Influence of South China Sea SST and the ENSO on Winter Rainfall over South China

The present study investigates the influence of South China Sea （SCS） SST and ENSO on winter （January-February-March; JFM） rainfall over South China and its dynamic processes by using station observations for the period 1951-2003, Met Office Hadley Center SST data for the period 1900-2008, and ERA-40 reanalysis data for the period 1958-2002. It is found that JFM rainfall over South China has a sig- nificant correlation with Nio-3 and SCS SST. Analyses show that in El Nio or positive SCS SST anomaly years, southwesterly anomalies at 700 hPa dominate over the South China Sea, which in turn transports more moisture into South China and favors increased rainfall. A partial regression analysis indicates that the independent ENSO influence on winter rainfall occurs mainly over South China, whereas SCS SST has a larger independent influence on winter rainfall in northern part of South China. The temperature over South China shows an obvious decrease at 300 hPa and an increase near the surface, with the former induced by Nio-3 and the latter SCS SST anomalies. This enhances the convective instability and weakens the potential vorticity （PV）, which explains the strengthening of ascending motion and the increase of JFM rainfall over South China.

Relationship between Indian Ocean dipole and ENSO and their connection with the onset of South China Sea summer monsoon

Using Reynolds and Smith 1950 - 1998 re-constructed monthly-mean SST to discuss the relationship between the ENSO and Indian Ocean dipole （IOD） and their possible connection with the onset of South China Sea summer monsoon（ SCSSM）, the results are obtained as follows ： Most of IOD events have a closely positive relation to simultaneous ENSO events in summer and autumn. IOD events in autumn （ mature phase） are also closely related to ENSO events in winter （ mature phase）. When these two kinds of events happen in phase, i.e. , positive （negative） IOD events are coupled with E1 Nifío （La Nifía） events, they are always followed by late （ or early） onsets of SCSSM. On the contrary, when these two kinds of events happen out of phase, i.e. positive （negative） IOD events are coupled with La Nifia （ E1 Nifío） events, they are followed by normal onsets of SCSSM. In addition, single IOD events or single ENSO events cannot correspond well to the abnormal onset of SCSSM.

A possible role of the South China Sea in ENSO cycle

A data-based hypothesis on the role of the South China Sea (SCS) in ENSO cycle is proposed: during El Nino, there are westerly wind anomaly over the western equatorial Pacific and positive SST anomaly in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Meanwhile anomalous convection moves to the central Pacific with anomalous sinking over Indonesian Archipelago. The latter can cause southerly wind anomaly over the north of South China Sea (NSCS) and makes the NSCS warmer. The warm NSCS can attract the anomalous convection to it in some degree. This attraction is in favor for producing easterly wind anomaly over the western equatorial Pacific, so it helps to form a cycle.

Diagnosis of the ENSO modulation of tropical cyclogenesis over the southern South China Sea using a genesis potential index

The modulation of tropical cyclogenesis over the southern South China Sea （SSCS） by the El Nin o- Southern Oscillation （ENSO） is examined in October–December （OND）, when tropical cyclone （TC） activities are most active in this region. The results reveal that there were more TCs formed over the SSCS during La Nin a years and less TCs during El Nin o years. How different environmental factors （including low-level vorticity, mid-level relative humidity, vertical wind shear, and potential intensity） contribute to this influence is investigated, using a genesis potential （GP） index developed by Emanuel and Nolan. Composite anomalies of the GP index are produced for El Nin o and La Nin a years separately, which could account for the changes of TC frequency over the SSCS in different ENSO phases. The degree of contribution by each factor is determined quantitatively by producing composites of modified indices in which only one of the contributing factors varies, with the others set to climatology. The results show that the mid-level relative humidity makes the largest contribution to the ENSO modulation of tropical cyclogenesis over the SSCS. Although warmer sea surface temperatures （SSTs） and larger amount of evaporation from the ocean surface were observed over the SSCS during El Nin o years, anomalous descending motions due to the anomalous Walker circulations inhibited the upward transports of water vapor and led to less moisture contents in the middle troposphere, which suppressed TC formations.

