Northwest Pacific tropical cyclone activity and July rainfall over India

Summary In 2002, India had experienced one of the most severe droughts. The severe drought conditions were caused by the unprecedented deficient rainfall in July 2002, in which only 49% of the normal rainfall was received. One of the major circulation anomalies observed during July 2002, was the active monsoon trough over Northwest (NW) Pacific and enhanced typhoon activity over this region. The present study was designed to examine the long-term relationships between Tropical Cyclone (TC) activity over NW Pacific and monsoon rainfall over India in July. A statistically significant negative correlation between TC days over NW Pacific and July rainfall over India was observed. Spatial dependence of the relationship revealed that TCs forming over NW Pacific east of 150° E and moving northwards have an adverse effect on Indian monsoon rainfall. It was observed that TCs forming over the South China Sea and moving westwards may have a positive impact on monsoon rainfall over India. Enhanced TC activity over NW Pacific during July 2002 induced weaker monsoon circulation over the Indian region due to large-scale subsidence.     

Water vapour transport from the tropical Atlantic and summer rainfall in tropical southern Africa

An empirical orthogonal functions analysis of the onshore flow of moisture along the west coast of southern Africa using NCEP-DOE AMIP II Re-analyses suggests two dominant modes of variability that are linked to (a) variations in the circulation linked with the South Atlantic anticyclone (b) the intensity of the flow that penetrates from the tropical Atlantic. The second mode, referred as the Equatorial Westerly mode, contributes the most to moisture input from the Atlantic onto the subcontinent at tropical latitudes. Substantial correlations in austral summer between the Atlantic moisture flux in the tropics and rainfall over the upper lands surrounding the Congo basin suggest the potential role played by this zonal mode of water vapour transport. Composites for austral summer months when this Equatorial Westerly mode had a particularly strong expression, show an enhanced moisture input at tropical latitudes that feeds into the deep convection occurring over the Congo basin. Sustained meridional energy fluxes result in above normal rainfall east and south of the Congo belt. During years of reduced equatorial westerly moisture flux, a deficit of available humidity occurs in the southern tropics. A concomitant eastward shift of deep convection to the southwest Indian ocean and southeastern Africa, leads to below normal rainfall over the uplands surrounding the Congo basin.     

An index for tropical temperate troughs over southern Africa

Strong cases of the tropical temperate troughs (TTT) that are responsible for the most of the summer rainfall over subtropical southern Africa are analyzed. An index for identifying the TTT is introduced for the first time using anomalies of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and the wind. The TTT is associated with a ridge-trough-ridge wave-like structure in the lower troposphere over southern Africa and the adjoining Indian Ocean. Therefore, the index considers physical processes that occur over southern Africa, adjoining the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to depict the variability of the TTT events. Unusually strong TTT events are identified when the standard deviations of the TTT indices defined by the OLR and wind anomalies in the selected regions are above 1.5 and 0.5 respectively. After applying this criterion and filtering out consecutive events, 55 TTT events are identified during the study period of December–January–February seasons from 1980–1981 to 2009–2010. From the composite analyses of those 55 events, it is found that the TTTs evolve with suppressed (enhanced) convection over the southwest Indian Ocean adjacent to Madagascar (southern Africa). The suppressed convection is, in turn, found to be associated with the enhanced convection around Sumatra in the southeast tropical Indian Ocean. This may explain why more TTT events occur in La Niña years as compared to El Niño years. Time evolution of the canonical TTT event shows that it starts 3 days prior to the mature phase of the event, suggesting possible predictability. After reaching a matured state, the system moves east toward the Indian Ocean and decays within the subsequent couple of days. In addition, the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) structure changes over Southern Africa/Madagascar during the TTT event and remains similar to climatology over other regions. The results indicate that the continental part of the ITCZ intensifies prior to the TTT event and then spreads southward following the mid-latitude influence during and after the event.     

