤道西太平洋和赤道印度洋等海区海温状况和冷暖变化的响应态势和响应程度。研究表明:副高对赤道东太平洋海温的变冷(增暖)过程将出现正距平的增强(减弱)响应,响应幅度随时间减弱(增强);副高对赤道印度洋海温增暖(变冷)的响应态势与对赤道东太平洋海温的响应态势相反,响应幅度远小于赤道东太平洋海温变化的响应幅度;副高对赤道西太平洋海温的增暖急缓表现出不同的响应态势,迅速增暖利于副高衰减,缓慢增暖则利于副高增强,而对于海温的变冷过程则有滞后的增强响应趋势。此外,上述海区的海温冷暖变化幅度和速度是导致副高变异的主要因素,较之海温基本热力状况对副高强度的影响更为显著。     

TROPICAL SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE ANOMALY AND INDIAN SUMMER MONSOON*

The time series of the sea surface temperature(SST) anomaly,covering the eastern (western) equatorial Pacific,central Indian Ocean,Arabian Sea.Bay of Bengal and South China Sea(SCS),have been analyzed by using wavelet transform.Results show that there exists same interdeeadal variability of SST in the tropical Pacific and tropical Indian Ocean,and also show that the last decadal abrupt change occurred in the 1970s.On the interannual time scale,there is a similar interannual variability among the equatorial central Indian Ocean and the adjacent three sea basins(Arabian Sea.Bay of Bengal and South China Sea).but the SST interannual changes of the Indian Ocean lagged 4-5 months behind that of the equatorial central-east Pacific.Meanwhile,the interannual variability and long-range change between SST anomaly and Indian summer monsoon rainfall in recent decades have been explained and analyzed.It indicates that there existed a wet(dry) period in India when the tropical SST was lower(higher)than normal,but there was a lag of phase between them.     

Indo-Pacific remote forcing in summer rainfall variability over the South China Sea

This study investigates summer rainfall variability in the South China Sea (SCS) region and the roles of remote sea surface temperature (SST) forcing in the tropical Indian and Pacific Ocean regions. The SCS summer rainfall displays a positive and negative relationship with simultaneous SST in the equatorial central Pacific (ECP) and the North Indian Ocean (NIO), respectively. Positive ECP SST anomalies induce an anomalous low-level cyclone over the SCS-western North Pacific as a Rossby-wave type response, leading to above-normal precipitation over northern SCS. Negative NIO SST anomalies contribute to anomalous cyclonic winds over the western North Pacific by an anomalous east–west vertical circulation north of the equator, favoring more rainfall over northern SCS. These NIO SST anomalies are closely related to preceding La Niña and El Niño events through the “atmospheric bridge”. Thus, the NIO SST anomalies serve as a medium for an indirect impact of preceding ECP SST anomalies on the SCS summer rainfall variability. The ECP SST influence is identified to be dominant after 1990 and the NIO SST impact is relatively more important during 1980s. These Indo-Pacific SST effects are further investigated by conducting numerical experiments with an atmospheric general circulation model. The consistency between the numerical experiments and the observations enhances the credibility of the Indo-Pacific SST influence on the SCS summer rainfall variability.     

Equatorial Atlantic sea surface temperature variations: Research note

Abstract

Monthly mean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies were computed for six 10°‐wide boxes stretching across the equatorial Atlantic Ocean for the period 1890–1979. These values were used to produce a time‐longitude section of the interannual SST variability along the equator. This section shows cycles of basin‐wide warming and cooling occurring with irregular periods that typically range between two and four years. The warming and cooling events in these cycles normally display some westward phase propagation. The peak magnitudes of the interannual SST anomalies are generally of the order of 1°C or less, except in the Gulf of Guinea where they can be somewhat larger.

An estimate was made of the basin‐wide equatorial SST anomaly in each month (excluding the Gulf of Guinea). This was composited around the times of the warm and cold extremes of the Pacific Southern Oscillation. This analysis revealed a detectable, but rather weak, tendency for phase locking of the interannual SST variations in the equatorial Pacific and Atlantic oceans.     

