Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Time-lagged impact of spring sensible heat over the Tibetan Plateau on the summer rainfall anomaly in East China: case studies using the WRF model

  • Published:
Climate Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study explores the time-lagged impact of the spring sensible heat (SH) source over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) on the summer rainfall anomaly in East China using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Numerical experiments for 2003 indicate that a spring SH anomaly over the TP can maintain its impact until summer and lead to a strong atmospheric heat source, characterized both by the enhanced SH over the western TP and enhanced latent heat of condensation to the east. Wave activity diagnosis reveals that the enhanced TP heating forces a Rossby wave train over the downstream regions. A cyclonic response over the northeast TP brings about a low-level northerly anomaly over northern China, while an anticyclonic response over the western Pacific enhances the subtropical high and the low-level southerly on its western flank. As a result, cold and dry airflow from mid-high latitudes, and warm and wet airflow from tropical oceans converge around the Huaihe River basin. In addition, warm advection originating from the TP induces vigorous ascending motion over the convergence belt. Under these favorable circulation conditions the eastward-propagating vortexes initiated over the TP intensify the torrential rainfall processes over the Huaihe River basin. In contrast, additional experiments considering the year 2001 with weak spring SH over the TP and an overall southward retreat of the summer rainfall belt in East China further demonstrate the role of spring SH over the TP in regulating the interannual variability of EASM in terms of wave activity and synoptic disturbances.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ai X (2002) General circulation over the northern hemisphere in 2001 and its impact on the climate in China. Meteor Mon 28(4):21–24 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bougeault P, Lacarrère P (1989) Parameterization of orographic induced turbulence in a mesobeta scale model. Mon Weather Rev 117:1872–1890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F, Dudhia J (2001) Coupling an advanced land-surface hydrology model with the Penn Statr-NCAR MM5 modeling system. Part I: model implementation and sensitivity. Mon Weather Rev 129:569–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen QJ, Gao B, Zhang Q (2000) Studies on Relation of snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau in winter-summer monsoon change. Chin J Atmos Sci 24(4):477–492 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou MD, Suarez MJ (1999) A shortwave radiation parameterization for atmospheric studies. NASA Tech Memo 15(104606), 40 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow KC, Chan JCL, Shi XL, Liu YM, Ding YH (2008) Time-lagged effects of spring Tibetan Plateau soil moisture on the monsoon over China in early summer. Int J Climatol 28:55–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cressman GP (1981) Circulation of the West-Pacific jet stream. Mon Weather Rev 109:2450–2463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding YH, Chan JCL (2005) The East Asian summer monsoon: an overview. Meteorol Atmos Phys 89:117–142. doi:10.1007/s00703-005-0125-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan AM, Wu GX (2005) Role of the Tibetan Plateau thermal forcing in the summer climate pattern over subtropical Asia. Clim Dyn 24:793–807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan AM, Liu YM, Wu GX (2005) Heating status of the Tibetan Plateau from April to June and rainfall and atmospheric circulation anomaly over East Asia in midsummer. Sci China Ser D 48:250–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan AM, Li F, Wang MR, Wu GX (2011) Persistent weakening trend in the spring sensible heat source over the Tibetan Plateau and its impact on the Asian summer monsoon. J Clim 24:5671–5682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan AM, Wang MR, Lei YH, Cui YF (2012) Trends in summer rainfall over China associated with the Tibetan Plateau sensible heat source during 1980–2008. J Clim 25:261–274. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00669.1

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu CB, Teng XL (1988) Relationship between summer climate in China and El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon. Chin J Atmos Sci 12:133–141 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu C, Wang S, Xiong Z, William JG, Lee DK, McGergor JL, Sato Y, Kato H, Kim JW, Suh MS (2005) Regional climate model intercomparision project for Asia. Bull Amer Meteor Soc 86:257–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao R, Zhong HL, Dong WJ, Wei ZG (2011) Impact of snow cover and frozen soil in the Tibetan Plateau on summer precipitation in China. J Glaciol Geocryol 33:254–260 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grell G, Devenyi D (2002) A generalized approach to parameterizing convection combining ensemble and data assimilation techniques. Geophys Res Lett 29(14):31–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoskins B (1991) Toward a PV-θ view of the general circulation. Tellus 43AB:27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoskins B, Karoly D (1981) The steady linear response of a spherical atmosphere to thermal and orographic forcing. J Atmos Sci 38(1179–1196):258

