Temperature variability over the Indian Ocean and its relationship with Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Summary The present study examines the long term trend in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South India Ocean in the context of global warming for the period 1901–2002 and for a subset period 1971–2002. An attempt has also been made to identify the relationship between SST variations over three different ocean areas, and All-India and homogeneous region summer monsoon rainfall variability, including the role of El-Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Annual sea surface temperatures of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South India Ocean show a significant warming trend of 0.7 °C, 0.6 °C and 0.5 °C per hundred years, respectively, and a relatively accelerated warming of 0.16 °C, 0.14 °C and 0.14 °C per decade during the 1971–2002 period. There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between SSTs over the Arabian Sea from the preceding November to the current February, and Indian monsoon rainfall during the period 1901–2002. The correlation coefficient increases from October and peaks in December, decreasing from February to September. This significant relationship is also found in the recent period 1971–2002, whereas, during 1901–70, the relationship is not significant. On the seasonal scale, Arabian Sea winter SSTs are positively and significantly correlated with Indian monsoon rainfall, while spring SSTs have no significant positive relationship. Nino3 spring SSTs have a negative significant relationship with Indian monsoon rainfall and it is postulated that there is a combined effect of Nino3 and Arabian Sea SSTs on Indian monsoon. If the Nino3 SST effect is removed, the spring SSTs over the Arabian Sea also have a significant relationship with monsoon rainfall. Similarly, the Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South Indian Ocean spring SSTs are significantly and positively correlated with Indian monsoon rainfall after removing the Nino3 effect, and correlation values are more pronounced than for the Arabian Sea. Authors’ address: Dr. D. R. Kothawale, A. A. Munot, H. P. Borgaonkar, Climatology and Hydrometeorology divisions, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune 411008, India.     

The association of surface wind stresses over Indian Ocean with monsoon rainfall

Summary Variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall is examined with respect to variability of surface wind stresses over Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean region extending from 40°–120° E, and 30° S–25° N, has been divided into 8 homogeneous subregions, viz (1) Arabian Sea (AS), (2) Bay of Bengal (BB), (3) West-equatorial Indian Ocean (WEIO), (4) Central-equatorial Indian Ocean (CEIO), (5) East-equatorial Indian Ocean (EEIO), (6) South-west Indian Ocean (SWIO), (7) South-central Indian Ocean (SCIO), and (8) South-east Indian Ocean (SEIO). The period of study extends for 13 years from 1982–1994. Monthly NCEP surface wind stress data of five months – May through September, have been used in the study. The spatial variability of seasonal and monthly surface wind stresses shows very low values over CEIO and EEIO and very high values over AS, SWIO, and SEIO regions. On the seasonal scale, all India summer monsoon rainfall (AISMR) shows concurrent positive relationships with the surface wind stresses over AS, BB, WEIO, SWIO and SCIO and negative relationships with the surface wind stresses over EEIO and SEIO. The relationships of AISMR with the surface wind stresses over AS and WEIO are significant at 5% level. The concurrent relationships between monthly surface wind stresses over these 8 oceanic sub-regions and monthly subdivisional rainfalls over 29 sub-divisions have been studied. The rainfalls over the subdivisions in the central India and on the west coast of India are found to be significantly related with surface wind stresses over AS, SWIO, SCIO. Monthly subdivisional rainfalls of four subdivisions in the peninsular India show negative relationship with BB surface wind stresses. May surface wind stresses over AS, BB, WEIO, CEIO and SWIO have been found to be positively related with ensuing AISMR. The relationship with AS wind stresses is significant at 5% level and hence may be considered as a potential predictor of AISMR. Received May 21, 2001 Revised October 8, 2001     

