Observational and Modeling Studies of Impacts of the South China Sea Monsoon on the Monsoon Rainfall in the Middle-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River During Summer

Based on the ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data,the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s merged analysis of precipitation(CMAP),and the fifth-generation PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model version 3(MM5v3),we defined a monsoon intensity index over the East Asian tropical region and analyzed the impacts of summer(June-July) South China Sea(SCS) monsoon anomaly on monsoon precipitation over the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River(MLRYR) using both observational data analysis and numerical simulation methods.The results from the data analysis show that the interannual variations of the tropical monsoon over the SCS are negatively correlated with the southwesterly winds and precipitation over the MLRYR during June-July.Corresponding to stronger(weaker) tropical monsoon and precipitation,the southwesterly winds are weaker(stronger) over the MLRYR,with less(more) local precipitation.The simulation results further exhibit that when changing the SCS monsoon intensity,there are significant variations of monsoon and precipitation over the MLRYR.The simulated anomalies generally consist with the observations,which verifies the impact of the tropical monsoon on the monsoon precipitation over the MLRYR.This impact might be supported by certain physical processes.Moreover,when the tropical summer monsoon is stronger,the tropical anomalous westerly winds and positive precipitation anomalies usually maintain in the tropics and do not move northward into the MLRYR,hence the transport of water vapor toward southern China is weakened and the southwest flow and precipitation over southern China are also attenuated.On the other hand,the strengthened tropical monsoon may result in the weakening and southward shift of the western Pacific subtropical high through self-adjustment of the atmospheric circulation,leading to the weakening of the monsoon flows and precipitation over the MLRYR.     

What drives the global summer monsoon over the past millennium?

The global summer monsoon precipitation (GSMP) provides a fundamental measure for changes in the annual cycle of the climate system and hydroclimate. We investigate mechanisms governing decadal-centennial variations of the GSMP over the past millennium with a coupled climate model’s (ECHO-G) simulation forced by solar-volcanic (SV) radiative forcing and greenhouse gases (GHG) forcing. We show that the leading mode of GSMP is a forced response to external forcing on centennial time scale with a globally uniform change of precipitation across all monsoon regions, whereas the second mode represents internal variability on multi-decadal time scale with regional characteristics. The total amount of GSMP varies in phase with the global mean temperature, indicating that global warming is accompanied by amplification of the annual cycle of the climate system. The northern hemisphere summer monsoon precipitation (NHSMP) responds to GHG forcing more sensitively, while the southern hemisphere summer monsoon precipitation (SHSMP) responds to the SV radiative forcing more sensitively. The NHSMP is enhanced by increased NH land–ocean thermal contrast and NH-minus-SH thermal contrast. On the other hand, the SHSMP is strengthened by enhanced SH subtropical highs and the east–west mass contrast between Southeast Pacific and tropical Indian Ocean. The strength of the GSMP is determined by the factors controlling both the NHSMP and SHSMP. Intensification of GSMP is associated with (a) increased global land–ocean thermal contrast, (b) reinforced east–west mass contrast between Southeast Pacific and tropical Indian Ocean, and (c) enhanced circumglobal SH subtropical highs. The physical mechanisms revealed here will add understanding of future change of the global monsoon.     

Recent change of the global monsoon precipitation (1979–2008)

The global monsoon (GM) is a defining feature of the annual variation of Earth’s climate system. Quantifying and understanding the present-day monsoon precipitation change are crucial for prediction of its future and reflection of its past. Here we show that regional monsoons are coordinated not only by external solar forcing but also by internal feedback processes such as El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). From one monsoon year (May to the next April) to the next, most continental monsoon regions, separated by vast areas of arid trade winds and deserts, vary in a cohesive manner driven by ENSO. The ENSO has tighter regulation on the northern hemisphere summer monsoon (NHSM) than on the southern hemisphere summer monsoon (SHSM). More notably, the GM precipitation (GMP) has intensified over the past three decades mainly due to the significant upward trend in NHSM. The intensification of the GMP originates primarily from an enhanced east–west thermal contrast in the Pacific Ocean, which is coupled with a rising pressure in the subtropical eastern Pacific and decreasing pressure over the Indo-Pacific warm pool. While this mechanism tends to amplify both the NHSM and SHSM, the stronger (weaker) warming trend in the NH (SH) creates a hemispheric thermal contrast, which favors intensification of the NHSM but weakens the SHSM. The enhanced Pacific zonal thermal contrast is largely a result of natural variability, whilst the enhanced hemispherical thermal contrast is likely due to anthropogenic forcing. We found that the enhanced global summer monsoon not only amplifies the annual cycle of tropical climate but also promotes directly a “wet-gets-wetter” trend pattern and indirectly a “dry-gets-drier” trend pattern through coupling with deserts and trade winds. The mechanisms recognized in this study suggest a way forward for understanding past and future changes of the GM in terms of its driven mechanisms.     

