A STUDY ON THE CHARACTERISTICS AND EFFECT OF THE LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC HEAT SOURCE OVER THE EASTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU

There has been a lot of discussion about the atmospheric heat source over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and the low-frequency oscillation of atmospheric circulation. However, the research on low-frequency oscillation of heat source over TP and its impact on atmospheric circulation are not fully carried out. By using the vertically integrated apparent heat source which is calculated by the derivation method, main oscillation periods and propagation features of the summer apparent heat source over the eastern TP (Q1ETP) are diagnosed and analyzed from 1981 to 2000. The results are as follows: (1) Summer Q1ETP has two significant oscillation periods: one is 10-20d (BWO, Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation) and the other is 30-60d (LFO, Low-frequency Oscillation). (2) A significant correlation is found between Q1ETP and rainfall over the eastern TP in 1985 and 1992, showing that the low-frequency oscillation of heat source is likely to be stimulated by oscillation of latent heat. (3) The oscillation of heat source on the plateau mainly generates locally but sometimes originates from elsewhere. The BWO of Q1ETP mainly exhibits stationary wave, sometimes moves out (mainly eastward), and has a close relationship with the BWO from the Bay of Bengal. Showing the same characteristics as BWO, the LFO mainly shows local oscillation, occasionally propagates (mainly westward), and connects with the LFO from East China. In summary, more attention should be paid to the study on BWO of Q1ETP.