High-resolution simulation of Asian monsoon response to regional uplift of the Tibetan Plateau with regional climate model nested with global climate model

Abstract

Abstract Using the high-resolution regional climate model–Weather Research and Forecasting model(WRF)–nested within the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmosphere Model(CAM4), a set of sensitivity experiments were conducted to investigate the Asian climate response to the regional uplift of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). The results indicated that the presence of Asian orography, including the TP, strengthened both the Indian and East Asian summer monsoon (ISM and EASM), respectively. The uplift of the central-southern TP and western TP caused an asynchronous response of monsoon precipitation over India and East Asia, while the presence of the Himalayan mountains, Gobi Altai mountains, and Mongolian Plateau increased both ISM and EASM precipitation. The enhanced summer monsoon precipitation over southeastern China due to the TP uplift was caused by strong water vapor transportation, vapor convergence and ascending movement. The Indian and East Asian winter monsoons (IWM and EAWM), however, showed asynchronous change in response to the TP uplift; the EAWM was strengthened, but the opposite holds for the IWM. This study provides further understanding of the response of Asian monsoons to the regional uplift of the TP and emphasizes the importance of high-resolution regional climate model simulation nested within global climate model.