THE INFLUENCE OF PERSISTENT ANOMALY OF MJO ON ENSO

In this study, two possible persistent anomalies of the Madden-Julian Oscillation mode (MJO) are found in the summer season (persistently Pacific active and Indian Ocean active), and an index is set to define the intensity of the two modes. They are proved to have high statistical correlations to the later ENSO events in the autumn and winter seasons: When persistent anomaly of MJO happens in the Pacific Ocean in summer, El Ni?o events are often induced during the autumn and winter seasons of that year. However, during the other MJO mode when the summer persistent anomaly of MJO occurs in the Indian Ocean, La Ni?a events often follow instead. The analysis of the atmospheric circulation field indicates that persistent anomaly of MJO can probably affect the entire Equatorial Pacific circulation, and results in wind stress anomalies. The wind stress anomalies could excite warm or cold water masses which propagate eastwards at the subsurface ocean. The accumulation of warm or cold subsurface water in the Equatorial Eastern Pacific Ocean may eventually lead to the formation of an ENSO.     

ECMWF业务预报模式地面气温预报的不一致性特征研究

为探讨ECMWF业务预报模式(以下简称ECMWF)的地面气温预报不一致性问题,本文利用2015年12月1日—2016年11月30日业务预报中常用的地面气温预报数据,研究ECMWF地面气温预报产品在不同季节里的不一致性指数分布及变化特征。结果表明:各个季节不一致性指数有不同的特点,冬季不一致性指数最大,大值区主要分布在除华南和青藏高原外的大部分区域;而夏季不一致性指数最小,在青藏高原地区不一致性指数相对较大;春、秋两季不一致性指数大小均处于冬、夏季之间。此外,研究还发现冬季地面气温预报不一致性指数单日变化较大,而夏季较小。夏季不同起报时间的地面气温预报比较稳定。     

Seasonal Variation of Columnar Aerosol Optical Properties in Yangtze River Delta in China

In order to understand the seasonal variation of aerosol optical properties in the Yangtze River Delta,5 years of measurements were conducted during September 2005 to December 2009 at Taihu,China.The monthly averages of aerosol optical depth were commonly >0.6;the maximum seasonal average(0.93) occurred in summer.The magnitude of the Angstr¨om exponent was found to be high throughout the year;the highest values occurred in autumn(1.33) and were the lowest in spring(1.08).The fine modes of volume size distribution showed the maxima(peaks) at a radius of ～0.15 μm in spring,autumn,and winter;at a radius of ～0.22 μm in summer.The coarse modes showed the maxima(peaks) at a radius of 2.9 μm in spring,summer,and autumn and at a radius of 3.8 μm in winter.The averages of single-scattering albedo were 0.92(spring),0.92(summer),0.91(autumn),and 0.88(winter).The averages of asymmetry factor were found to be larger in summer than during other seasons;they were taken as 0.66 at 440-1020 nm over Taihu.The real part of the refractive index showed a weak seasonal variation,with averages of 1.48(spring),1.43(summer),1.45(autumn),and 1.48(winter).The imaginary parts of the refractive index were higher in winter(0.013) than in spring(0.0076),summer(0.0092),and autumn(0.0091),indicating that the atmosphere in the winter had higher absorbtivity.     

Latest update of the climatology and changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation over China

Based on daily precipitation data from 524 meteorological stations in China during the period 1960–2009, the climatology and the temporal changes (trends, interannual, and decadal variations) in the proportion of seasonal precipitation to the total annual precipitation were analyzed on both national and regional scales. Results indicated that (1) for the whole country, the climatology in the seasonal distribution of precipitation showed that the proportion accounted for 55 % in summer (June–August), for around 20 % in both spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), and around 5 % in winter (December–February). But the spatial features were region-dependent. The primary precipitation regime, “summer–autumn–spring–winter”, was located in central and eastern regions which were north of the Huaihe River, in eastern Tibet, and in western Southwest China. The secondary regime, “summer–spring–autumn–winter”, appeared in the regions south of the Huaihe River, except Jiangnan where spring precipitation dominated, and the southeastern Hainan Island where autumn precipitation prevailed. (2) For the temporal changes on the national scale, first, where the trends were concerned, the proportion of winter precipitation showed a significantly increasing trend, while that of the other three seasons did not show any significant trends. Second, for the interannual variation, the variability in summer was the largest among the four seasons and that in winter was the smallest. Then, on the decadal scale, China experienced a sharp decrease only in the proportion of summer precipitation in 2000. (3) For the temporal changes on the regional scale, all the concerned 11 geographic regions of China underwent increasing trends in the proportion of winter precipitation. For spring, it decreased over the regions south of the Yellow River but increased elsewhere. The trend in the proportion of summer precipitation was generally opposite to that of spring. For autumn, it decreased over the other ten regions except Inner Mongolia with no trend. It is noted that the interannual variability of precipitation seasonality is large over North China, Huanghuai, and Jianghuai; its decadal variability is large over the other regions, especially over those regions south of the Yangtze River.     

