Winter and summer monsoons and the navigation in East Asia in historical age

In order to make clear a problem in the human impact on the East Asian monsoons, navigation in the period from the 7th century to the 19th century was studied from the standpoint of historical climatology. 1. are described the periods of winter and summer monsoons over East Asia in relation to the division of the natural season. 2. based on the characteristics of the wind direction and velocity during the monsoons, it is shown that the winter monsoon is extremely unfavorable for navigation in contrast to the favorable summer monsoon. 3. statistical results on the possible frequency of navigation over the East China Sea by small boats are dealt with according to the meteorological records. 4. it is indicated that the navigations of the missions between Japan and China, Korea or Po Hai in the 7th – 9th centuries showed clear relations to the monsoon seasons. Lastly, the navigation mainly in 17th, 18th and 19th centuries around Ryukyu Islands, on the Chinese coast and the Japanese Islands are mentioned in detail. Even in this period the winter monsoon affected strongly on the navigation, that is, sailing and entries kept away the winter monsoon season almost completely.     

第四纪时期东亚季风变化的动力机制

本文作者主张：古气候演化的动力机制研究应从动力因子和动力过程两个方面人手。通过对比东亚冬季风、夏季风、印度季风及全球冰量变化的时间特征和频率特征，我们得到以下认识：１)大致在过去０．８Ｍａ这个时段，东亚冬、夏季风基本上具同相位、同周期的互为消长演化特征；２)东南季风演化具０．１Ｍａ的主导周期，而印度季风变化则以较短周期为主；３)东亚冬、夏季风与全球冰量变化在时间范畴上可作很好的对比，尤其是这三者均含有主导性的０．１Ｍａ周期。在此基础上，本文提出东亚季风演化的“全球冰量驱动模式”，并初步讨论了东亚季风变化对全球冰量变化响应的动力过程。     

末次盛冰期黄土高原蜗牛化石记录的气候快速变化及其影响机制

本文通过对渭南黄土剖面末次盛冰期地层较高分辨率的蜗牛化石记录研究，发现这一时期特征蜗牛种类峰值的演替反映了古气候的演化过程和温，湿度的组合关系。气候变化显示出百年-千年尺度波动的特征，温度的变化明显地要早于湿度（降水）的变化1000-2000a，表现为变冷-冷湿-冷干-温干-温湿的气候过程，研究认为造成这一气候特点的原因是东亚冬，夏季风共同作用的结果，可喜温湿蜗牛种类的研究，揭示出东亚夏季风在这一时期至少能够持续地影响到黄土高原的东南部地区，这个时期冬季风强化的结果之一是影响了夏季风在这一地区滞留的时间，加大了季节性的差异，分析表明尽管夏季风在这一地区滞留的时间缩短，但维持了它固有的强度，提供了适量的水热条件供喜温湿蜗牛种类在这一寒冷阶段持续地生长和发育。     

Reorganization of the Asian Monsoon System at About 2. 6 Ma Ago and Its Implications for the Rising of the Tibetan Plateau

REORGANIZATION OF THE ASIAN MONSOON SYSTEM AT ABOUT 2.6 Ma AGO AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RISING OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAUheChineseResearchFoundation(KZ 951 A1 2 0 4 )     

Mollusk record of millennial climate variability in the Loess Plateau during the Last Glacial Maximum

A high-resolution terrestrial mollusk record from the Loess Plateau of China has been studied to characterize climate variability during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The rapid successions in mollusk taxa in the Weinan loess sequence reveal that climate changes occurred at least four times in this period. In the loess region, millennia-scale climate fluctuations existed, as documented in the grain size and weathering intensity records. Our results show such millennia-scale fluctuations reflecting changes in both temperature and precipitation, rather than a simple cold and warm alternation. Changes in temperature and precipitation were not in phase during the LGM. Temperature varied earlier than precipitation, which could have been the effect of winter and summer monsoon interactions. Our data also reveal that the East Asian summer monsoons could reach the southeast part of the Loess Plateau during the whole of the LGM. The intensification of winter monsoons during the LGM led to short duration of summer monsoons annually impacting on the Loess Plateau, but the intrinsic intensity of summer monsoons would not have changed significantly, thus providing the thermo-hydrological conditions for temperate-humidiphilous mollusks to persistently grow and develop in the glacial age.     

