Variability of Convective Activity over the North Indian Ocean and its Associations with Monsoon Rainfall over India

The present study is an attempt to examine the variability of convective activity over the north Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) on interannual and longer time scale and its association with the rainfall activity over the four different homogeneous regions of India (viz., northeast India, northwest India, central India and south peninsular India) during the monsoon season from June to September (JJAS) for the 26 year period (1979 to 2004). The monthly mean Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) data obtained from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar orbiting spacecraft are used in this study and the 26-year period has been divided into two periods of 13 years each with period-i from 1979 to 1991 and period -ii from 1992 to 2004. It is ascertained that the convective activity increases over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the recent period (period -ii; 1992 to 2004) compared to that of the former period (period -i; 1979 to 1991) during JJAS and is associated with a significantly increasing trend (at 95% level) of convective activity over the north Bay of Bengal (NBAY). On a monthly scale, July and August also show increase in convective activity over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal during the recent period and this is associated with slight changes in the monsoon activity cycle over India. The increase in convective activity particularly over the Arabian Sea during the recent period of June is basically associated with about three days early onset of the monsoon over Delhi and relatively faster progress of the monsoon northward from the southern tip of India. Over the homogeneous regions of India the correlation coefficient (CC) of OLR anomalies over the south Arabian Sea (SARA) is highly significant with the rainfall over central India, south peninsular India and northwest India, and for the north Arabian Sea (NARA), it is significant with northwest India rainfall and south peninsular rainfall. Similarly, the OLR anomalies over the south Bay of Bengal (SBAY) have significant CC with northwest India and south peninsular rainfall, whereas the most active convective region of the NBAY is not significantly correlated with rainfall over India. It is also found that the region over northeastern parts of India and its surroundings has a negative correlation with the OLR anomalies over the NARA and is associated with an anomalous sinking (rising) motion over the northeastern parts of India during the years of increase (decrease) of convective activity over the NARA.     

Occurrence of heavy rainfall around the confluence line in monsoon disturbances and its importance in causing floods

It is well known that heavy rainfall occurs in the southwestern sector of the monsoon depressions due to strong convergence in that sector. By examining the rainfall distribution associated with the monsoon disturbances (lows and depressions) in one of the central Indian river basins, ‘Godavari’, the author found that when the disturbance-centre is away from the basin, heavy rainfall may also occur in the basin area close to the confluence line and cause severe floods in the river. The confluence line is the zone of convergence between the northeasterlies to the west of the disturbance centre and the monsoon westerlies. This study further reveals the importance of the position and movement of the confluence line with respect to the basin, on which the intensity and the raising period of the resulting flood depend.     

Variations in Melt Productivity and Melting Conditions along SWIR (70{degrees}E-49{degrees}E): Evidence from Olivine-hosted and Plagioclase-hosted Melt Inclusions

Melt inclusion and host glass compositions from the easternend of the Southwest Indian Ridge show a progressive depletionin light rare earth elements (LREE), Na₈ and (La/Sm)_n, but anincrease in Fe₈, from the NE (64°E) towards the SW (49°E).These changes indicate an increase in the degree of mantle meltingtowards the SW and correlate with a shallowing of the ridgeaxial depth and increase in crustal thickness. In addition,LREE enrichment in both melt inclusions and host glasses fromthe NE end of the ridge are compatible with re-fertilizationof a depleted mantle source. The large compositional variations(e.g. P₂O₅ and K₂O) of the melt inclusions from the NE end ofthe ridge (64°E), coupled with low Fe₈ values, suggest thatmelts from the NE correspond to a variety of different batchesof melts generated at shallow levels in the mantle melting column.In contrast, the progressively more depleted compositions andhigher Fe₈ values of the olivine- and plagioclase-hosted meltinclusions at the SW end of the studied region (49°E), suggestthat these melt inclusions represent batches of melt generatedby higher degrees of melting at greater mean depths in the mantlemelting column. Systematic differences in Fe₈ values betweenthe plagioclase- and the olivine-hosted melt inclusions in theSW end (49°E) of the studied ridge area, suggest that theplagioclase-hosted melt inclusions represent final batches ofmelt generated at the top of the mantle melting column, whereasthe olivine-hosted melt inclusions correspond to melts generatedfrom less depleted, more fertile mantle at greater depths. KEY WORDS: basalt; melt inclusions; olivine; plagioclase; Southwest Indian Ridge     

On cumulus-scale transport of horizontal momentum in monsoon depression over India

A diagnostie method of cumulus parameterization is suggested in which vertical transport of horizontal momentum by cumulus-scale is derived by making use of large-scale vorticity as well as divergence budget equations. Data for composite monsoon depression over India available from our earlier studies used to test the method. As a first approximation, the results are obtained using only the vorticity budget equation.The results show that in the southwest sector of the monsoon depression, which is characterized by maximum cloudiness and precipitation, there is an excess of cyclonic vorticity in the lower troposphere and anticyclonic vorticity in the upper troposphere associated with the large-scale motion. The distribution of eddy vertical transport of horizontal momentum is such that anticyclonic vorticity is generated in the lower troposphere and cyclonic vorticity aloft. Cumulus-scale eddies thus work against the large-scale system and tend to off-set the large-scale imbalance in vorticity.     

