Subthermocline eddies carrying the Indonesian Throughflow water observed in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean

We observed a subthermocline eddy(STE)with a cold and fresh core during an observation cruise along a transect of 10°S in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean(SETIO)in December 2017.The vertical scale,speed radius,and maximum swirl velocity of the STE were about 200 m,55 km,and 0.5 m/s,respectively.The mean Rossby number and Burger number of the STE were then estimated to be about−0.7 and 2.4,indicating the STE was a submesoscale coherent vortex.The STE core water had characteristics of the Indonesian Throughflow(ITF)water and was distinct from that of surrounding areas.By examining Argo float data,another STE was well captured by five successive profiles of the same Argo float.Both STEs showed significant temperature and salinity anomalies at theσ0=26.0-26.5 kg/m3 surfaces.With the assumption that the low-salinity ITF water parcels could be carried only by surface eddies and the STEs,the Argo profiles,which detected low-salinity ITF water and were located outside a surface eddy,were believed to be inside an STE and were used to analyze the distribution,origin,and generation mechanism of the STE.The results suggested that the STEs carrying ITF water may be generated under topography-current interaction at the eastern coastal waters or under front-induced subduction in the area away from coastal waters.Those STEs may be widely distributed in the SETIO and may play a role in ITF water parcel transport.

Impact of Tropical Indian Ocean Temperature on the Ozone Layer in East Asia

Based on the reanalysis data of monthly mean sea surface temperature (SST) from British Hadley Center and ozone mass mixing ratio from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during 1980-2015, two indexes IOBI and IODI of the main modes characterizing SST changes in the tropical Indian Ocean——Indian Ocean Basin (IOB) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) were calculated firstly, and then the correlation of SST anomaly (SSTA) in the tropical Indian Ocean and ozone mass mixing ratio in the stratosphere over East Asia from 1980 to 2015 was analyzed. Besides, the impact of SST changes in the tropical Indian Ocean on the distribution of ozone layer in East Asia was discussed. The results show that SST changes in the tropical Indian Ocean had significant effects on stratospheric ozone distribution in East Asia, and it was consistent with the temporal changes of IOB and IOD. IOBI and IODI had a certain correlation with stratospheric ozone changes in East Asia, with a particularly significant correlation in the lower stratosphere (70 hPa) and middle stratosphere (40 hPa) especially during spring and autumn.

The Impact of the Tropical Indian Ocean on South Asian High in Boreal Summer

The tropical Indian Ocean （TIO） is warmer than normal during the summer when or after the El Nio decays. The present study investigates the impact of TIO SST on the South Asian High （SAH） in summer. When the TIO is warmer, the SAH strengthens and its center shifts southward. It is found that the variations in the SAH cannot be accounted for by the precipitation anomaly. A possible mechanism is proposed to explain the connection between the TIO and SAH： warmer SST in the TIO changes the equivalent potential temperature （EPT） in the atmospheric boundary layer （ABL）, alters the temperature profile of the moist atmosphere, warms the troposphere, which produces significant positive height anomaly over South Asia and modifies the SAH. An atmospheric general circulation model, ECHAM5, which has a reasonable prediction skill in the TIO and South Asia, was selected to test the effects of TIO SST on the SAH. The experiment with idealized heating over the TIO reproduced the response of the SAH to TIO warming. The results suggest that the TIO-induced EPT change in the ABL can account for the variations in the SAH.

On the Mechanism of the Seasonal Variability of SST in the Tropical Indian Ocean

A general form of an equation that 'explicitly' diagnoses SST change is derived. All other equations in wide use are its special case. Combining with the data from an ocean general circulation model (MOM2) with an integration of 10 years (1987-1996), the relative importances of various processes that determine seasonal variations of SST in the tropical Indian Ocean are compared mainly for January, April, July and October. The main results are as follows. (1) The net surface heat flux is the most important factor affecting SST over the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the region south of the equator in January; in April, its influence covers almost the whole region studied; whereas in July and October, this term shows significance only in the regions south of 10°S and north of the equator, respectively. (2) The horizontal advection dominates in the East African-Arabian coast and the region around the equator in January and July; in October, the region is located south of 10°S. (3) The entrainment is significant only in a narrow band centered on 10°S in April and the coastal region around the Arabian Sea and the equator in July. (4) As for SST, it decreases in January and July but increases in April and October in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, showing a (asymmetrical) semiannual variability; by contrast, the SST in the region south of the equator has an annual variability, decreasing in April and July and increasing in October and January.

A dipole mode at thermocline layer in the tropical Indian Ocean

Temperature data at different layers of the past 45 years were studied and we found adiploe mode in the thermocline layer (DMT): anomalously cold sea temperature off the coast of Sumatra and warm sea temperature in the western Indian Ocean. First, we analyzed the temperature and the temperature anomaly (TA) along the equatorial Indian Ocean in different layers. This shows that stronger cold and warm TA signals appeared at subsurface than at the surface in the tropical Indian O-cean. This result shows that there may be a strong dipole mode pattern in the subsurface tropical Indian Ocean. Secondly we used Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) to analyze the TA at thermocline layer. The first EOF pattern was a dipole mode pattern. Finally we analyzed the correlations between DMT and surface tropical dipole mode (SDM), DMT and Nino 3 SSTA, etc. and these correlations are strong.

Characteristics of Atmospheric Heat Sources in the Tibetan Plateau-Tropical Indian Ocean Region

Investigating the temporal and spatial distributions of the atmospheric heat sources(AHS)over the Tibetan Plateau-Tropical Indian Ocean(TP-TIO)region is of great importance for the understanding of the evolution and development of the South Asian summer monsoon(SASM).This study used the Japanese 55-year Reanalysis(JRA-55)data from 1979 to 2016 and adopted statistical methods to study the characteristics of the AHS between the TP and TIO,and theirs link to the SASM on an interannual scale.The results indicated that the monthly variations of the AHS in the two regions were basically anti-phase,and that the summer AHS in the TP was obviously stronger than that in the TIO.There were strong AHS and atmospheric moisture sink(AMS)centers in both the eastern and western TP in summer.The AHS center in the east was stronger than that in the west,and the AMS centers showed the opposite pattern.In the TIO,a strong AHS center in the northwest-southeast direction was located near 10°S,90°E.Trend analysis showed that summer AHS in the TIO was increasing significantly,especially before 1998,whereas there was a weakening trend in the TP.The difference of the summer AHS between the TP and TIO(hereafter IQ)was used to measure the thermal contrast between the TP and the TIO.The IQ showed an obvious decreasing trend.After 1998,there was a weak thermal contrast between the TP and the TIO,which mainly resulted from the enhanced AHS in the TIO.The land-sea thermal contrast,the TIO Hadley circulation in the southern hemisphere and the SASM circulation all weakened,resulting in abnormal circulation and abnormal precipitation in the Bay of Bengal(BOB).

Exploring sensitive area in the tropical Indian Ocean for El Niño prediction: implication for targeted observation

Based on initial errors of sea temperature in the tropical Indian Ocean that are most likely to induce spring predictability barrier(SPB)for the El Niño prediction,the sensitive area of sea temperature in the tropical Indian Ocean for El Niño prediction starting from January is identified using the CESM1.0.3(Community Earth System Model),a fully coupled global climate model.The sensitive area locates mainly in the subsurface of eastern Indian Ocean.The effectiveness of applying targeted observation in the sensitive area is also evaluated in an attempt to improve the El Niño prediction skill.The results of sensitivity experiments indicate that if initial errors exist only in the tropical Indian Ocean,applying targeted observation in the sensitive area in the Indian Ocean can significantly improve the El Niño prediction.In particular,for SPB-related El Niño events,when initial errors of sea temperature exist both in the tropical Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean,which is much closer to the realistic predictions,if targeted observations are conducted in the sensitive area of tropical Pacific,the prediction skills of SPB-related El Niño events can be improved by 20.3%in general.Moreover,if targeted observations are conducted in the sensitive area of tropical Indian Ocean in addition,the improvement of prediction skill can be increased by 25.2%.Considering the volume of sensitive area in the tropical Indian Ocean is about 1/3 of that in the tropical Pacific Ocean,the prediction skill improvement per cubic kilometer in the sensitive area of tropical Indian Ocean is competitive to that of the tropical Pacific Ocean.Additional to the sensitive area of the tropical Pacific Ocean,sensitive area of the tropical Indian Ocean is also a very effective and cost-saving area for the application of targeted observations to improve El Niño forecast skills.

The Initial Errors in the Tropical Indian Ocean that Can Induce a Significant “Spring Predictability Barrier” for La Nina Events and Their Implication for Targeted Observations

Initial errors in the tropical Indian Ocean(IO-related initial errors) that are most likely to yield the Spring Prediction Barrier(SPB) for La Ni?a forecasts are explored by using the CESM model.These initial errors can be classified into two types.Type-1 initial error consists of positive sea temperature errors in the western Indian Ocean and negative sea temperature errors in the eastern Indian Ocean,while the spatial structure of Type-2 initial error is nearly opposite.Both kinds of IO-related initial errors induce positive prediction errors of sea temperature in the Pacific Ocean,leading to underprediction of La Nina events.Type-1 initial error in the tropical Indian Ocean mainly influences the SSTA in the tropical Pacific Ocean via atmospheric bridge,leading to the development of localized sea temperature errors in the eastern Pacific Ocean.However,for Type-2 initial error,its positive sea temperature errors in the eastern Indian Ocean can induce downwelling error and influence La Ni?a predictions through an oceanic channel called Indonesian Throughflow.Based on the location of largest SPB-related initial errors,the sensitive area in the tropical Indian Ocean for La Nina predictions is identified.Furthermore,sensitivity experiments show that applying targeted observations in this sensitive area is very useful in decreasing prediction errors of La Nina.Therefore,adopting a targeted observation strategy in the tropical Indian Ocean is a promising approach toward increasing ENSO prediction skill.

REGIONAL DISCREPANCIES OF THE IMPACT OF TROPICAL INDIAN OCEAN WARMING ON NORTHWEST PACIFIC TROPICAL CYCLONE FREQUENCY IN THE YEARS OF DECAYING EL NIO

This study investigates the influences of tropical Indian Ocean(TIO) warming on tropical cyclone(TC)genesis in different regions of the western North Pacific(WNP) from July to October(JASO) during the decaying El Nio. The results show significant negative TC frequency anomalies localized in the southeastern WNP. Correlation analysis indicates that a warm sea surface temperature anomaly(SSTA) in the TIO strongly suppresses TC genesis south of 21°N and east of 140°E in JASO. Reduced TC genesis over the southeastern WNP results from a weak monsoon trough and divergence and subsidence anomalies associated with an equatorial baroclinic Kelvin wave. Moreover,suppressed convection in response to a cold local SSTA, induced by the increased northeasterly connected by the wind-evaporation-SST positive feedback mechanism, is found unfavorable for TC genesis. Positive TC genesis anomalies are observed over higher latitudinal regions(at around 21°N, 140°E) and the western WNP because of enhanced convection along the northern flank of the WNP anomalous anticyclone and low-level convergence,respectively. Although local modulation(e.g., local SST) could have greater dominance over TC activity at higher latitudes in certain anomalous years(e.g., 1988), a warm TIO SSTA can still suppress TC genesis in lower latitudinal regions of the WNP. A better understanding of the contributions of TIO warming could help improve seasonal TC predictions over different regions of the WNP in years of decaying El Nio.

Relationship between the Tibetan Plateau-tropical Indian Ocean thermal contrast and the South Asian summer monsoon

The impact of land-sea thermal contrast on the South Asian summer monsoon(SASM)was investigated by calculating the atmospheric heat sources(AHS)and baroclinic component with ERA5 data for the period 1979-2019.Using diagnostic and statistical methods,it was found that the thermal contrast between the Tibetan Plateau(TP)and the tropical Indian Ocean(TIO)affects the South Asian monsoon circulation through the meridional temperature gradient in the upper troposphere.The seasonal changes of the AHS of the TP and TIO are reversed.In summer,the TP is the strongest at the same latitude whereas the TIO is the weakest,and the thermal contrast is the most obvious.The heat sources of the TP and TIO are located on the north and south side of the strong baroclinic area of the SASM region,respectively,and both of which are dominated by deep convective heating in the upper troposphere.The TP-TIO regional meridional thermal contrast index(QI)based on the AHS,and the SASM index(MI)based on baroclinicity were found to be strongly positively correlated.In years of abnormally high QI,the thermal contrast between the TP and TIO is strong in summer,which warms the upper troposphere over Eurasia and cools it over the TIO.The stronger temperature gradient enhances the baroclinicity in the troposphere,which results in a strengthening of the low-level westerly airflow and the upper-level easterly airflow.The anomalous winds strengthen the South Asian high(SAH),with the warmer center in the upper troposphere,and the enhanced Walker circulation over the equatorial Indian Ocean.Finally,the anomalous circulation leads to much more precipitation over the SASM region.The influence of abnormally low QI is almost the opposite.

Interdecadal Change of the Relationship Between the Tropical Indian Ocean Dipole Mode and the Summer Climate Anomaly in China

The interdecadal change of the relationship between the tropical Indian Ocean dipole（IOD） mode and the summer climate anomaly in China is investigated by using monthly precipitation and temperature records at 210 stations in China and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for 1957-2005.The results indicate that along with the interdecadal shift in the large-scale general circulation around the late 1970s,the relationship between the IOD mode and the summer climate anomaly in some regions of China has significantly changed.Before the late 1970s,a developing IOD event is associated with an enhanced East Asian summer monsoon,which tends to decrease summer precipitation and increase summer temperature in South China;while after the late 1970s,it is associated with a weakened East Asian summer monsoon,which tends to increase（decrease） precipitation and decrease（increase） temperature in the south（north） of the Yangtze River.During the next summer,following a positive IOD event,precipitation is increased in most of China before the late 1970s,while it is decreased（increased） south（north） of the Yangtze River after the late 1970s.There is no significant correlation between the IOD and surface air temperature anomaly in most of China in the next summer before the late 1970s;however,the IOD tends to increase the next summer temperature south of the Yellow River after the late 1970s.

Seasonal Distribution of Observed Colored Dissolved Organic Matter(CDOM)in the Eastern Indian Ocean

Colored dissolved organic matter(CDOM)is a crucial constituent that affects the optical absorption properties of seawater.Owing to the relatively limited measured data on the spatial distribution characteristics of CDOM in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean,this study analyzes the optical absorption characteristics of CDOM in the southeast Indian Ocean using the data collected during four seasons from 2013 to 2017.This work also systematically describes the seasonal horizontal and vertical distribution characteristics of CDOM in this area and conducts a preliminary analysis of the relevant factors affecting CDOM absorption characteristics in this region.Results indicate that the CDOM ag(440)during summer was remarkably lower than that in the coastal waters of Europe and coastal waters of China but slightly higher than that in the western and southeast Pacific.The spatial distribution of surface CDOM shows remarkable seasonal differences,and the spatial distribution characteristics of CDOM in the 5°S,92°E region differ between spring/summer and autumn/winter.The values of ag(400)and ag(440)are weak/strong at a surface/subsurface level of 100 m,with differences found between summer and winter.The correlation of CDOM with temperature,salinity,and chlorophyll-a concentration is relatively low,indicating that CDOM is an independent driving mechanism influenced by phytoplankton degradation,photobleaching,and water mixing.

The Tropical Pacific–Indian Ocean Associated Mode Simulated by LICOM2.0

Oceanic general circulation models have become an important tool for the study of marine status and change. This paper reports a numerical simulation carried out using LICOM2.0 and the forcing field from CORE. When compared with SODA reanalysis data and ERSST.v3 b data, the patterns and variability of the tropical Pacific–Indian Ocean associated mode(PIOAM) are reproduced very well in this experiment. This indicates that, when the tropical central–western Indian Ocean and central–eastern Pacific are abnormally warmer/colder, the tropical eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific are correspondingly colder/warmer. This further confirms that the tropical PIOAM is an important mode that is not only significant in the SST anomaly field, but also more obviously in the subsurface ocean temperature anomaly field. The surface associated mode index(SAMI) and the thermocline(i.e., subsurface) associated mode index(TAMI) calculated using the model output data are both consistent with the values of these indices derived from observation and reanalysis data. However, the model SAMI and TAMI are more closely and synchronously related to each other.

The Impact of Indian Ocean Variability on High Temperature Extremes across the Southern Yangtze River Valley in Late Summer

In this study, the teleconnection between Indian Ocean sea surface temperature anomalies （SSTAs） and the frequency of high temperature extremes （HTEs） across the southern Yangtze River valley （YRV） was investigated. The results indicate that the frequency of HTEs across the southern YRV in August is remotely influenced by the Indian Ocean basin mode （IOBM） SSTAs. Corresponding to June-July-August （JJA） IOBM warming condition, the number of HTEs was above normal, and corresponding to IOBM cooling conditions, the number of HTEs was below normal across the southern YRV in August. The results of this study indicate that the tropical IOBM warming triggered low-level anomalous anticyclonic circulation in the subtropical northwestern Pacific Ocean and southern China by emanating a warm Kelvin wave in August. In the southern YRV, the reduced rainfall and downward vertical motion associated with the anomalous low-level anticyclonic circulation led to the increase of HTE frequency in August.

Spring Indian Ocean–Western Pacific SST Contrast and the East Asian Summer Rainfall Anomaly

studying the relationship between SST in the tropical Indian Ocean （TIO）, tropical western Pacific （TWP）, and tropical eastern Pacific （TEP） and East Asian summer rainfall （EASR）, using data provided by NOAA/OAR/ESRL PSD and the National Climate Center of China for the period 1979-2008, an index, SSTDI, was defined to describe the SST difference between the TIO and TWP. In comparison with the winter ENSO, the spring SST contrast between the TIO and TWP was found to be more significantly associated with summer rainfall in East Asia, especially along the EASR band and in Northeast China. This spring SST contrast can persist into summer, resulting in a more significant meridional teleconnection pattern of lower-tropospheric circulation anomalies over the western North Pacific and East Asia. These circulation anomalies are dynamically consistent with the summer rainfall anomaly along the EASR band. When the SSTDI is higher （lower） than normal, the EASR over the Yangtze River valley, Korea, and central and southern Japan is heavier （less） than normal. The present results suggest that this spring SST contrast can be used as a new and better predictor of EASR anomalies.

Intraseasonal modulation of Wyrtki jet in the eastern Indian Ocean by equatorial waves during spring 2013

A strong spring Wyrtki jet(WJ)presents in May 2013 in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean.The entire buildup and retreat processes of the spring WJ were well captured by two adjacent Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers mounted on the mooring systems.The observed zonal jet behaved as one intraseasonal event with the significant features of abrupt emergence as well as slow disappearance.Further research illustrate that the pronounced surface westerly wind burst during late-April to mid-May,associated with the active phase of a robust eastwardpropagating Madden–Julian oscillation in the tropical Indian Ocean,was the dominant reason for the rapid acceleration of surface WJ.In contrasting,the governing mechanism for the jet termination was equatorial wave dynamics rather than wind forcing.The decomposition analysis of equatorial waves and the corresponding changes in the ocean thermocline demonstrated that strong WJ was produced rapidly by the wind-generated oceanic downwelling equatorial Kelvin wave and was terminated subsequently by the westward-propagating equatorial Rossby wave reflecting from eastern boundaries of the Indian Ocean.

The Record-breaking Mei-yu in 2020 and Associated Atmospheric Circulation and Tropical SST Anomalies

The record-breaking mei-yu in the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley(YHRV)in 2020 was characterized by an early onset,a delayed retreat,a long duration,a wide meridional rainbelt,abundant precipitation,and frequent heavy rainstorm processes.It is noted that the East Asian monsoon circulation system presented a significant quasi-biweekly oscillation(QBWO)during the mei-yu season of 2020 that was associated with the onset and retreat of mei-yu,a northward shift and stagnation of the rainbelt,and the occurrence and persistence of heavy rainstorm processes.Correspondingly,during the mei-yu season,the monsoon circulation subsystems,including the western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH),the upper-level East Asian westerly jet,and the low-level southwesterly jet,experienced periodic oscillations linked with the QBWO.Most notably,the repeated establishment of a large southerly center,with relatively stable latitude,led to moisture convergence and ascent which was observed to develop repeatedly.This was accompanied by a long-term duration of the mei-yu rainfall in the YHRV and frequent occurrences of rainstorm processes.Moreover,two blocking highs were present in the middle to high latitudes over Eurasia,and a trough along the East Asian coast was also active,which allowed cold air intrusions to move southward through the northwestern and/or northeastern paths.The cold air frequently merged with the warm and moist air from the low latitudes resulting in low-level convergence over the YHRV.The persistent warming in the tropical Indian Ocean is found to be an important external contributor to an EAP/PJ-like teleconnection pattern over East Asia along with an intensified and southerly displaced WPSH,which was observed to be favorable for excessive rainfall over YHRV.

Simulated Relationship between Wintertime ENSO and East Asian Summer Rainfall: From CMIP3 to CMIP6

El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)events have a strong influence on East Asian summer rainfall(EASR).This paper investigates the simulated ENSO-EASR relationship in CMIP6 models and compares the results with those in CMIP3 and CMIP5 models.In general,the CMIP6 models show almost no appreciable progress in representing the ENSO-EASR relationship compared with the CMIP5 models.The correlation coefficients in the CMIP6 models are relatively smaller and exhibit a slightly greater intermodel diversity than those in the CMIP5 models.Three physical processes related to the delayed effect of ENSO on EASR are further analyzed.Results show that,firstly,the relationships between ENSO and the tropical Indian Ocean(TIO)sea surface temperature(SST)in the CMIP6 models are more realistic,stronger,and have less intermodel diversity than those in the CMIP3 and CMIP5 models.Secondly,the teleconnections between the TIO SST and Philippine Sea convection(PSC)in the CMIP6 models are almost the same as those in the CMIP5 models,and stronger than those in the CMIP3 models.Finally,the CMIP3,CMIP5,and CMIP6 models exhibit essentially identical capabilities in representing the PSC-EASR relationship.Almost all the three generations of models underestimate the ENSO-EASR,TIO SST-PSC,and PSC-EASR relationships.Moreover,almost all the CMIP6 models that successfully capture the significant TIO SST-PSC relationship realistically simulate the ENSO-EASR relationship and vice versa,which is,however,not the case in the CMIP5 models.

Why Does Extreme Rainfall Occur in Central China during the Summer of 2020 after a Weak El Niño?

In summer 2020,extreme rainfall occurred throughout the Yangtze River basin,Huaihe River basin,and southern Yellow River basin,which are defined here as the central China(CC)region.However,only a weak central Pacific(CP)El Niño happened during winter 2019/20,so the correlations between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation(ENSO)indices and ENSO-induced circulation anomalies were insufficient to explain this extreme precipitation event.In this study,reanalysis data and numerical experiments are employed to identify and verify the primary ENSO-related factors that cause this extreme rainfall event.During summer 2020,unusually strong anomalous southwesterlies on the northwest side of an extremely strong Northwest Pacific anticyclone anomaly(NWPAC)contributed excess moisture and convective instability to the CC region,and thus,triggered extreme precipitation in this area.The tropical Indian Ocean(TIO)has warmed in recent decades,and consequently,intensified TIO basinwide warming appears after a weak El Niño,which excites an extremely strong NWPAC via the pathway of the Indo-western Pacific Ocean capacitor(IPOC)effect.Additionally,the ENSO event of 2019/20 should be treated as a fast-decaying CP El Niño rather than a general CP El Niño,so that the circulation and precipitation anomalies in summer 2020 can be better understood.Last,the increasing trend of tropospheric temperature and moisture content in the CC region after 2000 is also conducive to producing heavy precipitation.

Role of the 10–20-Day Oscillation in Sustained Rainstorms over Hainan,China in October 2010

Hainan,an island province of China in the northern South China Sea,experienced two sustained rainstorms in October 2010,which were the most severe autumn rainstorms of the past 60 years.From August to October 2010,the most dominant signal of Hainan rainfall was the 10-20-day oscillation.This paper examines the roles of the 10-20-day oscillation in the convective activity and atmospheric circulation during the rainstorms of October 2010 over Hainan.During both rainstorms,Hainan was near the center of convective activity and under the influence of a lower-troposphere cyclonic circulation.The convective center was initiated in the west-central tropical Indian Ocean several days prior to the rainstorm in Hainan.The convective center first propagated eastward to the maritime continent,accompanied by the cyclonic circulation,and then moved northward to the northern South China Sea and South China,causing the rainstorms over Hainan.In addition,the westward propagation of convection from the tropical western Pacific to the southern South China Sea,as well as the propagation farther northward,intensified the convective activity over the northern South China Sea and South China during the first rainstorm.