Mechanism of thermal features over the Indo-China peninsula and possible effects on the onset of the South China sea monsoon

Abstract

The thermal characteristics during the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon onset period near the Indo-China Peninsula are analyzed by using the South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (SCSMEX) reanalysis data from 1 May to 31 August 1998 and the NCEP/ NCAR pentad-mean reanalysis data from January 1980 to December 1995. The possible relationships between the anomaly of thermal features near the Indo-China Peninsula and the SCS monsoon onset are investigated, and the mechanism causing the SCS summer monsoon onset is also discussed. Results from the 1998 SCSMEX reanalysis data show that there exists a strong persistent surface sensible heating near the Indo-China Peninsula prior to the SCS monsoon onset, which has apparent low frequency oscillation features. This sensible healing leads lo a warmer center in the lower atmosphere near the Indo-China Peninsula and strong local horizontal temperature and geopotential height gradients which are favorable to strengthening the southwest wind over the Indo-China Peninsula. It is also found that stronger convergent winds at lower levels and stronger divergent winds at high levels appear, which provide a favorable configuration for the development of vertical motion, enhancement of precipitation, and onset of the SCS monsoon. These results can be verified by analysis of the multi-year mean data. Additionally, it is found that the temperature at 850 hPa increases more rapidly over the Indo-China Peninsula than the South China Sea prior to the SCS monsoon onset, which leads to a strengthening of the temperature difference between the Indo-China Peninsula and the South China Sea. Moreover, results from the analysis of the longitudinal temperature and geopotential height differences show that the eastern retreat of the subtropical high over the Indo-China Peninsula during the period of SCS monsoon onset is associated with the temperature increase over the Indo-China Peninsula and the eastern extension of low trough over the Bay of Bengal.