两类El Niño型对西北太平洋季风槽及热带气旋生成的可能影响

通过对1948~2015年不同El Ni?o事件下西北太平洋季风槽变化和热带气旋(tropical cyclone,TC)生成进行分析,初步探讨了不同El Ni?o型事件对季风槽及其对TC的可能影响。分析结果表明,较东太平洋增暖(eastern Pacific warming,EPW)年,中太平洋增暖(central Pacific warming,CPW)年季风槽偏弱,位置相对偏西、偏北。在CPW年,中(西和东)太平洋海温增暖(降低)引起了从中到西太平洋热带地区的西风异常和中太平洋地区上升运动及对流活动加强,使得季风槽加强东伸,同时西太平洋副高偏弱、偏北,季风槽向北推进;而在EPW年,赤道东(西)太平洋海温增暖(降低)使得赤道地区西风异常显著加强东扩,异常Walker环流的上升支东移至东太平洋,季风活动加强,副高偏强、偏南,这使得季风槽较CPW年相比更强、更偏东。利于TC生成的大尺度环境因子随季风槽强度和位置的变化而发生改变,在CPW年,低层气旋性涡度、高层辐散、高的中层相对湿度以及低垂直风切变区随着季风槽向北移动;而在EPW年,这些因子随季风槽向南、向东偏移。这些大尺度环境因子的变化使得西北太平洋TC生成的位置在CPW年比EPW年更加偏北、偏西。     

夏季东亚季风与西太平洋副高对福建旱涝影响的诊断分析

利用NCEP/NCAR发布的850 hPa风场和OLR场以及福建38个站月降水资料, 分析了福建夏季旱涝与东亚夏季风及西太平洋副高的关系。结果表明夏季旱涝与夏季风强弱及副高南北位置密切相关。涝 (旱) 年在东亚季风系统中的热带季风环流出现异常加强 (减弱), 副热带季风环流则出现异常减弱 (加强); 涝年副高平均脊线位置偏北于27°N附近, 旱年则偏南于24°N附近; 由春入夏, 再由夏入秋副高南北位置的季节位移, 涝年先是急速北跳, 而后又急速南撤, 旱年却进退平缓。旱涝年东亚中高纬度环流亦表现出不同特征, 涝 (旱) 年一般没有 (有) 出现阻塞形势, 中纬度纬 (经) 向环流发展, 副热带锋区北抬 (南压), 研究还进一步揭示了夏季副高位置南北偏离影响夏季各月降水及其分布的不同形式。     

1999年东亚夏季风异常活动的物理机制研究

文中从海-气相互作用的角度探讨了1999年东亚夏季风及与其相联系的雨带异常活动的物理机制。结果表明,由于1998年春季至1999年南海-热带西太平洋出现了近20 a最强的异常暧海温,该地强异常海-气相互作用的维持使得这种局地的热力强迫成为1999年东亚夏季风和降水异常的最主要外强迫机制,并使得1999年的季风活动和降水分布有别于一般的统计情形。从1998年秋到1999年,由于热带大气对南海-西太平洋暧海温所诱发的局地强加热的响应,热带西太平洋地区所出现的Gill模态的异常环流分布从冬季一直发展到夏季,并因此在海洋和大气之间形成了局地的强烈正反馈,不仅使得异常环流得以持续发展,而且也使得暖海温得以维持,成为影响1999年环流异常的最强前期信号。随着从冬到夏的季节演变,大气基本态对上述持续性异常环流的影响导致了冬、夏异常环流呈现出不同的纬向非对称,诱发了盛夏期间东亚到北美沿岸的遥相关波列。在东亚沿岸异常气旋性环流的影响下,大尺度异常东风在东亚沿岸的维持形成了极不利于季风西风在南海北部转向的条件,导致了季风在中国东部北进的异常偏弱和低纬西风转向位置的异常偏东。     