1960-2009年武汉城区与郊区气候季节变化

利用1960-2009年武汉城区与郊区气象站逐日平均气温资料,采用相同气候季节划分方法,系统分析武汉城区与郊区气候季节起始时间、季节长度的变化趋势及其差异。结果表明：1980-2009年,武汉城区入春、入夏时间比郊区分别提前10 d和5 d,入秋、入冬时间城区比郊区推迟;武汉夏季长度城区比郊区长12 d,冬季、春季长度城区比郊区短6 d和5 d。1960-2009年武汉四季平均起始时间城区与郊区差别较小,但四季最早、最晚出现时间年际差别较大;武汉入春、入夏时间城区与郊区均提前,入秋、入冬时间均推后,但城区四季变化较显著,郊区仅入秋变化显著;武汉城区夏季长度呈极显著延长,冬季长度呈较显著缩短,城区春季、秋季及郊区四季长度变化均不显著。2000-2009年武汉城区与郊区季节起始时间和季节长度的变化较大,这是因为近10 a武汉作为中部地区崛起的支点,城区发展迅速。     

南京风廓线雷达测量性能评估及应用初探

对2012年以来南京市江宁区边界层风廓线雷达每6 min的风场资料质量进行了评估,并对其在暴雨、大雾以及风切变等灾害性天气监测的应用进行了探讨。研究表明:南京风廓线雷达自投入使用以来,能够连续、稳定地获取边界层风场,四季的大部分资料获取率达80%以上,但是自2013年秋季—2014年春季的580~1 130 m层次出现获取率相对较低区,并在2014年春、夏季在770 m高度以下获取出现隔层不连续的现象(获取率50%)。通过对比每日两次的探空资料发现,边界层风廓线雷达探测得到的水平风速与常规探空资料观测基本一致,两者的偏差标准差基本在2.5 m·s~(-1)附近。夏季两种资料的匹配度最高,而冬季匹配度最差,其中大风事件与低匹配度事件有一定的联系,有必要进一步进行质量控制以提升资料质量。进一步利用雷达风廓线资料计算了南京地区垂直风切变事件的季节变化,发现冬半年中度以上等级的垂直风切变事件发生频率明显大于夏半年,其中冬季严重事件发生频率能达3%。     

南北涛动与南极涛动及北极涛动的相互作用

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析了南北涛动（Interhemispheric Oscillation,IHO）与北极涛动（Arctic Oscillation,AO）和南极涛动（Antarctic Oscillation,AAO）的联系。分析表明：1）北极涛动（AO）、南极涛动（AAO）与全年各自半球中高纬度地表气压变化密切联系。其中,AO冬季强度最强,且在春季、冬季的影响范围大。而AAO对南半球中高纬的地表气压变动影响更为明显,其在夏季影响范围最大。2）南极涛动（AAO）与南北涛动（IHO）有很好的同期相关性,南极涛动可部分解释南北涛动的形成。IHO与AO存在不显著的负相关,南北半球中高纬大气运动具有相对独立性。3）南北涛动（IHO）与全球较大范围内的地面气压变化有关,而去除AAO信号后,夏季在南极地区原显著相关区显著减少,夏季AAO与IHO存在密切联系。4）南北涛动（IHO）主要与春季、秋季和冬季亚洲、欧洲北部地面气温关系密切。秋季最强,春季次之,冬季最弱。夏季IHO与全球地面气温没有较好的联系。亚欧大陆北部的热力作用可能部分地解释了南北涛动的形成。     

