Local convergence zones or discontinuous lines in the Taklimakan Desert, Northwest China

In order to study convergence zones or discontinuous lines formed locally in the Taklimakan Desert,we analyzed available MODIS images onboad TERRA or AQUA satellite for ten cases:29 March 2002,14 April 2002;2 January 2003;21 April 2003;26 March 2004;28 April 2004;30 January 2005;25 June 2005;3 December 2005;and 26 July 2006.We used weather maps published by the Japan Mete-orological Agency for the Asia and Pacific region at 500 hPa,700 hPa and 850 hPa,at 00Z and 12Z to analyze the meteorological conditions occurring in each case.We estimated the positions of air streams,convergence zones or discontinuous lines between them,and thermal conditions on the maps and con-firmed the presence of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds through satellite images in particular.After a review of previous studies,this paper introduced the results of the present study.Closed warm areas in the Taklimakan Desert and on the Tibetan Plateau and local convergence zones or discontinuous lines in the Taklimakan Desert were discussed together with their diurnal changes,using composite maps of the ten cases.Along the long axis of the desert the convergence zones or discontinuous lines normally extend 70-80 km in a west-east direction,but are suspected to exceed 100 km in extreme cases.On the other hand,the convergence zones or discontinuous lines extending in a north-south direction on the southern fringe of the desert have a length of 40-60 km.The closed warm areas show clear diurnal changes,but they were not detected at the 500 hPa level.An example of a clear convergence zone running in a north-south direction on 26 July 2006 was presented in detail with corresponding satellite images.

Convergence Zone Width Analysis Based on Ray Cluster Theory and Its Application in the Array Depth Optimization of Active Sensors

The active sensor often uses the convergence zone mode to detect a distant target in the deep ocean.However,convergence zones are regions with limited widths that only appear at some discrete distances.Thus,widening the width by adjusting the transmitting array depth facilitates target observation and detection.Traversal search is an effective method for determining the optimal depth,but the heavy computation burden resulting from the calculation of the transmission losses at all source depths impedes its application.To solve the problem,a fast method based on ray cluster theory is proposed.Due to the coherent sound field structure in the deep ocean,several ray clusters with different departure angles radiate from the source,where ray clusters with small departure angles reverse in the water and form a convergence zone.When the source is set to a depth that only the first ray cluster inverts in water,the maximum width of the convergence zone is obtained.Based on this,an optimal transmitting array depth selection method utilizing the reversion condition of the first ray cluster is formulated.Simulation results show that the active sensor can achieve a large convergence zone width with real-time performance using the proposed method.

Quantitative analysis and prediction of the sound field convergence zone in mesoscale eddy environment based on data mining methods

The mesoscale eddy(ME)has a significant influence on the convergence effect in deep-sea acoustic propagation.This paper use statistical approaches to express quantitative relationships between the ME conditions and convergence zone(CZ)characteristics.Based on the Gaussian vortex model,we construct various sound propagation scenarios under different eddy conditions,and carry out sound propagation experiments to obtain simulation samples.With a large number of samples,we first adopt the unified regression to set up analytic relationships between eddy conditions and CZ parameters.The sensitivity of eddy indicators to the CZ is quantitatively analyzed.Then,we adopt the machine learning(ML)algorithms to establish prediction models of CZ parameters by exploring the nonlinear relationships between multiple ME indicators and CZ parameters.Through the research,we can express the influence of ME on the CZ quantitatively,and achieve the rapid prediction of CZ parameters in ocean eddies.The prediction accuracy(R)of the CZ distance(mean R:0.9815)is obviously better than that of the CZ width(mean R:0.8728).Among the three ML algorithms,Gradient Boosting Decision Tree has the best prediction ability(root mean square error(RMSE):0.136),followed by Random Forest(RMSE:0.441)and Extreme Learning Machine(RMSE:0.518).

