The Summer Monsoon Onset over the Tropical Eastern Indian Ocean: The Earliest Onset Process of the Asian Summer Monsoon

The onset process of the tropical eastern Indian Ocean （TEIO） summer monsoon （TEIOSM） and its relationship with the cross-equatorial flows are investigated via climatological analysis. Climatologically, results indicate that the earliest onset process of the Asian summer monsoon occurs over the TEIO at pentad 22 （April 15-20）. Unlike the abrupt onset of the South China Sea （SCS） summer monsoon, the TEIOSM onset process displays a stepwise advance. Moreover, a close relationship between the TEIOSM development and the northward push of the cross-equatorial flows over 80^-90~E is revealed. A difference vorticity center, together with the counterpart over the southern Indian Ocean, constitutes a pair of difference cyclonic vortices, which strengthens the southwesterly wind over the TEIO and the northerly wind to the west of the Indian Peninsula from the end of March to late May. Therefore, the occurrence of the southwesterly wind over the TEIO is earlier than its counterpart over the tropical western Indian Ocean, and the cross-equatorial flows emerge firstly over the TEIO rather than over the Somali area. The former increases in intensity during its northward propagation, which provides a precondition for the TEIOSM onset and its northward advance.

ONSET AND RETREAT DATES OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SUMMER MONSOON AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE MONSOON INTENSITY IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE WARMING

Global gridded daily mean data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis(1948-2012) are used to obtain the onset date,retreat date and duration time series of the South China Sea summer monsoon(SCSSM) for the past 65 years.The summer monsoon onset(retreat) date is defined as the time when the mean zonal wind at 850 hPa shifts steadily from easterly(westerly) to westerly(easterly) and the pseudo-equivalent potential temperature at the same level remains steady at greater than 335 K(less than 335 K) in the South China Sea area[110-120°E(10-20°N)].The clockwise vortex of the equatorial Indian Ocean region,together with the cross-equatorial flow and the subtropical high,plays a decisive role in the burst of the SCSSM.The onset date of the SCSSM is closely related to its intensity.With late(early) onset of the summer monsoon,its intensity is relatively strong(weak),and the zonal wind undergoes an early(late) abrupt change in the upper troposphere.Climate warming significantly affects the onset and retreat dates of the SCSSM and its intensity.With climate warming,the number of early-onset(-retreat) years of the SCSSM is clearly greater(less),and the SCSSM is clearly weakened.

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.

Strengthened Regulation of the Onset of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon by the Northwest Indian Ocean Warming in the Past Decade

Traditionally,a delayed(early)onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon(SCSSM)has been observed to follow a warm(cold)El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)event in winter,supporting high seasonal predictability of SCSSM onset.However,the empirical seasonal forecasting skill of the SCSSM onset,solely based on ENSO,has deteriorated since 2010.Meanwhile,unexpected delayed onsets of the SCSSM have also occurred in the past decade.We attribute these changes to the Northwest Indian Ocean(NWIO)warming of the sea surface.The NWIO warming has teleconnections related to(1)suppressing the seasonal convection over the South China Sea,which weakens the impacts of ENSO on SCSSM onset and delays the start of SCSSM,and(2)favoring more high-frequency,propagating moist convective activities,which enhances the uncertainty of the seasonal prediction of SCSSM onset date.Our results yield insight into the predictability of the SCSSM onset under the context of uneven ocean warming operating within the larger-scale background state of global climate change.

Response of the South China Sea summer monsoon onset to air-sea heat fluxes over the Indian Ocean

We objectively define the onset date of the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon, after having evaluated previous studies and considered various factors. Then, interannual and interdecadal characteristics of the SCS summer monsoon onset are analyzed. In addition, we calculate air-sea heat fluxes over the Indian Ocean using the advanced method of CORARE3.0, based on satellite remote sensing data. The onset variation cycle has remarkable interdecadal variability with cycles of 16 a and 28 a. Correlation analysis between air-sea heat fluxes in the Indian Ocean and the SCS summer monsoon indicates that there is a remarkable lag correlation between them. This result has important implications for prediction of the SCS summer monsoon, and provides a scientific basis for further study of the onset process of this monsoon and its prediction. Based on these results, a linear regression equation is obtained to predict the onset date of the monsoon in 2011 and 2012. The forecast is that the onset date of 2011 will be normal or 1 pentad earlier than the normal year, while the onset date in 2012 will be 1-2 pentads later.