中国近50a极端降水事件变化特征的季节性差异

利用中国419个测站1958-2007年逐日降水资料集,分析了近50a中国不同区域年和季节极端降水事件的基本变化特征。结果表明,多年平均极端降水事件的空间分布具有明显的纬向分布特征,并表现出显著的季节性差异。长江以南地区是春、冬季极端降水事件发生频次较高的区域;而年、夏季以及秋季极端降水事件发生频次在西南地区较高,在西北东部较低。年极端降水事件频次的长期变化趋势与夏季相似,华北和东北有增加趋势,其他地区为弱的减少趋势;其他季节的长期变化趋势存在明显的区域和季节性差异。年和季节极端降水事件的发生频次具有显著的年际和年代际变化特征。年极端降水事件时间序列的多项式拟合曲线的变化情况与夏季基本一致;而其他季节的变化则存在较大差异,表现出显著的季节性差异。     

The seasonally-varying influence of ENSO on rainfall and tropical cyclone activity in the Philippines

An observational study covering the period 1950–2002 examines a seasonal reversal in the ENSO rainfall signal in the north-central Philippines. In boreal Summer of El Niño (La Niña) events, above (below) average rainfall typically occurs in this area. Rainfall anomalies of opposite sign develop across the country in the subsequent fall. This study investigates the seasonal evolution of the anomalous atmospheric circulation over the western North Pacific (WNP) during both El Niño and La Niña and places these features in the context of the large-scale evolution of ENSO events, including an analysis of changes in tropical cyclone activity affecting the Philippines. The results show that during boreal summer of El Niño (La Niña) events, a relatively narrow, zonally elongated band of enhanced (reduced) low-level westerlies develops across the WNP which serves to increase (decrease) the summer monsoon flow and moisture flux over the north-central Philippines and is associated with an increase (decrease) in the strength of the WNP monsoon trough via the anomalous relative vorticity. Tropical cyclone activity is shown to be enhanced (reduced) in the study region during boreal summer of El Niño (La Niña) events, which is related to the increase (decrease) of mid-level atmospheric moisture, as diagnosed using a genesis potential index. The subsequent evolution shows development of an anomalous anticyclone (cyclone) over the WNP in El Niño (La Niña) and the well-known tendency for below (above) average rainfall in the fall. Prolonged ENSO events also exhibit seasonal rainfall sign reversals in the Philippines with a similar evolution in atmospheric circulation.     

Seasonal climatology of cut-off lows and associated precipitation patterns over Northeast China

Cut-off lows (COLs) are significantly associated with many convective events and anomalous regional climate in the Northeast China. By using 49-year NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, COL events are detected and tracked by an objective and automatic method based on synoptic concept model. Based on this dataset and daily rain-gauge records in Northeast China during 1979–2005, seasonal climatology of COLs and associated precipitation patterns over Northeast China are investigated. Most COLs have a short lifetime of less than a week and have a spatial size ranging from 500 to 1,000 km, with slight seasonal differences. Temporal variation of COL occurrence exhibits a seasonal cycle, with a peak in summer, and considerable interannual variability. The COLs tend to occur more frequently over the northern Northeast China Plain, and the center for maximum frequency shows a zonal oscillation, with an extension to continent in summer and a shift to western North Pacific coast in winter. Most COLs form to the east of Lake Baikal and decay over the western North Pacific coast. COLs are apt to move along east or southeast passages around the year, and tracks are relatively more complicated in warm seasons. About a quarter of annual mean precipitation over Northeast China is associated with COLs. Moreover, COL-associated precipitation contributes greatly to total precipitation in northern and northwestern parts of Northeast China, and the ratios of COL contribution are stronger during spring and autumn than in summer.     