Influence of southern oscillation and SSTs over Nino-3.4 region on the winter monsoon rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh

An analysis of the mean monthly data of 124 years reveals that the relationship between the Southern Oscillation Index in September and the winter monsoon rainfall (WMR) over Coastal Andhra Pradesh (CAP) is variable and non-stationary. In the recent four decades, however, SOI (Sept) is negatively and significantly correlated with CAP WMR. A similar analysis is performed using 50 years of mean monthly SSTs over Nino-3.4 region in August and September and CAP WMR to detect a possible relationship and there is a striking positive relation between them. In both of the above cases, the September signal is more significant in the recent four decades than for the other months and seasons for probable prediction of CAP WMR. Finally, to examine the influence of SO on the winter monsoon rainfall, a non-parametric test “Mann-Whitney Rank Statistics” test has been applied to the rainfall associated with extreme positive and negative SOI events     

The East African monsoons and their effects on agriculture

Though the East African monsoons may be considered as mere extensions of the South Asian monsoonal system, they possess a number of characteristics which make them unique amongst the world's monsoons. The most important of these is the relative dryness of both the North and the South monsoon, caused by a prevalent low-level divergence over eastern Africa. Most rainfall in the region therefore occurs during the intermediate seasons between the monsoons, when this divergence is temporarily replaced by more convergent flow patterns. As a result, total rainfall in East Africa is relatively low. Over most of the region it is strongly concentrated during two short seasons and it is highly variable from year to year, both in total amount and in time of occurrence.As in most parts of the tropics, rainfall is the main limiting factor in agricultural production in East Africa. The relations between rainfall and agriculture can be illustrated by the usual water balances, but an alternative method, employing the Agricultural Rainfall Indicator, is more useful for planning purposes. Drought frequencies, based on a simple relation between actual and average rainfall, also represent the effects of the monsoons on East African agriculture very clearly.     

Trends in seasonal temperatures over the Indian region

An investigation has been carried out to identify the trends in maximum, minimum and mean temperatures and temperature range over the Indian land mass during the winter (January, and February), pre-monsoon (March–May), southwest monsoon (June–September) and post-monsoon (October–December) seasons by using high resolution daily gridded data set prepared by India Meteorological Department for the period of 1969–2005. It has been observed that the maximum temperatures over the west coast of India show rising trend in winter, southwest monsoon and post-monsoon seasons but the maximum temperatures do not show any significant trend over the other parts of the country. Minimum temperatures show increasing trend over the North Indian states in all seasons and they show an increasing trend over the west coast of India in winter and southwest monsoon seasons. Mean temperature shows an increasing trend over the west coast of India during winter and southwest monsoon seasons. Decreasing trend is observed in the temperature range over North India in all seasons due to increasing trend in minimum temperature.     

2.6 Ma BP 前后亚洲季风系统的重组

根据数值模拟的结果和中国区域环境分异与演化的地质记录,对2.6 Ma BP前后季风系统的调整进行了分析。结果发现,在2.6 Ma BP前后,亚洲季风明显增强,不仅冬季风明显增强,而且夏季风也明显增强;冬季风（东亚冬季风）在中国北方的盛行风向由偏西风转变为偏北风;冬季风（东亚冬季风）的影响范围明显扩大,由中国的西北、华北、东北地区逐步扩大到华中、华东与华南地区;由于受青藏高原的阻挡,热带西南季风对青藏高原北部及西北地区的直接影响大大减弱。这是青藏高原达到了一个重要的临界高度（可能是2000 m）所导致的亚洲季风系统调整的结果。
     

