The terraced thermal contrast among the Tibetan Plateau, the East Asian plain, and the western North Pacific and its impacts on the seasonal transition of East Asian climate

The heating sources over the Tibetan Plateau （TP）, the East Asian plain, and the western North Pacific （WNP） form a terraced thermal contrast in the west-east direction. Over East Asia and the WNP, this zonal thermal contrast contributes as high as 45 % to the seasonal variance based on the EOF analysis and exerts a significant impact on the seasonal transition of the East Asian climate through the enhancement of the year-round southerly to the southeast of the TP in late March and early April. This effect is investigated in this study using a high-resolution regional atmospheric model by doubling the surface sen- sible heat flux, respectively, over the TP, the East Asian plain, and the WNP in three sensitivity experiments. Comparisons among the experiments reveal that doubling the surface sensible heat flux over the WNP has little upstream response over East Asia. The increased zonal thermal contrast between the TP and the East Asian plain due to doubled heat flux over the TP would induce anomalous northerly over the region with year-round southerly to the southeast of the TP and weaken its seasonal enhancement. Doubling the surface sensible heat flux over the East Asian plain decreases the zonal thermal contrast and leads to southerly anomaly over the region with year-round southerly to the southeast of the TP and South China, which is favorable for the enhancement of the year-round southerly and its eastward extension.     

Modeling the climate effects of different subregional uplifts within the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau on Asian summer monsoon evolution

Considering the different uplifting time of different subregions of the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau(TP),a series of numerical simulations have been conducted with the Community Atmosphere Model(CAM4) developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research to explore the effects of the phased tectonic uplift of the Himalaya-TP on the evolution of Asian summer monsoons.The results show that the uplifts of the Himalaya and northern TP significantly affect the evolutions of South Asian summer monsoon and northern East Asian summer monsoon respectively.That is,the tectonic uplift of the Himalaya intensifies the South Asian summer monsoon circulation and increases the precipitation in South Asia,whereas the uplift of the northern TP intensifies the northern East Asian summer monsoon circulation and increases the precipitation in northern East Asia.Compared with previous simulations,current comparative analyses of modeling results for different subregional uplifts within the Himalaya-TP help deepen our understanding of the evolutionary history of Asian monsoons.     

夏季青藏高原潜热分布及其廓线特征

利用热带测雨卫星(tropical rainfall measuring mission,TRMM)上微波成像仪(TRMM microwave image,TMI)的观测资料,首次借助卫星遥感对夏季青藏高原地区的潜热水平分布形式、潜热垂直结构及其变化特征进行了分析,并与周边地区进行了比较.潜热的水平分布形式与基于NCEP/NCAR降水资料的结果基本一致,显示了TMI反演资料在高原地区的可用性.研究结果初步揭示了夏季青藏高原上三个比较稳定的潜热加热中心,以及高原潜热廓线较为独特的单峰结构.特别在与周边区域的比较中发现,高原地区仅与印度次大陆潜热廓线的上层结构较为相似,而在6 km高度以上的对流层中高层,高原上整层的潜热加热均高于中国中东部大陆和西太平洋暖池地区,表现为显著的高空热源.     

Modeling impacts of East Asian Ocean-Land thermal contrast on spring southwesterly winds and rainfall in eastern China

Using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research （NCEP–NCAR） reanalysis dataset, the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s merged analysis of precipitation, and the MM5v3 Meso-scale Model, the impacts of surface temperature differences between the East Asian land and its adjacent oceans on spring southwesterly winds and rainfall over eastern China are studied. The modeling results show that the temperature differences exert strong influence on the occurrence of the southwesterly winds and rainfall over southern China and their northward advances. When surface temperature increases over the land and decreases over the oceans, the temperature gradient with a winter feature earlier changes toward the gradient with a summer feature. Both the low-pressure system east of the Tibetan Plateau and the subtropical high-pressure system over the western Pacific strengthen, accompanying with the strengthening of the lower-tropospheric southwesterly winds over eastern China. Accordingly, the upward motion increases over the Yangtze-Huaihe River （YHR） valleys and decreases over southern China, leading to an increase of spring rainfall over the YHR valleys and a decrease over southern China. Thus, the rain belt over eastern China appears over the YHR valleys but not over southern China. Under a weaker condition of the spring thermal contrast, the rain belt does not occur over eastern China. When the spring thermal contrast pronouncedly strengthens, the rain belt over southern China may advance northward into the YHR valleys during spring, though there is no onset of the tropical monsoon over the South China Sea. This forms a rain belt similar to that of the YHR valleys during the summer Meiyu period.     