Abnormality of the monsoon wind in the sea area along the southeasterncoast of China and the response of the northern areaof the South China Sea during the ENSO events

-Variations of monsoon wind field in the sea area along the southeastern coast of China during the ENSO events and its influence on the sea level and sea surface temperature (SST) are explored mainly on the basis of the data of monthly mean wind at 850 hPa and five coastal stations during 1973-1987. The results from the analyses of the data and theoretical estimation show that the southwest wind anomalies appeared in the study area during the events, and northeast wind anomalies occurred in general before the events. With the coastline of the area being parallel basically to the direction of the wind, an Ekman transport will result in an accumulation of the water near the coast or a departure of the water from the coast. As a result , the sea level and SST there will be affected markedly. During the events, southwest wind will intensify in the summer, and northeast wind will weaken in the winter. Their total effect is that a large negative anomaly of the sea level and SST will occur. The estimations indicate that the monsoon wind is stronger in the summer and weaker in the winter than the normal by 1-1. 5 m/s during the events, and this anomaly will cause a decrease of the sea level by 7-11 cm . Changes of the wind field, therefore, is mainly responsible for a large negative anomalies of the sea level and SST there during the ENSO events.

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Thermal Stress to China's Coral Reefs in South China Sea

Coral bleaching, caused by elevated sea surface temperature(SST), is occurring more frequently and seriously worldwide. Due to the lack of field observations, we understand little about the large-scale variability of thermal stress in the South China Sea(SCS) and its effect on China's coral reefs. This paper used 4-km high resolution gap-filled SST(Filled SST) data and thermal stress data related to coral bleaching derived from Coral Reef Temperature Anomaly Database(Co RTAD) to quantify the spatial and temporal characteristics of chronic thermal stress and acute thermal stress to China's coral reefs in SCS from 1982 to 2009. We analyzed the trend of SST in summer and the thermal stress frequency, intensity and duration during this period. The results indicate that, as a chronic thermal stress, summer mean SST in SCS shows an average upward trend of 0.2℃/decade and the spatial pattern is heterogeneous. Waters of Xisha Islands and Dongsha Islands of the northern SCS are warming faster through time compared to Zhongsha Islands and Nansha Islands sea areas of the southern SCS. High frequency bleaching related thermal stress events for these reefs are seen in the area to the northwest of Luzon Island. Severe anomaly thermal stress events are more likely to occur during the subsequent year of the El Nino year for these coral reefs. Besides, the duration of thermal stress varies considerably by anomaly year and by region.

Spatial and temporal variation characteristics of ocean waves in the South China Sea during the boreal winter

The spatial and temporal variation characteristics of the waves in the South China Sea （SCS） in the boreal winter during the period of 1979/1980-2011/2012 have been investigated based on the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts interim （ERA-Interim） reanalysis dataset. The results show that the lead- ing mode of significant wave height anomalies （SWHA） in the SCS exhibits significant interannual variation and a decadal shift around the mid-1990s, and features a basin-wide pattern in the entire SCS with a center located in the west of the Luzon Strait. The decadal change from a weak regime to a strong regime is mainly associated with the enhancement of winter monsoon modulated by the Pacific decadal oscillation （PDO）. The interannual variation of the SWHA has a significant negative correlation with the E1 Nino Southern Oscillation （ENSO） in the same season and the preceding autumn. For a better understanding of the physi- cal mechanism between the SCS ocean waves and ENSO, further investigation is made by analyzing atmo- spheric circulation. The impact of the ENSO on the SWHA over the SCS is bridged by the East Asian winter monsoon and Pacific-East Asian teleconnection in the lower troposphere. During the E1 Nino （La Nino）, the anomalous Philippine Sea anticyclone （cyclone） dominates over the Western North Pacific, helps to weaken （enhance） East Asian winter monsoon and then emerges the negative （positive） SWHA in the SCS.

Variability of sea surface height in the South China Sea and its relationship to Pacific oscillations

The spatio-temporal variability modes of the sea surface height in the South China Sea（SCS-SSH） are obtained using the Cyclostationary Empirical Orthogonal Function（CSEOF） method, and their relationships to the Pacific basin scale oscillations are examined. The first CSEOF mode of the SCS-SSH is a strongly phase-locked annual cycle that is modulated by a slowly varying principal component（PC）; the strength of this annual cycle becomes reduced during El Ni？o events（at largest by 30% off in 1997/98） and enhanced during La Ni？a events. The second mode is a low frequency oscillation nearly on decadal time scale, with its spatial structure exhibiting an obscure month-dependence; the corresponding PC is highly correlated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation（PDO） index.Five independent oscillations in the Pacific are isolated by using the independent component（IC） analysis（ICA）method, and their effects on the SCS-SSH are examined. It is revealed that the pure ENSO mode（which resembles the east Pacific ENSO） has little effect on the low frequency variability of the SCS-SSH while the ENSO reddening mode（which resembles the central Pacific ENSO） has clear effect. As the ENSO reddening mode is an important constituent of the PDO, this explains why the PDO is more important than ENSO in modulating the low frequency variability of SCS-SSH. Meridional saddle like oscillation mode, the Kuroshio extension warming mode, and the equatorial cooling mode are also successfully detected by the ICA, but they have little effect on the low frequency variability of the SCS-SSH. Further analyses suggest the Pacific oscillations are probably influencing the variability of the SCS-SSH in ways that are different from that of the sea surface temperature（SST） in the SCS.

