Atmospheric circulation characteristics associated with the onset of Asian summer monsoon

The onset of the Asian summer monsoon has been a focus in the monsoon study for many years. In this paper, we study the variability and predictability of the Asian summer monsoon onset and demonstrate that this onset is associated with specific atmospheric circulation characteristics. The outbreak of the Asian summer monsoon is found to occur first over the southwestern part of the South China Sea (SCS) and the Malay Peninsula region, and the monsoon onset is closely related to intra-seasonal oscillations in the lower atmosphere. These intra-seasonal oscillations consist of two low-frequency vortex pairs, one located to the east of the Philippines and the other over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean. Prior to the Asian summer monsoon onset, a strong low-frequency westerly emerges over the equatorial Indian Ocean and the low-frequency vortex pair develops symmetrically along the equator. The formation and evolution of these low-frequency vortices are important and serve as a good indicator for the Asian summer monsoon onset. The relationship between the northward jumps of the westerly jet over East Asia and the Asian summer monsoon onset over SCS is investigated. It is shown that the northward jump of the westerly jet occurs twice during the transition from winter to summer and these jumps are closely related to the summer monsoon development. The first northward jump (from 25–28N to around 30N) occurs on 8 May on average, about 7 days ahead of the summer monsoon onset over the SCS. It is found that the reverse of meridional temperature gradient in the upper-middle troposphere (500–200 hPa) and the enhancement and northward movement of the subtropical jet in the Southern Hemispheric subtropics are responsible for the first northward jump of the westerly jet.     

Recent advances in monsoon studies in China

This review provides a synopsis of the major progress that has been made in monsoon studies in China and to further bridge the gap between the Chinese and international meteorological community. It consists of seven major sections. After the introduction, the second section begins with the global monsoon systems and their seasonal variation, based on some new methods proposed in recent years. Besides, some major intraseasonal features of East Asian monsoon, including the onset of South China Sea summer monsoon are discussed. In the third section, we review the interactions between ENSO and the East Asian monsoon, focusing in particular on the results of Chinese meteorologists that indicate the influence of ENSO on the East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) is obviously different from that on the tropical monsoon. Besides the tropical Pacific,other ocean basins, such as the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, are also important to the East Asian monsoon, and this topic is discussed in the fourth section. In the fifth section, we address the role of land surface processes in East Asian monsoon. For example, we describe work that has shown more snow cover in spring on the Tibetan Plateau is followed by a weakened EASM and more summer rainfall in the Yangtze River valleys. The sixth section focuses on the influence of atmospheric circulation in the Southern Hemisphere(SH) on EASM, demonstrating how the signal from the SH is likely to provide new clues for the seasonal forecasting of summer rainfall in China. Finally, in the seventh section, we concentrate on the interdecadal variations of EASM. In particular, we look at a significant interdecadal variation that occurred at the end of the 1970 s, and how our understanding of this feature could affect forecasting ability.     

THERMAL INFLUENCES OF LAND-SEA CONTRAST AND TOPOGRAPHY ON SUMMER MONSOON IN 1998

In this work, the SCSMEX data are used to diagnose and compare the local land-sea thermal conditions, with the focus of discussion on possible influences of thermal forcing of the western Pacific and the Tibetan Plateau on the onset and development of summer monsoon in 1998. Results show a close relationship between the distribution of the heat sources and the land-sea contrast. Due to the blocking effect of terrain, main maximum zones of the heat sources in areas with more evident north-south land-sea contrast are more obviously southward located than those exclusively with oceans. The surface heating is characterized with apparent seasonal variation and difference between land and sea. The relationship between the western Pacific and the onset of summer monsoon is reflected in the variations of the sea surface temperature (SST) and the latent heat. The influence mechanism of the Tibetan Plateau during the summer monsoon is different: it is dominated by sensible heating during the South China Sea monsoon and by condensed latent heating during the Indian monsoon.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A COUPLED REGIONAL AIR-SEA MODEL AND ITS NUMERICAL SIMULATION FOR SUMMER MONSOON IN 1998

A coupled regional air-sea model is developed by using the regional climate model (P-σ RCM)and the regional ocean model (POM),which is used to simulate East Asian monsoon and oceanicelements in East Asian coastal waters.The simulated surface layer oceanic elements are basicallyconsistent with the reality and can reflect the interaction between the monsoon and the surfacelayer currents.The great difference with the reality is “cold drift” of the simulated surfacetemperature.The coupled model has certain ability to simulate the atmosphere geopotential heightfields,precipitation and low-level southwest wind from May to August in 1998.It can display theprocess of summer monsoon onset during the third dekad of May and the evolution features afterthe onset.The differences between the simulation results of the coupled model and that of thesingle P-a RCM are shown mainly in the low-level atmosphere and the model internal regions.     

