EFFECTS OF INDIAN OCEAN SSTA WITH ENSO ON WINTER RAINFALL IN CHINA

Based on Hadley Center monthly global SST, 1960-2009 NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and observation rainfall data over 160 stations across China, the combined effect of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Pacific SSTA (ENSO) on winter rainfall in China and their different roles are investigated in the work. The study focuses on the differences among the winter precipitation pattern during the years with Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) only, ENSO only, and IOD and ENSO concurrence. It is shown that although the occurrences of the sea surface temperature anomalies of IOD and ENSO are of a high degree of synergy, their impacts on the winter precipitation are not the same. In the year with positive phase of IOD, the winter rainfall will be more than normal in Southwest China (except western Yunnan), North China and Northeast China while it will be less in Yangtze River and Huaihe River Basins. The result is contrary during the year with negative phase of IOD. However, the impact of IOD positive phase on winter precipitation is more significant than that of the negative phase. When the IOD appears along with ENSO, the ENSO signal will enhance the influence of IOD on winter precipitation of Southwest China (except western Yunnan), Inner Mongolia and Northeast China. In addition, this paper makes a preliminary analysis of the circulation causes of the relationship between IOD and the winter rainfall in China.