Submicron aerosols over Indian Ocean: some meteorological characteristics

The concentrations of submicron aerosols in the size range 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁵ cm, also called Aitken nuclei (AN) were measured over the Indian Ocean enroute India-Antarctica-India within the 10°E–70°E longitude zone from about 10°N to 70°S latitude on board MV Thuleland during the period from November 26, 1986 to March 18, 1987 as part of the scientific activities on the Sixth Indian Antarctic Expedition. Our analyses showed that only in about 25% of the cases, AN count fell below 1000 cm⁻³. Throughout the tropical trade wind region, the concentrations of AN were relatively stable with an average of about 3000 cm⁻³ (medians of 2600 and 1700 cm⁻³ in Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively). Large AN concentrations were found to be associated with higher sea surface temperatures and stronger surface winds in this region. In contrast, the scatter of single observations was found to be remarkable over South Indian Ocean and in Antarctic waters. The average AN concentration over the Indian Ocean to the south of 30°S was of the order of 1500 cm⁻³. No definite correlation could be established between large AN concentration and sea surface temperature, wind speed or wave height. Period with very low concentrations were, however, associated with clear sky conditions and calm winds or light breeze. Many events of sudden short-lived but large increase in AN concentrations were observed over the south Indian Ocean and in Antarctic waters and these were always associated with the approach of frontal systems. It is likely that particle production by bursting bubbles and sea spray as well as photochemical reactions and gas-to-particle conversions play important role in the observed high concentration of AN over South Indian Ocean.     

Monsoon rainfall and southern oscillation responses in the pressures over the Northern Indian Ocean

The pressure variations over the North Indian Ocean during the summer monsoon season have been exam-ined using the monthly data from June to September for the period 1961 to 1968. It is found that these varia-tions can be described by two significant eigenvectors (EV1 and EV2) which together account for 53% of the total variance.The first eigenvector (EV1) represents in phase variation over both, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal with higher variations over the northern side of the area. The second eigenvector (EV2) depicts the out-of-phase variation between the pressure anomalies over the north and the south of 15°N latitude with two areas of pronounced variation, viz., the head Bay of Bengal and the equatorial region near 65°E longitude.The coefficients of EV1 show significant association with rainfall of West Coast and Central India for the concurrent months. These coefficients also show significant association with the pressure and temperature indices of the Southern Oscillation. The coefficients of EV2 show significant association with the monsoon rainfall of south peninsular India.     

Increasing trend of northeast monsoon rainfall over the equatorial Indian Ocean and peninsular India

Peninsular India and Sri Lanka receive major part of their annual rainfall during the northeast monsoon season (October–December). The long-term trend in the northeast monsoon rainfall over the Indian Ocean and peninsular India is examined in the vicinity of global warming scenario using the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) dataset available for the period 1979–2010. The result shows a significant increasing trend in rainfall rate of about 0.5 mm day^?1 decade^?1 over a large region bounded by 10 °S–10 °N and 55 °E–100 °E. The interannual variability of seasonal rainfall rate over peninsular India using conventional rain gauge data is also investigated in conjunction to the Indian Ocean dipole. The homogeneous rain gauge data developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology over peninsular India also exhibit the considerable upward rainfall trend of about 0.4 mm day^?1 decade^?1 during this period. The associated outgoing longwave radiation shows coherent decrease in the order of 2 W?m^?2 decade^?1 over the rainfall increase region.     

Outgoing long-wave radiation over the Tropical Pacific and Atlantic Ocean and Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Summary In this paper, the interannual variability of satellite derived outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) is examined in relation to the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (June to September total rainfall; ISMR). Monthly grid point OLR field over the domain i.e. the tropical Pacific and Atlantic region (30°N to 30°S, 110°E to 10°W) and the ISMR for the period 1974–2001 are used for the study. A strong and significant north–south dipole structure in the correlation pattern is found between the ISMR and the OLR field over the domain during January. This dipole is located over the west Pacific region with highly significant negative (positive) correlations over the South China Sea and surrounding region (around north-east Australia). The dipole weakens and moves northwestward during February and disappears in March. During the month of May, the OLR over the central Atlantic Ocean shows a significant positive relationship with the ISMR. These relationships are found to be consistent and robust during the period of analysis and can be used in the prediction of the ISMR.A multiple regression equation is developed, using the above results, for prediction of the ISMR and the empirical relationships are verified using an independent data set. The results are encouraging for the prediction of the ISMR. The composite annual cycle of the OLR, over the west Pacific regions during extreme ISMR is found to be useful in the prediction of extreme summer monsoon rainfall conditions over the Indian subcontinent.     