云贵高原两个国家基准站降水特性比较

为更好地理解和认识小尺度地形对降水特性的影响,利用位于云贵高原地区相近的两个国家基准站太华山和昆明站2006—2018年雨季(5—10月)小时降水资料,统计分析了两站降水精细化的时空特征.结果表明,两站的海拔高度差约500 m、站距约5 km,暖季降水量差异不大,但降水的精细特征却存在明显差异,主要表现为:(1)两站的降水量和平均降水强度年际差异不明显,但太华山站多数年份的降水频次远多于昆明站;(2)降水日变化上,太华山站在11—20时的累积降水量要高于昆明站;两站降水频次均具有双峰型特征,但在03—09时和11—17时太华山站的降水频次要明显高于昆明站,00—13时和21—23时昆明站的平均降水强度高于太华山站.(3)两站的降水事件特征不同,太华山站的降水事件次数和累积降水量都明显多于昆明站,主要由持续时间在6 h以上的降水事件贡献.(4)两站降水事件主要为共有降水事件,降水特性差异也主要由共有降水事件造成.太华山站先开始(结束)降水的共有降水事件次数比昆明站多(少),持续时间(降水频次)比昆明站长(多),短、长时降水事件的降水量(降水频次)比昆明站大(多),平均降水持续时间比昆明站多0.36 h.(5)两站单独降水事件占总降水事件的39.9％,太华山站的单独降水事件数是昆明站的1.83倍,而且平均持续时间长于昆明站.     

Intense rainfall events over the west coast of India

Summary The west coast of the Indian peninsula receives very heavy rainfall during the summer Monsoon (June–September) season with average rainfall over some parts exceeding 250 cm. Heavy rainfall events with rainfall more than 15 cm day⁻¹ at one or more stations along the west coast of India occur frequently and cause considerable damage. A special observational programme, Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment, was carried out during the monsoon season of 2002 to study these events. The spatial and temporal distributions of intense rainfall events, presented here, were used for the planning of this observational campaign. The present study using daily rainfall data for summer monsoon season of 37 years (1951–1987) shows that the probability of getting intense rainfall is the maximum between 14° N–16° N and near 19° N. The probability of occurrence of these intense rainfall events is high from mid June to mid August, with a dip in early July. It has been believed for a long time that offshore troughs and vortices are responsible for these intense rainfall events. However, analysis of the characteristics of cloud systems associated with the intense rainfall events during 1985–1988 using very high resolution brightness temperature data from INSAT-IB satellite shows that the cloud systems during these events are characterized by large spatial scales and high cloud tops. Further study using daily satellite derived outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data over a longer period (1975–1998) shows that, most of these events (about 62%) are associated with systems organized on synoptic and larger scales. We find that most of the offshore convective systems responsible for intense rainfall along the west coast of India are linked to the atmospheric conditions over equatorial Indian Ocean.     

New statistical models for long-range forecasting of southwest monsoon rainfall over India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing long-range forecasts (LRF) based on statistical methods for the southwest monsoon rainfall over India (ISMR) for more than 100 years. Many statistical and dynamical models including the operational models of IMD failed to predict the recent deficient monsoon years of 2002 and 2004. In this paper, we report the improved results of new experimental statistical models developed for LRF of southwest monsoon seasonal (June–September) rainfall. These models were developed to facilitate the IMD’s present two-stage operational forecast strategy. Models based on the ensemble multiple linear regression (EMR) and projection pursuit regression (PPR) techniques were developed to forecast the ISMR. These models used new methods of predictor selection and model development. After carrying out a detailed analysis of various global climate data sets; two predictor sets, each consisting of six predictors were selected. Our model performance was evaluated for the period from 1981 to 2004 by sliding the model training period with a window length of 23 years. The new models showed better performance in their hindcast, compared to the model based on climatology. The Heidke scores for the three category forecasts during the verification period by the first stage models based on EMR and PPR methods were 0.5 and 0.44, respectively, and those of June models were 0.63 and 0.38, respectively. Root mean square error of these models during the verification period (1981–2004) varied between 4.56 and 6.75% from long period average (LPA) as against 10.0% from the LPA of the model based on climatology alone. These models were able to provide correct forecasts of the recent two deficient monsoon rainfall events (2002 and 2004). The experimental forecasts for the 2005 southwest monsoon season based on these models were also found to be accurate.     

