厄尔尼诺对长江中下游地区夏季持续性降水结构的影响及其可能机理

根据中国国家气象信息中心提供的1961-2016年2400多站的逐日降水观测数据,分析了厄尔尼诺对长江中下游地区夏季持续性降水结构的影响。发现长江中下游地区的降水主要以5 d及以内的降水事件为主,其强度主要分布在4-24 mm/d;5 d以上降水所占比例相对较小,而其强度主要分布在12-24 mm/d。其中,长江中下游地区夏季大于5 d的降水事件（长持续性降水事件）所占比例和强度在长江以南地区要大于长江以北地区。同时,在厄尔尼诺的影响下,长江以南地区的降水结构从2-5 d持续性降水事件（短持续性降水事件）和1 d的降水事件（非持续性降水事件）向长持续性降水事件转变,且其强度增加。而长江以北地区,以湖北为主,降水结构存在从非持续性向短持续性降水事件转变的现象,短持续性降水事件的强度也略有增强。因此,厄尔尼诺使得长江中下游地区的降水事件更多地以持续性降水为主,不同持续性降水事件的强度加强。进一步分析发现厄尔尼诺次年西太平洋副热带高压西伸加强,与其相关的东南季风所输送的水汽也有所加强。同时,中高纬度阻塞高压环流形势稳定维持。受这些因子的共同作用,最终导致长江中下游地区夏季降水持续性延长和降水强度加强。而这将给长江中下游地区的农作物种植和经济发展等带来较严重的影响,使防洪、防涝工作面临严峻的挑战。      

Simulating Eastern-and Central-Pacific Type ENSO Using a Simple Coupled Model

Severe biases exist in state-of-the-art general circulation models(GCMs) in capturing realistic central-Pacific(CP) El Nino structures. At the same time, many observational analyses have emphasized that thermocline(TH) feedback and zonal advective(ZA) feedback play dominant roles in the development of eastern-Pacific(EP) and CP El Nino-Southern Oscillation(ENSO), respectively. In this work, a simple linear air-sea coupled model, which can accurately depict the strength distribution of the TH and ZA feedbacks in the equatorial Pacific, is used to investigate these two types of El Nino. The results indicate that the model can reproduce the main characteristics of CP ENSO if the TH feedback is switched off and the ZA feedback is retained as the only positive feedback, confirming the dominant role played by ZA feedback in the development of CP ENSO. Further experiments indicate that, through a simple nonlinear control approach, many ENSO characteristics,including the existence of both CP and EP El Nino and the asymmetries between El Nino and La Nina, can be successfully captured using the simple linear air-sea coupled model. These analyses indicate that an accurate depiction of the climatological sea surface temperature distribution and the related ZA feedback, which are the subject of severe biases in GCMs, is very important in simulating a realistic CP El Nino.     

冬季北大西洋涛动与中国北方极端低温相关性的年代际变化

本文基于中国地面气温日值网格数据集（V2.0）,采用滑动相关和相关分析等方法,揭示了冬季北大西洋涛动（NAO）对中国北方极端低温影响的事实,进一步证实了东北后冬（1、2月）冷日（夜）与同期NAO相关性的年代际变化。研究发现:在20世纪80年代中期前,东北后冬冷日（夜）频发,与NAO的相关性较好,而在80年代中期后东北后冬冷日（夜）少发,与NAO的相关性减弱。其中,1月在1969~1988阶段,东北冷日（夜）与NAO的相关性最好,相关区域显著,相关系数可达-0.68（-0.66）,而在1989~2009阶段二者相关性最弱,相关区域不显著。进一步分析发现,在不同年代际背景下,NAO引起的大气环流异常是导致东北1月冷日（夜）与1月NAO相关性年代际变化的重要原因。相关性较好的年代,NAO引起的环流异常有利于冷涡等天气系统维持在贝加尔湖到东北一带,使东北地区气温偏低,冷日（夜）频发;相关性较弱的年代,不利于冷空气南下,使东北地区气温偏高,冷日（夜）少发。     

北大西洋多年代际振荡正、负位相期间欧亚夏季副热带波列季节内活动特征及与印度降水的联系

利用美国国家环境预测中心与国家大气研究中心（NCEP/NCAR）逐日再分析资料,针对北大西洋多年代际振荡（AMO）两个不同位相,对逐候200 hPa经向风异常进行EOF分析,发现在AMO正、负位相期间,欧亚副热带波列的季节内活动存在明显差异。利用超前—滞后回归,对比了不同AMO位相下副热带波列及其相联系的印度夏季降水的季节内活动演变特征,分析有关的大气环流,探究波列影响降水的机制。结果表明:在AMO负位相期间,由格陵兰岛以南北大西洋经大不列颠岛、地中海、黑海—里海向南亚北部传播的副热带波列的季节内演变,在印度中部引起下沉,导致中部及西北部季节内降水减少,波列负位相相反;在AMO正位相期间,副热带波列西起冰岛以南北大西洋经丹麦南部、俄罗斯西部、中亚向南亚东北部传播,对应该波列的季节内演变,辐合上升区在印度中部和东西两侧,使得该区域季节内降水增加,波列负位相相反。于是,AMO通过调制夏季欧亚副热带波列的季节内活动,可以对印度夏季降水的季节内变化空间型及演变发挥显著影响。     