EAST ASIA SUMMER MONSOON ONSET DATE CALCULATED FROM OBSERVED, REANALYZED AND COMBINED DAILY RAINFALL

In this paper, the East Asia summer monsoon onset date lines in East China are calculated by the definition similar to the traditional one, with the ECMWF reanalyzed 850 hPa daily wind and observed, reana-lyzed and combined daily rainfall during 1980 ~ 1993. To make the onset date line as close as possible to the previous work, the earliest onset date limits have to be applied for the regions with different latitude and the daily mean datasets have to be smoothed by space before calculation, therefore their space-resolution is reduced to about 3 longitude ×1 latitude. The results show that the multiyear mean summer monsoon onset date lines are quite similar to each other. Compared with the one from the reanalysis, the 14-year average onset date line form combination is obviously improved in the southern Sichuan Basin and the correlation between observed and combined onset date is also slightly higher over the Huaihe valley and Northeast China. Since daily rainfall combination also improved the long term daily mean and standard deviation through the pentad CMAP, if no better daily dataset is available, such a kind of daily rainfall combination can be used to get reasonable result in the Indian monsoon region without sufficient observatories or over the North Pacific without any ground obser-vation at all in future study.

DETERMINATION OF SOUTH CHINA SEA MONSOON ONSET AND EAST ASIAN SUMMER MONSOON INDEX

Results of the definition of South China Sea summer monsoon onset date and East Asian summermonsoon index in recent years are summarized in this paper. And more questions to be resolved are introducedlater.

Thermal contrast between the Tibetan Plateau and tropical Indian Ocean and its relationship to the South Asian summer monsoon

The land-sea thermal contrast is an important driver for monsoon interannual variability and the monsoon onset.The thermal contrast between the Tibetan Plateau and the tropical Indian Ocean at the mid-upper troposphere is proposed as a thermal contrast index(TCI)for South Asian monsoon.The authors investigate the TCI associated with South Asian summer monsoon(SASM)intensity and SASM onset.It is observed that the TCI considering the Tibetan Plateau and tropical Indian Ocean demonstrates a stronger and closer correlation with SASM intensity(0.87)than either the Tibetan Plateau(0.42)or tropical Indian Ocean(-0.60)singly.It is implied that the TCI could preferably represent the impact of land-sea thermal condition on SASM activity.Further analysis reveals that the evolution of TCI is related to the SASM onset.The TCI is almost always larger in early onset years than it is in late onset years during the period before SASM onset.In addition,the change of the pentad-by-pentad increment of TCI leads the SASM variation.The correlation coefficient between the TCI increment and SASM index reaches a maximum when the TCI increment leads by 15 pentads.The results of this study show that the TCI plays an important role in SASM activities and is a potential indicator for SASM onset forecasting.

Recent Advances in Understanding Multi-scale Climate Variability of the Asian Monsoon

Studies of the multi-scale climate variability of the Asian monsoon are essential to an advanced understanding of the physical processes of the global climate system.In this paper,the progress achieved in this field is systematically reviewed,with a focus on the past several years.The achievements are summarized into the following topics:(1)the onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon;(2)the East Asian summer monsoon;(3)the East Asian winter monsoon;and(4)the Indian summer monsoon.Specifically,new results are highlighted,including the advanced or delayed local monsoon onset tending to be synchronized over the Arabian Sea,Bay of Bengal,Indochina Peninsula,and South China Sea;the basic features of the record-breaking mei-yu in 2020,which have been extensively investigated with an emphasis on the role of multi-scale processes;the recovery of the East Asian winter monsoon intensity after the early 2000s in the presence of continuing greenhouse gas emissions,which is believed to have been dominated by internal climate variability(mostly the Arctic Oscillation);and the accelerated warming over South Asia,which exceeded the tropical Indian Ocean warming,is considered to be the main driver of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall recovery since 1999.A brief summary is provided in the final section along with some further discussion on future research directions regarding our understanding of the Asian monsoon variability.