青藏高原与东西两侧大陆的气温差异

主要对我国昆仑山-秦岭以南的东西部气温的差异问题进行简要讨论。比较气象台站实测气温和换算至海面后的温度,明显反映西部、中部和东部3个地貌阶块的海面气温自西向东逐级降低。我国西部高原地区全年温度较东部丘陵平原区相对偏高,主要原因在于青藏高原和南亚次大陆主要为西南季风所控制,致使气温相对偏高,而东部深受东南季风和来自高纬冬季风的影响,气温相对偏低。因而,全球变化和区域性季风气候是导致东西部气温差异的主导原因,而不能笼统地归之为高原增温效应和东部"冷槽"影响所致。      

洛川黄土记录的最近2500ka东亚冬夏季风变化周期

对厚约１４０ｍ的陕西洛川坡头村黄土剖面进行间距３～１０ｃｍ的系统采样,测量了全部样品的磁化率和粒度,选择〉３０μｍ颗粒百分含量和磁化率分别作东亚冬,夏季风强度变化的替代性指标,以新建立的时间标尺为基础,分析了最近２５００ｋａ以来东亚季风变化的周期特征。结果表明,第四纪东亚冬,夏季风变化时间序列包括含有１００ｋａ,４１ｋａ和２３ｋａ地球运动轨道要素变化的周期,同时包含有约８０ｋａ,５６ｋａ和３０ｋａ     

East Asian monsoon variations during Oxygen Isotope Stage 5: evidence from the northwestern margin of the Chinese loess plateau

We present the results of high-resolution multi-proxy climate studies of the S1 palaeosol, corresponding to oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 5, from the northwestern margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau area. Here, S1 is much thicker (ca. 6–8 m) than in the central Loess Plateau areas (ca. 2 m), where most previous studies have been conducted. Hence, much higher-resolution stratigraphic studies are possible, yielding more insight into the temporal variations of the East Asian monsoon during MIS 5. The frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, as well as the concentration of secondary carbonate, is used as an indicator of the summer monsoon intensity, and the median particle size as an indicator of the winter monsoon intensity. The results suggest that the northwestern margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau experienced the strongest summer monsoon intensity in sub-stage (OISS) 5e and the weakest in OISS 5a, among the three warmer periods during stage 5. The summer monsoon was weaker in OISS 5b than in OISS 5d. A dusty interval interrupted the second warmer period (5c) and a soil-forming event interrupted the first colder period (5d). The results also suggest that the directions of changes in the intensities of summer and winter monsoons may not always have been proportionately opposite. For example, the weakest summer monsoon occurred in OISS 5a during which the winter monsoon was not the strongest. We further conclude that the winter monsoon during the last interglacial was probably driven by global ice volume fluctuations, while the summer monsoon was primarily controlled by the northern hemisphere solar insolation and was probably modified by a feedback mechanism. That is, the climatic buffering effect of low-latitudinal oceans may have distorted the response of the summer monsoon to insolation variations. Finally, our results do not show the degree of climatic instability comparable to that recorded in the GRIP ice core for the last interglacial (OISS 5e), even though the study area is situated in a region which has been sensitive to climatic changes.     

Monsoons across Multi-scales: Summary of Fourth Conference on Earth System Science

The evolution and future projection of the regional and global monsoons, one of the major components of Earth climate system in the low-latitudes and middle-latitudes, has long been the research focus in the paleoclimate and modern climate communities. Session 4 of the 4^th Conference on Earth System Sciences (CESS) in Shanghai focused on the evolution, variability, and driving mechanism of regional and global monsoon system across multiple timescale, and the role of the monsoon system in changes in the Earth system. During the session, the issues of features of past and contemporary monsoons based on observation data and geological reconstruction, model simulation of past and contemporary monsoons, and response of monsoon climate to the past and present global warming were intensively discussed. The future research directions were also addressed.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167498711400036X