Interdecadal change in the relationship of southern China summer rainfall with tropical Indo-Pacific SST

The present study investigates the interdecadal change in the relationship between southern China (SC) summer rainfall and tropical Indo-Pacific sea surface temperature (SST). It is found that the pattern of tropical Indo-Pacific SST anomalies associated with SC summer rainfall variability tends to be opposite between the 1950–1960s and the 1980-1990s. Above-normal SC rainfall corresponds to warmer SST in the tropical southeastern Indian Ocean (SEIO) and cooler SST in the equatorial central Pacific (ECP) during the 1950–1960s but opposite SST anomalies in these regions during the 1980–1990s. A pronounced difference is also found in anomalous atmospheric circulation linking SEIO SST and SC rainfall between the two periods. In the 1950–1960s, two anomalous vertical circulations are present between ascent over SEIO and ascent over SC, with a common branch of descent over the South China Sea that is accompanied by an anomalous low-level anticyclone. In the 1980–1990s, however, a single anomalous vertical circulation directly connects ascent over SC to descent over SEIO. The change in the rainfall–SST relationship is likely related to a change in the magnitude of SEIO SST forcing and a change in the atmospheric response to the SST forcing due to different mean states. A larger SEIO SST forcing coupled with a stronger and more extensive western North Pacific subtropical high in recent decades induce circulation anomalies reaching higher latitudes, influencing SC directly. Present analysis shows that the SEIO and ECP SST anomalies can contribute to SC summer rainfall variability both independently and in concert. In comparison, there are more cases of concerted contributions due to the co-variability between the Indian and Pacific Ocean SSTs.     

太平洋区域海温跃变及其与东亚夏季风的关系

本文利用英国气象局提供的全球SST月平均资料和NCAR／NCEP提供的500百帕高度场资料，分析了全球SSTA的年际和年代际变化，发现夏季全球SST在70年代发生了一次跃变，尤其北太平洋区域SST在1976年前后，由正距平变为负跨燕，并且跃变前后东亚夏季风也发了显著变化，我国汛期降水异常形势成相反分布，海温对东亚夏季风的影响途径和机制也发生了改变，1976年以前北太平洋区域海温起主要作用，跃变后，北太平洋区域海温异常与东亚夏季风关系变得不明显，而赤道中东太平洋海温的作用变得异常重要。     

Bimodality and regime behavior in atmosphere–ocean interactions during the recent climate change

Maximum covariance analysis (MCA) and isometric feature mapping (Isomap) are applied to investigate the spatio-temporal atmosphere–ocean interactions otherwise hidden in observational data for the period of 1979–2010. Despite an established long-term surface warming trend for the whole northern hemisphere, sea surface temperatures (SST) in the East Pacific have remained relatively constant for the period of 2001–2010. Our analysis reveals that SST anomaly probability density function of the leading two Isomap components is bimodal. We conclude that Isomap shows the existence of two distinct regimes in surface ocean temperature, resembling the break and active phases of rainfall over equatorial land areas. These regimes occurred within two separated time windows during the past three decades. Strengthening of trade winds over Pacific was coincident with the cold phase of east equatorial Pacific. This pattern was reversed during the warm phase of east equatorial Pacific. The El Niño event of 1997/1998 happened within the transition mode between these two regimes and may be a trigger for the SST changes in the Pacific. Furthermore, we suggest that Isomap, compared with MCA, provides more information about the behavior and predictability of the inter-seasonal atmosphere–ocean interactions.     

Combined Impacts of Warm Central Equatorial Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures and Anthropogenic Warming on the 2019 Severe Drought in East China

A severe drought occurred in East China (EC) from August to October 2019 against a background of long-term significant warming and caused widespread impacts on agriculture and society, emphasizing the urgent need to understand the mechanism responsible for this drought and its linkage to global warming. Our results show that the warm central equatorial Pacific (CEP) sea surface temperature (SST) and anthropogenic warming were possibly responsible for this drought event. The warm CEP SST anomaly resulted in an anomalous cyclone over the western North Pacific, where enhanced northerly winds in the northwestern sector led to decreased water vapor transport from the South China Sea and enhanced descending air motion, preventing local convection and favoring a precipitation deficiency over EC. Model simulations in the Community Earth System Model Large Ensemble Project confirmed the physical connection between the warm CEP SST anomaly and the drought in EC. The extremely warm CEP SST from August to October 2019, which was largely the result of natural internal variability, played a crucial role in the simultaneous severe drought in EC. The model simulations showed that anthropogenic warming has greatly increased the frequency of extreme droughts in EC. They indicated an approximate twofold increase in extremely low rainfall events, high temperature events, and concurrently dry and hot events analogous to the event in 2019. Therefore, the persistent severe drought over EC in 2019 can be attributed to the combined impacts of warm CEP SST and anthropogenic warming.     