Roles of forced and inertially unstable convection development in the onset process of Indian summer monsoon

The NCEP/NCAR R1 reanalysis data are employed to investigate the impact of forced and inertial instability in the lower troposphere over the Arabian Sea on the onset process of Indian summer monsoon(ISM),and to reveal the important role of zonal advection of zonal geostrophic momentum played in the forced unstable convection.Results show that during the ISM onset the zero absolute vorticity contour(??=0)shifts northward due to the strong cross-equatorial pressure gradient in the lower troposphere over southern Arabian Sea.Thus a region with negative absolute vorticity is generated near the equator in the northern hemisphere,manifesting the evident free inertial instability.When a southerly passes through this region,under the influence of friction a lower convergence that facilitates the convection flourishing at the lower latitudes appears to the north of zero absolute vorticity contour.However,owing to such a traditional inertial instability,the convection is confined near the equator which does not have direct influence on the ISM onset.On the contrary in the region to the north of the zero absolute vorticity contour and to the south of the low pressure center near the surface,although the atmosphere there is inertially stable,the lower westerly jet can develop and bring on the apparent zonal advection of zonal geostrophic momentum.Both theoretical study and diagnosing analysis present that such a zonal advection of geostrophic momentum is closely associated with the zonal asymmetric distribution of meridional land-sea thermal contrast,which induces a convergence center near and further north of the westerly jet in the lower troposphere over the southwestern coast of the Indian Peninsula,providing a favorable lower circulation for the ISM onset.It illustrates that the development of convection over the Arabian Sea in late spring and early summer is not only due to the frictional inertial instability but also strongly affected by the zonal asymmetric distribution of land-sea thermal contrast.Moreover,before the ISM onset due to the eastward development of the South Asian High(SAH)in the upper troposphere,high potential vorticity is transported to the region over the Arabian Sea.Then a local trumpet-shaped stream field is generated to cause the evident upper divergence-pumping effect which favors the ISM onset.When the upper divergence is vertically coupled with the lower convergence resulted from the aforementioned forced unstable convection development near the southwestern coast of Indian Peninsula,the atmospheric baroclinic unstable development is stimulated and the ISM onset is triggered.

Comparison of the Structure and Evolution of Intraseasonal Oscillations Before and After Onset of the Asian Summer Monsoon

High-resolution satellite-derived data and NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data are used to investigate intraseasonal oscillations （ISO） over the tropical Indian Ocean.A composite evolution of the ISO life cycle is constructed,including the initiation,development,and propagation of rainfall anomalies over the tropical Indian Ocean.The characteristics of ISO over the tropical Indian Ocean are profoundly different before and after the onset of the Indian summer monsoon.Positive precipitation anomalies before monsoon onset appear one phase earlier than those after monsoon onset.Before monsoon onset,precipitation anomalies associated with ISO first initiate in the western tropical Indian Ocean and then propagate eastward along the equator.After monsoon onset,convective anomalies propagate northward over the Indian summer monsoon region after an initial eastward propagation over the equatorial Indian Ocean.Surface wind convergence and air-sea interaction play critical roles in initiating each new cycle of ISO convection.

