Seasonal Variation and Heat Preference of the South Asia High

By use of the NCEP/ NCAR reanalysis data, the seasonal variation of the South Asia high (SAH) is analyzed. The influences of temporal and spatial variations of the middle and upper level atmospheric temperatures, the visible heat sources, and the diabatic heating rates in the whole atmospheric column on the seasonal variation of the SAH are discussed. Results show that the SAH has two seasonal balancing modes, one of which is the land high in summer and the other the ocean high in winter. The land high itself can be divided into two patterns as well, that is the Tibetan high and the Iranian high. Heating fields have important impacts on the seasonal variation of the SAH. The SAH is a warm high and its center has the property of heat preference, usually locating over or moving to an area with relatively larger heating rates. The annual cycle of the SAH is mainly controlled by the seasonal process of the latent and sensible heating in South Asia. Strong shortwave radiative heating in the north at high latitudes and over the Tibetan Plateau also has an effects on the northward movement and maintenance of the SAH. The cooling effect of infrared radiation is an important cause in weakening the SAH.

Analysis of the Simulated Climatic Characters of the South Asia High with a Flexible Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere GCM

The ability of a climate model to reproduce the climatic characters of the South Asia High （SAH） is assessed by analyzing the 110-yr output of a Flexible Coupled GCM, version 0 （FGCM-0）. Comparing the results of FGCM-0 with the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the major findings show that FGCM-0 has better results in simulation of the geopotential height field at 100 hPa, and reproduces fairly the main atmospheric circulation centers. However, there are still some differences in the simulated results compared with the reanalysis data. The coupled model also successfully reproduces the mean seasonal variation of the SAH, that is, it moves from the Pacific Ocean to the Asian continent, remaining over the Tibetan Plateau from winter to summer, and then withdraws from the Tibetan Plateau to the Pacific Ocean from summer to winter. However, such observed relationships between the SAH positions and the summer precipitation patterns cannot be fairly reproduced in the FGCM-0.

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.

COMPARISONS OF THE WEST PACIFIC SUBTROPICAL HIGH AND THE SOUTH ASIA HIGH BETWEEN NCEP/NCAR AND ECMWF REANALYSIS DATASETS

Comparisons of the west Pacific subtropical high with the South Asia High are made using the NCEP/NCAR and ECMWF 500 hPa and 100 hPa monthly boreal geopotential height fields for the period 1961-2000. Discrepancies are found for the time prior to 1980. The west Pacific subtropical high in the NCEP/NCAR data is less intense than in ECMWF data before 1980. The range and strength of the west Pacific subtropical high variation described by the NCEP/NCAR data are larger than those depicted by ECMWF data. The same situation appears in the 100-hPa geopotential field. These discoveries suggest that the interdecadal variation of the two systems as shown by the NCEP/NCAR data may not be true. Besides, the South Asia High center in the NCEP/NCAR data is obviously stronger than in the ECMWF data during the periods 1969, 1979-1991 and 1992-1995. Furthermore, the range is larger from 1992 to 1995.

IMPACT OF THE HEATING OVER SOUTH ASIA UPON THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH OVER WEST-PACIFIC

A case is reported, during which the Subtropical High over the Western Pacific (hereafter, SHWP in abbreviation) shifted northwestward and met-yu at Chaniiang River valley ended. Several numerical experiments onSHWP activity influenced by the heating over south Asia monsoon area are carried out, and the statistic significance of the results is checked. The results indicate that the enhancement of positive heating over South Asia willmotivate a wave-like series of anomaly centers, which propagate northeastward from the maximum heating center.so that a strong positive potential height anomaly center will set up from North China to Japan at Day X resultingin the enhancement of SHWP. Comparison of the influence upon SHWP by the heating over south Asia monsoonarea with that over ITCZ area south to SHWP is also carried out. It is pointed out that the heating over South Asiamonsoon area tends to favor SHWP north\vard movement while the heating over ITCZ area tends to thvor SHWPwestward stretching. As for the time to begin to influence on SHWP, the heating over south Asia monsoon areafavors the enhancement of SHWP atter Day 3 while that over ITCZ south to SHWP effects atter Day 5.

ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 100-hPa SOUTH ASIA HIGH AND MEI-YU IN JIANGSU PROVINCE

By analyzing the change of an index for the characteristics of South Asia High and variations of upper-air troughs in 2002–2005,we studied the impact of South Asia high on the beginning and ending of the Mei-yu(i.e.sustained rain corresponding to the ripening season of plum)in Jiangsu province.Statistic verification is conducted on the relationships between the index and the Mei-yu season in 1991–2005 to examine the impacts of the SAH characteristics index on a rain intensity index of Mei-yu and regional distribution of a characteristics index for different annual patterns of Mei-yu.Historical composite is performed of the 100-hPa circulation field for these patterns using the 100-hPa geopotential height of Northern Hemisphere from 2002 to 2005 and 45-year NCEP reanalysis to study the difference in the circulation for different patterns of Mei-yu.Diagnostic and statistic conclusions,which share much in common,have been obtained as follows.(1)The characteristics preceding to and the advancement/retreat of SAH and the movement of westerly troughs are the factors that influence the onset time of the Mei-yu season;after the Mei-yu onset,the progression/withdrawal of SAH and how farther east it extends are determining how long the Mei-yu lasts and when it ends.(2)During the Mei-yu,the general 100-hPa circulation situation and average characteristics of the SAH are well corresponding to the characteristics of the season and annual patterns of Mei-yu.In addition,the averages of the SAH ridgeline and east-extending index for June,July and the Mei-yu season have some implications to the forecast of the index of Mei-yu intensity.These conclusions can be served as powerful means in determining the starting/ending dates, duration and annual pattern of the Mei-yu season.

Relation among Summer Rainfall in South Shandong and High Pressure in South Asia and Atmospheric Circulation

[Objective] The aim was to study the relation among summer rainfall in south Shandong and high pressure in South Asia and atmospheric circulation.[Method] Taking the precipitation in south Shandong along the Yellow River and Huaihe River,using the NCEP/NCAR data and summer rainfall data in south Shandong in summer from 1961 to 2005,the characteristics of high pressure in South Asia and atmospheric circulation in drought year and flood year in summer in south Shandong Province were expounded.The mechanism of 100 hPa pressure in South Asian influencing precipitation in south Shandong Province was discussed.The interaction of different equipment,different altitude and different system of atmosphere circulation in low and high layer was expounded.[Results] The first mode of EOF decomposition of precipitation in summer in south Shandong Province explained above 63% variances and reflected universal form of precipitation.The difference of central position of the central position of height field of high pressure in South Asia in drought and flood year was small.But the wind field center was inconsistent.As the area of SAH was smaller and its eastern ridge line stretched to the Western Pacific between the middle of south Shandong and Changjiang Estuary,flood summer occurred when there was an unusual cyclone lied in the east of 90° E and south of Lake Baikal.The area of SAH was larger and its eastern ridge line stretching to the Western Pacific over Changjiang Estuary,drought summer occurred,when there was an unusual anticyclone lied in the east of 90° E and south of Lake Baikal.SAH and summer rainfall also had close relationship with Tele-connection Patterns over the Eurasia continent and EAP Tele-connection.When the height anomaly was in '+-+' form in the north of the Caspian Sea,around Lake Baikal and Kamchatka,and when the height anomaly in East Asia-West Pacific area was in '-+' form from low altitude to high altitude,there was much precipitation in summer;and conversely,it was drought in summer in south Shandong.[Conclusion] It provided the oretical basis for summer rainfall in south Shandong.

Characteristics of South Asia High in Summer in 2010 and Its Relationship with Rainbands in China

The characteristics of the South Asia high (SAH) and subtropical westerly jets in the summer of 2010 and their relationship with the changes in rainband in China were analyzed. As shown by the results, the SAH in the upper troposphere extended northward relatively late in June 2010. Correspondingly, the subtropical westerly jets on the north side of the SAH jumped northward comparatively late, thus delaying the formation of a strong divergence field in the upper air over the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley. This was one of the main causes for the late onset of plum rains in the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley. In July, there was a vertical structure consisting of upper-level divergence and low-level convergence near the subtropical westerly jets on the north side of the SAH and in the air stream dispersal area on the northeast side of the eastward-extending SAH, which was the dynamic mechanism bringing about frequent and extremely heavy rainstorms during the plum rain period in this year. The SAH in the upper troposphere affected the subtropical high in the lower stratosphere, and thereby led to changes in the main rainband location in China.