Interdecadal change in the relationship of southern China summer rainfall with tropical Indo-Pacific SST

The present study investigates the interdecadal change in the relationship between southern China (SC) summer rainfall and tropical Indo-Pacific sea surface temperature (SST). It is found that the pattern of tropical Indo-Pacific SST anomalies associated with SC summer rainfall variability tends to be opposite between the 1950–1960s and the 1980-1990s. Above-normal SC rainfall corresponds to warmer SST in the tropical southeastern Indian Ocean (SEIO) and cooler SST in the equatorial central Pacific (ECP) during the 1950–1960s but opposite SST anomalies in these regions during the 1980–1990s. A pronounced difference is also found in anomalous atmospheric circulation linking SEIO SST and SC rainfall between the two periods. In the 1950–1960s, two anomalous vertical circulations are present between ascent over SEIO and ascent over SC, with a common branch of descent over the South China Sea that is accompanied by an anomalous low-level anticyclone. In the 1980–1990s, however, a single anomalous vertical circulation directly connects ascent over SC to descent over SEIO. The change in the rainfall–SST relationship is likely related to a change in the magnitude of SEIO SST forcing and a change in the atmospheric response to the SST forcing due to different mean states. A larger SEIO SST forcing coupled with a stronger and more extensive western North Pacific subtropical high in recent decades induce circulation anomalies reaching higher latitudes, influencing SC directly. Present analysis shows that the SEIO and ECP SST anomalies can contribute to SC summer rainfall variability both independently and in concert. In comparison, there are more cases of concerted contributions due to the co-variability between the Indian and Pacific Ocean SSTs.     

Statistical analysis of annual maximum rainfall in North-East India: an application of LH-moments

An attempt has been made to determine the best fitting distribution to describe the annual series of maximum daily rainfall data for the period 1966 to 2007 of nine distantly located stations in North East India. The LH-moments of order zero (L) to order four (L₄) are used to estimate the parameters of three extreme value distributions viz. generalized extreme value distribution (GEV), generalized logistic distribution (GLD), and generalized Pareto distribution (GPD). The performances of the distributions are assessed by evaluating the relative bias (RBIAS) and relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of quantile estimates through Monte Carlo simulations. Then, the boxplot is used to show the location of the median and the associated dispersion of the data. Finally, it can be revealed from the results of boxplots that zero level of LH-moments of the generalized Pareto distribution would be appropriate to the majority of the stations for describing the annual maximum rainfall series in North East India.     

Surface and upper air temperatures over India in relation to monsoon rainfall

Summary The relationship between the all-India summer monsoon rainfall and surface/upper air (850, 700, 500 and 200 mb levels) temperatures over the Indian region and its spatial and temporal characteristics have been examined to obtain a useful predictor for the monsoon rainfall. The data series of all-India and subdivisional summer monsoon rainfall and various seasonal air temperatures at 73 surface observatories and 9 radiosonde stations (1951–1980) have been used in the analysis. The Correlation Coefficients (CCs) between all-India monsoon rainfall and seasonal surface air temperatures with different lags relative to the monsoon season indicate a systematic relationship.The CCs between the monsoon rainfall and surface-air temperature of the preceding MAM (pre-monsoon spring) season are positive over many parts of India and highly significant over central and northwestern regions. The average surface air temperature of six stations i.e., Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Indore, Sagar and Akola in this region (Western Central India, WCI) showed a highly significant CC of 0.60 during the period 1951–1980. This relationship is also found to be consistently significant for the period from 1950 to present, though decreasing in magnitude after 1975. WCI MAM surface air temperature has shown significant CCs with the monsoon rainfall over eleven sub-divisions mainly in northwestern India, i.e., north of 15 °N and west of 80 °E.Upper air temperatures of the MAM season at almost all the stations and all levels considered show positive CCs with the subsequent monsoon rainfall. These correlations are significant at some central and north Indian stations for the lower and middle tropospheric temperatures.The simple regression equation developed for the period 1951–1980 isy = – 183.20 + 8.83x, wherey is the all-India monsoon rainfall in cm andx is the WCI average surface air temperature of MAM season in °C. This equation is significant at 0.1% level. The suitability of this parameter for inclusion in a predictive regression model along with five other global and regional parameters has been discussed. Multiple regression analysis for the long-range prediction of monsoon rainfall, using several combinations of these parameters indicates that the improvement of predictive skill considerably depends upon the selection of the predictors.With 9 Figures     