2016年我国梅雨异常特征及成因分析

利用国家气候中心梅雨监测资料和NCEP再分析资料,对2016年我国梅雨异常特征及其大尺度环流成因进行了分析。结果表明:（1）2016年我国梅雨有明显的区域特征,其中江南区入梅偏早14天,与1995年并列成为1951年以来入梅最早的年份,出梅偏晚11天,梅雨期（量）偏长（多）,但梅雨期日平均降水量偏少;长江区入梅和出梅均偏晚,梅雨期接近常年,但梅雨量偏多一倍以上,梅雨量和梅雨期日平均降水量分别为1951年以来历史同期第三和第二高值;江淮区入梅、出梅及梅雨期接近常年,但梅雨量偏多。（2）对流层高、中、低层环流系统冬夏季节性调整和转变显著提前的共同作用,导致了2016年江南区入梅显著偏早;东亚副热带西风急流、西太平洋副热带高压（副高）和东亚夏季风涌在7月中旬阶段性地南落导致了江南区和长江区出梅偏晚。（3）受到前冬超强厄尔尼诺衰减和春、夏季热带印度洋全区一致海温模态偏暖的影响,梅雨期副高异常偏强,副高西南侧转向的水汽输送异常偏强,并在长江区和江淮区与北方弱冷空气辐合,造成梅雨量异常偏多。     

降水集中度的变化特征及影响因素分析——以山西为例

基于山西14个站点1957—2014年逐日降水资料,计算年尺度与多年尺度下的降水集中指数（CI）和极端降水指数（R_95p和R_99p),利用统计方法,研究了山西降水集中度的时空变化和影响因素。结果表明,CI值与R_99p显著正相关,CI值增大则发生极端强降水几率增大。多年尺度CI值体现出明显的纬度地带性和较大的局地空间差异。受温带大陆性季风气候控制,山西省降水CI值介于0.59~0.64,相对亚热带地区较小,且变化范围较小。总体上年尺度CI值呈下降趋势,五台山、右玉、五寨、运城等站点下降趋势显著。盆地区域较高山高原区的CI值更大且下降趋势不显著,更易于发生极端降水事件。较高的高程和较大的变幅可增强高程对CI值的影响。太平洋年代际振荡（PDO）与年尺度CI值显著负相关。PDO冷位相时期,西太平洋副高西进、偏强,CI值偏高,发生极端强降水的可能性增大。本研究揭示了自然地理条件和海-气相互作用对区域尺度降水集中度存在复杂的影响。     

Possible relationship between NAO and tropical cyclone genesis frequency in the western North Pacific

This study examined a strong positive correlation between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index during June and the total tropical cyclone (TC) genesis frequency in the western North Pacific during July and August. To investigate a possible cause for this relation, the mean difference between highest positive NAO years and lowest negative NAO years was analyzed by dividing into when the El Niño and La Niña years were included and when the El Niño and La Niña years were not included.When the El Niño and La Niña years were included, for positive NAO years, the TCs mostly occurred in the northwestern region of tropical and subtropical western Pacific, and showed a pattern that migrate from the sea northeast of the Philippines, pass the East China Sea, and move toward the mid-latitudes of East Asia. In contrast, for negative NAO years, the TCs mostly occurred in the southeastern region of tropical and subtropical western Pacific, and showed a pattern that migrate westward from the sea southeast of the Philippines, pass the South China Sea, and move toward the southern coast of China and Indochinese peninsula. These two different TC migration patterns affect the recurving location of TC, and for positive NAO years, the recurving of TC was averagely found to take place in the further northeast. In addition, the migration patterns also affect the TC intensity, and the TCs of positive NAO years had stronger intensity than the TCs of negative NAO years as sufficient energy can be absorbed from the ocean while moving north in the mid-latitudes of East Asia. The TCs of negative NAO years showed weak intensity as they weaken or disappear shortly while landing on the southern coast of China and Indochinese peninsula. On the other hand, the above result of analysis is also similarly observed when the El Niño and La Niña years were not included.     