Temperature variations on the Tibetan Plateau over the last two millennia

The paleoclimate data recovered from ice cores,tree rings and lake sediments indicate regional features of cfimatic change on the Tibeta n Plateau (TP) during the last 2000 years. The composite temperature reconstructions in-dicate that several main climatic episodes, such as the “LittleIce Age“ between 1400 and 1900, the “Medieval Warm Pe-riod“ in 1150-1400, a less warm period in 800-1100, and an earlier cold period between the 3rd and 5th centuries,occurred in the TP. In addition, temperature varied from region to region. The period from AD 800 to 1100, which waswarm in northeastern TP, was contemporaneous with cool-ing in the western and southern TP. The southern TP ex-perienced warming between 1150 and 1400. For western TP,the δ^18O records of the Guliya ice core indicate that the pe-Hod 1250-1500 witnessed a clear warming. Large-scaletrends in the temperature history from northeastern TP aremore similar to those in eastern China than are the trendsfrom the Guliya ice cap far to the west and southern TP. The most prominent similarities between the temperature varia-tions of the TP and eastern China are such cold phases as 1100-1150, 1500-1550, 1650-1700 and 1800-1850, andthe latter three cold events match with three widespreadg lacial advances which occurred on the TP during the Little Ice A2e.     

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

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.     

New evidence for the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau as a pilot region of climatic fluctuation in China

Over 40 a observed temperature data in 172 stations in China and historical proxy data were analyzed. Evidence suggested that during 1980–1994, the warmest year appeared first in southeastern part of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau (henceforth SETP) and then gradually spread northwards and eastwards to eastern China. The climatic change on century time scale in recent 600 a shows 3 relatively warm and clod stages in China. Each warm and cold stage appeared first in Tibet Plateau (henceforth TP) and then in the Qilian Mountains, then in the eastern parts of China. The warm and cold stages in TP were 10–60 a earlier than in the eastern China. The facts show that TP is a pilot region of climatic fluctuation in China on the time scale shorter than 10³a.     

Elemental composition of aerosols collected in the glacier area on Nyainqêntanglha Range, Tibetan Plateau, during summer monsoon season

In order to investigate the elemental composition in atmospheric aerosols and its sources in the glacier area over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), seven totally suspended particle samples were collected continuously at the col of the Zhadang glacier (30°28′N,90°39′E,5800 m a.s.l.), Nyainqêntanglha Range, southern TP, from June to October 2006. Twenty-seven elements (Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Cd, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, U) were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The result indicates that the concentrations of most elements (especially crustal elements) are lower than values at the Nam Co Station during the same period of 2005, and also much lower than other sites in the TP such as Wudaoliang and Waliguan. This suggests that elemental compositions of aerosols in the Zhadang glacier area may represent the background levels of the middle/upper troposphere over the TP. Crustal enrichment factors (EFs) reveal that several elements (e.g. B, Zn, As, Cd, Pb and Bi) may have anthropogenic sources. The southern TP is mainly influenced by the summer Indian monsoon during the sampling period. Backward air mass trajectory analysis suggests that air masses in the region may originate from South Asia. Therefore, anthropogenic pollutants from South Asia may be transported by the summer Indian monsoon to the region which clearly affects the atmospheric environment in the southern TP during the summer monsoon season.     

青藏高原上中尺度对流系统东移的热力场特征

利用国家气象中心高分辨率有限区域分析预报系统产品(HLAFS)中的数值格点预报资料,运用空间数据挖掘中的聚类方法 (K 均值法和CLARANS法),对影响1998年夏季青藏高原上中尺度对流系统（MCSs）东移的热力场的空间分布特征进行了研究,得到了有利于MCSs移动和传播的热力学条件.结果表明,MCSs周边热力场中的温度场、湿度场以及水汽通量散度场空间分布特征的变化可以为MCSs发展和演变的预测提供重要线索,从而为探讨高原上MCSs的移动规律,揭示其发生和发展的机理提供了一种有效的新途径.     

2003年东亚夏季风活动的特点

利用2003年国家气象中心提供的再分析资料以及台站降水资料，诊断分析了2003我国东部地区汛期降水和东亚夏季风的活动特点，并对二者之间的联系进行讨论。结果表明：(1)2003年南海夏季风于5月第5候在南海南部建立。6月第1候全面爆发，比常年偏晚，南海夏季风强度也比常年偏弱；(2)该年夏季，副热带高压的一个显著特点是强度强、位置偏西，其中从6月下旬至7月中旬，副热带高压的位置稳定少变，其北脊线位25oN附近，且副高位置偏西，这导致了长江以南的犬部分地区高温少雨。这个阶段副热带高压西侧的南风气流将南海地区的水汽源源不断地输送到淮河流域，是淮河流域强降水过程水汽主要来源。     