THE INTENSITY VARIATION OF THE SUMMER INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE IN WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND ITS IMPACT ON TROPICAL CYCLONES

Based on the satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the variation of the intensity of convection over the Intertropical Convergence Zone （ITCZ） in summer and its impacts on tropical cyclones are studied. In this paper, an intensity index of the ITCZ is proposed according to Outgoing Longwave Radiation （OLR） in the region of （5°-20°N, 120°-150°E） in the western North Pacific （WNP）. Then strong and weak ITCZ years are classified and different variables during the strong/weak ITCZ years are analyzed. The composite results show that the ITCZ anomaly is connected to the general atmospheric circulation and SST distribution. In the strong ITCZ years, the subtropical anticyclone weakens and shifts northward. Besides, there is salient cyclonic anomaly at the low level and anticyclonic anomaly at the high level. SST patterns in the preceding winter resemble to those of La Nifia. It could persist into the succeeding summer. However, it is opposite in the weak ITCZ years. The impact of the ITCZ anomaly on the tropical cyclone （TC） formation and track is also discussed. There are more TCs over the WNP （5°-20°N, 120°-150°E） in the strong ITCZ years and there is a significant increase in the northward recurving TCs. In the weak ITCZ years, fewer TCs occur and the frequency of the northwestward track is higher.

The effects of the intertropical convergence zone on the easterly jet stream during Northern summer

In this paper, a strong 1TCZ process and an 1TCZ - absent process during FGGE in 1979 were selected for comparison to explore how they were subject to the influence of the evolution of the upper easterly jets.

Seasonal Variation of the Sea Surface Temperature Growth Rate of ENSO

El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO) exhibits a distinctive phase-locking characteristic, first expressed during its onset in boreal spring, developing during summer and autumn, reaching its peak towards winter, and decaying over the next spring. Several studies have demonstrated that this feature arises as a result of seasonal variation in the growth rate of ENSO as expressed by the sea surface temperature(SST). The bias towards simulating the phase locking of ENSO by many state-of-the-art climate models is also attributed to the unrealistic depiction of the growth rate. In this study, the seasonal variation of SST growth rate in the Ni?o-3.4 region(5°S–5°N, 120°–170°W) is estimated in detail based on the mixed layer heat budget equation and recharge oscillator model during 1981–2020. It is suggested that the consideration of a variable mixed layer depth is essential to its diagnostic process. The estimated growth rate has a remarkable seasonal cycle with minimum rates occurring in spring and maximum rates evident in autumn. More specifically, the growth rate derived from the meridional advection(surface heat flux) is positive(negative) throughout the year. Vertical diffusion generally makes a negative contribution to the evolution of growth rate and the magnitude of vertical entrainment represents the smallest contributor. Analysis indicates that the zonal advective feedback is regulated by the meridional immigration of the intertropical convergence zone, which approaches its southernmost extent in February and progresses to its northernmost location in September, and dominates the seasonal variation of the SST growth rate.

The Influence of SST Warm-water Region and ITCZ in the North-West Pacific Ocean on the Northeast Cold Vortex and the Subtropical High

By using the monthly mean grid data of NCAR/NCEP reanalysis at 500 hPa geopotential height from 1958 to 1997,the relationship between the Northeast cold vortex and the western Pacific subtropical high was analyzed.The influence of the sea surface temperature(SST) and outgoing longwave radiation(OLR) on the Northeast cold vortex and subtropical high was studied.As was shown in the results,in summer,there was a positive correlation between the Northeast cold vortex and the subtropical high,and an anti-phase relationship existed between the threshold characteristic line of GMS-SST=28 ℃ and the height index of the Northeast cold vortex and the subtropical high.With the gradual northward moving of the threshold characteristic line,the subtropical high was weakening,and the Northeast cold vortex was increasing and strengthening.

Primary Reasoning behind the Double ITCZ Phenomenon in a Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere General Circulation Model

This paper investigates the processes behind the double ITCZ phenomenon, a common problem in Coupled ocean-atmosphere General Circulation Models (CGCMs), using a CGCM—FGCM-0 (Flexible General Circulation Model, version 0). The double ITCZ mode develops rapidly during the ?rst two years of the integration and becomes a perennial phenomenon afterwards in the model. By way of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) for SST, sea surface pressure, and sea surface wind, some air-sea interactions are analyzed. These interactions prompt the anomalous signals that appear at the beginning of the coupling to develop rapidly. There are two possible reasons, proved by sensitivity experiments: (1) the overestimated east-west gradient of SST in the equatorial Paci?c in the ocean spin-up process, and (2) the underestimated amount of low-level stratus over the Peruvian coast in CCM3 (the Community Climate Model, Version Three). The overestimated east-west gradient of SST brings the anomalous equatorial easterly. The anomalous easterly, a?ected by the Coriolis force in the Southern Hemisphere, turns into an anomalous westerly in a broad area south of the equator and is enhanced by atmospheric anomalous circulation due to the underestimated amount of low-level stratus over the Peruvian coast simulated by CCM3. The anomalous westerly leads to anomalous warm advection that makes the SST warm in the southeast Paci?c. The double ITCZ phenomenon in the CGCM is a result of a series of nonlocal and nonlinear adjustment processes in the coupled system, which can be traced to the uncoupled models, oceanic component, and atmospheric component. The zonal gradient of the equatorial SST is too large in the ocean component and the amount of low-level stratus over the Peruvian coast is too low in the atmosphere component.