东亚持续强冬季风影响赤道海表温度初始异常的数值试验研究

通过数值模拟和理论分析 ,文中指出在强东亚季风期间不仅在欧亚大陆和北印度洋出现强大的反气旋环流异常 ,而且通过海气相互作用在北太平洋西部和西北部形成异常气旋式流场 ;在其东南部产生异常反气旋式流场。在这种流场异常的驱动下赤道西太平洋西风加强 ,海面升高 ,海表温度上升 ,赤道中东印度洋和东太平洋东风加强 ,海面降低 ,海表温度下降。证明由于海表温度异常及海表温度变化趋势存在积分关系 ,因此持续的强东亚冬季风所强迫的沿赤道海表温度变化趋势的上述分布的强讯号可以在海洋中存在近一年之久 ,为尔后赤道太平洋 ENSO事件的可能发展提供初始条件 ,也为跨季度气候预测提供前期讯号     

Nonlinear precipitation response to El Niño and global warming in the Indo-Pacific

Precipitation changes over the Indo-Pacific during El Niño events are studied using an Atmospheric General Circulation Model forced with sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies and changes in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Linear increases in the amplitude of the El Niño SST anomaly pattern trigger nonlinear changes in precipitation amounts, resulting in shifts in the location and orientation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ). In particular, the maximum precipitation anomaly along the ITCZ and SPCZ shifts eastwards, the ITCZ shifts south towards the equator, and the SPCZ becomes more zonal. Precipitation in the equatorial Pacific also increases nonlinearly. The effect of increasing CO₂ levels and warming SSTs is also investigated. Global warming generally enhances the tropical Pacific precipitation response to El Niño. The precipitation response to El Niño is found to be dominated by changes in the atmospheric mean circulation dynamics, whereas the response to global warming is a balance between dynamic and thermodynamic changes. While the dependence of projected climate change impacts on seasonal variability is well-established, this study reveals that the impact of global warming on Pacific precipitation also depends strongly on the magnitude of the El Niño event. The magnitude and structure of the precipitation changes are also sensitive to the spatial structure of the global warming SST pattern.     

我国南方盛夏气温主模态特征及其与海温异常的联系

利用NCEP/NCAR大气环流资料、HadISST海温数据以及中国160站气温数据等,通过EOF分解、线性相关等统计方法,分析了我国南方盛夏气温异常的主导模态及其所对应的关键环流系统和可能的海洋外强迫信号。结果表明:我国南方盛夏气温偏高有两种不同的分布模态,一是以江淮地区为中心的江淮型高温,二是以江南和华南为中心的江南型高温,导致这两种高温型发生的环流影响系统和海温外强迫因子均有显著差异。影响江淮型高温的关键环流系统是高低空正压结构的高度场正距平和偏弱的东亚副热带西风急流。而影响这两个关键环流系统的海洋外强迫因子包括热带印度洋至东太平洋的"-+-"海温异常分布型及北大西洋中纬度的暖海温异常。2016年盛夏江淮型高温的大气环流和海温异常均表现出典型江淮型高温年的特征,更好的证明了统计分析的结论。而江南型高温的关键环流系统主要是加强西伸的西太平洋副热带高压。其海洋外强迫因子包括前冬赤道中东太平洋的暖海温异常和春季-盛夏热带印度洋全区一致型暖海温异常,其中热带印度洋海温的影响更为持续和显著。     

冬夏东亚季风环流对太平洋热状况的响应

冬夏隔季韵律关系一直是我国长期天气预报和短期气候预测的一个重要依据,然而迄今为止对它们之间的物理过程及成因机理并不十分清楚。利用NCEP/NCAR全球2.5°×2.5°网格月平均再分析资料,研究1951~2000年冬夏东亚季风环流异常变化与太平洋海面温度(SST)的关系及对关键海温区响应机理。研究指出:冬夏东亚季风环流隔季韵律关系及其年际变化与赤道东太平洋海面温度异常(SSTA)变化密切相关,冬季赤道东太平洋出现La Ni~na(El Ni~no)型的SST分布,有利冬、夏东亚季风环流加强(减弱),其影响过程通过赤道Walker环流强(弱)以及东亚地区Hadley环流强(弱)过程完成。冬季赤道东太平洋海温变化是冬、夏东亚环流季节以及年际变化的一个重要外强迫因子。     