南海海温异常与ENSO的相关性

使用1958－1987COADS资料，应用复经验正交函数（CEOF）分析方法，分析南海海表面温度场（SST）和风场（u及v）。结果发现，南海海温异常基本独立于西太平洋，同时存在类似于ENSO事件的年际变化，ENSO发生前冬季南海有异常降温过程，之后有增暖事件发生。分析还表明，南海SST异常主要取决于经向风场的异常强迫。南海SST与ENSO事件的相关性实质上反映了季风异常对ENSO循环的影响。

ENSO背景下南海海表温度异常的跷跷板模态

基于多种海洋气象数据,对南海海表温度距平在ENSO背景下的年际变化特征进行了分析。发现南海海表温度距平具有明显的东北-西南反向变化的跷跷板模态:在厄尔尼诺年,南海西南部以越南南部沿岸为中心有明显的升温现象,东北部特别是吕宋海峡附近有明显的降温现象,拉尼娜年份相反。分析南海海表面的净热通量收支,发现除北部较浅的沿岸海外,其对海表温度升高起抑制作用。研究显示,南海海表温度异常的跷跷板模态主要与海洋动力结构变化相关。在厄尔尼诺年,南海西南部正的风应力旋度减弱,Ekman抽吸减弱,冷水上涌减少,导致温度升高;而东北部,则可能是由于低温的吕宋贯通流增强导致的温度降低。

ENSO及印度洋海盆模态关联的南海SST异常年代际变化及海洋平流输送的贡献

采用国际海-气综合数据集（The International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set, ICOADS）船舶观测资料及简单海洋同化分析数据（Simple Ocean Data Assimilation, SODA）, 研究了厄尔尼诺（El Nino-Southern Oscillation, ENSO）和印度洋海盆模态（Indian Ocean Basin, IOB）对南海海表温度（sea surface temperature, SST）影响的年代际变化, 并着重讨论了不同时期海洋平流输送对SST 异常的影响.结果表明, ENSO 事件对南海SST 的影响呈现显著的年代际变化特征;在1870-2007 年期间, 扣除资料较少的时期, 有4 个显著不同的时段, 分别是1892-1915 年、1930-1940 年、1960-1983年、1984-2007 年.在1950 年之前的两个时段, 南海在ENSO 期间出现一次显著的增暖, 而在1950 年之后的两个时段中, 南海出现了两次显著的增暖.除第一个时段外, 其余三个时段ENSO 发展期冬季大气潜热及短波辐射异常是导致南海增暖的主要原因, 海洋平流作用较弱; 而在最近的两个时段中, 海洋平流对ENSO 消亡年夏季南海增暖有重要影响.不同时段海洋平流对南海增暖贡献的差异说明ENSO 及IOB 对南海区域气候的影响具有明显的年代际变化特征.

南海大气季节内振荡特征及其与ENSO循环的关系

采用1979—2009年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、NOAA向外长波辐射(outgoing long-wave radiation,简称OLR)及扩展重建海表面温度资料,对南海大气季节内振荡(Intra-seasonal Oscillation,简称ISO)特征及其与ENSO循环的关系进行了诊断分析。结果表明:1)南海大气ISO的30~60 d周期在5—10月均显著。一般年南海大气ISO的对流传播在纬向上存在东传和西传,在经向上具有南北半球季节性摆动的特征。以低频动能表征的南海大气ISO强度年代际变化特征明显,近31 a来趋势增强,年变化呈单峰结构,峰值在7—8月。2)南海大气ISO的对流与ENSO循环显著相关,其强度在El Nio(La Nia)年减弱(增强)。与一般年对比,南海大气ISO对流在El Nio和La Nia年均表现为西传减弱、北传显著。北传特征表现为强对流活跃带于春季(4—5月)北跳至北半球(在La Nia年最北可至35°N),但在北半球的传播方向与一般年相比存在显著差异。3)南海大气ISO强度与ENSO循环关系密切,在El Nio(La Nia)年减弱(增强),两者表现为约半年(6~8个月)的滞后相关。Nio3区海表面温度异常序列与南海大气ISO强度的相关在中西太平洋地区和El Nio成熟前的春、秋季最显著,同时相关中心伴随低频动能高值区东移。

ENSO对南海北部初级生产力的影响

利用2002年7月至2014年12月的卫星遥感数据,研究ENSO期间我国南海北部的海表温度(SST)、风场等环境场变化特征,并探讨其对南海北部初级生产力的影响。结果表明,El Ni?o/La Ni?a期间南海北部初级生产力较正常年份变化显著,很大程度上受到ENSO的调控,其变化与风场、SST等的分布变化密切相关。具体趋势:厄尔尼诺年的冬季风期间,南海北部海域风场强度减小,沿岸海域SST升高,初级生产力降低,南海东北部海域SST降低,初级生产力升高,整个海域的总初级生产力与MEI指数呈负相关关系;拉尼娜年的冬季风期间,相应海域的风场、SST和初级生产力的变化则与厄尔尼诺期间的相反,整个海域的总初级生产力与MEI指数呈正相关关系。

ENSO与南海SST关系的年代际变化

基于NOAA重建的海面温度(sea surface temperature,SST)资料和NCEP再分析大气资料,研究了ENSO(El Ni o-Southern Oscillation)与南海SST关系的年代际变化。结果表明:ENSO影响南海SST的冬、夏季“双峰”现象发生了显著的年代际变化,即冬季的“峰值”自20世纪80年代显著减弱,而夏季的“峰值”稳定持续且在20世纪70年代之后增强;冬季“峰值”的减弱可能与冬季西北太平洋反气旋的年代际变化有关,夏季“峰值”的维持和增强可能与20世纪70年代之后印度洋SST“电容器”效应的增强有关。

近50 a ENSO时频特征及其与南海台风的相关性

【目的】分析表征ENSO事件的特征值和南海台风活动的多时间尺度结构特征及其相关关系。【方法】采用日本气象厅东京台风中心(JMA)1967-2016年西北太平洋TC最佳路径数据集,统计分析了近50 a来南海台风活动月频数。同时又采用Morlet小波变换、交叉小波变换、小波相干等方法,分析了近50 a来ENSO事件时频变化特征及其与南海台风相关性。【结果与结论】ENSO循环具有2-6 a的主周期;7-10月南海台风活动最为频繁,其频数时间序列存在准2 a尺度周期;ENSO指数与南海台风活动频数的相关表现在多个时间尺度上。1970-1978年、1995-2000年,ONI指数和南海台风活动频数在2-6 a周期尺度上具有较好的相关关系,并且南海台风活动频数变化先于ONI指数半个周期。1980-1985年间,在1.5-3 a的周期尺度上SOI指数和南海台风活动频数具有较好的相关关系,且两序列同步变化。

前期青藏高原积雪与ENSO对南海夏季风强度的协同影响

基于1980—2018年罗格斯大学全球积雪实验室积雪面积、英国气象局哈得来中心海温、欧洲中期天气预报中心(ECMWF)第5代再分析(ERA-5)土壤湿度、美国国家环境预报中心和美国国家大气研究中心(NCEP/NCAR)再分析、美国国家海洋大气管理局(NOAA)气候预测中心降水(CMAP)和全球降水气候计划降水(GPCP)等数据,采用相关、合成和回归等分析方法,分析了前期青藏高原积雪和厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(ENSO)年际尺度变化对南海夏季风强度及降水的协同影响。结果表明:在年际尺度上,青藏高原积雪、ENSO与南海夏季风变率有密切关系,当青藏高原春季积雪西部偏多且东部偏少时,夏季高原西部对流层温度偏低,在高原上空产生异常下沉气流并向外辐散,引起中国南海地区对流层中低层为异常下沉气流。另外,赤道中东太平洋海温异常偏高则会使夏季印度洋海温异常偏高,对流层温度偏高,在西北太平洋产生东北风异常,加强西北太平洋和中国南海上空的反气旋性环流异常。在青藏高原积雪和ENSO共同影响下,夏季850 hPa中国南海上空反气旋异常进一步加强,南海夏季风强度减弱,降水减少。

AN ENSO-LIKE OSCILLATION SYSTEM

This paper presents the following data based hypothesis on the mechanism of the El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle: during the warm phase of ENSO, there are westerly wind anomalies over the equatorial west central Pacific and the sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial east central Pacific is higher. The latter can strengthen Hadley circulation, and the west component of the Hadley circulation anomaly may cause southerly monsoon circulation. When the monsoon is a southerly anomaly, SST in the South China Sea (SCS) becomes higher. When the SCS gets warmer, the atmospheric convection will move to it, and then easterly anomaly wind will occur over the western Pacific. A cycle is completed. This hypothesis was used to construct an analogical oscillator model that produces ENSO like oscillations. The negative feedback mechanism of the hypothesis is SST anomaly in the SCS. This negative feedback mechanism is quite different from others proposed before, is not within the Pacific and does not depend on ocean waves and their boundary reflection.

南海夏季风爆发与前期东亚冬季风异常的关系以及ENSO的作用

基于ERA-interim再分析资料采用相关分析研究了东亚冬季风和南海夏季风爆发的关系,并探讨了ENSO在其中的作用。结果表明,弱冬季风之后的南海地区5月有异常东风、降水偏少,对应于夏季风爆发偏晚;强冬季风之后则相反;但上述关系并不十分显著。进一步利用线性回归将东亚冬季风分为与ENSO有关和无关的部分,对于与ENSO有关的冬季风,上述冬季风—夏季风爆发的关系的显著性有明显提高;但与ENSO无关的冬季风和夏季风爆发并无显著联系。这说明冬季风—南海夏季风爆发的关系主要是由与ENSO有关的冬季风造成的。这一关系可以用ENSO激发的菲律宾异常反气旋或气旋来解释,以弱冬季风之后夏季风爆发偏晚为例:El Ni?o事件一方面激发出菲律宾异常反气旋,使得冬季风偏弱;另一方面又引起热带印度洋增暖,由于局地海气相互作用正反馈和印度洋电容器效应,菲律宾异常反气旋得以维持到晚春。该异常反气旋及其南侧的异常东风不利于南海夏季风的爆发,从而导致夏季风爆发偏晚。

南海近海面风场变化特征及其与ENSO的相关性研究

利用1979—2017年共39 a欧洲中期天气预报中心(ECMWF)海表面10 m风场资料,采用经验正交函数方法(EOF)、小波时频特征分析等方法分析了南海近海面风场变化特征及其对ENSO的响应。结果表明:南海近海面风场第一模态海表面平均风速呈减小趋势,呈现年代际变化,且与ENSO相关,但相关性在1990年后趋于减小;第二模态中南海北部和南部平均风速呈减小趋势,中部增大;第三模态中南海中部海表面平均风速趋于减小,北部和南部增大,第二和第三模态均表现为年际变化,且均与ENSO显著相关,近年来ENSO与第三模态的相关性逐渐增强。春季南海表面平均风速从南到北逐渐增加;夏季在越南沿岸部分海域仍有一个风速极大值中心,从该海域向四周逐渐减小,整片海域风向均是西南风;秋季由南向北依次增加;冬季南海整片海域风速都较大,越南沿岸和我国东沙群岛海域存在两个极大值中心。

Dynamic of ENSO towards upwelling and thermal front zone in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

The El Ni?o Southern Oscillation(ENSO) is a natural phenomenon that relates to the fluctuation of temperatures over the Pacific Ocean. The ENSO significantly affects the ocean dynamics including upwelling event and coastal front. A recent study discovered the seasonal upwelling in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia(ECPM), which is significant to the fishery industry in this region. Thus, it is vital to have a better understanding of the influence of ENSO towards the coastal upwelling and thermal front in the ECPM. The sea surface temperature(SST) data achieved from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS) aboard Aqua satellite are used in this study to observe the SST changes from 2005 to 2015. However, due to cloud cover issue, a reconstruction of data set is applied to MODIS data using the data interpolating empirical orthogonal function(DINEOF) to fill in the missing gap in the dataset based on spatial and temporal available data. Besides, a wavelet transformation analysis is done to determine the temperature fluctuation throughout the time series. The DINEOF results show the coastal upwelling in the ECPM develops in July and reaches its peak in August with a clear cold water patch off the coast. There is also a significant change of SST distribution during the El Ni?o years which weaken the coastal upwelling event along the ECPM. The wavelet transformation analysis shows the highest temperature fluctuation is in 2009–2010 which indicates the strongest El Ni?o throughout the time period. It is suggested that the El Ni?o is favourable for the stratification in water column thus it is weakening the upwelling and thermal frontal zone formation in ECPM waters.