Characteristics of the Onset of the Asian Summer Monsoon and the Importance of Asian-Australian “Land Bridge”

Based on summarizing previous achievements and using data as long and new as possible, the onset characteristics of Asian summer monsoon and the role of Asian-Australian “land bridge” in the onset of summer monsoon are further discussed. In particular, the earliest onset area of Asian summer monsoon is comparatively analyzed, and the sudden and progressive characteristics of the onset of summer monsoon in different regions are discussed. Furthermore, the relationships among such critical events during the onset of Asian summer monsoon as the splitting of subtropical high belt over the Bay of Bengal (BOB), the initiation of convection over Indo-China Peninsula, the westward advance, reestablishment of South Asian High, and the rapid northward progression of convection originated from Sumatra in early summer are studied. The important impact of the proper collocation of the latent heating over Indo-China Peninsula and the sensible heating over Indian Peninsula on the splitting of the subtropical high belt, the deepening of BOB trough, the activating of Sri Lanka vortex (twin vortexes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres), and the subsequent onset of South China Sea summer monsoon are emphasized.     

DEVELOPMENT OF A COUPLED REGIONAL AIR-SEA MODEL AND ITS NUMERICAL SIMULATION FOR SUMMER MONSOON IN 1998*

A coupled regional air-sea model is developed by using the regional climate model (P-σ RCM) and the regional ocean model (POM),which is used to simulate East Asian monsoon and oceanic elements in East Asian coastal waters.The simulated surface layer oceanic elements are basically consistent with the reality and can reflect the interaction between the monsoon and the surface layer currents.The great difference with the reality is "cold drift" of the simulated surface temperature.The coupled model has certain ability to simulate the atmosphere geopotential height fields,precipitation and low-level southwest wind from May to August in 1998.It can display the process of summer monsoon onset during the third dekad of May and the evolution features after the onset.The differences between the simulation results of the coupled model and that of the single P-σ RCM are shown mainly in the low-level atmosphere and the model internal regions.     

Convectively Coupled Equatorial Waves Simulated by CAMS-CSM

The Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences developed a Climate System Model(CAMS-CSM) to participate in the upcoming Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6(CMIP6). In this study, we assessed the model performance in simulating the convectively coupled equatorial waves(CCEWs) by comparing the daily output of precipitation from a 23-yr coupled run with the observational precipitation data from Global Precipitation Climatology Project(GPCP). Four dominant modes of CCEWs including the Kelvin, equatorial Rossby(ER), mixed Rossby–gravity(MRG), tropical depression-type(TD-type) waves, and their annual mean and seasonal cycle characteristics are investigated respectively. It is found that the space–time spectrum characteristics of each wave mode represented by tropical averaged precipitation could be very well simulated by CAMS-CSM, including the magnitudes and the equivalent depths. The zonal distribution of wave associated precipitation is also well simulated, with the maximum centers over the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. However, the meridional distribution of the wave activities is poorly simulated, with the maximum centers shifted from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere, especially the Kelvin, MRG, and TD waves. The seasonal cycle of each wave mode is generally captured by the model, but their amplitudes over the Southern Hemisphere during boreal winter are grossly overestimated. The reason for the excessive wave activity over the southern Pacific Ocean in the simulation is discussed.     

ESTIMATION OF OBSERVATION IMPACT WITH AN ENSEMBLE SENSITIVITY METHOD

The ensemble based forecast sensitivity to observation method by Liu and Kalnay is applied to the SPEEDY-LETKF system to estimate the observation impact of three types of simulated observations. The estimation results show that all types of observations have positive impact on short-range forecast. The largest impact in Northern Hemisphere is produced by rawinsondes, followed by satellite retrieved profiles and cloud drift wind data, which in Southern Hemisphere is produced by satellite retrieved profiles, rawinsondes and cloud drift wind data. Satellite retrieved profiles influence more on the Southern Hemisphere than on the Northern Hemisphere due to few observations from rawinsondes in the Southern Hemisphere. At the level of 200 to 300 hPa, the largest impact is attributed to wind observations from rawinsondes and cloud drift wind.     