Modulation of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis by Intraseasonal Oscillation of the ITCZ:A Statistical Analysis

The present study investigates modulation of western North Pacific （WNP） tropical cyclone （TC） genesis in relation to different phases of the intraseasonal oscillation （ISO） of ITCZ convection during May to October in the period 1979 2008. The phases of the ITCZ ISO were determined based on 30-80-day filtered OLR anomalies averaged over the region （5°20′N, 120°150′E）. The number of TCs during the active phases was nearly three times more than during the inactive phases. The active （inactive） phases of ISO were characterized by low-level cyclonic （anticyclonic） circulation anomalies, higher （lower） midlevel relative humidity anomalies, and larger （smaller） vertical gradient anomalies of relative vorticity associated with enhanced （weakened） ITCZ convection anomalies. During the active phases, TCs tended to form in the center of the ITCZ region. Barotropic conversion from the low-level mean flow is suggested to be the major energy source for TC formation. The energy conversion mainly depended on the zonal and meridional gradients of the zonal flow during the active phases. However, barotropic conversion weakened greatly during the inactive phases. The relationship between the meridional gradient of absolute vorticity and low-level zonal flow indicates that the sign of the absolute vorticity gradient tends to be reversed during the two phases, whereas the same sign between zonal flow and the absolute vortieity gradient is more easily satisfied in the active phases. Thus, the barotropie instability of low-level zonal flow might be an important mechanism for TC formation over the WNP during the active phases of ISO.

A Review of the Asian-Pacific Monsoon

Research on the Asian-Pacific monsoon has a long history. This paper starts by summarizing field experiments investigating the Asian-Pacific monsoon. Since the 1960s, a number of international and regional monsoon projects and field experiments have been carried out, and substantial progress regarding research on the Asian-Pacific monsoon has been made. Second, the onset and the seasonal march of the Asian summer monsoon and the annual cycle of active and break periods of the monsoon, which are characterized by precipitation maxima and minima, are studied. Since the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ or TCZ) is the dominating weather system and is the major birthplace of typhoons and tropical convective systems, the monsoonal rainfall and ITCZ are analyzed after the onset of the Asian mon- soon. Finally, because the ITCZ has a close relationship with tropical convective systems and rainfall events in monsoon regions, analyses of the developments of deep convection and rainfall events are briefly introduced.

Controlling Chaos in Hénon Map by the Constant Feedback Method

We demonstrate the constant feedback and the modified constant feedback method to the Hénon map. Using the convergence of the chaotic orbit in finite time, we can control the system from chaos to the stable fixed point, and even to the stable period-2 orbit or higher periodic orbit by the action of a proper feedback strength and pulse interval. We also find that the multi-steady solutions appear with the same control strength and different initial conditions. The aim of this control method is explicit and the feedback strength is easy to determine. The method is robust under the presence of weak external noise.