南海夏季风爆发与热带太平洋两类海温型关系的年代际差异

南海夏季风爆发日期在1993/1994年出现年代际偏早的转变,利用海温和再分析资料的研究证实西北太平洋增暖和两类海温型的年代际差异可能是导致此种变化的重要成因。进一步的研究揭示出在南海夏季风爆发出现年代际变化的背景下,南海夏季风爆发日期与太平洋海温的关系也出现明显的变化:1993/1994年之前的第一年代东太平洋(EP)型海温异常起主导作用,而1993/1994年之后的第二年代两类海温型均影响了季风爆发,但以中太平洋(CP)型海温异常为主。第一年代,东太平洋型增温(EPW)通过抑制西北太平洋-孟加拉湾的对流活动,在菲律宾海、孟加拉湾西部激发出两个距平反气旋,使越赤道气流建立偏晚、孟加拉湾低槽填塞、西北太平洋副热带高压增强,进而导致南海夏季风爆发偏晚,且其影响可从4月维持到5月;而中太平洋型增温(CPW)对季风爆发前期的流场无显著影响。第二年代,CPW通过抑制菲律宾-孟加拉湾东部的对流活动,在菲律宾-孟加拉湾激发出一个距平反气旋,使孟加拉湾低槽填塞、南海地区副高增强,进而阻碍季风爆发,且显著影响仅出现在4月;EPW对4月大气环流场的影响与第一年代较为接近,在菲律宾-孟加拉湾一带产生的风场、对流场异常稍弱于CPW,但其影响无法持续到5月。     

赤道太平洋区域风应力与海表温度年际异常的奇异值分解

用向量场奇异值分解方法分析了赤道太平洋区域风应力场与海表温度场年际异常的相关联系。结果表明,最主要的一对奇异向量与ENSO循环关系密切,其主要特征为赤道中、东太平洋风应力向赤道的异常辐合（辐散）与该区的SST异常升高（降低）准同步变化。对70和80年代的4次 El Ni?o事件中标准化风应力异常场的分析表明,它们均表现出赤道中、东太平洋的辐合。这一结果可能比用信风张弛描述ENSO循环中的环流异常更合理和更具代表性。     

THE EFFECT OF EQUATORIAL CENTRAL PACIFIC SSTAS ON THE INTERANNUAL VARIATION OF PRECIPITATION OVER SOUTHWEST CHINA DURING SPRING

The interannual variations of rainfall over southwest China (SWC) during spring and its relationship with sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the Pacific are analyzed, based on monthly mean precipitation data from 26 stations in SWC between 1961 and 2010, NCEP/NCAR re-analysis data, and Hadley global SST data. Sensitivity tests are conducted to assess the response of precipitation in SWC to SSTAs over two key oceanic domains, using the global atmospheric circulation model ECHAM5. The interannual variation of rainfall over SWC in spring is very significant. There are strong negative (positive) correlation coefficients between the anomalous precipitation over SWC and SSTAs over the equatorial central Pacific (the mid-latitude Pacific) during spring. Numerical simulations show that local rainfall in the northwest of the equatorial central Pacific is suppressed, and a subtropical anticyclone circulation anomaly is produced, while a cyclonic circulation anomaly in the mid-latitude western Pacific occurs, when the equatorial Pacific SSTAs are in a cold phase in spring. Anomalous northerly winds appear in the northeastern part of SWC in the lower troposphere. Precipitation increases over the Maritime Continent of the western equatorial Pacific, while a cyclonic circulation anomaly appears in the northwest of the western equatorial Pacific. A trough over the Bay of Bengal enhances the southerly flow in the south of SWC. The trough also enhances the transport of moisture to SWC. The warm moisture intersects with anomalous cold air over the northeast of SWC, and so precipitation increases during spring. On the interannual time scale, the impacts of the mid-latitude Pacific SSTAs on rainfall in SWC during spring are not significant, because the mid-latitude Pacific SSTAs are affected by the equatorial central Pacific SSTAs; that is, the mid-latitude Pacific SSTAs are a feedback to the circulation anomaly caused by the equatorial central Pacific SSTAs.