The Interannual Variability of Somali Jet and its Influences on the Inter‐Hemispheric Water Vapor Transport and the East Asian Summer Rainfall

Abstract

AbstractThe monthly reanalysis data set and the analyzed precipitation data set are used to study the interannual variability of Somali Jet (SMJ) and its influences on the interhemispheric water vapor transport and the East Asian summer climate. It is indicated that SMJ plays a key role in the water vapor transport between the two hemispheres. SMJ transports water vapor through the equator from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere during boreal summer time, and from northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere during boreal winter time. The interannual variation of SMJ is found to be linked with many changes around the globe, including the wave pattern along East Asia coast, the South Asian high, and the dipole pattern to the southeast of Australia. The results also reveal that interannual variation of SMJ at boreal spring has significant influences on the East Asian summer rainfall and atmospheric circulation. Since the changes of SMJ precede the changes of East Asian summer climate, these findings may help to improve the summer climate prediction in East Asia.