POSSIBLE INFLUENCE OF FEBRUARY-APRIL ARCTIC OSCILLATION ON THE ITCZ ACTIVITY OF WESTERN-CENTRAL PACIFIC

The daily patterns and activity of Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ) in the Western-Central Pacific Ocean are analyzed using NOAA interpolated Outgoing Longwave Radiation dataset during the period from 1979 to 2008, and the relationships between ITCZ patterns and Arctic Oscillation(AO) is investigated in this paper. In accordance with the central activity region the daily ITCZ can be divided into six patterns—north, south, equator, double, full and weak pattern, respectively. The statistic result shows that the north(accounting for 30.98% of the total observations), south(31.11%) and weak(24.05%) ITCZ patterns are the most active daily patterns within a 30-year period, while the other three ITCZ patterns occur infrequently. Results show that the February-April AO index has a significant positive(negative) correlation with the frequency of the north(weak) ITCZ pattern from March-May to August-October, with the strongest correlation in April-June(March-May). At the same time, the lower tropospheric atmosphere circulation(850-hPa wind field) and SST anomalies corresponding to the AO change significantly in the tropical Pacific. When AO is in the positive phase, there is an anomalous westerly from the equator to 15°N and warmer SST in the critical north ITCZ active region, while there is an anomalous easterly and insignificant change of SST from the equator to 15°S. The wind and SST anomalies share the same characteristics of the equatorial asymmetry and thus enlarge the gradient between the south and north of equator, which would help reinforce convection in the north of equator and result in more frequent occurrence of the northern type of ITCZ.

A Study on the Plate Tectonics in the Early Earth Period Based on the Core-Magma Angular Momentum Exchange

By using a dynamical approach of core-magma angular momentum exchange, this study theoretically explains the continental formation and plate drift as well as main mountain uplifts in the early Earth period. The present mantle and lithosphere were the partial part of magma fluid layer (mantle currents) before and after the Earth’s crust formation. Thus, a theory is presented regarding the driving forces of plate drift, in the form of planetary scale mantle currents. The origin of mantle currents is traced back to the formation of the solar system. It is assumed that small particles (nebula matter) orbiting the Sun assembled, and a molten sphere of primordial Earth with different minerals evenly distributed throughout the total mass came into existence. Subsequently, a process called planetary differentiation took place, as the core and mantle currents (magma layer) started separating. This will inevitably cause the Earth to spin faster, and it is presumed that the inner core first gained angular velocity, thereby spinning faster than the material found at a shallower depth. The time interval of the angular momentum exchange between the core and the magma should have lasted for at least 0.1 - 0.2 billion years. Planetary scale vertical and horizontal circulations of mantle currents took place, and angular momentum exchange was realized through the vertical component. The horizontal part of the mantle currents, near the bottom of the lithosphere, became a real force to drive continental split and plate drift. The acceleration and deceleration of the core compared with the mantle currents then caused different flow directions in the two hemispheres. When the inner core rotates faster from west to east, upper mantle currents will tend to flow westwards and towards the two poles. Surface lighter materials converged towards the two poles so that two continental polar crust caps appeared when the magma surface was cooling. This caused two original supercontinents to form about 4.54 billion years ago, while an original oceanic zone formed in the tropics. The uneven latitudinal variation of crustal thickness did lead to thermal differences within the mantle currents. This caused the core-magma angular momentum exchange. Deceleration of the core will cause two flow vectors, northwesterly in the Northern Hemisphere and southwesterly in the Southern Hemisphere. The history of plate drift is then driven by the motion of upper mantle currents. A distinct Equatorial Convergence Zone of magma flow which developed early in Earth’s history, gave way to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, serving as a border for the magma fluids and continents from the two hemispheres. A possible mechanism for the formation of the Himalayans is the maximum shear stress created by an orthogonal convergence or collision between two continental plates driven by the upper mantle currents.

Influence of Sea Level Pressure on Inter-Annual Rainfall Variability in Northern Senegal in the Context of Climate Change

This study examines the inter-annual variability of rainfall and Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) over west Africa based on analysis of the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) and National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) Reanalysis respectively. An interconnection is found in this region, between Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) anomaly (over Azores and St. Helena High) and monthly mean precipitation during summer (June to September: JJAS). We also found that over northern Senegal (15°N - 17°N;17°W - 13°W) the SLP to the north is strong;the wind converges at 200 hPa corresponding to the position of the African Easterly Jet (AEJ) the rotational wind 700 hPa (corresponding to the position of the African Easterly Jet (AEJ) coming from the north-east is negative. In this region, the precipitation is related to the SLP to the north with the opposite sign. The Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) of SLP is also presented, including the mean spectrum of precipitation and pressures to the north (15°N - 40°N and 50°W - 25°W) and south (40°S - 10°S and 40°W - 0°E). The dominant EOF of Sea Level Pressures north and south of the Atlantic Ocean for GPCP represents about 62.2% and 69.4% of the variance, respectively. The second and third EOFs of the pressure to the north account for 24.0% and 6.5% respectively. The second and third EOFs of the pressure to the south represent 12.5% and 8.9% respectively. Wet years in the north of Senegal were associated with anomalous low-pressure areas over the north Atlantic Ocean as opposed to the dry years which exhibited an anomalous high-pressure area in the same region. On the other hand, over the South Atlantic, an opposition is noted. The wavelet analysis method is applied to the SLP showings to the north, south and precipitation in our study area. The indices prove to be very consistent, especially during intervals of high variance.