Statistical models for predicting rainfall in the Caribbean

Summary Separate predictive models are created for the Caribbean early wet season (May–June–July) and late wet season (August–September–October). Simple correlations are used to select predictors for a Caribbean rainfall index and predictive equations are formulated using multiple linear regression. The process is repeated after long term trends are removed from the Caribbean rainfall index and the models validated using a number of statistical methods. Four variables are confirmed as predictors for the early season: Caribbean sea surface temperature anomalies, tropical North Atlantic sea level pressure anomalies, vertical shear anomalies in the equatorial Atlantic, and the size of the Atlantic portion of the Western Hemisphere Warm Pool. Only the first two are retained in the late season model. On the interannual time-scale, equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies become significant in both seasons. The NINO3 index is retained among the predictors for the early season, and zonal gradients of sea surface temperature between the equatorial Pacific and tropical Atlantic are retained for the late season. The results also indicate spatial variation in the importance of the seasonal predictors.     

Origins of intraseasonal rainfall variations over the southern South China Sea in boreal winter

本文主要探讨冬季南海南部季节内降水变化的来源,数据主要来自于TRMM和NCEP-DOE资料,方法主要有谱分析和回归分析。研究发现南海南部的降水变化在10–20天和30–60天时间尺度上有不同的来源。10–20天时间尺度上,东亚冬季风超前于南海南部降水异常2天。而在30–60天时间尺度上,两者几乎同时出现。此外,热带东南印度洋上的降水异常超前于南海南部一周左右,这表明热带印度洋上的对流引起的环流异常可能对南海南部30–60天时间尺度上降水异常有重要的作用,但对10–20天时间尺度上降水异常的作用并不明显。     

Asymmetric association of rainfall and atmospheric circulation over East Asia with anomalous rainfall in the tropical western North Pacific in summer

热带西北太平洋夏季降水异常能显著影响东亚夏季降水和环流异常,但前人对两者关系的研究大多建立在线性的基础上。通过对西北太平洋夏季降水异常强年和异常弱年的合成分析,本文研究发现,两种情况下东亚-西北太平洋异常的相互关系存在强的不对称性,即,西北太平洋夏季降水异常强年,东亚降水及环流异常比较显著;而在西北太平洋降水异常弱年,这些热带外异常则相对较弱。     

Variability in rainfall over tropical Australia during summer and relationships with the Bilybara High

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Variability in summer rainfall over tropical Australia, defined here as that part of the continent north of 25° S, and its linkages with regional...     

The orthogonal structure of Monsoon rainfall variation over Sri Lanka

Summary The spatial organization of Monsoon rainfall over Sri Lanka is examined using Orthogonal Factor Analysis (OFA) on long-term mean monthly rainfall data. Three types of orthogonal structure of Monsoon regime in Sri Lanka have been identified. Interpretation of orthogonal factor scores revealed that a large amount of rainfall occurs from March to October in the southwestern parts of Sri Lanka, from December to February in the eastern parts, and in November in the northern and mid-western parts which are all represented by high positive factor scores. Orthogonal factor scores for the first three factors account for 93.6% of the total variance of mean monthly rainfall and clearly indicate that the southeast and northwest parts of the country with lowest rainfall, resulting from lack of Monsoons, are represented by negative factor scores. The three orthogonal factors identified different rainfall maxima in different time periods and, additionally, significant spatial differences between regions. Seasonal changes in the Monsoon wind system, ITCZ weather phenomena, and topography were the main factors which influence the spatial structure of Monsoon rainfall over Sri Lanka.With 4 Figures     

Impact of MJO on the intraseasonal variation of summer monsoon rainfall over India