近50年来中国夏季降水及水汽输送特征研究

利用1951-2006年中国448站夏季降水资料、NCEP/NCAR VersionⅠ的再分析资料,研究了近50年来中国夏季降水年代际变化特征及其分区,并从季风性水汽输送的变化角度出发,讨论了影响中国一些主要地区降水变化的可能机制.研究发现:(1)从总体上来说,自1951年至今,中国夏季降水存在3个突变时段,即1956-1960年,1980年前后以及1993年以后.且90°E以东突变后的主要变化特征都是多雨区由北向南传播,而90°E以西则是多雨区由南向北传播;2)近56年来就110°E以东的中国东部夏季降水而言,1980年以后多雨区由华北南移到长江中下游,又于1993年以后由长江中下游继续南移至华南;3)中国东部各地区降水和850 hpa风场、整层水汽输送场的相关分布一致表明,中国110°E以东各降水区以南为来自偏东偏南的季风性异常水汽输送,而以北为来自偏北风和相应的异常水汽输送,两者在降水区汇合造成风和水汽输送异常辐合.因而,西太平洋副热带高压南侧的东南季风及其异常水汽输送、北方冷槽的偏北风及其异常水汽输送是中国东部夏季降水异常的主要成员,这和一般认为的这些地区降水异常来自孟加拉湾的季风性异常水汽输送的观点不同,需要作进一步研究.总之,对于中国东部旱涝的形成,应该重点注意来自西北太平洋副热带高压西侧的直接或间接经南海到达的异常四南季风性水汽输送.     

亚洲热带气候态夏季风涌传播特征及其对中国降水的影响

基于1979—2020年逐日的NOAA向外长波辐射资料、NCEP/NCAR再分析风场资料,以及全球CMAP再分析降水资料,探讨了气候态亚洲热带夏季风涌的传播过程及与我国夏季相应的降水联系。分析结果表明,主汛期亚洲热带气候态夏季风季节内振荡(CISO)活动是亚洲夏季风活动的主要特征,随时间北传的亚洲热带夏季风CISO称为亚洲热带夏季风涌,主要有南亚夏季风涌和南海夏季风涌。亚洲热带夏季风涌的传播可分为四个阶段。在亚洲热带夏季风涌的发展阶段,印度洋区域低频气旋与对流活跃,孟加拉湾和南海热带区域被低频东风控制,我国大部分地区无降水发生,降水中心位于两广地区。当进入亚洲热带夏季风涌活跃阶段,孟加拉湾和南海热带地区低频气旋和对流活跃,东亚低频“PJ”波列显著,我国降水中心北移到长江以南的附近区域。亚洲热带夏季风涌减弱阶段,孟加拉湾与南海低频气旋消亡,对流减弱,低频西风加强,日本南部附近为低频反气旋控制,我国长江中下游低频南风活跃,降水中心也北移到长江中下游地区,而华南地区已基本无降水,此阶段的大气低频环流场与亚洲热带夏季风涌发展阶段基本相反。进入亚洲热带夏季风涌间歇阶段时,孟加拉湾和南海热带地区低...     

Characteristics of Subtropical Monsoon and Rainfall over Eastern China and Western North Pacific

