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Numerical study of the effect of anthropogenic aerosols on spring persistent rain over Eastern China

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Abstract

The effect of anthropogenic aerosols on the spring persistent rain (SPR) over eastern China is investigated by using a high-resolution Community Atmosphere Model version 5.1 (CAM5.1). The results show that the SPR starts later due to anthropogenic aerosols, with a shortened duration and reduced rainfall amount. A reduction in air temperature over the low latitudes in East Asia is linked to anthropogenic aerosols; so is a weakened southwesterly on the north side of the subtropical high. Meanwhile, air temperature increases significantly over the high latitudes. This north-south asymmetrical thermal effect acts to reduce the meridional temperature gradient, weakening the upper-level westerly jet over East Asia and the vertical motion over southeastern China. As a result, the SPR is reduced and has a much shorter duration. The indirect effect of anthropogenic aerosols also plays an important role in changing the SPR. Cloud droplet number concentration increases due to anthropogenic aerosols acting as cloud condensation nuclei, leading to a reduction in cloud effective radius over eastern China and a reduced precipitation efficiency there.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Jiechun Deng  (邓洁淳), Haiming Xu  (徐海明), Hongyun Ma  (马红云) & Zhihong Jiang  (江志红)

  2. Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disasters of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Jiechun Deng  (邓洁淳), Haiming Xu  (徐海明), Hongyun Ma  (马红云) & Zhihong Jiang  (江志红)

Authors
  1. Jiechun Deng  (邓洁淳)
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  2. Haiming Xu  (徐海明)
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  3. Hongyun Ma  (马红云)
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  4. Zhihong Jiang  (江志红)
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Correspondence to Haiming Xu  (徐海明).

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research and Development (973) Program of China (2010CB428505), National Natural Science Foundation of China (41275094), Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), and Jiangsu Provincial Qinglan Project.

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Deng, J., Xu, H., Ma, H. et al. Numerical study of the effect of anthropogenic aerosols on spring persistent rain over Eastern China. J Meteorol Res 28, 341–353 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-014-3198-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-014-3198-0

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