Abstract
The interannual variability of autumn precipitation over South China and its relationship with atmospheric circulation and SST anomalies are examined using the autumn precipitation data of 160 stations in China and the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis dataset from 1951 to 2004. Results indicate a strong interannual variability of autumn precipitation over South China and its positive correlation with the autumn western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH). In the flood years, the WPSH ridge line lies over the south of South China and the strengthened ridge over North Asia triggers cold air to move southward. Furthermore, there exists a significantly anomalous updraft and cyclone with the northward stream strengthened at 850 hPa and a positive anomaly center of meridional moisture transport strengthening the northward warm and humid water transport over South China. These display the reverse feature in drought years. The autumn precipitation interannual variability over South China correlates positively with SST in the western Pacific and North Pacific, whereas a negative correlation occurs in the South Indian Ocean in July. The time of the strongest lag-correlation coefficients between SST and autumn precipitation over South China is about two months, implying that the SST of the three ocean areas in July might be one of the predictors for autumn precipitation interannual variability over South China. Discussion about the linkage among July SSTs in the western Pacific, the autumn WPSH and autumn precipitation over South China suggests that SST anomalies might contribute to autumn precipitation through its close relation to the autumn WPSH.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen, W., H.-F. Graf, and R. H. Huang, 2000: The interannual variability of East Asia winter monsoon and its relation to the summer monsoon. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 17, 48–60.
Duan, M. K., P. X. Wang, and K. P. Lin, 2005: Analysis on the interdecadal and interannual variability of regional summer precipitation anomalies over Eastern China. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 28(1), 94–100. (in Chinese)
Huang, R. H., and W. J. Li, 1987: Influence of the heat source anomaly over the tropical western Pacific on the subtropical high over East Asia. Proc. International Conference on the General Circulation of East Asia, 10–15 April 1987, Chengdu, China, 40–51.
Huang, R. H., and F. Y. Sun, 1994: Impacts of the thermal state and the convective activities in the tropical western Pacific warm pool on the summer climate anomalies in East Asia. Scientia Atmospherica Sinica, 18(2), 141–151. (in Chinese)
Kalnay, E., and Coauthors, 1996: The NCEP / NCAR 40-year reanalysis project. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 437–471.
Lau, K.-M., and S. Yang, 1997: Climatology and interannual variability of the Southeast Asia summer monsoon. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 14, 141–161.
Li, J. P., and Q. C. Zeng, 2005: A new monsoon index, its interannual variability and relation with monsoon precipitation. Climatic and Environmental Research, 10(3), 351–365. (in Chinese)
Lu, R. Y., 2001: Atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperatures related to the convection over the western Pacific warm pool on the interannual scale. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18, 270–282.
Lu, R. Y., 2005: Interannual variation of North China precipitation in rainy season and SSTs in the equatorial eastern Pacific. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50, 2069–2073.
Nitta, T., 1987: Convective activities in the tropical western Pacific and their impact on the Northern Hemisphere summer circulation. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 65, 373–390.
Niu, N., and J. P. Li, 2007: The features of the heavy drought occurred to the south of Yangtze River in china as well as the anomalies of atmospheric circulation in autumn 2004. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 31(2), 254–264. (in Chinese)
Wang, H. J., F. Xue, and G. Q. Zhou, 2002: The spring monsoon in south china and its relationship to large-scale circulation features. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 19, 652–662.
Xu, J. J., and J. C. L. Chan, 2002: Interannual and interdecadal variability of winter precipitation over China in relation to global sea level pressure anomalies. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 19, 914–926.
Yang, G. J., and J. M. Liu, 1987: Intraannual and interannual precipitation variability over East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Scientia Atmospherica Sinica, 11(3), 304–305. (in Chinese)
Yang, H., and C. Y. Li, 2003: The relation between atmospheric intraseasonal oscillation and summer severe flood and drought in the Changjiang-Huaihe River Basin. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 20, 540–543.
Yu, R. C., M. H. Zhang, Y. Q. Yu, and Y. M. Liu, 2001: Summer monsoon rainfalls over Mid-Eastern China lagged correlated with global SSTS. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18, 179–196.
Zhang, Q. Y., S. Y. Tao, and L. T. Chen, 2003: The interannual variability of East Asia summer monsoon indices and its association with the pattern of general circulation over East Asia. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 61(4), 559–568. (in Chinese)
Zhang, R. H., 2001: Relations of water vapor transport from Indian monsoon with that of over East Asia and the summer precipitation in China. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18, 1005–1017.
Zhou, T. J., and R. C. Yu, 2005: Atmospheric water vapor transport associated with typical anomalous summer precipitation patterns in China. J. Geophys. Res., 110(D08104), doi:10.1029/2004JD005413.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Niu, N., Li, J. Interannual variability of autumn precipitation over South China and its relation to atmospheric circulation and SST anomalies. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 25, 117–125 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-008-0117-2
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-008-0117-2