Using the NCAR/NCEP (National Center for Atmospheric Research/National Centers for Environmental Prediction) reanalysis and the NOAA Climate Prediction Center's merged analysis of precipitation (CMAP)during 1981-2000, we investigated the seasonal evolution of the southwesterly wind and associated precipitation over the eastern China-subtropical western North Pacific area and its relationship with the tropical monsoon and rainfall, and analyzed the reasons responsible for the onset and development of the wind. It was found that the persistent southwesterly wind appears over southern China and the subtropical western Pacific the earliest in early spring, and then expands southwards to the tropics and advances northward to the midlatitudes. From winter to summer, the seasonal variation of surface heating over western China and the subtropical western Pacific may result in an earlier reversal of the westward tropospheric temperature gradient over the subtropics relative to the tropics, which may contribute to the earliest beginning of the subtropical southwesterly wind. Additionally, the strengthening and eastward expanding of the trough near the eastern Tibetan Plateau as well as the strengthening and westward moving of the western Pacific subtropical high also exert positive influences on the beginning and development of the subtropical southwesterly wind.In early summer,the northward expansion of the southwesterly wind over southern China is associated with a northward shift of the subtropical high, while the southward stretch of the southwesterly wind is associated with a southward stretch of the trough in the eastern side of the plateau. With the beginning and northward expansion of the subtropical southwesterly wind (namely southwest monsoon), convergences of the low-level air and water vapor and associated upward motion in front of the strongest southwesterly wind core also strengthen and move northward, leading to an increase in rainfall intensity and a northward shift of the rain belt. Accordingly, the subtropical rainy season occurs the earliest over southern China in spring, moves northward to the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley in early summer, and arrives in North China in mid summer.Compared with the subtropical rainy season, the tropical rainy season begins later and stays mainly over the tropics, not pronouncedly moving into the subtropics. Clearly, the Meiyu rainfall over the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley in early summer results from a northward shift of the spring rain belt over southern China,instead of a northward shift of the tropical monsoon rain belt. Before the onset of the tropical monsoon,water vapor over the subtropical monsoon region comes mainly from the coasts of the northern Indo-China Peninsula and southern China. After the onset, one branch of the water vapor flow comes from the Bay of Bengal, entering into eastern China and the subtropical western Pacific via southwestern China and the South China Sea, and another branch comes from the tropical western North Pacific, moving northwestward along the west edge of the western Pacific subtropical high and entering into the subtropics.     

论东亚夏季风的特征、驱动力与年代际变化

本文是以新的资料和研究结果对东亚夏季风的基本特征、驱动力和年代际变化所作的重新分析与评估。内容包括四个部分:（1）东亚夏季风的基本特征;（2）东亚夏季风的驱动力;（3）东亚夏季风的年代际变率与原因;（4）东亚夏季风与全球季风的关系。结果表明:东亚夏季风是亚洲夏季风的一个重要有机部分,主要由来源于热带的季风气流组成,并随季节由南向北呈阶段性推进,它是形成夏季东亚天气与气候的主要环流和降水系统。驱动夏季风的主要强迫有三部分:外部强迫、耦合强迫与内部变率,其中人类活动引起的外强迫（气候变暖、城市化、气溶胶增加等）是新出现的外强迫,它正不断改变着东亚夏季风的特征与演变趋势。海洋与陆面耦合强迫作为自然因子是引起东亚夏季风年际和年代际变化的主要原因,其中太平洋年代尺度振荡（PDO）与北大西洋多年代尺度振荡（AMO）的协同作用是造成东亚夏季风30~40年周期振荡的主要原因。1960年代以后,东亚夏季风经历了强—弱—强的年代际变化,相应的中国东部夏季降水型出现了“北多南少”向“南涝北旱”以及“北方渐增”的转变。最近的研究表明,上述东亚夏季风年代际变化与整个亚非夏季风系统的变化趋势是一致的。在本世纪主要受气候变暖的影响,夏季风雨带将持续北移,中国北方和西部地区出现持续性多雨的格局。最后本文指出,亚非夏季风系统相比于其他区域季风系统更适合全球季风的概念。     