SST variability in the South Indian Ocean and associated circulation and rainfall patterns over Southern Africa

Summary A general circulation model is used to study the response of the atmosphere to an idealised sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly pattern (warm throughout the southern midlatitudes, cool in the tropics) in the South Indian Ocean region. The anomaly imposed on monthly SST climatology captures the essence of patterns observed in the South Indian Ocean during both ENSO events and multidecadal epochs, and facilitates diagnosis of the model response. A previous study with this anomaly imposed in the model examined differences in the response between that on the seasonal scale (favours enhancement of the original SST anomaly) and that on the decadal scale (favours damping of the anomaly). The current study extends that work firstly by comparing the response on the intraseasonal, seasonal and interannual scales, and secondly, by assessing the changes in the circulation and rainfall over the adjoining African landmass.It is found that the atmospheric response is favourable for enhancement of the original SST anomaly on scales up to, and including, annual. However, as the scale becomes interannual (i.e., 15–21 months after imposition of the anomaly), the model response suggests that damping of the original SST anomaly becomes likely. Compared to the shorter scale response, the perturbation pressure and wind distribution on the interannual scale is shifted poleward, and is more reminiscent of the decadal response. Winds are now stronger over the warm anomaly in the southern midlatitudes suggesting enhanced surface fluxes, upper ocean mixing, and consequently, a damping of the anomaly.Examination of the circulation and rainfall patterns indicates that there are significant anomalies over large parts of southern Africa during the spring, summer and autumn seasons for both short (intraseasonal to interannual) and decadal scales. It appears that rainfall anomalies are associated with changes in the advection of moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and its related convergence over southern Africa. Over eastern equatorial Africa, the austral autumn season (the main wet season) showed rainfall increases on all time scales, while parts of central to eastern subtropical southern Africa were dry. The signals during summer were more varied. Spring showed generally dry conditions over the eastern half of southern Africa on both short and decadal time scales, with wet areas confined to the west. In all cases, the magnitude of the rainfall anomalies accumulated over a 90 day season were of the order of 90–180 mm, and therefore represent a significant fraction of the annual total of many areas. It appears that relatively modest SST anomalies in the South Indian Ocean can lead to sizeable rainfall anomalies in the model. Although precipitation in general circulation models tends to be less accurately simulated than many other variables, the model results, together with previous observational work, emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of SST in this region.With 14 Figures     

Seasonal extreme rainfall variability over India and its association with surface air temperature

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Spatial variability in catchment processes is crucial for hydrologic and water resources planning and management. The spatial density of ground-based rain...     

Effects of vertical wind shear and storm motion on tropical cyclone rainfall asymmetries over the North Indian Ocean

Tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall asymmetry is often influenced by vertical wind shear and storm motion. This study examined the effects of environmental vertical wind shear (200-850 hPa) and storm motion on TC rainfall asymmetry over the North Indian Ocean (NIO): the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS). Four TC groups were used in this study: Cyclonic Storm (CS), Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS), Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) and Extreme Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS). The Fourier coefficients for wave number-1 was used to analyze the structure of TC rainfall asymmetry. Results show that the maximum TC rainfall asymmetry was predominantly in the downshear left quadrant in the BoB, while it placed to downshear right quadrant in the AS, likely due to the different primary circulation strength of the TC vortex. For the most intense cyclone (ESCS), the maximum TC rainfall asymmetry was in the upshear left quadrant in the BoB, whereas it was downshear right quadrant in the AS. It is evident for both basins that the magnitude of TC rainfall asymmetry declined (increased) with TC intensity (shear strength). This study also examined the collective effects of vertical wind shear and storm motion on TC rainfall asymmetry. Here, the analysis in case of the strong shear environment (>7 m s^-1) omitted for the AS because the maximum value for this basin was about 7 m s^-1. The result showed that the downshear left quadrant was dominant in the BoB for the maximum TC rainfall asymmetry. In a weak shear environment (<5 m s^-1), on the other hand, downshear right quadrant is evident for the maximum TC rainfall asymmetry in the BoB, while it placed dominantly downshear left quadrant in the AS. In the case of motion-relative wavenumber-1, the maximum TC rainfall asymmetry was dominantly downshear for both basins.     

江淮夏季降水异常与西印度洋地区大气环流异常的关系

运用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和中国气候中心整编的160站月平均降水资料应用经验正交函数、线性相关分析等,分析了江淮地区夏季降水异常特征及其与西印度洋区域大气环流年际异常关系的变化及其可能的机理。结果表明:当500 hPa中纬度低槽活动偏多(少),西太平洋副热带高压偏强(弱),东亚夏季风偏强(弱)时,江淮地区降水偏多(少)。进一步分析还发现西印度洋上空的垂直环流与江淮夏季降水存在较好的关系,但这种年际异常之间的联系受到背景场的影响明显:1979—1993年西印度洋垂直上升运动与江淮夏季降水的变化趋势基本相反,两者线性相关系数为-0.43;1994—2010年两者的变化趋势基本一致,相关系数达0.71。即当西印度洋地区存在环流异常下沉(上升)时,西太平洋副热带高压通常异常减弱东退(增强西伸),副热带季风减弱(增强),有利于雨带偏南(北)。因此,在西太平洋副热带高压和副热带季风年代际偏强(弱)阶段,西印度洋环流与江淮夏季降水呈负(正)相关。     

初夏孟加拉湾东部降水异常对印度洋海温偶极子的触发作用

基于1982—2013年逐月NCEP资料及GODAS资料,采用回归分析、合成分析以及2.5层简化海洋模式数值模拟等方法,研究了热带东印度洋的大气和海洋过程对印度洋海温偶极子(IOD,Indian Ocean Dipole)东极(IODE,IOD East pole)海温异常的影响。结果表明,IODE海温异常的演变超前IOD西极(IODW,IOD West pole)海温异常的演变,并对IOD事件的生成和发展起到关键作用。初夏,来自阿拉伯海、中南半岛地区以及孟加拉湾西南部的水汽输送,导致孟加拉湾东部出现强降水。降水释放的潜热在热带东印度形成了一个跨越赤道的经向环流,有利于加强赤道东印度洋的过赤道气流,并在苏门答腊沿岸形成偏南风异常。该异常偏南风通过影响混合层垂向夹卷混合过程和纬向平流过程,导致IODE海温迅速下降。随后赤道东南印度洋异常东南风迅速增强以及赤道中印度洋东风异常的出现,增强了自东南印度洋向西印度洋的水汽输送,削弱了向孟加拉湾的水汽输送,使西南印度洋的降水增强,孟加拉湾东部的降水减弱。因此,IOD达到盛期前孟加拉湾东部的降水通过局地经向环流在苏门答腊沿岸形成偏南风异常,导致苏门答腊沿岸迅速的降温,并最终导致IOD事件的发生。     