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu HH, Liu X (2003) Relationship between the Tibetan Plateau heating and East Asian summer monsoon rainfall. Geophys Res Lett 30(20):2066. doi:10.1029/2003GL017909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huffman GJ, Adler RH, Bolvin DT, Gu GJ, Nelkin EJ, Bowman KP, Hong Y, Stocker EF, Wolff DB (2007) The TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis: quasi-global, multi-year, combined-sensor precipitation estimates at fine scale. J Hydrometeorol 8:38–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim EJ, Hong SY (2010) Impact of air-sea interaction on East Asian summer monsoon climate in WRF. J Geophys Res 115:D19118. doi:10.1029/2009JD013253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim HJ, Wang B (2011) Sensitivity of the WRF model simulation of the East Asian summer monsoon in 1993 to shortwave radiation scheme and ozone absorption. Asia-Pacific J Atmos Sci 47(2):167–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li GP, Zhao BJ, Yang JQ (2002) A dynamical study of the role of surface sensible heating in the structure and intensification of the Tibetan Plateau vortices. Chin J Atmos Sci 26(4):519–525 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin YL, Farley RD, Orville HD (1983) Bulk parameterization of the snow field in a cloud model. J Clim Appl Meteorol 22:1065–1092

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu HZ, Zhao SR, Zhao CG, Lu ZS (2006) Weather abnormal and evolutions of Western Pacific Subtropical High and South Asian High in summer of 2003. Plateau Meteorol 25(2):169–178 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu YM, Hoskins BJ, Blackburn M (2007) Impact of Tibetan Orography and Heating on the Summer Flow over Asia. J Met Soc Japan 85B:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YM, Wu GX, Hong JL, Dong BW, Duan AM, Bao Q, Zhou LJ (2012) Revisiting Asian monsoon formation and changes associated with Tibetan Plateau forcing: II. Change. Clim Dyn. doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1335-y

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo HB, Chen R (1995) The impact of the anomalous heat sources over the eastern Tibetan Plateau on the circulation over the East Asia in summer half year. Acta Meteor Sinica 15(4):94–102 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo HB, Yanai M (1983) The lager-scale circulation and heat sources over Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas during early summer of 1979, PartI: precipitation and kinetic analysis. Mon Weather Rev 111:922–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo HB, Yanai M (1984) The large-scale circulation and heat sources over the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas during the early summer of 1979. Part II: heat and moisture budgets. Mon Weather Rev 112:966–989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mlawer EJ, Taubman SJ, Brown PD, Iacono MJ, Clough SA (1997) Radiative transfer for inhomogeneous atmospheres: RRTM a validated correlated-k model for the long wave. J Geophys Res 102:16663–16682. doi:10.1029/97JD00237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian YF, Zhang Q, Yao YH, Zhang XH (2002) Seasonal variation and heat preference of the South Asia high. Adv Atmos Sci 19(5):821–836

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian YF, Zheng YQ, Zhang Y, Miao MQ (2003) Responses of China’s summer monsoon climate to snow anomaly over the Tibetan Plateau. Int J Climatol 23:593–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin D, Liu S, Li P (2006) Snow cover distribution, variability, and response to climate change in western China. J Clim 19:1820–1833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds RW, Smith TM, Liu C, Chelton DB, Casey KS, Schlax MG (2007) Daily high-resolution-blended analyses for sea surface temperature. J Clim 20:5473–5496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodwell MJ, Hoskins BJ (2001) Subtropical anticyclones and summer monsoons. J Clim 14:3192–3211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampe T, Xie SP (2010) Large-scale dynamics of the Meiyu-Baiu rainband:environmental forcing by the westerly jet. J Clim 23:113–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takaya K, Nakamura H (2001) A formulation of a phase-independent wave-activity flux for stationary and migratory quasigeostrophic eddies on a zonally varying basic flow. J Atmos Sci 58:608–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao SY, Ding YH (1981) Observational evidence of the influence of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau on the occurrence of heavy rain and severe convective storms in China. Bull Amer Meteor Soc 62:23–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B (1987) The development mechanism for Tibetan Plateau warm vortices. J Atmos Sci 44(20):2978–2994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B (2006) The Asian monsoon. Springer/Praxis Publishing Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Wu R, Fu X (2000) Pacific-East Asian teleconnection: How does ENSO affect East Asian climate? J Clim 13:1517–1536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Bao Q, Hoskins B, Wu G, Liu Y (2008) Tibetan Plateau warming and precipitation changes in East Asia. Geophys Res Lett 35:L14702. doi:10.1029/2008GL034330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YX, Zhao P, Yu RC, Rasul G (2009) Inter-decadal variability of Tibetan spring vegetation and its associations with eastern China spring rainfall. Int J Climatol 30:856–865

