Abstract
We analyze statistically different definitions of the South China Sea summer monsoon (SCSSM) onset are to establish a SCSSM onset time series that is more recognizable by a majority of indicators. With the acknowledged index, we determine a key area (105°E–112.5°E, 7.5°N–12.5°N) and define the zonal wind component in this key area as a new SCSSM onset index, using daily mean reanalysis data of the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research. The atmospheric circulations before and after the onset of the SCSSM determined using the index defined in this paper are preliminarily studied. Results show that the Somalia cross-equatorial flow is enhanced, the strongest westerly wind in the tropical Indian Ocean shifts northward, the cyclone couple in the Bay of Bengal and the Southern Hemisphere weaken and move eastward, convection over the South China Sea increases, and the subtropical high retreats from the South China Sea after the outbreak of the SCSSM. By analyzing the atmospheric circulation, it is found that in 1984 and 1999, the SCSSM broke out in pentads 29 and 23, respectively, which is consistent with the onset times determined using our index.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen L X, Liu H Q, Wang W et al. 1999. Preliminary study on the characteristics and mechanism of summer monsoon onset over South China Sea and region adjacent to it. Acta Meteorologica, 57(1): 16–29. (in Chinese with english abstract)
Dai N J, Xie A, Zhang Y. 2000. Interannual and interdecadal variations of summer monsoon activities over South China Sea. Climatic and Environmental Research, 5(4): 363–374. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Feng R Q, Wang A Y, Wu C S et al. 2001. Climatological features of the establishment of South China Sea summer monsoon I-40-year mean. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 17(3): 345–354. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Gao H, He J H, Tan Y K, et al. 2001. Definition of 40-year onset date of South China Sea summer monsoon. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 24(3): 379–383. (in Chinese with English abstract)
He H Y, Wen Z P, Jian M Q, et al. 2000. A study on the onset of the Asian summer monsoon during 1982–1996 — I. Basic features of the Asian summer monsoon circulation and its onset index. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni, 39(3): 91–96. (in Chinese with English abstract)
He J H, Wen M, Shi X H, et al. 2002. Splitting and eastward withdrawal of the subtropical high belt during the onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon and their possible mechanism. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 38(3): 319–330. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Jiang J, Qian Y F. 2000. The general character of precipitation over the South China Sea. Acta. Metro. Sin, 58(1): 60–69. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Jiang J X, Qin D Y, Liu C X. 2006. A primary study of summer monsoon index over the South China Sea and East Asia based on satellite observation. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 22(5): 423–430. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Jin Z H, Tao S Y. 2002. The onset of the summer monsoon over the South China Sea and its active and break periods. Climatic and Environmental Research, 7(3): 267–278. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lan G D, Wen Z P, He H Y. 2004. Characteristics of atmospheric heat source associated with the summer monsoon onset over the South China Sea and the possible mechanism responsible for late or early onset of the monsoon. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 20(3): 271–280. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Li C Y, Zhang L P. 1999. Summer monsoon activities in the South China Sea and its impacts. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Science, 23(3): 257–266. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Liang J Y, Wu S S. 2002. A study of southwest monsoon onset date over the South China Sea and its impact factors. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Science, 26(6): 830–844. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lin J H. 2003. Climatic Characteristics of Summer Monsoon Activity over South China Sea and its Interannul Variation. Guangzhou: Sun Yat-Sen University. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Liu X, Xie A, Ye Q, et al. 1998. The Climatic Characteristics of Summer Monsoon Onset Over South China Sea. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 14(1): 28–37. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lu M M. 1999. Studies on the Mechanism of Interannual Variability of the Early or Late Onset of South China Sea Summer Monsoon. 4th International Conference on Mesoscale Meteorology and Typhoon in East Asia, Taipei. p.111–114. (in Chinese)
Mao M, Guo P W, Guo Z. 2009. Interannual variation of differences in onset dates between South China Sea and Indian summer monsoons. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 32(1): 64–70. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Qiao Y T, Jian M Q, Luo H B. 2002. Different characteristics of precipitation over four sub-regions of South China Sea during summer monsoon and the abrupt change. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 18(1): 38–44. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Ren B H, Zheng J Q, Du J W. 2007. An index of South China Sea summer monsoon onset based on vertically integrated moisture transport. Climatic and Environmental Research, 12(4): 503–514. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Sun J L, Liu Q Y. 2004. The variation characteristics in the summer monsoon onset over the South China Sea. Periodical of Ocean University of China, 34(5): 727–736. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Tao S Y, Chen L X. 1987. A review of recent research on East Asian summer monsoon in China. In: Chang C P ed. Monsoon Meteorology. Oxford University Press, Oxford. p. 60–92
Wang B, Lin H, Zhang Y S. 2004. Definition of South China Sea monsoon onset and commencement of the East Asia summer monsoon. J. Climate., 17(4): 699–710.
Xie A. 1996. The Climatic Characteristics of Summer Monsoon Onset Over South China Sea. In: He J H ed. The Recent Advances in Asian Monsoon Research. China Meteorological Press, Beijing. p. 132–142. (in Chinese)
Xie A, Liu X, Ye Q. 1998. The role of upstream equatorial westerly wind in the summer monsoon onset over the South China Sea. Quarterly Journal of Applied Meteorology, 9(2): 129–140. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Xie L. 2000. Preliminary Study on the Inter-annual Variation and Factors of the Summer Monsoon Rainfall Onset over South China Sea. Guangzhou: Sun Yat-Sen University. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Xie A, Dai N J. 2001. The elementary opinion about the definition of South China Sea Summer Monsoon onset dates and the monsoon intensity. In: He J H ed. Determination of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon onset dates and the monsoon index. China Meteorological Press, Beijing. p. 67–70. (in Chinese)
Xu H M, He J H, Zhou B. 2001. Composite analysis of summer monsoon onset process over South China Sea. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 17(1): 10–22. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Yao Y H, Qian Y F. 2001. A study on the south china sea monsoon index and the relationship between the index and regional rainfalls of China. Journal of Nanjing University (Natural Sciences), 37(6): 781–788. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Zhang X Z, Li J L, Yan J Y et al. 2002. A study of circulation characteristics and index of the South China Sea summer monsoon. Climatic and Environmental Research, 7(3): 321–331. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 40876004, 40890150/D0601) and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Nos. 2007CB411801, 2005CB422301).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tian, Y., Wang, Q. Definition of the South China Sea summer monsoon onset. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 28, 1281–1289 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-010-9950-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-010-9950-0