Why Was the Strengthening of Rainfall in Summer over the Yangtze River Valley in 2016 Less Pronounced than that in 1998 under Similar Preceding El Niño Events?——Role of Midlatitude Circulation in August

It is widely recognized that rainfall over the Yangtze River valley (YRV) strengthens considerably during the decaying summer of El Niño, as demonstrated by the catastrophic flooding suffered in the summer of 1998. Nevertheless, the rainfall over the YRV in the summer of 2016 was much weaker than that in 1998, despite the intensity of the 2016 El Niño having been as strong as that in 1998. A thorough comparison of the YRV summer rainfall anomaly between 2016 and 1998 suggests that the difference was caused by the sub-seasonal variation in the YRV rainfall anomaly between these two years, principally in August. The precipitation anomaly was negative in August 2016——different to the positive anomaly of 1998. Further analysis suggests that the weaker YRV rainfall in August 2016 could be attributable to the distinct circulation anomalies over the midlatitudes. The intensified "Silk Road Pattern" and upper-tropospheric geopotential height over the Urals region, both at their strongest since 1980, resulted in an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over midlatitude East Asia with anomalous easterly flow over the middle-to-lower reaches of the YRV in the lower troposphere. This easterly flow reduced the climatological wind, weakened the water vapor transport, and induced the weaker YRV rainfall in August 2016, as compared to that in 1998. Given the unique sub-seasonal variation of the YRV rainfall in summer 2016, more attention should be paid to midlatitude circulation——besides the signal in the tropics——to further our understanding of the predictability and variation of YRV summer rainfall.     

Factors controlling the seasonality of the Madden-Julian Oscillation

By analyzing observational data, previous studies have indicated that the tropical Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is active during the boreal winter but relatively weak during the boreal summer. However, the factors that control seasonal MJO variation are not clear. To quantitatively understand the relative contributions of the occurrence frequency of enhanced MJO events and their averaged strength and lifespan to seasonal MJO amplitude, we defined the MJO events of 1979–2014 and analyzed their features in different seasons by using the Real-time Multivariate MJO (RMM) index and the newly proposed RMM-r index. The results indicate that the MJO events show a higher frequency of occurrence, a stronger intensity and a longer duration during the boreal winter (Dec.–Feb.) and spring (Mar.–May). However, the frequency, strength and lifespan of MJO events are all reduced during the boreal summer (Jun.–Aug.) and autumn (Sep.–Nov.). The enhanced MJO events in winter–spring also show a large ratio of variance for eastward to westward components. To elucidate how large-scale background fields affect seasonal MJO variation, a series of sensitivity experiments was conducted by using a 2.5-layer model that can simulate MJO-like features. It is found that the variation in low-level moisture (vertical wind shear) is the key large-scale factor affecting the seasonal variation in MJO strength (in propagation). In comparison with the summer–autumn seasons when the MJO is relatively weakened, the relatively abundant low-level moisture near the equator during boreal winter–spring may strengthen the development of MJO convection and circulation, whereas the relatively weak easterly shear (or the westerly shear anomaly) is conducive to the enhancement of an eastward-propagating MJO component.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SEASONAL TRANSITION OF EAST ASIAN MONSOON CIRCULATION AND ASIAN-PACIFIC THERMAL FIELD AND POSSIBLE MECHANISMS

The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, CMAP rainfall and Hadley Centre sea surface temperature (SST) datasets are used to investigate the relationship between the seasonal transition of East Asian monsoon and Asian-Pacific thermal contrast, together with the possible causes. Based on the 250 hPa air temperature over two selected key areas, the Asian-Pacific thermal difference (APTD) index is calculated. Results show that the APTD index is highly consistent with the Asian-Pacific Oscillation (APO) index defined by Zhao et al., in terms of different key areas in different seasons. Moreover, the time point of the seasonal transition of the Asian-Pacific thermal contrast can be well determined by the APTD index, indicative of seasonal variation in East Asian atmospheric circulation from winter to summer. The transition characteristic of the circulation can be summarized as follows. The continental cold high at lower tropospheric level moves eastward to the East China Sea and decreases rapidly in intensity, while the low-level northerlies turn to southerlies. At middle tropospheric level, the East Asia major trough is reduced and moves eastward. Furthermore, the subtropical high strengthens and appears near Philippines. The South Asia high shifts from the east of Philippines to the west of Indochina Peninsula, and the prevailing southerlies change into northerlies in upper troposphere. Meanwhile, both the westerly and easterly jets both jump to the north. The seasonal transition of atmospheric circulation is closely related to the thermal contrast, and the possible mechanism can be concluded as follows. Under the background of the APTD seasonal transition, the southerly wind appears firstly at lower troposphere, which triggers the ascending motion via changing vertical shear of meridional winds. The resultant latent heating accelerates the transition of heating pattern from winter to summer. The summer heating pattern can further promote the adjustment of circulation, which favors the formation and strengthening of the low-level southerly and upper-level northerly winds. As a result, the meridional circulation of the East Asian subtropical monsoon is established through a positive feedback between the circulation and thermal fields. Moreover, the time point of this seasonal transition has a significant positive correlation with the SST anomalies over the tropical central-eastern Pacific Ocean, providing a basis for the short-term climate prediction.