南海夏季风活动的年际和年代际特征

利用ＮＣＥＰ风场资料和候平均向外长波辐射（ＯＬＲ）资料分析了南海区域低层风场与对流活动的关系，在此基础上，采用南海中南部的纬向风平均值来定义南海夏季风的爆发，确定了长序列（１９４９～１９９８）的南海夏季风爆发日期和强度指数，并研究南海夏季风活动的年际和年代际变化特征。结果表明：南海夏季风爆发日期和强度指数呈显著的反相关；５０年来的气候趋势是，爆发日期逐渐偏晚，强度指数逐渐减弱。二者都存在着明显的年际和年代际变化，它们在不同阶段上的波动是各种时间尺度振荡叠加的结果，而年代际尺度具有非常重要的作用。东印度洋海温异常在南海夏季风爆发前后，均与南海夏季风强度指数呈显著的反相关。东太平洋海温异常在南海夏季风爆发之前，与强度指数反相关，而爆发之后，与强度指数正相关。这体现了南海夏季风活动与ＥＮＳＯ事件的密切关系。

40a南海夏季风建立日期的确定

对 1 958～ 1 997年 NCEP/NCAR4～ 6月逐候资料的分析表明 ,将 ( 1 0～ 2 0°N,1 1 0～ 1 2 0°E)区域内面积平均的 850 h Pa层上稳定地有θse≥ 335K且纬向风由东风稳定地转变为西风的时刻为南海夏季风爆发时间具有较好的指示意义。所谓稳定是指从该时刻起 ,这一状况必须持续 3候且其后间断不超过 2候 ,或持续 2候后间断 1候但立刻又回到间断前状态。

印度洋海温异常和南海夏季风建立迟早的关系 II.机理分析

通过区分ENSO外部影响和偶极子内部局地作用,探讨了前期春季的印度洋海温异常对南海夏季风建立早晚的可能影响途径。结果表明:在没有去除ENSO信号(外部作用)的情况下,全区一致型的海温分布主要通过影响热带印度洋上空纬向季风环流的强弱来影响南海夏季风建立的早晚。去除ENSO信号后,非ENSO全区一致型的海温分布则主要通过影响低层东西向的气压差异和对流层中上层的南北温度梯度的逆转,进而对南海夏季风建立的早晚产生影响;而南印度洋偶极子(SIODM)型的海温分布则主要通过影响亚洲大陆热低压、西太平洋副热带高压和高低层的辐合辐散运动影响南海夏季风的建立。

南海夏季风建立日期的确定和东亚夏季风强度指数的选取

对近几年来南海夏季风建立日期的确定和东亚夏季风强度指数的选取方面的研究成果进行比较全面的概述,并提出了有待进一步解决的问题。

印度洋海温异常和南海夏季风建立迟早的关系I.耦合分析

运用CSVD和联合CSVD等较新颖的统计方法,在去除/未去除ENSO影响的思路下,探讨了印度洋海温异常和南海夏季风建立迟早的关系,结果表明:在没有去除ENSO信号(外部作用)影响的情况下,全区一致型的海温异常分布对南海夏季风建立迟早起着重要的作用。当全区温度距平为正(负)时,南海夏季风建立较晚(早)。在去除了ENSO信号的影响后,非ENSO全区一致型和SIODM型是影响南海夏季风建立早晚的两个主要的印度洋海温分布型。对于非ENSO全区一致型的海温分布,当前期海温全区为负(正)距平时,南海夏季风建立较早(晚)。而对于SIODM型的海温分布,则当前期海温距平为西负东正(西正东负)的SIODM型时,南海夏季风建立较早(晚)。