A model study on oceanic processes during the Indian Ocean Dipole termination

In this study, the processes affecting the temperature variability over the Southeastern Tropical Indian Ocean (STIO) during 1958–2000, accomplishing the positive and negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events are analyzed. The upper ocean heat budget analysis of the STIO has been carried out to understand the oceanic process during the termination of the recent strongest IOD events. The three recent strongest positive IOD events (1961, 1994 and 1997) and a strong negative IOD event (1996) are considered for detailed analysis. The heat budget analysis revealed that the positive net-surface heat flux and vertical advection played dominant roles in the termination of 1997 IOD event, whereas horizontal and vertical advections are responsible for the termination of IOD events during 1961 and 1994. The anomalous negative surface heat flux and horizontal advection caused the dipole termination during the negative dipole year 1996. The findings are well supported by the analysis of anomaly correlation between model upper ocean heat content tendency and heat budget components. Significant intra-seasonal oscillations (ISOs) in sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly are seen during the initial phase of termination in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean during 1961 and 1994 IOD events. The influence of ISOs in SST is not so evident during the IOD termination in 1997. It is found that the termination processes have started more than a month prior to the actual IOD termination.     

青藏高原气象要素场低频特征及其与夏季区域降水的关系

利用１９９５～１９９８年中日季风实验期间拉萨等４个高原自动天气站观测资料,结合１９９５／１９９６年ＮＣＥＰ／ＮＣＡＲ逐日资料,研究了青藏高原气象要素场低频位相结构特征及其与我国夏季不同区域降水的关系。发现夏季低频感热和低频潜热具有同位相３０～５０d振荡,当低频感热增强,则同期高原降水量减少;反之,则高原降水量增加,代频 纬向风传播分析发同１９９５／１９９６年冬季高原是低频振荡的汇,２００ｈＰａ低频纬     

Large-Scale features of the indian summer monsoon rainfall and their association with some oceanic and atmospheric variables

The summer monsoon rainfall totals for 31 meteorological subdivisions of India for the years 1901-1980 are analysed. The analysis reveals that four leading eigenvectors (EVs) are significant and account for 65 % of the total variance.The spatial pattern of the first EV exhibits in phase fluctuations over almost the whole India. The large coefficients of this vector can be considered as representative of the conditions of large-scale flood and drought over the country. The second pattern reveals the fluctuations mostly over the North Indian region (north of 20o latitude) probably in association with the Western Disturbances. The third pattern indicates fluctuations over the North-West and the North-East India in opposite phase and the fourth pattern exhibits the characteristic features of fluctuations associated with ‘break’. The spectral analysis of the coefficients of these EVs revealed quasi-periodicities of 2-5 years.On the basis of examination of the elements of these EVs the country has been divided into seven homogeneous regions. Rainfall indices of these regions and of the four EVs have been examined for seek-ing for association with some oceanic and atmospheric variables. The association is significant for the coefficients of the first EV and for the rainfall indices of central and South India. Among all the variables examined, Darwin pressure tendencies have the highest association and appear to be of special significance in prediction of the monsoon rainfall.     

Intraseasonal and interannual zonal circulations over the Equatorial Indian Ocean

El Ni?o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and given phases of the Madden?CJulian Oscillation (MJO) show similar regional signatures over the Equatorial Indian Ocean, consisting in an enhancement or reversing of the convective and dynamic zonal gradients between East Africa and the Maritime Continent of Indonesia. This study analyses how these two modes of variability add or cancel their effects at their respective timescales, through an investigation of the equatorial cellular circulations over the central Indian Ocean. Results show that (1) the wind shear between the lower and upper troposphere is related to marked regional rainfall anomalies and is embedded in larger-scale atmospheric configurations, involving the Southern Oscillation; (2) the intraseasonal (30?C60?days) and interannual (4?C5?years) timescales are the most energetic frequencies that modulate these circulations, confirming the implication of the MJO and ENSO; (3) extreme values of the Indian Ocean wind shear result from the combination of El Ni?o and the MJO phase enhancing atmospheric convection over Africa, or La Ni?a and the MJO phase associated with convective activity over the Maritime Continent. Consequences for regional rainfall anomalies over East Africa and Indonesia are then discussed.