Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Subseasonal Zonal Oscillation of the Western Pacific Subtropical High during Early Summer

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Meteorological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the features and dynamical processes of subseasonal zonal oscillation of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) during early summer, by performing a multivariate empirical orthogonal function (MVEOF) analysis on daily winds and a diagnosis on potential vorticity (PV) at 500 hPa for the period 1979–2016. The first MV-EOF mode is characterized by an anticyclonic anomaly occupying southeastern China to subtropical western North Pacific regions. It has a period of 10–25 days and represents zonal shift of the WPSH. When the WPSH stretches more westward, the South Asian high (SAH) extends more eastward. Above-normal precipitation is observed over the Yangtze–Huaihe River (YHR) basin. Suppressed convection with anomalous descending motion is located over the subtropical western North Pacific. The relative zonal movement of the SAH and the WPSH helps to establish an anomalous local vertical circulation of ascending motion with upper-level divergence over the YHR basin and descending motion with upper-level convergence over the subtropical western Pacific. The above local vertical circulation provides a dynamic condition for persistent rainfall over the YHR basin. An enhanced southwest flow over the WPSH’s western edge transports more moisture to eastern China, providing a necessary water vapor condition for the persistent rainfall over the YHR basin. A potential vorticity diagnosis reveals that anomalous diabatic heating is a main source for PV generation. The anomalous cooling over the subtropical western Pacific produces a local negative PV center at 500 hPa. The anomalous heating over the YHR basin generates a local positive PV center. The above south–north dipolar structure of PV anomaly along with the climatological southerly flow leads to northward advection of negative PV. These two processes are conducive to the WPSH’s westward extension. The vertical advection process is unfavorable to the westward extension but contributes to the eastward retreat of the WPSH.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chen, J. P., Z. P. Wen, R. G. Wu, et al.,2015: Influences of northward propagating 25–90 day and quasi-biweekly oscillations on eastern China summer rainfall. Climate Dyn., 45, 105–124, doi: 10.1007/s00382-014-2334-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, M. Y., W. Shi, P. P. Xie, et al.,2008: Assessing objective techniques for gauge-based analyses of global daily precipitation. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D04110, doi: 10.1029/2007JD 009132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., and P. M. Zhai, 2015: Synoptic-scale precursors of the East Asia/Pacific teleconnection pattern responsible for persistent extreme precipitation in the Yangtze River Valley. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 141, 1389–1403, doi: 10.1002/qj.2448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., and P. M. Zhai, 2016: Mechanisms for concurrent lowlatitude circulation anomalies responsible for persistent extreme precipitation in the Yangtze River Valley. Climate Dyn., 47, 989–1006, doi: 10.1007/s00382-015-2885-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dee, D. P., S. M. Uppala, A. J. Simmons, et al.,2011: The ERAInterim reanalysis: Configuration and performance of the data assimilation system. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 137, 553–597, doi: 10.1002/qj.828.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, Y. H., and J. C. L. Chan, 2005: The East Asian summer monsoon: An overview. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 89, 117–142, doi: 10.1007/s00703-005-0125-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He, C., T. J. Zhou, and B. Wu, 2015: The key oceanic regions responsible for the interannual variability of the western North Pacific subtropical high and associated mechanisms. J. Meteor. Res., 29, 562–575, doi: 10.1007/s13351-015-5037-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, W., and X. Ren, 2013: Persistent heavy rainfall over south china during May–August: Subseasonal anomalies of circulation and sea surface temperature. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 27, 769–787, doi: 10.1007/s13351-013-0607-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, H. H., and C. H. Weng, 2001: Northwestward propagation of the intraseasonal oscillation in the western North Pacific during the boreal summer: Structure and mechanism. J. Climate, 14, 3834–3850, doi: 10.1175/1520-0442(2001)014<3834:NPO TIO>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, R. H., L. T. Zhou, and W. Chen, 2003: The progresses of recent studies on the variabilities of the East Asian monsoon and their causes. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 20, 55–69, doi: 10.1007/BF03342050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, S. S., 1963: A study of the longitudinal movement and its forecasting of subtropical anticyclones. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 33, 320–332, doi: 10.11676/qxxb1963.030. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia, X. L., and S. Yang, 2013: Impact of the quasi-biweekly oscillation over the western North Pacific on East Asian subtropical monsoon during early summer. J. Geophys. Res., 118, 4421–4434, doi: 10.1002/jgrd.50422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, C. H., T. Li, A. L. Lin, et al.,2015: Relationship between summer rainfall anomalies and sub-seasonal oscillations in South China. Climate Dyn., 44, 423–439, doi: 10.1007/s00382-014-2172-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liebmann, B., and C. A. Smith, 1996: Description of a complete (interpolated) outgoing longwave radiation dataset. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 1275–1277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, H. Z., S. R. Zhao, C. G. Zhao, et al.,2006: Weather abnormal and evolutions of western Pacific subtropical high and South Asian high in summer of 2003. Plateau Meteor., 25, 169–178, doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-0534.2006.02.001. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. M., G. X. Wu, and R. C. Ren, 2004: Relationship between the subtropical anticyclone and diabatic heating. J. Climate, 17, 682–698, doi: 10.1175/1520-0442(2004)017<0682:RBTSAA> 2.0.CO;2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, R. Y., 2001: Interannual variability of the summertime North Pacific subtropical high and its relation to atmospheric convection over the warm pool. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 79, 771–783, doi: 10.2151/jmsj.79.771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, R. Y., and B. W. Dong, 2001: Westward extension of North Pacific subtropical high in summer. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 79, 1229–1241, doi: 10.2151/jmsj.79.1229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mao, J. Y., G. X. Wu, and Y. M. Liu, 2003: Study on the variation in the configuration of subtropical anticyclone and its mechanism during seasonal transition. Part I: Climatological features of subtropical high structure. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 17, 274–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao, J. Y., Z. Sun, and G. X. Wu, 2010: 20–50-day oscillation of summer Yangtze rainfall in response to intraseasonal variations in the subtropical high over the western North Pacific and South China Sea. Climate Dyn., 34, 747–761, doi: 10.1007/s00382-009-0628-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • North, G. R., T. L. Bell, R. F. Cahalan, et al.,1982: Sampling errors in the estimation of empirical orthogonal functions. Mon. Wea. Rev., 110, 699–706, doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1982)110 <0699:SEITEO>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian, W. H., and J. Shi, 2017: Tripole precipitation pattern and SST variations linked with extreme zonal activities of the western Pacific subtropical high. Int. J. Climatol., 37, 3018–3035, doi: 10.1002/joc.4897.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, R. C., Y. M. Liu, and G. X. Wu, 2007: Impact of South Asian high on the short-term variation of the subtropical anticyclone over western Pacific in July 1998. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 65, 183–197, doi: 10.11676/qxxb2007.018. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren, X. J., X. Q. Yang, and X. G. Sun, 2013: Zonal oscillation of western Pacific subtropical high and subseasonal SST variations during Yangtze persistent heavy rainfall events. J. Climate, 26, 8929–8946, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00861.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, X. J., D. J. Yang, and X. Q. Yang, 2015: Characteristics and mechanisms of the subseasonal eastward extension of the South Asian high. J. Climate, 28, 6799–6822, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00682.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao, S. Y., and F. K. Zhu, 1964: The 100-hPa flow patterns in southern Asia in summer and its relation to the advance and retreat of the West Pacific subtropical anticyclone over the Far East. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 34, 387–396, doi: 10.11676/qxxb1964.039. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tao, S. Y., and L. X. Chen, 1987: A review of recent research on the East Asian summer monsoon in China. Monsoon Meteorology, C. P. Chang, and T. N. Krishnamurti, Eds., Oxford University Press, New York, 60–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L. J., X. Chen, Z. Y. Guan, et al.,2009: Features of the short-term position variation of the western Pacific subtropical high during the torrential rain causing severe floods in southern China and its possible cause. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 33, 1047–1057, doi: 10.3878/j.issn.1006-9895.2009.05.15. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L. J., H. Gao, Z. Y. Guan, et al.,2011: Relationship between the western Pacific subtropical high and the subtropical East Asian diabatic heating during South China heavy rains in June 2005. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 25, 203–210, doi: 10.1007/s13351-011-0027-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen, M., J. H. He, and Y. K. Tan, 2003: Movement of the ridge line of summer West Pacific subtropical high and its possible mechanism. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 17, 37–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen, M., and X. H. Shi, 2006: Relationship between activity of West Pacific subtropical high and condensation latent heating in summer of 1998. Plateau Meteor., 25, 616–623, doi: 10. 3321/j.issn:1000-0534.2006.04.008. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, G. X., Y. M. Liu, and P. Liu, 1999: The effect of spatially nonuniform heating on the formation and variation of subtropical high. I: Scale analysis. Acta Meteor. Sinica, 57, 257–263, doi: 10.11676/qxxb1999.025. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanai, M., and T. Tomita, 1998: Seasonal and interannual variability of atmospheric heat sources and moisture sinks as determined from NCEP–NCAR reanalysis. J. Climate, 11, 463–482, doi: 10.1175/1520-0442(1998)011<0463:SAIVOA>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanai, M., S. Esbensen, and J. H. Chu, 1973: Determination of bulk properties of tropical cloud clusters from large-scale heat and moisture budgets. J. Atmos. Sci., 30, 611–627, doi: 10. 1175/1520-0469(1973)030<0611:DOBPOT>2.0.CO;2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, J., B. Wang, B. Wang, et al.,2010: Biweekly and 21–30-day variations of the subtropical summer monsoon rainfall over the lower reach of the Yangtze River basin. J. Climate, 23, 1146–1159, doi: 10.1175/2009JCLI3005.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, J., Q. Bao, B. Wang, et al.,2014: Distinct quasi-biweekly features of the subtropical East Asian monsoon during early and late summers. Climate Dyn., 42, 1469–1486, doi: 10. 1007/s00382-013-1728-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C. D., and J. Ling, 2012: Potential vorticity of the Madden–Julian Oscillation. J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 65–78, doi: 10.1175/JAS-D-11-081.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, R., and S. H. Yu, 1992: On the dynamic mechanism of biweekly oscillation of subtropical high over the western Pacific in summer. J. Trop. Meteor., 8, 306–314, doi: 10.16032/j.issn.1004-4965.1992.04.003. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, T. J., R. C. Yu, J. Zhang, et al.,2009: Why the western Pacific subtropical high has extended westward since the late 1970s? J. Climate, 22, 2199–2215, doi: 10.1175/2008JCLI 2527.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Meteorological Administration–Nanjing University Joint Laboratory for Climate Prediction Studies, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Weina Guan, Xuejuan Ren, Wei Shang & Haibo Hu

Authors
  1. Weina Guan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xuejuan Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei Shang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Haibo Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuejuan Ren.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science foundation of China (41621005, 41675067, and 41330420).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guan, W., Ren, X., Shang, W. et al. Subseasonal Zonal Oscillation of the Western Pacific Subtropical High during Early Summer. J Meteorol Res 32, 768–780 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-018-8061-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-018-8061-2

Key words

Search

Navigation