ANALYSIS OF EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POTENTIAL VORTICITY LOCATED AT SOUTH EDGE OF SOUTH ASIA HIGH ON INTENSIFICATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONES

The NCEP 1°×1°reanalysis of June-to-September dataset between 2002 to 2009 is used in this study to conduct statistical analysis of the relationship between the environmental potential vorticity(PV)on 150 hPa located at the south edge of South Asia High(SAH)and TCs making landfall.The results show that 23 of the TCs are affected by the PV on 150 hPa located at the south edge of SAH between 2002 to2009,and three TCs'center pressure decline after the high-value environmental PV moves to the center of the TCs.These three TCs are Senlaku(0216),Bilis(0604)and Linfa(0903).Through diagnostic analysis from the viewpoint of isolines,we determined the relationship between the intensification of these TCs and the PV anomaly at high levels;the isentropic surface is close to the high level’s PV anomaly under the influence of the 150-hPa PV anomaly,leading to the decline of isentropic surfaces on both sides of the PV anomaly.Then the warm core of the middle and high levels of the TC strengthens and PV increases at the middle level,and both of them are beneficial to the reinforcement of the cyclonic vorticity in the low level.As a result,the center pressure of the TC declines.According to Wu’s theory of Slantwise Vorticity Development(SVD),the incline of the isentropic surfaces leads to the development of vertical vorticity,contributing to the vertical motion and the release of the latent heat.Then the warm core of the TC strengthens and the TC strengthens,too.Otherwise,piecewise PV inversion also shows that the high-level PV influences the mid-level more than the low level.

ANALYSIS ON EFFECT OF SOUTH ASIA HIGH ON MID-SUMMER EXTREME DROUGHT AND FLOOD IN SICHUAN-CHONGQING REGION

NCEP/NCAR data are utilized to analyze an extreme flood year(1998) and an extreme dry year(2006) in the Sichuan-Chongqing region(SCR) and the results are as follows. The positive divergence of South Asia High(SAH) is stronger in the flood year; the position of the ridge line of SAH is southward compared with the annual average; Western Pacific Subtropical High(WPSH) extends westward and its ridge line is southward. In the drought year, the positive divergence of SAH is weaker, its ridge line is northward, and the position of WPSH is also northward. As shown in the dynamics, in drought(flood) years, negative(positive) vorticity advection in the upper atmosphere can cause the atmosphere to ascend(descend), and anomalous circulation of SAH displays divergence(convergence), and anomalous circulation of the lower atmosphere shows convergence(divergence). Thermal structure of the atmosphere shows that there is warm(cold) temperature advection in the lower atmosphere, and the vertical distribution of diabetic heating causes SAH's local circulation to display convergence(divergence) and affects vertical motion of the lower atmosphere circulation eventually. To some extent, the two extreme years in the SCR is closely related to the vertical motion of atmosphere circulation and the variation of such vertical motion is caused by differences of interactions between SAH and lower atmosphere circulations.

Conversion Characteristics between Barotropic and Baroclinic Circulations of the SAH in Its Seasonal Evolution

In the context of 1958–1997 NCEP/ NCAR re-analyses, the South Asia high (SAH) was divided into two components, barotropic and baroclinic, the former based on mass weighed vertical integration and the latter on the difference between the measured circulation and the barotropic component counterpart, whereupon the barotropic and baroclinic circulation conversion features were addressed of the research SAH during its seasonal variation. Evidence suggests that i) in summer (winter), the SAH is a thermal (dynamical) system, with dominant baroclinicity (barotropicity), either of the components accounting for approximately 70% of the total contribution; ii) as time progresses from winter to summer, accompanied by the barotropic SAH evolving into its baroclinic analog, the SAH is moving under the “ thermal guidance” of its baroclinic component circulation, suggesting that the component circulation precedes the system itself in variation; iii) the reversal happens when it goes from summer to winter, with the SAH displacement under the “ dynamic steering” of its barotropic component circulation. Key words SAH (South Asia high) - Barotropic circulation - Baroclinic circulation - Seasonal variation (1)This work is supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China under Grant No.49735170.

青藏高原东南缘攀枝花市降水特征及其成因初探

为更好地认识青藏高原东南缘地形复杂区降水特征及其成因,利用位于青藏高原东南缘的攀枝花市2015—2020年72个国家、区域气象观测站资料和欧洲中心0.25°×0.25°分辨率的ERA5再分析资料,对攀枝花降水特征及成因进行分析。结果表明:(1)攀枝花降水具有地形作用突出、北多南少的特点,降水日数是造成降水空间分布差异的主要原因之一。(2)攀枝花夜雨特征显著,呈单峰型,降水峰值出现在03时(北京时),因攀枝花位于干热河谷区,日间湿度小、夜间湿度大,夜间较饱和的大气更容易凝结,触发降水,湿度的日变化是攀枝花易发生夜雨的原因之一。(3)攀枝花干湿季分明,6—10月为攀枝花湿季,11月至次年5月为攀枝花干季,6月和10月是干湿转换的过渡期。6月孟加拉湾西南季风爆发,攀枝花雨季开始,干季逐渐结束;10月干燥的高原南支西风气流加强,雨季趋于结束,干季开始。

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA MONSOON WITH THE SOUTH ASIA HIGH AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS OF SEASONAL OR INTERANNUAL VARIATIONS

By using NCEP/NCAR daily data of the wind,the vapour and the temperature from 1958 to 1997 as well as the monthly geopotential height and the vertical velocity data,the evolution characteristics of the potential vorticity before and after the onset of the South China Sea (SCS) monsoon are studied.An intensity index is developed by using potential vorticity.In the meantime,the relationship between the intensity index and the position as well as the intensity of the South Asia High (SAH) is analyzed.The results show that,the seasonal and interannual variations of the SCS monsoon are remarkable,the anomaly of the summer monsoon is obvious before 1978.The intensity of the SCS monsoon has a close relation with the position of the SAH. When the position of the SAH inclines to west in the previous December,the SAH will incline to north in May and the intensity of the SCS summer monsoon will much enhance.Conversely,the SAH inclines to south,then the intensity of the SCS summer monsoon will be weaker.

夏季南亚高压与川渝地区降水的关系研究

利用我国160个测站中川渝地区的代表站及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,研究了盛夏川渝地区降水与南亚高压东西振荡关系及其可能产生的影响。结果表明:川渝降水变化存在与南亚高压相适应的时间尺度,即准5年尺度、准10年尺度。在准5年尺度上,20世纪90年代中期以前,南亚高压东西振荡表现的位相与盆地东部降水变化位相相反,与盆地西部降水变化呈正位相,90年代末期以后与川渝地区降水变化位相趋势一致,但与四川西部高原降水的位相关系对应不明显。在年代际尺度,川渝盆地东、西部和川西高原三地降水变化存在与南亚高压东西振荡相一致的位相,说明年代际尺度变化中,当南亚高压长期表现为东伸模态,川渝降水呈总体偏多趋势。同时,川渝地区的降水变化与100hPa上高压两侧及中低层四川上空风场变化有显著的遥相关,在"东涝西旱"年份,南亚高压16800 gpm线位于四川与重庆交界上空,在"西涝东旱"年份,南亚高压16800 gpm线位于湖北西部上空,在两地降水差异显著年,南亚高压东西振荡主要表现在川渝盆地上空摆动,用16800 gpm线定义的东西振荡指数对认识川渝地区降水异常有很好的指示意义。

南亚高压特征参数与我国夏季降水的关系分析

利用1951—2008年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,结合国家气象中心提供的台站降水资料,分析了近30年夏季南亚高压各特征指数年际和年代际变化及其与我国夏季降水异常的联系。结果表明,除脊线外南亚高压面积、强度、东脊点位置和中心位置都存在显著的年代际变化。偏相关显示,当南亚高压面积不变时,东脊点位置与高压强度之间不存在显著的偏相关性。夏季南亚高压东脊点位置与长江流域中游、江淮流域的夏季降水有显著的正相关,与华南夏季降水有着显著的负相关,较其他各指数而言,南亚高压东脊点位置指数与全国夏季降水相关性更好。滑动相关分析显示,南亚高压东脊点位置与我国江淮流域夏季降水的相关性存在明显的转折,由20世纪70年代以前的负相关转变为70年代以后的正相关。分析表明夏季南亚高压东脊点位置指数为研究和预测江淮地区的降水异常提供了一个有利的信号。

4—5月南亚高压重建过程与中南半岛对流活动的关系

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、NOAA的OLR资料及CMAP降水资料,研究了1979—2008年历年4—5月南亚高压在中南半岛上空建立过程的特征,发现有21年存在西部中心生成加强与东部中心减弱消亡共同进行的过程,称为南亚高压的重建过程。南亚高压重建过程存在明显的年际差异,根据重建开始时间可分为重建正常年、偏早年及偏晚年。重建正常年,重建之前,对流活动中心在中南半岛南面的海洋大陆一带,到重建阶段,对流伸向中南半岛。南亚高压重建偏早年,对流推进至中南半岛上空的时间偏早;而重建偏晚年则刚好相反。说明南亚高压重建过程与中南半岛上空的对流活动有密切关系。南亚高压重建时,中南半岛的对流活动带来充沛的降水,释放出大量的凝结潜热。已有研究表明在由冬向夏的演变过程中,南亚高压表现出"趋热性",因此,对流降水释放的凝结潜热可能是南亚高压在中南半岛上空重建的原因。

南亚高压南部环境位涡对台风加强的影响分析、

利用2002—2009年8年中6、7、8、9月的NCEP 1°×1°再分析资料对登陆我国大陆的台风与150 hPa高层位涡的关系进行统计,8年中共有23个台风受到150 hPa南亚高压南部边缘位涡的影响。其中3个台风(0216"森拉克"、0604"碧利斯"、0903"莲花"),在其发展初期在南亚高压南部的大值环境位涡进入台风中心后,台风中心气压下降。通过诊断分析从等值线的角度得出高层位涡与此类台风发展的关系,在150 hPa高层正位涡异常的作用下,等熵面向大值位涡处汇聚,这种形式可使正位涡异常区两侧的等熵面向下倾斜,从而引起台风中高层的暖中心加强以及中层位涡增大,中层的位涡增大以及暖中心的出现又有利于低层气旋性涡度增长,导致台风中心气压下降,使台风强度增强。根据吴国雄的倾斜涡度发展(SVD)理论,其原因可能是等熵面倾斜使垂直涡度发展,从而加强对流运动潜热释放使台风暖心加强,使得台风的强度加强。通过位涡反演试验也证实了高层位涡对中层位涡发展的影响大于低层。

春末夏初南亚高压的形成过程及其与ENSO事件的联系

利用ERA-Interim再分析资料,分析了春末夏初南亚高压建立过程的气候特征和可能机制,并讨论了ENSO事件冷、暖位相对南亚高压建立过程年际变化的影响。结果表明,第24候,气候平均的南亚高压形成于中南半岛东南部的对流层高层,这与菲律宾群岛南部和中南半岛局地对流的加强有关。一方面,菲律宾群岛南部对流加强能够在其北部产生负涡度源,在高空热带东风急流的作用下,其下游的南海地区出现负涡度,相应地出现闭合的高空反气旋,南亚高压初步形成。另一方面,中南半岛局地对流令南亚高压中心加强发展,并使其最终位于中南半岛上空。春末夏初菲律宾群岛附近对流的经向摆动决定了南亚高压的形成位置,而中南半岛局地对流的强度则控制着南亚高压的加强北抬。由于菲律宾南部和中南半岛的局地对流都受ENSO事件影响,因此在ENSO事件的冷、暖位相下,南亚高压的形态和位置在其建立过程中差异明显。在暖事件发生后,热带对流在加里曼丹岛以东发展,南亚高压形成于苏门答腊群岛北部至泰国湾上空,此时中南半岛对流偏弱,限制了南亚高压的北抬发展;而在冷事件发生后,热带对流在菲律宾群岛中部加强,同时南亚高压形成于中南半岛中部上空,随后中南半岛对流迅速加强,令南亚高压明显西伸北抬。因此,ENSO事件的冷、暖位相对春末夏初南亚高压的形成位置有显著影响。

南亚高压和西太平洋副热带高压的变化及其与降水的联系

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和我国160站月降水资料,分析了南亚高压与西太平洋副热带高压(下称西太副高)在不同时间尺度上的关系及对降水的影响。结果表明,南亚高压东伸指数存在3～6年、10～15年和20年以上的周期变化,西太副高西伸指数存在3～6年和20年以上的周期变化。其中在3～6年尺度和10～15年尺度上,南亚高压东伸(西退)与西太副高西伸(东退)关系更为明显,并以1980-1990年代的位相关系最好。交叉谱分析表明,在10～15年左右,3年及6年的周期上,两者的关系显著。进一步分析两者与同期降水的关系表明,在10～15年尺度上,南亚高压与我国长江流域的降水关系最好,为正相关,但在这一尺度上,西太副高与该流域降水关系不显著,说明在一定程度上长江流域降水年代际变化与南亚高压联系更为密切。因此,在10～15年尺度上,南亚高压可作为预测长江流域降水年代际变化的一个参考信号。

夏季北半球极涡与南亚高压东西振荡的关系

利用合成分析、交叉谱和Morlet小波分析,讨论了夏季100 hPa极涡面积指数与南亚高压东西振荡间的关系。结果表明:极涡与南亚高压东伸指数之间存在显著的反相关关系,当极涡面积扩张时,南亚高压易偏西;当极涡面积收缩时,南亚高压则易东伸。交叉谱的结果也表明:二者在不同波数上,也具有显著关系,在7.5年及3年周期振动上,二者位相相差较小。同时,在南亚高压异常偏东及偏西年份,高度场、流场、温度场均有不同的配置形式,这在一定程度上反映了南亚高压偏东及偏西年不同的环流特征。