Large-scale Aspects of the &amp;ldquo;Summer Monsoon&amp;rdquo; in South and East Asia

Flohn, Hermann

doi:10.2151/jmsj1923.35a.0_180

Cited by 318 publications

(197 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…As suggested by Flohn (1957), Li and Yanai (1996) found that the reversal of the meridional temperature gradient (MTG), indicated by the difference in the upper tropospheric (200−500 hPa) temperature between 30°N and 5°N, first occurs on the south side of the TP, and they suggested that the onset of the Asian summer monsoon is concurrent with MTG reversal in the upper troposphere. Mao et al (2004) and Mao and Wu (2007) used the area-averaged upper tropospheric (200−500 hPa) MTG as an index to define the Asian summer monsoon onset date.…”

Section: The Impact Of Winter Snow Depth Anomalies Over the Tibetan Pmentioning

confidence: 96%

Interannual Variability of Snow Depth over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Associated Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies

Mao

2010

Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters

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The interannual variability of wintertime snow depth over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and related atmospheric circulation anomalies were investigated based on observed snow depth measurements and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was applied to identify the spatio-temporal variability of wintertime TP snow depth. Snow depth anomalies were dominated by a monopole pattern over the TP and a dipole structure with opposite anomalies over the southeastern and northwestern TP. The atmospheric circulation conditions responsible for the interannual variability of TP snow depth were examined via regression analyses against the principal component of the most dominant EOF mode. In the upper troposphere, negative zonal wind anomalies over the TP with extensively positive anomalies to the south indicated that the southwestward shift of the westerly jet may favor the development of surface cyclones over the TP. An anomalous cyclone centered over the southeastern TP was associated with the anomalous westerly jet, which is conducive to heavier snowfall and results in positive snow depth anomalies. An anomalous cyclone was observed at 500 hPa over the TP, with an anomalous anticyclone immediately to the north, suggesting that the TP is frequently affected by surface cyclones. Regression analyses revealed that significant negative thickness anomalies exist around the TP from March to May, with a meridional dipole anomaly in March. The persistent negative anomalies due to more winter TP snow are not conducive to earlier reversal of the meridional temperature gradient, leading to a possible delay in the onset of the Asian summer monsoon. Keywords: Tibetan Plateau, snow depth, interannual variability, atmospheric circulation anomalies Citation: Mao, J.-Y., 2010: Interannual variability of snow depth over the Tibetan Plateau and its associated atmospheric circulation anomalies, Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 3,[213][214][215][216][217][218]

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Section: The Impact Of Winter Snow Depth Anomalies Over the Tibetan Pmentioning

confidence: 96%

Interannual Variability of Snow Depth over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Associated Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies

Mao

2010

Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters

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“…More than half a century ago meteorologists showed interests in dynamic and thermal effects of the TP on atmospheric circulation [43][44][45]. In the 1960s and 1970s, early General Circulation Models (GCMs) were successfully applied in studies on atmospheric circulation and climate under the conditions with and without topographic features [46][47][48][49].…”

Section: Numerical Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on the Asian monsoon-arid environment evolution

2013

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As one of the most important geological events in Cenozoic era, the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has had profound influences on the Asian and global climate and environment evolution. During the past four decades, many scholars from China and abroad have studied climatic and environmental effects of the TP uplift by using a variety of geological records and paleoclimate numerical simulations. The existing research results enrich our understanding of the mechanisms of Asian monsoon changes and interior aridification, but so far there are still a lot of issues that need to be thought deeply and investigated further. This paper attempts to review the research on the influence of the TP uplift on the Asian monsoon-arid environment, summarize three types of numerical simulations including bulk-plateau uplift, phased uplift and sub-regional uplift, and especially to analyze regional differences in responses of climate and environment to different forms of tectonic uplifts. From previous modeling results, the land-sea distribution and the Himalayan uplift may have a large effect in the establishment and development of the South Asian monsoon. However, the formation and evolution of the monsoon in northern East Asia, the intensified dryness north of the TP and enhanced Asian dust cycle may be more closely related to the uplift of the main body, especially the northern part of the TP. In this review, we also discuss relative roles of the TP uplift and other impact factors, origins of the South Asian monsoon and East Asian monsoon, feedback effects and nonlinear responses of climatic and environmental changes to the plateau uplift. Finally, we make comparisons between numerical simulations and geological records, discuss their uncertainties, and highlight some problems worthy of further studying.Tibetan Plateau, tectonic uplift, Asian monsoon, inland aridity, environmental evolution, geological record, numerical simulation Citation:Liu X D, Dong B W.

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“…It was initially discovered that the TP is a summertime atmospheric heat source in the 1950s (Flohn, 1957;Yeh et al, 1957), subsequently many studies were focused on the sensible and latent heat fluxes on the TP. Yeh (1982) indicated that the total energy flux from the plateau to the atmosphere was 231 W m −2 in June.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mass elevation effect of the Tibetan Plateau and its implications for Alpine treelines

Yao

Zhang

2014

Intl Journal of Climatology

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ABSTRACT:The immense and towering Tibetan Plateau (TP) acts as a heating source and shapes the climate of not only the Eurasian continent but also the entire world. The mass elevation effect of the TP was first observed in the 1950s; however, due to the scarcity of meteorological observation stations and limited climatic data, little information on the mass elevation effect of the plateau and its implications for the position of Alpine treelines in the southeastern part of the TP is quantitatively known. This paper compares monthly mean air temperature differences at elevations of 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500 and 6000 m between the main plateau, the Qilian Mts. in the northeastern corner of the plateau and the Sichuan Basin to the east of the plateau to quantify the mass elevation effect of the plateau. The TP air temperature data are retrieved from Terra moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST), and the free-air temperatures over the westernmost Sichuan Basin are estimated using the measured lapse rate from Mt. Emei, which is located in the western portion of the Sichuan Basin. The results demonstrate the following important characteristics. (1) Owing to the mass elevation effect, air temperatures gradually increase from the eastern edge to the interior main TP. The monthly mean air temperature in the interior main plateau is approximately 2-7 ∘ C higher than in the surrounding mountains and adjacent lowland areas. At an elevation of 4500 m (corresponding to the mean altitude of the TP), the monthly mean temperature differences between the plateau and the Sichuan Basin range from 3.58 ∘ C (April) to 6.63 ∘ C (June); the monthly temperature differences between the plateau and the Qilian Mts. range from 1.6 ∘ C (July) to 7.7 ∘ C (March). (2) The mass elevation effect of the plateau pushes the 10 ∘ C isotherm upward in the warmest month and is indicative of a warmth index of 15 ∘ C month up to elevations of 4600-4700 m, which enables the treeline altitude in the interior TP 500-1000 m higher than along the eastern edge. Therefore, mass elevation effect contributes to the occurrence of the highest treeline in the Northern Hemisphere, which is present on the southeastern TP.KEY WORDS Tibetan Plateau; air temperature; treeline; mass elevation effect; warmth index; 10 ∘ C isotherm in the warmest month

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Large-scale Aspects of the “Summer Monsoon” in South and East Asia

Cited by 318 publications

References 7 publications

Interannual Variability of Snow Depth over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Associated Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies

Interannual Variability of Snow Depth over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Associated Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies

Influence of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on the Asian monsoon-arid environment evolution

The mass elevation effect of the Tibetan Plateau and its implications for Alpine treelines

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