The influence of systematic errors on the asian summer monsoon circulation

1. IntroductionThe Asian summer monsoon circulation is a thermally driven circulation, which arisesprimarily from the temperature differences between the warmer continental areas of theNorthern Hemisphere and the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. The complex feedback between the flow field and the heating, especially through the interaction between thelarge--scale flow and moist convection, is yet to be well understood. Nevertheless, this facetensures the prominence of the summer monsoon ci…     

Analysis of Indian Monsoon and Associated Low-Level Circulation in 1980 and 1981

In this paper, Indian monsoon of 1980 and 1981 is analysed based on the seasonal and half-month averaged data of 850 hPa of ECMWF analysis. The results show that Indian monsoon is related to Somali jet, the low-latitude easterlies and the mid-latitude westerlies over southern Indian Ocean, which are associated with the stationary wave of Southern Hemisphere. The forces affecting on the low-level flow are diagnosed, which display the relationship between Indian monsoon and the associated low-level flow.     

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

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

Study on the Dynamic Process of the Onset of South China Sea Summer Monsoon

By using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data from 1958 to 1997, we first looked into the atmospheric flow conditions in the one month immediately prior to the onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon （SCSSM） each year. A monthly-averaged zonal basic flow of 40-yr composite was then calculated. The stability of Rossby wave in the basic flow was studied based on the spherical barotropic vorticity equation. Furthermore, the spectral function expansion method was adopted to define and compute the evolvement of a developing wave packet. The results indicate that there exists barotropic instability of spherical Rossby wave in the climatically-averaged flow field before the SCSSM onset. The instability is triggered by the westerly jet stream in the Southern Hemisphere, and the strongest instable perturbation lies to the south of the westerly jet stream. The peak of the developing spherical Rossby wave packet propagates from mid and high latitudes to low latitudes, though not crossing the equator, spurring the cumulus convection in the tropical zones. The eruption of the cumulus convection and its spread to monsoon regions help to speed up the adjustment of the general circulation and the SCSSM onset. It is concluded that elements that contribute to the SCSSM onset are on global scale, albeit the onset itself looks like a local phenomenon.     

The Role of Land-sea Distribution and Orography in the Asian Monsoon. Part Ⅱ:Orography

The role of various mountains in the Asian monsoon system is investigated by AGCM simulations with different mountains.The comparison of the simulation with Asian mountains(MAsia run)with the simulation without mountains(NM run)reveals that the presence of the Asian mountains results in a stronger South Asian summer monsoon(SASM),characterized by enhanced lower-tropospheric westerly winds,uppertropospheric easterly winds,and stronger water vapor convergence.In East Asia,the southerly winds and water vapor convergence are significantly strengthened in association with the intensified zonal pressure gradient between the East Asian continent and the Pacific Ocean.Both the dynamical and thermodynamic forcing of the Tibetan Plateau play important role in strengthening the Asian summer monsoon.In winter,the presence of Asian mountains significantly strengthens the continental high,which leads to a stronger Asian winter monsoon.The presence of African-Arabian mountains helps to intensify the exchange of mass between the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere by strengthening the cross equatorial flows in the lower and upper troposphere over East Africa. Asian mountains also play a crucial role in the seasonal evolution of Asian monsoons.In comparison with the NM run,the earlier onset and later withdrawal of lower-tropospheric westerly winds can be found over South Asia in the MAsia run,indicating a longer SASM period.The African-Arabian mountains also moderately contribute to the seasonal variation of the South Asian monsoon.In East Asia,the clear southto-north march of the southerly winds and subtropical rainfall starts to occur in early summer when the effects of Asian mountains are considered.     

