Comprehensive effects of interdecadal change of sea surface temperature increase in the Indo-Pacific Ocean on the warming-wetting of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Abstract

The correlation characteristics between anomalous changes in summer precipitation on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and the high-impact areas of global sea-surface temperature (SST) are mainly studied in this paper. The results show that the interdecadal change of the regional “warming-wetting” in China is especially prominent in the northern part of the main body of the QTP, which is therefore identified as the high-value area of precipitation variability. Investigations have revealed that the high-value areas of summer precipitation variability in the northern QTP are significantly correlated with four high-value areas of SST variability, namely the western North Pacific, the western Central Pacific, the Southwest Pacific, and the central Indian Ocean. In these four high-impact areas, a synchronous tendency is found in the SST increase and sea-surface specific humidity. Through the tracking analysis of the correlated vectors of the water vapor source for the warming-wetting of the QTP, it further confirms that the four high-value areas of SST variability in the Indo-Pacific Ocean are the major impact sources of water vapor transport for the warming-wetting of the QTP. Moreover, the comparison of the characteristics of various interdecadal global water vapor transport circulations show that from 1991 to 2020, the trans-equatorial water vapor transport from the Southern Hemisphere witnessed a notable increase, which furthermore suggests that the interdecadal change of SST increase in the Southwest Pacific and central Indian Ocean is the key reason for the warming-wetting of the QTP. In addition, a comprehensive image of high-impact marine water vapor sources for modulating the warming-wetting tendency in the QTP is proposed.

Quantifying the Spatio-Temporal Pattern Differences in Climate Change before and after the Turning Year in Southwest China over the Past 120 Years

“…In general, about 78.33% of the Qinghai-Xizang region west of 98 • E in SWC has experienced the process of warming and wetting, which is consistent with the rule that most researchers report that the Qinghai-Xizang region has experienced rapid warming and warming on the whole based on station data [1, 9,11,74,81]. This may be related to the changes in atmospheric dynamic and thermal structure, including the increase in the sea-surface temperature, the northward shift of westerlies, the warming trend of the middle and upper troposphere, and the occurrence frequency of low-level vortexes on the ground [82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89]. In recent decades, the circulation trend over the troposphere of Asia has been increasing, with the influence of low-latitude westerlies increasing, and more water vapor being transported from the Arabian Sea, resulting in increased precipitation variability [86][87][88][89].…”

“…In recent decades, the circulation trend over the troposphere of Asia has been increasing, with the influence of low-latitude westerlies increasing, and more water vapor being transported from the Arabian Sea, resulting in increased precipitation variability [86][87][88][89]. Some studies also point to warming in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and the central Indian Ocean as a major cause of warming-wetting on the QX-P [82]. In addition, Zhang et al [90] and Curio et al [91] found that precipitation on the QX-P and its surrounding areas largely depends on cyclic processes related to regional evaporation and that increased temperature variability accelerates glacier melting, further leading to more evaporation, promoting local water cycling and increasing local atmospheric water vapor content.…”

Multi-decadal Changes of the Impact of El Niño Events on Tibetan Plateau Summer Precipitation

“…Alongside global climate warming and changes in the atmospheric circulation model, the precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau has also changed. Of course, there are many factors that affect precipitation on the TP [13][14][15] , and changes in sea surface temperature (SST) are one of them. As the strongest signal in the airsea interaction system, the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on precipitation cannot be ignored.…”