The simulation of the Asian summer monsoon by general circulation models

Summary The monsoon simulations of four general circulation models are illustrated. Additional results from the Meteorological Office model showing factors that are important in determining its simulation are presented. The large-scale flow patterns of all the models reproduce the large-scale flow fairly realistically, but more detailed characteristics and, in particular, the rainfall, are poorly represented.     

烟单14号夏玉米产量三因素最佳取值范围的探讨

作者根据大量试验和调查数据的分析,提出烟单14号夏玉米在高产条件下,亩穗数、穗粒数、千粒重三因素的最佳取值范围。 亩穗数:3569～4980 穗/亩; 穗粒数:423～526 粒/穗; 千粒重:259～278 克/1000粒。     

Precise dating of the Dansgaard-Oeschger event 4 and its sub-cycles: Evidence from a stalagmite from Xianyun Cave in Longyan City,Fujian Province

The Dansgaard-Oeschger event 4(DO4 event) is a significant warming event that occurred in the late Marine Isotope Stage 3. At present,there are different understandings about the detailed characteristics and internal structures of the DO4 event. Based on 6 precisely-dated ²³⁰Th ages and 188 oxygen isotope data of a stalagmite(No.XYⅢ-28)from the Xianyun Cave,Fujian Province,we present δ¹⁸O time series with an average resolution of 7 yr from 29.13 to 27.94 kyr B.P. Our new stalagmites δ¹⁸O records uncover the detailed processes of the DO4 event. The onset and end time of the DO4 event recorded by the stalagmite δ¹⁸O is 28.83±0.06 and 28.46±0.06 kyr B.P.,respectively, and the duration is 0.37±0.06 kyr. Differential with abrupt change of NGRIP ice core δ¹⁸O record at the onset of DO4 based on the GICC05 layer count time scale,the Xianyun Cave δ¹⁸O shows a relatively slow change. The Xianyun stalagmite δ¹⁸O values negatively shift by 0.4‰ within 145±60 yr,which indicates that the Xianyun Cave was likely affected by the ocean-atmosphere coupling of the tropical. In addition,the Xianyun stalagmite δ¹⁸O reveals a series of sub-million-scale summer monsoon enhancement events in and around the DO4 event,corresponding to the NGRIP ice core δ¹⁸O record and the Arabian Sea basin record. Our results suggest that the East Asian summer monsoon is related to the north-high latitude temperature and the ITCZ position changes on the sub-millennium-scale event.     

我国南方初夏汛期和东亚夏季风环流

主要根据低层夏季风热力学性质与流场演变特点深入讨论我国南方初夏汛期包括华南前汛期和长江中下游梅雨期同夏季风活动的联系，分析了东亚夏季风环流建立过程的阶段性和类型，指出汛期的开始与结束同夏季风前沿位置变动一致。我国夏季风从开始到发展鼎盛时期低纬大气环流的演变过程各年不完全相同，主要可归纳为４类，每类包括４个或３个不同阶段，从而可认识到东亚夏季风体系结构的非单一性，它可有４种结构模型，即仅是东南季风Ｐ的单气流型、强东南季风Ｐ与弱西南季风Ａ的双气流型、强东南季风Ｐ和弱西南季风Ｍ的双气流型、强东南季风Ｐ和强（或弱）西南季风Ｍ以及弱西南季风Ａ的３气流型。     

7月份两种东亚阻塞形势对中国主要雨带位置的不同影响

根据长期的业务实践,把7月份东亚阻塞形势分为副热带高压偏西型(W型)和副热带高压偏东型(E型)两类阻塞形势,对比两种阻塞形势下中国主要雨带位置的差别后发现,W型主要雨带在长江流域,1951年以来较严重的长江大水是此类阻塞形势造成的;E型主要雨带位于江南至华南地区,长江流域洪涝较轻。不仅两种阻塞形势的7月份环流有重大差别,其前期秋、冬、春季海洋、大气和天气气候特点也大不相同。