Study of Boundary Layer Height over West Africa

Monthly means of boundary layer height (BLH) over West Africa are presented based on 36 years (1979-2014) of six-hourly ERA-Interim reanalysis. In this region, we found that there is a link between the West Africa Monsoon (WAM) and the monthly means of BLH in the summer. The trend and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) of BLH are presented, including the mid July variability of BLH with the precipitation. The dominant EOF of BLH accounts for around 42% of the variance with slightly large amplitude in the north while relatively small in the equatorial band. The second EOF which accounts for 16.4%, describes a longitudinal contrast with a zonal gradient. The relationship between BLH and precipitation is found using the canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Significant trends of the first and second pairs of BLH with precipitation are shown. The first and second CCA pair has a correlation of 68% and 60% with 12.2 and 10.8 degrees of freedom respectively. The critical correlation coefficients at the 95% level are 0.21 and 0.65 for the first and second CCA pairs respectively. This first CCA pair mostly determines the arid and semi-arid areas where the rate of explained regional variance is about 78% in the arid area and 73% in the semi-arid area. For the second pair of CCA, the rate of explained regional variance is more than 60% in the Guinea coast and wet equatorial area.

Stability and a fast calculation method of travel speed of pulse peak in convergence zone

A long-range sound propagation experiment was conducted in the West Pacific Ocean in summer 2013.The signals received by a towed array indicate that the travel speed of pulse peak(TSPP)in the convergence zones is stable.Therefore,an equivalent sound speed can be used at all ranges in the convergence zones.A fast calculation method based on the beam-displace-ment ray-mode(BDRM)theory and convergence zone theory is proposed to calculate this equivalent sound speed.The computation speed of this proposed method is over 1000 times faster than that of the conventional calculation method based on the normal mode theory,with the computation error less than 0.4%compared with the experimental result.Also,the effect of frequency and sound speed profile on the TSPP is studied with the conventional and fast calculation methods,showing that the TSPP is almost independent of the frequency and sound speed profile in the ocean surface layer.

Variations in monsoon precipitation over southwest China during the last 1500 years and possible driving forces

Understanding hydroclimatic patterns and their possible driving mechanisms during distinct climate periods over the last 1500 years—such as the Medieval Warm Period(MWP),the Little Ice Age(LIA),and the Current Warm Period—is crucial for predicting future changes to monsoon precipitation in southwest China under global warming scenarios.In this study,based on ^(210)Pb and ^(137)Cs dating of surface sediments and AMS ^(14)C dating of terrestrial plant residues,we establish a robust age model that covers the last~1500 years(AD 439–2012)at Lake Yihai in southwest China.We use analyses of multiple geochemical proxy indices,including loss on ignition at 550℃,total organic carbon,total nitrogen,C/N ratios,and stable carbon isotopes of organic matter to reconstruct changes in summer monsoon precipitation at Lake Yihai during the last~1500 years.The results show that,over southwest China,warm and dry climate conditions prevailed during the MWP(AD 1000–1400)and the past 200 years,whereas conditions during the LIA(AD 1400–1800)were cold and wet.This is consistent with evidence from other geological records over southwest China,such as stalagmite and lake sediment data.Similar hydroclimatic patterns have occurred over the last 1500 years in adjacent tropical/subtropical monsoon regions where the climate is similarly dominated by the Indian summer monsoon(e.g.,South China,the South China Sea,Southeast Asia,Northeast India).We suggest that the meridional migration of the mean position of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone,and El Niño/Southern Oscillation conditions which are linked to tropical Pacific sea surface temperature,are responsible for centennial-scale hydroclimatic patterns over southwest China and adjacent areas during the last 1500 years.