Influence of the warm pool and cold tongue El Niños on the following Caribbean rainy season rainfall

Caribbean rainfall and associated regional-scale ocean–atmosphere anomalies are analyzed during and after warm pool (WP) and cold tongue (CT) El Niño (EN) events (i.e. from the usual peak of EN events in boreal winter to next summer from 1950 to 2011). During and after a CT event, a north–south dipolar pattern with positive (negative) rainfall anomalies over the northern (southern) Caribbean during the boreal winter tends to reverse in spring, and then to vanish in summer. On the contrary, during and after a WP event, weak rainfall anomalies during the boreal winter intensify themselves from spring, with anomalous wet conditions over most of the Caribbean basin observed during summer, except over the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The Caribbean rainfall anomalies associated with WP and CT events are shaped by competition between at least four different, but interrelated, mechanisms; (1) the near-equatorial large-scale subsidence anomaly over the equatorial Atlantic linked to the zonal adjustment of the Walker circulation; (2) the extra-tropical wave-like train combining positive phase of the Pacific/North American mode and negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation; (3) the wind-evaporation-sea surface temperature (SST) positive feedback coupling warmer-than-normal SST with weaker-than-normal low level easterlies over the tropical North Atlantic; and (4) the air-sea coupling between the speed of low level easterlies, including the Caribbean low level jet, and the SST anomaly (SSTA) gradient between the Caribbean basin and the eastern equatorial Pacific. It seems that Caribbean rainfall anomalies are shaped mostly by mechanisms (1–3) during CT events from the boreal winter to spring. These mechanisms seem less efficient during WP events when the atmospheric response seems driven mostly by mechanism (4), coupling positive west-east SSTA gradient with weaker-than-normal low level easterlies, and secondary by mechanism (3), from the boreal spring to summer.     

青藏高原四季开始日期随海拔高度和纬度变化

利用中国气象局国家气象信息中心提供的青藏高原60个测站1961~2007年逐日气温资料, 分析了青藏高原近47年来四季开始日期随海拔高度和纬度的变化趋势。结果表明, 春季和夏季开始日期是整体提前, 而秋季和冬季开始日期是整体延迟的, 春季和冬季开始日期的变化相对夏季和秋季更为明显;四季开始日期随海拔高度变化分布明显不同, 海拔越高, 春夏季开始日期来临越晚, 秋冬季开始日期来临越早, 海拔越低, 春夏季开始日期来临越早, 秋冬季开始日期来临越晚;海拔越高, 春夏开始日期提前的天数越多, 秋冬开始日期推迟天数越多, 反之低海拔地区相对更小, 由此得知高海拔地区的季节开始日期对当地气温的增温更为敏感;春季开始日期在36°N以南基本随纬度递增而开始日期推后, 36°N以北地区春季相对偏早, 夏季、秋季、冬季开始日期随纬度的变化和春季变化基本相似;四季开始日期来临的早晚受到多种因素包括气温、海拔和纬度共同影响, 季节延迟率也受到气温和海拔的影响, 但是纬度对季节延迟率影响不大;四季开始日期的提前和延迟变化和当地气温的变化几乎一致, 秋冬季节的开始日期对气温变化更为敏感, 高海拔地区的季节开始日期对气温变化更为敏感。      

气候变暖背景下我国南方旱涝灾害时空格局变化

我国南方地区各季节降水异常主要包含三种优势模态：长江及其以南地区降水呈整体偏多或偏少的一致型,长江中下游流域与华南呈反相变化的南北反相型以及东南与西南呈反相变化的东西反相型。其中一致型是南方地区各季节降水变率的第一优势模态。总体而言,在1961—2013年南方地区平均降水存在明显的年代际和长期趋势变化。其中,夏季和冬季南方区域平均降水具有相似的年代际变化特征,而秋季降水的年代际演变几乎与上述两个季节的相反。不过,在近30年南方各季降水量发生年代际转折的时间不尽相同：春季和秋季降水分别在21世纪初期和20世纪80年代中后期之后进入干位相,冬季和夏季降水则分别在80年代中期和90年代初期之后进入湿位相。自21世纪初期以来,南方夏季和冬季降水逐渐转入中性位相。此外,南方春季和秋季降水均呈减少趋势;而夏季和冬季则相反,均呈增多趋势。对于西南地区,除了春季外,其他三个季节的降水均呈减少趋势,出现了季节连旱的特征,尤其是秋旱最为严重。不过,不管是季节降水量还是旱/涝日数,在我国南方大部分地区其线性变化趋势并不十分显著,这与南方降水年代际分量对降水变率存在较大贡献相关。分析还发现,我国南方区域洪涝受灾面积具有比较明显的年代际变化,而干旱受灾面积则没有明显的年代际变化特征,近十多年来西南地区干旱和洪涝受灾出现了交替互现的特点。     