The summer monsoon rainfall over India exhibits strong intraseasonal variability. Earlier studies have identified Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) as one of the most influencing factors of the intraseasonal variability of the monsoon rainfall. In this study, using India Meteorological Department (IMD) high resolution daily gridded rainfall data and Wheeler?CHendon MJO indices, the intra-seasonal variation of daily rainfall distribution over India associated with various Phases of eastward propagating MJO life cycle was examined to understand the mechanism linking the MJO to the intraseasonal variability. During MJO Phases of 1 and 2, formation of MJO associated positive convective anomaly over the equatorial Indian Ocean activated the oceanic tropical convergence zone (OTCZ) and the resultant changes in the monsoon circulation caused break monsoon type rainfall distribution. Associated with this, negative convective anomalies over monsoon trough zone region extended eastwards to date line indicating weaker than normal northern hemisphere inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The positive convective anomalies over OTCZ and negative convective anomalies over ITCZ formed a dipole like pattern. Subsequently, as the MJO propagated eastwards to west equatorial Pacific through the maritime continent, a gradual northward shift of the OTCZ was observed and negative convective anomalies started appearing over equatorial Indian Ocean. During Phase 4, while the eastwards propagating MJO linked positive convective anomalies activated the eastern part of the ITCZ, the northward propagating OTCZ merged with monsoon trough (western part of the ITCZ) and induced positive convective anomalies over the region. During Phases 5 and 6, the dipole pattern in convective anomalies was reversed compared to that during Phases 1 and 2. This resulted active monsoon type rainfall distribution over India. During the subsequent Phases (7 and 8), the convective and lower tropospheric anomaly patterns were very similar to that during Phase 1 and 2 except for above normal convective anomalies over equatorial Indian Ocean. A general decrease in the rainfall was also observed over most parts of the country. The associated dry conditions extended up to northwest Pacific. Thus the impact of the MJO on the monsoon was not limited to the Indian region. The impact was rather felt over larger spatial scale extending up to Pacific. This study also revealed that the onset of break and active events over India and the duration of these events are strongly related to the Phase and strength of the MJO. The break events were relatively better associated with the strong MJO Phases than the active events. About 83% of the break events were found to be set in during the Phases 7, 8, 1 and 2 of MJO with maximum during Phase 1 (40%). On the other hand, about 70% of the active events were set in during the MJO Phases of 3 to 6 with maximum during Phase 4 (21%). The results of this study indicate an opportunity for using the real time information and skillful prediction of MJO Phases for the prediction of break and active conditions which are very crucial for agriculture decisions.     

Statistical characteristics of environmental parameters for warm season short-duration heavy rainfall over central and eastern China

Water vapor content,instability,and convergence conditions are the key to short-duration heavy rainfall forecasting.It is necessary to understand the large-scale atmospheric environment characteristics of shortduration heavy rainfall by investigating the distribution of physical parameters for different hourly rainfall intensities.The observed hourly rainfall data in China and the NCEP final analysis（FNL）data during 1May and 30 September from 2002 to 2009 are used.NCEP FNL data are 6-hourly,resulting in sample sizes of 1573370,355346,and 11401 for three categories of hourly rainfall（P）of no precipitation(P<0.1 mm h^-1),ordinary precipitation(0.1≤P<20 mm h^-1),and short-duration heavy rainfall(P≥20.0 mm h^-1),respectively,by adopting a temporal matching method.The results show that the total precipitable water（PWAT）is the best parameter indicating the hourly rainfall intensity.A PWAT of 28 mm is necessary for any short-duration heavy rainfall.The possibility of short-duration heavy rainfall occurrence increases with PWAT,and a PWAT of 59 mm is nearly sufficient.The specific humidity is a better indicator than relative humidity.Both 700-and 850-hPa relative humidity greater than 80%could be used to determine whether or not it is going to rain,but could not be used to estimate the rainfall intensity.Temperature and potential pseudo-equivalent temperature are also reasonable indicators of short-duration heavy rainfall.Among the atmospheric instability parameters,the best lifted index（BLI）performs best on the shortduration rainfall discrimination;the next best is the K index（KI）.The three rainfall categories are not well recognized by total totals（TT）or the temperature difference between 850 and 500 hPa（DT85）.Threequarters of short-duration heavy rainfall occurred with BLI less than-0.9,while no short-duration heavy rainfall occurred when BLI was greater than 2.6.The minimum threshold of KI was 28.1 for short-duration heavy rainfall.The importance of dynamic conditions was well demonstrated by the 925-and 850-hPa divergence.The representativeness of 925-hPa divergence is stronger than that of 850 hPa.Three-quarters of short-duration heavy rainfall occurred under a negative divergence environment.However,both the best convective potential energy（BCAPE）and vertical wind shear were unable to discriminate the hourly rainfall intensities.