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu RG, Kirtman BP (2007) Observed relationship of spring and summer East Asian rainfall with winter and spring Eurasian snow. J Clim 20:1285–1304. doi:10.1175/JCLI4068.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu GX, Liu YM (2000) Thermal adaptation, overshooting, dispersion, and subtropical high Part I: thermal adaptation and overshooting. Chin J Atmos Sci 24(4):433–436 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu TW, Qian ZA (2003) The relationship between the Tibetan winter snow and the Asian summer monsoon and rainfall: an observational investigation. J Clim 16:2038–2051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu GX, Li WP, Guo H (1997) Sensible heat driven air-pump over the Tibetan-Plateau and its impacts on the Asian Summer Monsoon. In: Ye DZ (ed) Collections on the Memory of Zhao Jiuzhang. Science Press, Beijing, pp 116–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu ZW, Wang B, Li JP, Jin FF (2009) An empirical seasonal prediction model of the East Asian summer monsoon using ENSO and NAO. J Geophys Res 114:D18120. doi:10.1029/2009JD011733

  • Wu GX, Liu YM, He B, Bao Q, Duan AM, Jin FF (2012) Thermal controls on the Asian summer monsoon. Sci Rep 2:404

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanai M, Wu GX (2006) Effects of the Tibetan Plateau. In: Wang B (ed) The Asian Monsoon. Springer, New York, pp 513–549. doi:10.1007/3-540-37722-0_13

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Yang YW, Xu L, Gong ZS (2004) General circulation over the northern hemisphere in 2003 and its impact on the climate in China. Meteor Mon 30(4):20–24 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang HW, Wang B, Wang B (2011) Reduction of systematic biases in regional climate downscaling through ensemble forcing. Clim Dyn. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1006-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasunari T, Miwa T (2006) Convective cloud systems over the Tibetan Plateau and their impact on Meso-scale disturbance in the Meiyu/Baiu frontal zone. J Meteor Soc Japan 84(4):783–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye DZ, Gao YX (1979) Meteorology of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SL, Tao SY (2001) Influences of snow cover the Tibetan Plateau on Asian summer monsoon. Chin J Atmos Sci 25(3):372–390 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang QY, Wang HJ, Lin ZH, Sun JH, Zhang XL, Wei J (2004a) The research of the reason for weather and climate anomaly in China: the year of 2003. China Meteorological Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YS, Li T, Wang B (2004b) Decadal change of the spring snow depth over the Tibetan Plateau: the associated circulation and influence on the East Asian summer monsoon. J Clim 17:2780–2793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao P, Chen LX (2001) Climate features of atmospheric heat source/sink over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in 35 years and its relation to rainfall in China. Sci China Ser D 44:858–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao P, Zhou ZJ, Liu JP (2007) Variability of Tibetan spring snow and its associations with the hemispheric extratropical circulation and East Asian summer monsoon rainfall: an observational investigation. J Clim 20:3942–3955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu FK, Lu LH, Chen XJ (1981) The South Asian High. Science Press, Beijing, pp 1–94 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu YX, Ding YH, Liu HW (2009) Simulation of the influence of winter snow depth over the Tibetan Plateau on summer rainfall in China. Chin J Atmos Sci 33:903–915 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuo ZY, Zhang RH, Zhao P (2010) The relation of vegetation over the Tibetan Plateau to the rainfall in China in boreal summer. Clim Dyn. doi:10.1007/s00382-010-0863-6

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Schneider and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments; and also thank Meirong Wang for helpful discussions. This work was supported jointly by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (grant 2010CB951703; 2012CB417203), the Chinese Ministry of Finance/Ministry of Science and Technology (GYHY201006014), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 41175070; 41275088; 41275095).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modelling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), P. O. Box 9804, Beijing, 100029, China

    Ziqian Wang, Anmin Duan & Guoxiong Wu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Ziqian Wang

Authors
  1. Ziqian Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anmin Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guoxiong Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anmin Duan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, Z., Duan, A. & Wu, G. Time-lagged impact of spring sensible heat over the Tibetan Plateau on the summer rainfall anomaly in East China: case studies using the WRF model. Clim Dyn 42, 2885–2898 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-013-1800-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-013-1800-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation