The characteristics of spring precipitation and water vapor transport in South China were analyzed by using observational data and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data. The results ...The characteristics of spring precipitation and water vapor transport in South China were analyzed by using observational data and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data. The results show that, during the spring, each component of the water cycle (precipitation, wind field, specific humidity, water vapor transport, etc.) in South China exhibits a notable interdecadal variability. An abrupt increase in spring precipitation occurred in the early 1970s. During the dry period from 1958 to 1971, a water vapor flux divergence (positive divQ) existed in South China, which may have led to the deficiency in rainfall. However, during the wet period from 1973 to 1989, there was a remarkable water vapor flux convergence (negative divQ) in South China, which may have resulted in the higher rainfall. The interdecadal variability of water vapor transport is closely related to the interdecadal variability of wind fields, although the interdecadal variability of specific humidity also plays a role to some extent, and the interdecadal variability of the zonal water vapor transport contributes much more to the interdecadal variability of spring precipitation than the meridional water vapor transport.展开更多
Characteristics of diurnal cycle precipitation over China are investigated using twice-daily observations by the China Meteorological Administration during 1960–2000. Characteristics investigated include nighttime/da...Characteristics of diurnal cycle precipitation over China are investigated using twice-daily observations by the China Meteorological Administration during 1960–2000. Characteristics investigated include nighttime/daytime precipitation amount(PA), intensity, and frequency. Geographically, the region is separated into western and eastern China by the 110°E longitude. Our analysis shows that there generally is more night-time than daytime precipitation in western China, particularly in the Sichuan Basin. Over eastern China, the opposite holds true, particularly along the southeast coast. Regional average monthly daytime and night-time precipitation peaks in the same month for both western and eastern China. Over western China, monthly night-time precipitation is always greater than that during daytime, but the night-time precipitation frequency(PF) is only greater in non-summer(June–August) months. Over eastern China, daytime precipitation is greater than that in the night-time during the warm season(May–August) in both amount and frequency. The night-day difference(night-time minus daytime) in PA over western China is mainly influenced by precipitation intensity, while over eastern China the night-day difference in rainfall amount is mostly driven by PF.展开更多
The authors examined the variability in wintertime cyclone activity and storm tracks and their relation to precipitation over China for the period 1951-2006 using the observational data.Two apparent modes of variabili...The authors examined the variability in wintertime cyclone activity and storm tracks and their relation to precipitation over China for the period 1951-2006 using the observational data.Two apparent modes of variability were assumed for the cyclone activity and storm tracks.The first mode describes the oscillation in the strength of the storm tracks in East Asia,which significantly increased since the mid-1980s,whereas the second mode describes a seesaw oscillation in the storm track strength between the Central-Southeast China and northem East Asia.The storm tracks over the Central-Southeast China have increased since the late 1960s.The possible causes for the variation of the cyclone activity and storm tracks are also explored.It is shown that wintertime precipitation,which has increased since the mid-1980s,concentrates in Central-Southeast China.The enhancement may be caused by the first mode of variability of storm tracks,whereas the interannual variability of precipitation may be linked to the second mode of the storm track variability.展开更多
Based on the ERA reanalysis winds data, the multi-time scale variations of Somali jet are analyzed synthetically. The jet's influences on rainfall in China on interannual, interdecadal and sub-monthly scales are a...Based on the ERA reanalysis winds data, the multi-time scale variations of Somali jet are analyzed synthetically. The jet's influences on rainfall in China on interannual, interdecadal and sub-monthly scales are also studied using correlation and composite analyses. The results demonstrate that the interdecadal variations of the jet are significant.The Somali jet became weaker in the 1960 s and became the weakest in the early 1970 s before enhancing slowly in the late 1970 s. Moreover, the relation between the Somali jet and summer precipitation in China is close, but varies on different timescales. Preliminary analysis shows that the intensity variations in May and June during the early days of establishment are well correlated with summer precipitation in China. The Somali jet intensity on the interdecadal scale is closely related with interdecadal variations of the precipitation in China. Regardless of leading or contemporaneous correlation, the correlations between the Somali jet intensity and the rainfall in northern and southern China show obvious interdecadal variations. Moreover, the link between the anomalies of the jet intensity in May-August and precipitation evolution on synoptic scale in China is further studied. China has more rainfall with positive anomalies of the Somali jet but less rainfall with negative anomalies during the active period of the jet. The influence of positive Somali jet anomalies on China precipitation is more evident.展开更多
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2009CB421406)the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2007BAC03A00)
文摘The characteristics of spring precipitation and water vapor transport in South China were analyzed by using observational data and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data. The results show that, during the spring, each component of the water cycle (precipitation, wind field, specific humidity, water vapor transport, etc.) in South China exhibits a notable interdecadal variability. An abrupt increase in spring precipitation occurred in the early 1970s. During the dry period from 1958 to 1971, a water vapor flux divergence (positive divQ) existed in South China, which may have led to the deficiency in rainfall. However, during the wet period from 1973 to 1989, there was a remarkable water vapor flux convergence (negative divQ) in South China, which may have resulted in the higher rainfall. The interdecadal variability of water vapor transport is closely related to the interdecadal variability of wind fields, although the interdecadal variability of specific humidity also plays a role to some extent, and the interdecadal variability of the zonal water vapor transport contributes much more to the interdecadal variability of spring precipitation than the meridional water vapor transport.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2012CB956201)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX2-EW-202)the Special Fund for Public Welfare Industry(Meteorology)(GYHY201106028)
文摘Characteristics of diurnal cycle precipitation over China are investigated using twice-daily observations by the China Meteorological Administration during 1960–2000. Characteristics investigated include nighttime/daytime precipitation amount(PA), intensity, and frequency. Geographically, the region is separated into western and eastern China by the 110°E longitude. Our analysis shows that there generally is more night-time than daytime precipitation in western China, particularly in the Sichuan Basin. Over eastern China, the opposite holds true, particularly along the southeast coast. Regional average monthly daytime and night-time precipitation peaks in the same month for both western and eastern China. Over western China, monthly night-time precipitation is always greater than that during daytime, but the night-time precipitation frequency(PF) is only greater in non-summer(June–August) months. Over eastern China, daytime precipitation is greater than that in the night-time during the warm season(May–August) in both amount and frequency. The night-day difference(night-time minus daytime) in PA over western China is mainly influenced by precipitation intensity, while over eastern China the night-day difference in rainfall amount is mostly driven by PF.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2010CB428606)the Chinese Natural Science Foundation Key Project(Grant No.41130962)the Nansen Scientific Society
文摘The authors examined the variability in wintertime cyclone activity and storm tracks and their relation to precipitation over China for the period 1951-2006 using the observational data.Two apparent modes of variability were assumed for the cyclone activity and storm tracks.The first mode describes the oscillation in the strength of the storm tracks in East Asia,which significantly increased since the mid-1980s,whereas the second mode describes a seesaw oscillation in the storm track strength between the Central-Southeast China and northem East Asia.The storm tracks over the Central-Southeast China have increased since the late 1960s.The possible causes for the variation of the cyclone activity and storm tracks are also explored.It is shown that wintertime precipitation,which has increased since the mid-1980s,concentrates in Central-Southeast China.The enhancement may be caused by the first mode of variability of storm tracks,whereas the interannual variability of precipitation may be linked to the second mode of the storm track variability.
基金National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,2012CB957804)Natural Science Foundation of China(41175051)
文摘Based on the ERA reanalysis winds data, the multi-time scale variations of Somali jet are analyzed synthetically. The jet's influences on rainfall in China on interannual, interdecadal and sub-monthly scales are also studied using correlation and composite analyses. The results demonstrate that the interdecadal variations of the jet are significant.The Somali jet became weaker in the 1960 s and became the weakest in the early 1970 s before enhancing slowly in the late 1970 s. Moreover, the relation between the Somali jet and summer precipitation in China is close, but varies on different timescales. Preliminary analysis shows that the intensity variations in May and June during the early days of establishment are well correlated with summer precipitation in China. The Somali jet intensity on the interdecadal scale is closely related with interdecadal variations of the precipitation in China. Regardless of leading or contemporaneous correlation, the correlations between the Somali jet intensity and the rainfall in northern and southern China show obvious interdecadal variations. Moreover, the link between the anomalies of the jet intensity in May-August and precipitation evolution on synoptic scale in China is further studied. China has more rainfall with positive anomalies of the Somali jet but less rainfall with negative anomalies during the active period of the jet. The influence of positive Somali jet anomalies on China precipitation is more evident.