Global warming and climate change is one of the most extensively researched and discussed topical issues affecting the environment.Although there are enough historical evidence to support the theory that climate change is a natural phenomenon,many research scientists are widely in agreement that the increase in temperature in the 20 th century is anthropologically related.The associated effects are the variability of rainfall and cyclonic patterns that are being observed globally.In Southeast Asia the link between global warming and the seasonal atmospheric flow during the monsoon seasons shows varying degree of fuzziness.This study investigates the impact of climate change on the seasonality of monsoon Asia and its effect on the variability of monsoon rainfall in Southeast Asia.The comparison of decadal variation of precipitation and temperature anomalies before the 1970 s found general increases which were mostly varying.But beyond the 1970 s,global precipitation anomalous showed increases that almost corresponded with increases in global temperature anomalies for the same period.There are frequent changes and a shift westward of the Indian summer monsoon.Although precipitation is observed to be 70%below normal levels,in some areas the topography affects the intensity of rainfall.These shifting phenomenon of other monsoon season in the region are impacting on the variability of rainfall and the onset of monsoons in Southeast Asia and is predicted to delay for 15 days the onset of the monsoon in the future.The variability of monsoon rainfall in the SEA region is observed to be decadal and the frequency and intensity of intermittent flooding of some areas during the monsoon season have serious consequences on the human,financial,infrastructure and food security of the region.     

东北印度洋源汇过程及古环境与古季风演化

东北印度洋地理位置独特,其沉积物记录了青藏高原隆升及孟加拉扇的“源-汇”过程、印度季风与东亚季风的“海-气”交互作用、印-太暖池热传输的演变与高纬气候之间的相位关系等关键信息,是喜马拉雅地区“构造-气候-沉积”耦合演化的良好记录载体,是探讨多圈层相互作用、探索古气候与古环境演化的理想“窗口”。本文系统总结了近年来有关东北印度洋季风与表层环流特征、沉积物组成及物源、气候环境演化以及环境磁学记录等方面的研究进展。分析表明,东北印度洋为典型的季风风场,表层环流受季风影响强烈,夏季和冬季环流差异明显。沉积物类型丰富,包括河流输运而来的陆源碎屑、钙质和硅质为主的生物沉积以及火山物质等。但目前对于该区域的沉积物的具体组成、“源-汇”过程、迁移历史、季风演化与青藏高原隆升、高纬气候变化之间相互关系等方面的认识尚存在较大的分歧。同时,受样品获取难度大、磁学信号稀释严重等因素的限制,环境磁学作为一种在示踪沉积物物质来源、恢复古气候和古环境等方面被普遍认可的技术手段,在东北印度洋区并没有得到充分的发挥与应用。因此,未来需要在前人研究的基础上,将目光向东北印度洋更南、更深处延伸,对其“源-汇”过程进行全面分析。在研究方法上进一步拓展,采用更高精度的技术手段提取磁学信号,加大环境磁学的应用,寻找有效的替代性指标,解决该地区季风演化、古海洋环境变化等气候环境问题,为该地区环境气候研究提供新认识。并尝试开展地磁场长期变化(paleosecular variation, PSV)研究,建立东北印度洋的PSV记录,辅助修正全球地磁场模型,探究地球深部动力过程。     

Intensification of the East Asian Monsoon in Southern China at about 300–400 kaBP Inferred from Eolian Deposits in the Middle-lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

In the East Asian monsoon region,eolian deposits widely distributed in the middle-lower reaches of the Yantgze River are among the best materials available for studies on Quaternary climate change in the subtropical zone of Southern China.Typical eolian deposits in this region include upper Xiashu Loess(XL) and underlying Vermiculated Red Soil(VRS) layers.In this paper,chronological and paleoclimatic studies are conducted on an eolian deposit sequence near Jiujiang(JJ) city in northern Jiangxi province.A magnetostratigraphic study,combined with optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) dating,is conducted on the JJ section and provides further evidence that eolian deposits in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River have been formed since the late Early Pleistocene,and that the boundary age between the XL and VRS layers is about 300-400 kaBP.In grain-size records of the JJ section,the median grain-size and content of the 30 μm size fraction increase sharply after 300-400 kaBP,representing an East Asian winter monsoon intensification event.Further pollen analysis reveals differing pollen assemblages before and after 300-400 kaBP:there is an evident increase in plants adapted to grow in a warm humid environment after 300-400 kaBP,implying an increase in precipitation caused by intensification of the East Asian summer monsoon.Global ice volume and uplift of the Tibet Plateau(TP) are regarded as crucial factors influencing variations of the East Asian monsoon on a long-term scale.The deep-sea δ~(18)O record,which reflects variations in global ice volume,shows no obvious change after 300-400 kaBP.Moreover,the influence of global ice volume changes on the East Asian summer and winter monsoons is inverse;the global ice volume increase(decrease) implies a strengthened(weakened) winter monsoon and weakened(strengthened) summer monsoon.We therefore interpret the coupled intensifications of the East Asian summer and winter monsoons at about 300-400 kaBP to the uplift of the TP in the Middle Pleistocene.This climate event is also documented in eolian deposits from the southern margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP) and from the desert-loess transitional belt.However,it is not recorded in the loess-paleosol sequences from the central part of the CLP,thereby indicating differing climate responses to TP uplift in different regions,which requires further study.     