青藏高原热力强迫对中国东部降水和水汽输送的调制作用

从4个方面综述了有关青藏高原大地形热力“驱动”对中国东部雨带和水汽输送特征及其年代际变化的影响作用的研究进展:(1)中国三阶梯大地形热力过程变化与季风雨带季节演进;(2) 青藏高原地-气过程热力“驱动”及其季风水汽输送结构;(3) 青藏高原积雪冷源对中国东部水汽输送结构及其雨带分布的影响;(4) 青藏高原视热源变化与雨带年代际变化相关特征及其可能调制。其主要研究结论是:(1)中国西部高原特殊三阶梯大地形结构强化了海-陆热力差异,尤其是高原大地形使地-气热力差异季节变化有由青藏高原向东北方向大地形区域延伸变化趋势,且其与季风雨带由东南沿海移向西北朝青藏高原与黄土高原边缘同步演进,两者似乎存在类似季节内演进的一种“动态的吸引”。(2)中国东部雨带时空变化特征和季风强弱变化趋势均与青藏高原热源强弱异常变化相对应。青藏高原热源异常影响低纬度海洋向陆地的水汽传输路径和强度,进而调制中国东部降水时空演变。在青藏高原热源强和弱年,中国降水变率空间分布特征分别为“北涝南旱”和“南涝北旱”。青藏高原视热源强(弱)异常变化“强信号”将对东亚与南亚区域的季风水汽输送结构,以及夏季风降水时空分布的变异具有“前兆性”的指示意义。(3)长江中下游地区作为独特南北两支水汽流的汇合带,该地区夏季青藏高原热源与水汽通量相关矢特征呈类似于青藏高原多雪与少雪年水汽通量偏差场中水汽汇合区显著特征差异,揭示了冬季青藏高原积雪冷源影响中国东部夏季长江流域梅雨水汽输送结构特征。(4)中国降水的年代际变化基本型态为中国东部呈“南涝北旱趋势”,西北区域呈现出“西部转湿趋势”。但基于近10年青藏高原春季视热源出现“降后回升”趋势,中国东部“南涝北旱”的降水格局已出现转折趋势。     

Decadal Anomalies of Winter Precipitation over Southern China in Association with El Nio and La Nia

Using multiple datasets, this paper analyzes the characteristics of winter precipitation over southern China and its association with warm and cold phases of E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation during 1948 2011. The study proves that E1 Nifio is an important external forcing factor resulting in above-normal winter precipitation in southern China. The study also reveals that the impact ofLa Nifia on the winter precipitation in southern China has a decadal variability. During the winter of La Nifia before 1980, the East Asian winter monsoon is stronger than normal with a deeper trough over East Asia, and the western Pacific subtropical high weakens with its high ridge retreating more eastward. Therefore, anomalous northerly winds dominate over southern China, leading to a cold and dry winter. During La Nifia winter after 1980, however, the East Asian trough is weaker than normal, unfavorable for the southward invasion of the winter monsoon. The India-Burma trough is intensified, and the anomalous low-level cyclone excited by La Nifia is located to the west of the Philippines. Therefore, anomalous easterly winds prevail over southern China, which increases moisture flux from the tropical oceans to southern China. Meanwhile, La Nifia after 1980 may lead to an enhanced and more northward subtropical westerly jet over East Asia in winter. Since southern China is rightly located on the right side of the jet entrance region, anomalous ascending motion dominates there through the secondary vertical circulation, favoring more winter precipitation in southern China. Therefore, a cold and wet winter, sometimes with snowy and icy weathers, would occur in southern China during La Nifia winter after 1980. Further analyses indicate that the change in the spatial distribution of sea surface temperature anomaly during the La Nifia mature phase, as well as the decadal variation of the Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, would be the important reasons for the decadal variability of the La Nifia impact on the atmospheric circulation in East Asia and winter precipitation over southern China after 1980.     

与厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜相联系的中国南方冬季降水的年代际异常特征

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析大气环流资料、哈得来中心海温资料、中国700多站降水资料以及全球格点降水资料,详细分析了中国南方冬季降水异常的特征,并揭示了其所对应的欧亚大气环流和东亚冬季风异常与ENSO事件的联系,以及ENSO暖/冷位相对其影响的非对称性。研究进一步证明了厄尔尼诺是导致中国南方冬季降水偏多的重要外强迫因子,并指出拉尼娜对中国南方冬季降水的影响表现出明显的年代际变化特征。1980年之前的拉尼娜年冬季,东亚冬季风显著偏强,东亚大槽偏深,西北太平洋副热带高压偏弱偏东,中国南方受一致偏北风影响,气温偏低,降水偏少,多表现为冷干的气候特征。但1980年之后的拉尼娜年冬季,东亚大槽偏弱,印缅槽偏强,同时在菲律宾以西激发出异常气旋性环流,使得异常偏东风控制中国南方,有利于热带水汽输送增强,因此降水偏多。同时,1980年之后的拉尼娜事件还使得东亚副热带西风急流偏强偏北,中国南方处于急流入口区的右侧,通过二级环流使得中国南方上空的上升运动偏强,有利于降水偏多。因此,1980年之后的拉尼娜年冬季,中国南方易表现出冷湿的气候特征,有时也容易发生低温雨雪冰冻灾害。进一步分析表明,1980年以后拉尼娜成熟期海温异常空间分布型的变化,以及北半球大气环流的年代际变化可能是导致拉尼娜对东亚大气环流的影响在1980年之后发生变化的重要原因。     

THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MID-LATITUDE QUASI-40-DAY PERIODIC OSCILLATION WITH ITS EFFECT ON THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SUMMER MONSOON CIRCULATION

By using the method of power spectrum combined with band-pass filtering with May—September1982 grid data from ECMWF,the spatial structure and propagation characteristics are tentatively examinedof the SH (Southern Hemisphere) mid-latitude quasi-40-day (ranging from 30—60 days) periodic oscilla-tion (QPO) together with the relation to NH (Northern Hemisphere) summer monsoon,with the result thatthere exists similar periodicity in the development of baroclinicity and activities of cold air at the same latitudes,and in response to this the zonal wind shows profound QPO with a nearly vertical axis of disturbance and thatthe air activities can act as periodic external forcing for the monsoon,which intensifies the west wind on thesouth side of the Mascarene or Australian high,and then the system itself,leading to the reinforcement of theSE trade wind on the north side,followed by the strengthening of cross-equatorial flow that,in turn,causesactive monsoon with its northward march over the eastern part of China.The process is responsible for thelow-frequency oscillation propagated in a meridional direction,which confirms the speculation of theauthor.     

中国东部—西太平洋副热带季风和降水的气候特征及成因分析

利用1981—2000年候平均NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和CMAP全球降水资料,分析了从中国东部大陆到西太平洋副热带地区季风和降水季节变化的特征及其与热带季风降水的关系,探讨了季风建立和加强的原因。夏季东亚—西太平洋盛行的西南风开始于江南和西太平洋副热带的春初,并向北扩展到中纬度,热带西南风范围向北扩展的迹象不明显。从冬到夏,中国西部和西太平洋副热带的表面加热季节变化可以使副热带对流层向西的温度梯度反转比热带早,使西南季风在副热带最早开始;从大气环流看,青藏高原东侧低压槽的加强和向东延伸,以及西太平洋副热带高压的加强和向西移动,都影响着副热带西南季风的开始和发展;初夏江南的南风向北扩展与副热带高压向北移动有关,随着高原东侧低压槽向南延伸,槽前的偏南风范围向南扩展。随着副热带季风建立和向北扩展,其最大风速中心前方的低层空气质量辐合和水汽辐合以及上升运动也加强和向北移动,导致降水加强和雨带向北移动。热带季风雨季开始晚,主要维持在热带而没有明显进入副热带,江淮梅雨不是由热带季风雨带直接向北移动而致,而是由春季江南雨带北移而致。在热带季风爆发前,副热带季风区水汽输送主要来自中南半岛北部和中国华南沿海,而在热带季风爆发后,水汽输送来自孟加拉湾和热带西太平洋。     

越赤道气流的季节变化及其对南海夏季风爆发的影响

基于NCEP/NCAR资料分析了对流层越赤道气流的季节变化,指出越赤道气流中心在低层位于925hPa,在高层位于150 hPa。东半球的越赤道气流是一种典型的季风型气流,而西半球越赤道气流具有信风特征。研究结果还表明,低层的索马里和南海越赤道气流对南海夏季风的爆发有至关重要的作用,在季风爆发前2候,索马里急流有一次迅速的增强,这一增强有利于加速孟加拉湾地区西风的向东扩展,并使控制在南海上空的西太平洋副高东撤;同时,南海越赤道气流的迅速增强也推动副高北上,共同促使南海夏季风全面爆发。不仅如此,二者对季风爆发的早晚也有重要影响,当前期这两支越赤道气流建立偏早、强度偏强时,南海夏季风爆发易偏早。反之,当其建立偏晚、强度偏弱时,季风爆发易偏晚。     

