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Atmospheric moisture distribution and transport over the Tibetan Plateau and the impacts of the South Asian summer monsoon

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Abstract

In this study, by using the ECMWF ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2010, the spatial distribution and transport of total atmospheric moisture over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are analyzed, together with the associated impacts of the South Asian summer monsoon (SASM). Acting as a moisture sink in summer, the TP has a net moisture flux of 2.59×107 kg s−1 during 1979–2010, with moisture supplies mainly from the southern boundary along the latitude belts over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The total atmospheric moisture over the TP exhibits significant differences in both spatial distribution and transport between the monsoon active and break periods and between strong and weak monsoon years. Large positive (negative) moisture anomalies occur over the southwest edge of the TP and the Arabian Sea, mainly due to transport of easterly (westerly) anomalies during the monsoon active (break) period. For the whole TP region, the total moisture supply is more strengthened than the climatological mean during the monsoon active period, which is mainly contributed by the transport of moisture from the south edge of the TP. During the monsoon break period, however, the total moisture supply to the TP is slightly weakened. In addition, the TP moisture sink is also strengthened (weakened) in the strong (weak) monsoon years, mainly attributed by the moisture transport in the west-east directions. Our results suggest that the SASM has exerted great impacts on the total atmospheric moisture and its transport over the TP through adjusting the moisture spatial distribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LAPC Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Libo Zhou  (周立波), Jinhuan Zhu  (朱金焕), Han Zou  (邹 捍), Shupo Ma  (马舒坡), Peng Li  (李 鹏), Yu Zhang  (张 宇) & Cuiping Huo  (霍翠萍)

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  1. Libo Zhou  (周立波)
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  2. Jinhuan Zhu  (朱金焕)
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  3. Han Zou  (邹 捍)
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  4. Shupo Ma  (马舒坡)
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  5. Peng Li  (李 鹏)
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  6. Yu Zhang  (张 宇)
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  7. Cuiping Huo  (霍翠萍)
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Correspondence to Libo Zhou  (周立波).

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research and Development (973) program of China (2009CB421403), Public Science and Technology Research Funds for Projects of Ocean (201005017-5 and 201005017-7), China Meteorological Administration Special Public Welfare Research Fund (GYHY201206041), Project of Comprehensive Evaluation of Polar Areas on Global and Regional Climate Changes and Polar Environment Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment (2012-2015).

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Zhou, L., Zhu, J., Zou, H. et al. Atmospheric moisture distribution and transport over the Tibetan Plateau and the impacts of the South Asian summer monsoon. Acta Meteorol Sin 27, 819–831 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-013-0603-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-013-0603-z

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