Indexing the relationship between polar motion and water mass change in a giant river basin

Previous studies on the relationship between polar motion and water mass change have mainly concentrated on the excitation of polar motion via global terrestrial water storage changes(TWSC). In view of the uneven distribution of global terrestrial water storage, the relationship between regional water mass change and polar motion needs to be further explored owing to the lack of documented results. In addition, given the uncertainty in the estimation of TWSC, it is required to develop appropriate indices to describe water mass change from different perspectives. The Amazon River basin(referred to Amazon hereafter), containing the world's largest river, located at around the 90°W longitude, is selected as the study area. Water vapor flux, precipitation, runoff and TWSC are selected as the indices of water mass changes to reveal the relationship between polar motion and water mass change in this giant basin. The Mann-Kendall(M-K) method, the accumulated anomaly analysis method and the curvature method are used to identify the abrupt change points; the least squares method is used to estimate the trends,and the Fast Fourier Transform(FFT) and the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition(EEMD) are used to perform a periodic analysis, for all the above indices. It is shown that, of all the indices from 1948 to 2011, water vapor flux is the most closely related index to polar motion. In detail, precipitation and water vapor flux contain beat periods of polar motion; water vapor flux,precipitation and polar motion have a common M-K test abrupt change point(occurring in ca. 1968) at the 0.05 significance level; water vapor flux has a similar accumulated anomaly curve with that of polar motion; and water vapor flux is more highly correlated with polar motion than most other indexes. It is found, just like global TWSC, the χ2 component of the excitation via water vapor flux and water storage change in the Amazon follows that of observed polar motion; χ1 does not follow. However, the pattern in the Amazon that the χ2 component of the excitation by water follows that of observed polar motion is at a more significant level than in global. Finally, the new index termed Location of Vapor-based Inter Tropical Convergence Zone(LVITCZ) we proposed to describe the annual mean latitudinal location of water mass change shows a more close and visual relationship between water mass change and polar motion than other chosen indices do.

ADVANCES IN APPLIED RESEARCH OF THE OUTGOING LONGWAVE RADIATION IN CHINA

The outgoing longwave radiation(OLR)observed by NOAA satellite series has widely applied in various research fields since the 1980s in China.In this paper,advances of the applied research of OLR are described in the following re- spects: (1)Studies of the global ITCZ; (2)Climatology of the subtropical high over northern Pacific; (3)Studies of the tropical cyclone over West Pacific; (4)Characteristics of the intraseasonal variation(ISV)of tropical convective activities; (5)Divergence wind and large scale circulation over the tropics; (6)Studies of the air-sea interaction; (7)Estimation of precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau and the Yangtze River(Changjiang River)basin during the rainy season; (8)Analyses of regional climates of China; (9)Studies of prediction of the severe and disastrous weather and climate; (10)Atlas of OLR. The distinctive features of these advances are reviewed and the focal points of the OLR applied research in future are also suggested.

Advances in Research on the ITCZ:Mean Position,Model Bias,and Anthropogenic Aerosol Influences

The zonal-mean position of the intertropical convergence zone(ITCZ)and its shift in the meridional direction significantly influence both the tropical and even global climate.This work reviews three aspects of the progress in ITCZ-relevant research:1)the mechanism behind the asymmetry of the ITCZ annual-and zonal-mean positions relative to the equator;2)causes of the double-ITCZ problem(pervasive in climate models)and the efforts to solve it;and 3)the physical mechanisms by which anthropogenic aerosols affect the location of the zonal-mean ITCZ.According to recent studies,the north-of-the-equator location of the annual-and zonal-mean ITCZ is mainly driven by the cross-equatorial energy transports in the ocean,induced by the Atlantic overturning circulation.A quantitative relationship between the ITCZ shift and the anomalous cross-equatorial energy transport in the atmosphere has been found.Presently,the double-ITCZ problem is still the most common and pronounced bias in tropical precipitation simulations with climate models.Recently,some studies have found that simply correcting the biases in hemispheric energy contrast does not improve the simulation of the ITCZ with climate models;whereas others have found that improving model resolutions and convective parameterizations in climate models,such as entrainment rate,raindroplet re-evaporation,and convection triggering function,can alleviate the double-ITCZ bias.Therefore,it seems that the double-ITCZ problem in climate models is rooted in the complex physics of the models,which is not yet well-understood.In addition,anthropogenic aerosols are suggested to be able to induce meridional shifts of the ITCZ,but through various physical mechanisms.Absorbing aerosols like black carbon influence the ITCZ position basically via instantaneous absorption of shortwave radiation in the atmosphere,whereas scattering aerosols like sulfate affect the location of the ITCZ through the cloud lifetime effect and the subsequent response of surface evaporation.