INTERANNUAL CHANGE OF EXTRA-TROPICAL METHANE INDUCED BY THE QUASI-BIENNIAL OSCILLATION OF TROPICAL WIND AND ITS FORMATION MECHANISM

Researchers have paid much attention to the influence of the tropical zonal wind quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) on tropical methane, while generally ignoring the change in extra-tropical methane. The present study analyzed the interannual changes in the methane mixing ratio in extra-tropics of both the Southern Hemisphere (SH) and Northern Hemisphere (NH) using Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) satellite data. The results show that interannual changes in extra-tropical methane exhibit QBO features in both hemispheres that are obviously different from those in the tropics. The extra-tropical methane QBO perturbations usually occur in two layers and are longitudinally asymmetrical about the equator. The amplitude of the methane QBO disturbance in the extra-tropics is smaller than that in the tropics from 10 to 1 hPa but much larger in the layer from 30 to 10 hPa. The interannual relative changes in the methane mixing ratio are similar in both the NH extra-tropics and the tropics in the middle and upper stratosphere. Using the National Center for Atmospheric Research two-dimensional, interactive chemical dynamical radiative model (SOCRATES), simulation was conducted to investigate the mechanism of the extra-tropical methane QBO. The results indicate that the tropical stratospheric zonal wind QBO results in the QBO of the induced residual circulation. It is the transport of methane by the induced residual circulation that causes the methane QBO in the extra-tropics. The induced residual circulations in the middle and upper stratosphere are not always longitudinally symmetrical about the equator, resulting in different distribution of the methane QBO in the SH and NH extra-tropics.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXTREME PRECIPITATION ANOMALY IN SOUTH OF CHINA AND ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

Based on the daily rainfall datasets of 743 stations in China and the NCEP/NCAR monthly reanalysis data during the period of 1960–2003, the relationship between the anomalous extreme precipitation (EP) in the south of China and atmospheric circulation in the Southern Hemisphere is analyzed. The phenomenon of opposite changes in the sea level pressure and geopotential height anomalies over the Ross Sea and New Zealand is defined as RN, and the index which describes this phenomenon is expressed as RNI. The results show that the RN has barotropic structure and the RNI in May is closely related to the June EP amount in the south of China (SCEP) and the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). The positive correlations between the May RNI at each level and the June SCEP are significant, and the related simultaneous correlations between the RNI and the June SCEP are also positive, suggesting that the potential impact of RN on the SCEP persists from May to June. Therefore, RN in May can be taken as one of the predictive factors for the June SCEP. Furthermore, one possible physical mechanism by which the RN affects the June SCEP is a barotropic meridional teleconnection emanating from the Southern Hemisphere to the western North Pacific.     

Evaluation of Summer Monsoon Clouds over the Tibetan Plateau Simulated in the ACCESS Model Using Satellite Products

Cloud distribution characteristics over the Tibetan Plateau in the summer monsoon period simulated by the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator(ACCESS) model are evaluated using COSP [the CFMIP(Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project) Observation Simulator Package]. The results show that the ACCESS model simulates less cumulus cloud at atmospheric middle levels when compared with observations from CALIPSO and CloudSat, but more ice cloud at high levels and drizzle drops at low levels. The model also has seasonal biases after the onset of the summer monsoon in May. While observations show that the prevalent high cloud at 9–10 km in spring shifts downward to 7–9 km,the modeled maximum cloud fractions move upward to 12–15 km. The reason for this model deficiency is investigated by comparing model dynamical and thermodynamical fields with those of ERA-Interim. It is found that the lifting effect of the Tibetan Plateau in the ACCESS model is stronger than in ERA-Interim, which means that the vertical velocity in the ACCESS model is stronger and more water vapor is transported to the upper levels of the atmosphere, resulting in more high-level ice clouds and less middle-level cumulus cloud over the Tibetan Plateau. The modeled radiation fields and precipitation are also evaluated against the relevant satellite observations.     

Role of Western Pacific Oceanic Variability in the Onset of the Bay of Bengal Summer Monsoon

The influence of the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean heat content on the onset of the Bay of Bengal summer monsoon(BOBSM) onset was investigated using atmospheric data from the NCEP and ocean subsurface temperature data from the Japan Metorology Agency(JMA).Results showed that the onset time of the BOBSM is highly related to the tropical Pacific upper ocean heat content(HC),especially in the key region of the western Pacific warm pool(WPWP),during the preceding winter and spring.When the HC anomalies in the WPWP are positive(negative),the onset of the BOBSM is usually early(late).Accompanied by the variation of the convection activity over the WPWP,mainly induced by the underlying ocean temperature anomalies,the Walker circulation becomes stronger or weaker.This enhances or weakens the westerly over the tropical Indian Ocean flowing into the BOB in the boreal spring,which is essential to BOBSM onset.The possible mechanism of influence of cyclonic/anti-cyclonic circulation over the northwestern tropical Pacific on BOBSM onset is also discussed.     

