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The aerosol-monsoon climate system of Asia: A new paradigm

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Abstract

This commentary is based on a series of recent lectures on aerosol-monsoon interactions I gave at the Beijing Normal University in August 2015. A main theme of the lectures is on a new paradigm of “An Aerosol-Monsoon-Climate-System”, which posits that aerosol, like rainfall, cloud, and wind, is an integral component of the monsoon climate system, influencing monsoon weather and climate on all timescales. Here, salient issues discussed in my lectures and my personal perspective regarding interactions between atmospheric dynamics and aerosols from both natural and anthropogenic sources are summarized. My hope is that under this new paradigm, we can break down traditional disciplinary barriers, advance a deeper understanding of weather and climate in monsoon regions, as well as entrain a new generation of geoscientists to strive for a sustainable future for one of the most complex and challenging human-natural climate sub-system of the earth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA

    William K. M. Lau

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  1. William K. M. Lau
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Correspondence to William K. M. Lau.

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Supported jointly by the US Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (4331620), Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A & M University.

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Lau, W.K.M. The aerosol-monsoon climate system of Asia: A new paradigm. J Meteorol Res 30, 1–11 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-015-5999-1

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