Potential role of winter rainfall in explaining increased moisture in the Mediterranean and Middle East during periods of maximum orbitally-forced insolation seasonality

Precession-related forcing of seasonal insolation changes in the northern hemisphere (NH) alternates between maximum NH seasonality (summer perihelion–increased insolation; winter aphelion–decreased insolation) and minimum NH seasonality (summer aphelion, and winter perihelion). With maximum NH seasonality, climate models simulate stronger NH summer monsoons that bring increased precipitation to North Africa and South and East Asia, in agreement with the in-phase relation of precipitation and NH summer insolation found in many paleoclimatic records. However paleoclimatic records in parts of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the interior of Asia also indicate increased moisture at times of maximum NH seasonality, a change not always clearly linked to stronger summer monsoons—either because these regions are at or beyond the boundaries of the present-day monsoon or because the observations allow multiple causal interpretations, or both. This study focuses on the possible role of changes in NH winter climate in explaining these wetter episodes. Using climate model simulations, we show that the ‘NH winter aphelion–decreased NH winter insolation’ orbital configuration is linked to the Mediterranean storm track and increased winter rains in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and interior Asia. We conclude that wetter periods at precession time scales in these particular regions may have resulted either from increased wintertime storm track precipitation, or from a combination of increased winter and summer rainfall. Given this seasonal ambiguity, both possibilities need to be considered.     

Modeling the time-dependent response of the Asian summer monsoon to obliquity forcing in a coupled GCM: a PHASEMAP sensitivity experiment

To study the time-dependent response of the Asian summer monsoon to obliquity forcing, we analyze a 284,000-year long transient simulation produced by a fully coupled global climate model (GCM) using a new phase mapping (PHASEMAP) approach. Here we focus on understanding the phase response of monsoonal circulation to insolation forcing at the Earth-orbital obliquity band (41 Kyr). Our results show that the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) can be divided into two geographic regions: the North East Asian summer monsoon (NEASM) and the South East Asian summer monsoon (SEASM). The Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and the SEASM are in phase at the obliquity band, strengthened with an increase in obliquity from Obliquity minima (Omin) to Obliquity maxima (Omax). The NEASM is out of phase with the ISM and SEASM, weakened with an increase in obliquity from Omin to Omax. We hypothesize that the inverse phase between the NEASM and the ISM at the obliquity band results from an ISM–NEASM teleconnection linked to the formation mechanism of the Bonin High.     

Asian summer monsoon prediction in ECMWF System 4 and NCEP CFSv2 retrospective seasonal forecasts

The seasonal prediction skill of the Asian summer monsoon is assessed using retrospective predictions (1982–2009) from the ECMWF System 4 (SYS4) and NCEP CFS version 2 (CFSv2) seasonal prediction systems. In both SYS4 and CFSv2, a cold bias of sea-surface temperature (SST) is found over the equatorial Pacific, North Atlantic, Indian Oceans and over a broad region in the Southern Hemisphere relative to observations. In contrast, a warm bias is found over the northern part of North Pacific and North Atlantic. Excessive precipitation is found along the ITCZ, equatorial Atlantic, equatorial Indian Ocean and the maritime continent. The southwest monsoon flow and the Somali Jet are stronger in SYS4, while the south-easterly trade winds over the tropical Indian Ocean, the Somali Jet and the subtropical northwestern Pacific high are weaker in CFSv2 relative to the reanalysis. In both systems, the prediction of SST, precipitation and low-level zonal wind has greatest skill in the tropical belt, especially over the central and eastern Pacific where the influence of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is dominant. Both modeling systems capture the global monsoon and the large-scale monsoon wind variability well, while at the same time performing poorly in simulating monsoon precipitation. The Asian monsoon prediction skill increases with the ENSO amplitude, although the models simulate an overly strong impact of ENSO on the monsoon. Overall, the monsoon predictive skill is lower than the ENSO skill in both modeling systems but both systems show greater predictive skill compared to persistence.     

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, upper-tropospheric 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 south-to-north march of the southerly winds and subtropical rainfall starts to occur in early summer when the effects of Asian mountains are considered.