Cloud distribution over East Asia during the summer monsoon season interpreted through satellite pictures

Summer monsoon clouds over East Asia observed by the meteorological satellite Himawari and ESSA were analyzed in order to shed light on the dynamic climatology of the area during the Baiu season. The mean cloudiness over Monsoon Asia undergoes little change and is nearly 50%, but the monsoon cloud belt varies in time and space in accordance with the seasonal shift of the strongest westerly flow axis at the 500 mb level. The summer monsoon clouds form a belt in which a major amount of water vapor is transported, extending from South China to the Bering Sea. Monsoon rains occur in Japan when the belt of monsoon cloud is over Japan and ends when the cloud belt moves away.