南海夏季风爆发与华南前汛期锋面降水气候平均的联系

利用1958-2000年NCEP/NCAR再分析日平均资料、中国气象局气候中心常规地面观测日降水资料,从气候平均角度诊断分析了南海夏季风爆发和撤退前后大气结构特征及其与南亚季风的差异,探讨华南前汛期锋面降水对南海夏季风爆发的可能影响。结果表明:①季节转换期间南海地区大气热力结构、动力结构的配置具有与孟加拉湾和南亚地区明显不同的特征,大气低层(850 hPa以下)温度梯度的逆转(由负变正)发生在西南季风爆发之后。②850hPa西风建立在南海大气低层(850 hPa以下)经向温度梯度为弱负值的时候,是受热成风约束的结果。③季节转换期间南海地区大气热力结构、动力结构的配置具有独特性,是由于东亚地区独特的地理位置,受来源于中纬度冷空气影响的缘故。④随着华南降水强度加强,对流释放潜热加热了中高层大气,有利于南海经向温度梯度的逆转,从而在热成风关系约束下使高层南亚高压的北移,因此华南前汛期第一阶段锋面降水是南海夏季风爆发的有利因素。     

蒙古高原野豌豆属植物区系生态地理分布研究

由于蒙古高原位于亚洲温带地区,广布的北温带和温带亚洲成分（5种,占31.25％）构成了该属的基本成分,在蒙古高原的北部汉入欧洲－后利业成分（4种）,在东部渗入了东亚区系成分（4种）,分别占25％,反遇了该属植物区系成分与西伯利亚和东亚森林区植物区系的紧密联系,亚洲中部成分（3种,占18.75％）,特别是达乌里－蒙古种（2种）为蒙古原物有种,这是该属植物在蒙古高原长期适应演化的结果,蒙古高原野豌豆属植物与东西伯利亚、东北和华北地区联系较为紧密。     

青藏高原的自然环境特征

 本文基于1950年代至今青藏高原综合考察和研究成果,系统总结了青藏高原自然环境的主要特征。青藏高原是中国三大自然阶梯中最高一级,平均海拔超过4000 m,被称为“世界屋脊”。青藏高原土地辽阔,总面积约为250万km²,占中国陆地总面积的1/4。自新近纪以来强烈的隆升,使青藏高原自然环境明显区别于其他地区,形成了自己鲜明的特征,主要表现为海拔高、温度低、辐射强、河湖众多、冰川冻土广布、生物多样性丰富。青藏高原面积广大,高原内部的自然环境差异显著,并具有明显的区域分异特征,根据拟订的原则、方法和指标,青藏高原可划分为10个各具特色的自然区,包括：果洛那曲高原山地高寒灌丛草甸区、青南高原宽谷高寒草甸草原区、羌塘高原湖盆高寒草原区、昆仑高山高原高寒荒漠区、川西藏东高山峡谷针叶林区、青东祁连高山盆地针叶林草原区、藏南高山谷地灌丛草原区、柴达木盆地荒漠区、昆仑山北翼山地荒漠区、阿里山地荒漠区。     

Response of the East Asian climate system to water and heat changes of global frozen soil using NCAR CAM model

Under the condition of land-atmosphere heat and water conservation, a set of sensitive numerical experiments are set up to investigate the response of the East Asian climate system to global frozen soil change. This is done by introducing the supercooled soil water process into the Community Land Model (CLM3.0), which has been coupled to the National Center of Atmospheric Research Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3.1). Results show that:(1) The ratio between soil ice and soil water in CLM3.0 is clearly changed by the supercooled soil water process. Ground surface temperature and soil temperature are also affected. (2) The Eurasian (including East Asian) climate system is sensitive to changes of heat and water in frozen soil regions. In January, the Aleutian low sea level pressure circulation is strengthened, Ural blocking high at 500 hPa weakened, and East Asian trough weakened. In July, sea level pressure over the Aleutian Islands region is significantly reduced; there are negative anomalies of 500 hPa geopotential height over the East Asian mainland, and positive anomalies over the East Asian ocean. (3) In January, the southerly component of the 850 hPa wind field over East Asia increases, indicating a weakened winter monsoon. In July, cyclonic anomalies appear on the East Asian mainland while there are anticyclonic anomalies over the ocean, reflective of a strengthened east coast summer monsoon. (4) Summer rainfall in East Asia changed significantly, including substantial precipitation increase on the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, central Yangtze River Basin, and northeast China. Summer rainfall significantly decreased in south China and Hainan Island, but slightly decreased in central and north China. Further analysis showed considerable upper air motion along ~30°N latitude, with substantial descent of air at its north and south sides. Warm and humid air from the Northeast Pacific converged with cold air from northern land areas, representing the main cause of the precipitation anomalies.     

The onset and advance of the Asian summer monsoon

The transition from the winter monsoon to summer monsoon is characterized by the abrupt change of the atmospheric circulation. Although many studies on the intraseasonal variation of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) have been made, there are controversial v…     

用区域气候模式对1951——2000年我国夏季降水的模拟

为了检验区域气候模式对我国夏季降水的模拟能力,利用高分辨率区域气候模式RegCM3对1951?2000年的夏季中国区域降水进行了数值模拟。初始值及边界值取自美国国家环境预测中心(NCEP)和国家大气中心(NCAR)的全球再分析资料。每年的模拟积分时段从5月1日开始到9月1日结束, 但是每年降水量的分析只使用6?8月的模拟结果。主要结论如下: (1) 从全国平均总降水量看,该区域模式的模拟结果与观测比较接近,明显好于NCEP的降水资料,但模拟的降水量空间分布不理想; (2) 从降水量距平的空间分布来看,该区域模式对我国的东北夏季降水的模拟结果明显好于全国其他地区,黄河中下游最差; (3) 从时间分布上看,该模式模拟能力呈现出明显的年代际变化,20世纪60年代及90年代模拟较好,也比较稳定,70年代及80年代的模拟能力呈大起大落不稳定状态; (4) 模式未能模拟出70—80年代我国降水偏少的观测事实,说明模式对我国夏季降水年代际变率的模拟能力不足。     

Millennial-scale phase relationship between North Atlantic deep-level temperature and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau temperature and its evolution since the Last Interglaciation

This study employed proxy data to investigate the phase relationship between the North Atlantic deep-level temperature and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau （TP） surface air temperature （TP temperature） and its evolution at the mil- lennial scale since the Last Interglaciation. The results indicate the alternation of in-phase and anti-phase relation- ships since the Last Interglaciation, with the in-phase rela- tionships showing a shorter duration than the anti-phase relationships. Alternations between the in-phase and anti- phase relationships occurred more frequently during the Last Interglaciation than during the Last Glaciation. The phase relationship between the North At/antic deep-level temperature and the TP temperature was broadly illustrated by that between the North Atlantic temperature （based on oxygen isotope data from the Greenland ice core） and TP temperature. Furthermore, the North Atlantic deep-level temperature and the TP temperature may be connected through the North Atlantic sea surface temperature.     

Nitrogen isotopic composition of plant-soil in the Loess Plateau and its responding to environmental change

The nitrogen isotope of soil is of emerging significance as an indicator of climatic change and biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen in nature systems. In this paper, the nitrogen content and isotopic composition of modern ecosystems from arid and semiarid Loess Plateau in northwestern China, including plant roots and surface soil, were determined to investigate trends in δ15N variation of plant roots and soil along a precipitation and temperature gradient in northwestern China under the East Asian Monsoon clim...     

Natural interdecadal weakening of East Asian summer monsoon in the late 20th century

Based on the reanalysis data throughout 1948-2002 as derived from the United States National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research, it is revealed that East Asian summer monsoon （EASM） intensity weakens on an interdecadal timescale since the mid-1960s, and twice interdecadal jumps are recorded in the EASM intensity index series in the late 20th century, respectively occurring in the mid-1960s and mid- to late 1970s. Six globally coupled atmosphere-ocean models＇ outputs under the SRES A2 greenhouse gas and aerosol emission scenario, provided by the IPCC Data Distribution Center and the Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research, are then systematically examined. It follows that the above EASM weakening is not closely related to synchro- nizing anthropogenic global warming, and, therefore, it should be qualitatively natural change process. Over the 21st century, the EASM intensity is likely increased slightly by continually intensified greenhouse effect relative to the late 20th century.     

The seasonal cycle of interhemispheric oscillations in mass field of the global atmosphere

Using the daily and monthly data of surface air pressure, meridional wind, radiation and water vapor from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis for the period of 1979―2006, we have examined the seasonal variations of the interhemispheric oscillations (IHO) in mass field of the global atmosphere. Our results have demonstrated that IHO as observed in surface air pressure field shows the distinct seasonal cycle. This seasonal cycle has an interhemispheric seesaw structure with comparable annual ranges of surface air pressure in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Mass of water vapor changes out-of-phase between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, showing clearly a seasonal cycle with its annual range almost equivalent to annual range of the IHO seasonal cycle. Amazingly, the cross-equatorial flow is found to be induced by annual changes in water vapor mass as a response of the atmosphere to seasonal cycle of forcing from hemispheric net surface short- and long-wave radiations. The IHO seasonality exhibits its larger variations in magnitude in mid-latitudes other than in other regions of the globe. Additionally, our results also show that the global air mass is redistributed seasonally not only between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres but also between land and sea. This land-sea air mass redis- tribution induces a zonal pattern of surface air pressure in the Northern Hemisphere but the meridional pattern in the Southern Hemisphere.