华南前汛期开始和结束日期的划分

本文利用48年(1957～2004年)中国站点逐日降水资料和同期NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料,研究了华南前汛期的开始和结束时间的划分问题.首先,选择了研究华南前汛期问题的区域和代表站点,然后对降水量、水汽(可降水量,水汽通量,水汽通量散度)、垂直速度和假相当位温等物理量的演变特征进行分析,发现:前汛期起、止前后上述要素均有阶段性的突变.其中4月第1候(19候)是华南前汛期的开始,可降水量、水汽通量和假相当位温等增加显著,对流开始活跃,水汽通量散度也由辐散变为辐合,降水量明显增加.但4月份总体雨量不强,主要为锋面降水.5月份随夏季风爆发,水汽继续增加,对流活跃,进入季风降水阶段;夏季风降水盛期时段主要集中在6月份.6月第4候(34候)前汛期结束,各降水指标骤减.然后根据降水和环流指标,提出了华南前汛期开始和结束日期的划分标准,定义了逐年的开始和结束日期.最后对华南前汛期开始期之前、之后以及结束期之前、之后的大气环流背景做了对比分析.指出,前汛期开始前,环流形势有利于华南地区增暖增湿;开始期以后则有利于冷空气南下,造成连续降水,使华南进入前汛期.而前汛期的结束,则是由于东亚大气环流的季节调整,尤其是西太平洋副热带高压的第一次北跳所造成的.

春季青藏高原表面感热加热的年际变化特征及其对印度夏季风爆发时间的影响

本文基于日本气象厅(JMA)的JRA-25再分析资料,分析了春季青藏高原表面感热加热年际变化的时空特征,及其对印度夏季风爆发过程的影响。EOF分析结果表明,春季高原感热加热的年际变化在高原中西部最为明显,这主要与局地地—气温差的年际变率有关。统计分析表明,当春季高原中西部表面感热偏强(弱)时,印度夏季风爆发偏早(晚),且高原中西部表面感热与ENSO事件无显著相关。春季高原中西部感热能够通过改变印度季风区对流层高层和低层的经向热力结构来影响印度夏季风的爆发时间。当春季高原中西部感热偏强时,造成的上升气流在高原以西的印度季风区北部下沉,通过绝热增暖引起局地对流层中上部的异常暖中心,令印度季风区对流层中上部平均温度经向梯度由冬至夏的季节性反转提早。同时,印度季风区北部的下沉运动能够抑制当地降水,令陆面温度升高,并通过非绝热过程造成对流层低层的异常暖中心,进一步增强了印度季风区的海陆热力对比。在印度季风区以北地区对流层高、低层异常增暖的共同作用下,印度夏季风提前爆发。

影响南海夏季风爆发年际变化的关键海区及机制初探

利用1958—2011年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和ERSST资料,采用Lanczos时间滤波器、相关分析、回归分析、合成分析和交叉检验等方法,研究了影响南海夏季风爆发年际变化的关键海区海温异常的来源与可能机制。结果表明,前冬(12—2月)热带西南印度洋和热带西北太平洋是影响南海夏季风爆发年际变化的关键海区。冬季热带西南印度洋(热带西北太平洋)的异常增暖是由前一年夏季El Ni?o早爆发(强印度季风异常驱动的行星尺度东-西向环流)触发、热带印度洋(西北太平洋)局地海气正反馈过程引起并维持到春季。冬季热带西北太平洋反气旋性环流(气旋性环流)及印度洋(热带西北太平洋)的暖海区局地海气相互作用使得印度洋(热带西北太平洋)海温异常维持到春末。春季,逐渐加强北移到10°N附近的低层大气对北印度洋(热带西北太平洋)暖海温异常响应的东风急流(异常西风)及南海-热带西北太平洋维持的反气旋性环流(气旋性环流)异常,使得南海夏季风晚(早)爆发。

南海夏季风与印度夏季风爆发早晚的年际差异

利用NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料分析了南海夏季风与印度夏季风的爆发时间,根据爆发时间差值区分了差异大小年,结果表明二者的爆发具有明显的年际异常。差异偏小年,南海夏季风爆发时,印度半岛已经盛行偏西风,两者几乎同时建立;而差异偏大年,南海夏季风爆发后7候左右印度才盛行偏西风,印度夏季风爆发得晚,环流形势有明显差异;进一步分析机制表明,印度夏季风的建立主要由经向温度反转所决定,而南海夏季风的建立取决于纬向温度反转,二者的爆发具有相对独立性,且纬向温度反转的早晚更大程度上影响了差异的大小,积温线密集带出现的早晚决定了温度反转的早晚。