东亚冬、夏古季风变化的相位差及热带太平洋在季风变化中的驱动作用

斋堂黄土剖面古气候记录表明：１)冬、夏季风在千年尺度上的变化存在相位差；２)冬、夏季风记录在变化趋势上具有互为消长的关系，而在变化幅度和频率方面则有明显的差异。这表明，冬、夏季风在千年尺度上的变化是分别由不同的因素和过程所控制。我们提出热带太平洋海气相互作用系统在东亚季风变化过程中起着直接的驱动作用。     

Relationship between all-India summer monsoon rainfall and southern oscillation/eastern equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature

The interannual variability of all-India summer monsoon (June to September) rainfall and its teleconnections with the southern oscillation index (SOI) and sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly of the eastern equatorial Pacific ocean have been examined for the period 1871–1978 for different seasons (i.e., winter, spring, summer and autumn). The relationship (correlation coefficient) between all-India summer monsoon rainfall andSOI for different seasons is positive and highly significant. Further examination of 10-, 20- and 30-year sliding window lengths’ correlations, brings out the highly consistent and significant character of the relationships. The relationship between all-India monsoon rainfall andSST for different seasons is negative and is significant at 1 % level or above. Drought years are characterised by negative anomalies ofSOI and positive anomalies ofSST and vice versa with flood years. The relationship betweenSOI andSST is negative and significant at 0.1 % level. The relationships between all-India summer monsoon rainfall,SOI and sst are expected to improve our understanding of the interannual variability of the summer monsoon.     

Geomorphology and GIS in Japan: Background and characteristics

Japanese geomorphology has historically adopted methods and concepts from research in western countries and applied them to landforms in Japan and the flow of information has, in the past, been very much unidirectional. This situation is becoming more balanced, with increasing activity of Japanese geomorphologists within the international research arena. Accordingly, many sub-fields of geomorphology in Japan are now making important contributions at the international scale. However, GIS applications in Japanese geomorphology have been more limited, at a time of rapid expansion of GIS in geomorphology within western countries. Although in some countries, technical and financial limitations might inhibit GIS popularisation; this explanation cannot be applied to Japan, given the high level of technological resources within the country. It is suggested here that there are certain historical and cultural aspects of Japanese society, which may have contributed to delayed GIS propagation within Japan. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

耀县黄土记录的全新世东亚冬夏季风非同步演化

通过多指标分析了黄土高原中部地区耀县黄土剖面,重建了全新世以来该地区季风变化过程。结果显示研究区全新世冬、夏季风并非同步演化,夏季风： 10.0～9.4kaB.P.快速转强; 9.4～3.4kaB.P.为全新世强盛期,但夏季风在强盛期并不稳定,其中在 6.8～5.9kaB.P.存在一个衰退事件; 3.4kaB.P.以来夏季风快速衰退。在8.4kaB.P.之前,冬季风强盛,并逐渐减弱; 8.4～6.6kaB.P.冬季风较弱; 6.6～5.7kaB.P.存在一个冬季风突然增强; 5.7～1.7kaB.P.冬季风为全新世最弱的阶段; 1.7kaB.P.以来,冬季风强度迅速增大,具有不稳定性。耀县地区全新世冬、夏季风的演化过程不同步可能揭示了全新世冬、夏季风演化的主控因子不同。