ON THE PROCESS OF SUMMER MONSOON ONSET OVER EAST ASIA

Using daily observational rainfall data covered 194 stations of China from 1961 to 1995 andNCEP model analyzed pentad precipitation data of global grid point from 1979 to 1997,thedistribution of onset date of rainy season over Asian area from spring to summer is studied in thispaper.The analyzed results show that there exist two stages of rainy season onset over East Asianregion from spring to summer rainy season onset accompanying subtropical monsoon and tropicalmonsoon respectively.The former rain belt is mainly formed by the convergence of cold air and therecurred southwesterly flow from western part of subtropical high and westerly flow from the so-called western trough of subtropical region occurring during winter to spring over South Asia.Thelatter is formed in the process of subtropical monsoon rain belt over inshore regions of South ChinaSea originally coming from south of Changjiang (Yangtze) River Basin advancing with northwardshift of subtropical high after the onset of tropical monsoon over South China Sea.The pre-floodrainy season over South China region then came into mature period and the second peak of rainfallappeared.Meiyu,the rainy season over Changjiang-Huaihe River Basin and North China thenformed consequently.The process of summer tropical monsoon onset over South China Sea in 1998is also discussed in this paper.It indicated that the monsoon during summer tropical monsoononset over South China Sea is the result of the westerly flow over middle part of South China Sea,which is from the new generated cyclone formed in north subtropical high entering into SouthChina Sea,converged with the tropical southwesterly flow recurred by the intensified cross-equatorial flow.     

The impacts of moisture transport of East Asian monsoon on summer precipitation in Northeast China

By using the ECMWF reanalysis daily data and daily precipitation data of 80 stations in Northeast China from 1961 to 2002, the impacts of moisture transport of East Asian summer monsoon on the summer precipitation anomaly in Northeast China, and the relationship between the variation of moisture budget and the establishment of East Asian summer monsoon in this region are studied. The results demonstrate that the moisture of summer precipitation in Northeast China mainly originates from subtropical, South China Sea, and South Asia monsoon areas. East China and its near coastal area are the convergent region of the monsoonal moisture currents and the transfer station for the currents continually moving northward. The monsoonal moisture transport, as an important link or bridge, connects the interaction between middle and low latitude systems. In summer half year, there is a moisture sink in Northeast China where the moisture influx is greater than outflux. The advance transport and accumulation of moisture are of special importance to pentad time scale summer precipitation. The onset, retreat, and intensity change of the monsoonal rainy season over Northeast China are mainly signified by the moisture input condition along the southern border of this area. The establishment of East Asian summer monsoon in this area ranges from about 10 July to 20 August and the onset in the west is earlier than that in the east. The latitude that the monsoon can reach is gradually northward from west to east, reaching 50°N within longitude 120°-135°E. In summer, the difference of air mass transport between summers with high and low rainfall mainly lies in whether more air masses originating from lower latitudes move northward through East China and its coastal areas, consequently transporting large amounts of hot and humid air into Northeast China.     

An Analysis of the Characteristics of Monsoon Onset over the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea in 2010

Based on NCEP/NCAR daily reanalysis and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission data, the background atmospheric circulation and the characteristics of meteorological elements during the period of the Bay of Bengal monsoon (BOBM) and the South China Sea (SCS) monsoon (SCSM) in 2010 are studied. The impacts of the BOBM onset on the SCSM onset and the relationship between the two monsoons are also analyzed. The two main results are as follows. (1) The BOBM onset obviously occurs earlier than the SCSM onset in 2010, which is a typical onset process of the Asian monsoon. During the BOBM’s onset, northward jump, and eastward expansion, convective precipitation and southwest winds occurred over the SCS, which resulted in the onset of the SCSM. (2) The relationship among strong convection, heavy rainfall, and vertical circulation configuration is obtained during the monsoon onsets over the BOB and SCS, and it is concluded that the South Asian High plays an important role in this period.