青藏高原OLR场的季节变化特征

该文利用1979～1991年卫星观测的OLR逐候资料，分析青藏高原OLR场的季节变化特征。结果表明:青藏高原OLR场具有显著的季节变化特点，在冬、夏两季高原OLR场表现为“缓变”态，在春、秋两过渡季节表现为“急变”态。同时发现，在春季高原西南部出现持续强的OLR候际正变化区，表明高原加热场在春季的持续加强。各年高原OLR场的季节变化有很大差异，在高原夏季来得早且季节过渡快的年份，相应印度地区的季风雨偏多；在高原夏季来得晚或正常时，印度地区的季风雨偏少或正常。     

Study of the climatological behaviors of Euro-Atlantic and West Asia blockings in the period of 1959–2018

In this study, comparison of blocking climatological behaviors is presented for the two periods of 1959–1988 and 1989–2018 in a part of the Northern Hemisphere including the Atlantic Ocean, Europe and West Asia regions. Blocking events were detected using a modified blocking index that is based on vertically integrated potential vorticity. By applying this index, the characteristics of detected blocking events such as frequency, duration, intensity and area were determined and compared for both the periods.According to the results, on average, 16 and 15 blocking events per year were identified in the first and second periods, respectively. The trend analysis shows that the number of blocking events in the period 1959–1988 was significantly decreased, while it was slightly increased in the period 1989–2018. Blocking activity was most prevalent from the eastern Atlantic through Europe to West Asia, but this longitude band exhibits a relatively eastward shift in the second period. In addition, the seasonal distributions are similar to those found in previous studies with the higher occurrence of blocking events during winter and autumn seasons and the lowest frequency in summer, as well as long-lasting events and greater intensity and extension in winter than the summer time, especially in the second period. These seasonal variations of blocking frequency may be due to synoptic scale eddies and planetary waves which are more active and stronger in the colder seasons than the other seasons. On the other hand, a comparison between the two periods shows that the blocking events tend to be more frequent over West Asia especially during summer in recent years. Although discrepancies between the two periods are not significant, they could be partly due to the impacts of climate change in recent decades.     

Distinctive MJO Activity during the Boreal Winter of the 2015/16 Super El Nino in Comparison with Other Super El Nino Events

Many previous studies have demonstrated that the boreal winters of super El Nino events are usually accompanied by severely suppressed Madden-Julian oscillation(MJO) activity over the western Pacific due to strong descending motion associated with a weakened Walker Circulation. However, the boreal winter of the 2015/16 super El Nino event is concurrent with enhanced MJO activity over the western Pacific despite its sea surface temperature anomaly(SSTA)magnitude over the Nino 3.4 region being comparable to the SSTA magnitudes of the two former super El Nino events(i.e.,1982/83 and 1997/98). This study suggests that the MJO enhanced over western Pacific during the 2015/16 super El Nino event is mainly related to its distinctive SSTA structure and associated background thermodynamic conditions. In comparison with the previous super El Nino events, the warming SSTA center of the 2015/16 super El Nino is located further westward, and a strong cold SSTA is not detected in the western Pacific. Accordingly, the low-level moisture and air temperature(as well as the moist static energy, MSE) tend to increase in the central-western Pacific. In contrast, the low-level moisture and MSE show negative anomalies over the western Pacific during the previous super El Nino events.As the MJO-related horizontal wind anomalies contribute to the further westward warm SST-induced positive moisture and MSE anomalies over the western tropical Pacific in the boreal winter of 2015/16, stronger moisture convergence and MSE advection are generated over the western Pacific and lead to the enhancement of MJO convection.     

A composite study of the MJO influence on the surface air temperature and precipitation over the Continental United States

The influence of the MJO on the continental United States (CONUS) surface air temperature (SAT) and precipitation is examined based on 30?years of daily data from 1979–2008. Composites are constructed for each of the eight phases of the Wheeler-Hendon MJO index over 12 overlapping three-month seasons. To ensure that the MJO signal is distinguished from other patterns of climate variability, several steps are taken: (a) only days classified as “MJO events” are used in the composites, (b) statistical significance of associated composites is assessed using a Monte Carlo procedure, and (c) intraseasonal frequencies are matched to the unfiltered data. Composites of other fields are also shown in order to examine how the SAT and precipitation anomalies are associated with large-scale circulations providing a link between the tropics and extratropics. The strongest and most significant MJO effects on SAT are found during the northern winter seasons. When enhanced convection is located over the equatorial Indian Ocean, below-average SAT tends to occur in New England and the Great Lakes region. As enhanced tropical convection shifts over the Maritime continent, above-average SAT appears in the eastern states of the US from Maine to Florida. The MJO influence on precipitation is also significant during northern winter seasons. When enhanced convection is located over the Maritime continent, more precipitation is observed in the central plains of the US. Enhanced precipitation also occurs over the west coast of the US when convective activity is stronger over the Indian Ocean. During the northern summer and fall, the MJO impact on precipitation is mainly significant at lower latitudes, over Mexico and southeastern US.     

青藏高原中东部地表感热趋势转折特征的季节差异

本文利用气候变化趋势转折判别模型(PLFIM),分析了1982～2018年青藏高原中东部70个气象站点地表感热趋势演变特征的季节差异,并利用线性倾向估计和方差分析方法定量评估了影响不同季节地表感热变化的关键气象要素.结果 显示:(1)高原中东部四季平均地表感热通量均存在显著趋势转折特征,整体来看,秋、冬季转折时间较早(...     

南极中山站附近地表大风的统计特征研究

利用近20 a的ERA5再分析资料研究了南极中山站附近的大风和极端大风事件的统计与环流特征。结果表明，春季大风事件的发生频次最高，夏季最少；冬季大风事件的平均持续时间最长，夏季最短；但大风事件的平均强度无明显季节变化。极端大风事件的发生频次具有显著的季节差异，冬季发生频次约为夏季的6倍、春秋的2倍，但平均持续时间和强度无明显季节变化。大风发生期间，南极对流层上层为单一极涡控制。在对流层中层，中低纬暖湿气流的向极入侵使得极涡破碎分裂，在中山站东侧产生高压脊，脊前冷空气下沉在地表堆积形成冷高压反气旋，其偏东气流在地形下坡风的作用下产生大风事件。上述环流特征在冬季最强、夏季最弱，从而导致大风事件的季节变化。     

MJO prediction in the NCEP Climate Forecast System version 2

The Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) is the primary mode of tropical intraseasonal climate variability and has significant modulation of global climate variations and attendant societal impacts. Advancing prediction of the MJO using state of the art observational data and modeling systems is thus a necessary goal for improving global intraseasonal climate prediction. MJO prediction is assessed in the NOAA Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) based on its hindcasts initialized daily for 1999–2010. The analysis focuses on MJO indices taken as the principal components of the two leading EOFs of combined 15°S–15°N average of 200-hPa zonal wind, 850-hPa zonal wind and outgoing longwave radiation at the top of the atmosphere. The CFSv2 has useful MJO prediction skill out to 20 days at which the bivariate anomaly correlation coefficient (ACC) drops to 0.5 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) increases to the level of the prediction with climatology. The prediction skill also shows a seasonal variation with the lowest ACC during the boreal summer and highest ACC during boreal winter. The prediction skills are evaluated according to the target as well as initial phases. Within the lead time of 10 days the ACC is generally greater than 0.8 and RMSE is less than 1 for all initial and target phases. At longer lead time, the model shows lower skills for predicting enhanced convection over the Maritime Continent and from the eastern Pacific to western Indian Ocean. The prediction skills are relatively higher for target phases when enhanced convection is in the central Indian Ocean and the central Pacific. While the MJO prediction skills are improved in CFSv2 compared to its previous version, systematic errors still exist in the CFSv2 in the maintenance and propagation of the MJO including (1) the MJO amplitude in the CFSv2 drops dramatically at the beginning of the prediction and remains weaker than the observed during the target period and (2) the propagation in the CFSv2 is too slow. Reducing these errors will be necessary for further improvement of the MJO prediction.