Southerly Monsoon Research Articles

A multi‐scale analysis of the extreme rain event of Ouagadougou in 2009

This study presents a multi‐scale analysis of an extreme rain event that occurred in Burkina Faso on 1 September 2009 with an absolute record of 263 mm rainfall observed at Ouagadougou. This high‐impact weather system results from the combination of several favourable ingredients at different scales. The sea‐surface temperature anomaly patterns in July–August 2009 of both the Atlantic cold tongue, the Tropical Atlantic Dipole and the Mediterranean Sea are favourable factors for the northward penetration of the West African monsoon. The intense convective activity of the last 10‐day period in August is associated with the crossing of a convectively coupled Kelvin wave increasing the African easterly wave (AEW) activity, and of an equatorial Rossby wave.At the synoptic scale this event corresponds to the passage of a train of three AEWs with increasing magnitude. Behind the first AEW trough axis, an intense and deep southerly monsoon burst develops. It contributes to the amplification of the second AEW and its breaking is associated with the formation of an intense meso‐vortex on the southern flank of the African easterly jet. Compared to the fast‐moving squall line, the dominant type of precipitating weather system over the Sahel, the Ouagadougou precipitating system appears to be a moist vortex propagating slowly, allowing rainfall accumulation, without wind gusts or convective cold pools observed at the surface. The main precipitation area is located about 2° longitude downshear (westward due to the African easterly jet) of the centre of this strong meso‐vortex.

Evaluation of the Regional Climate Model over the Loess Plateau of China

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an evaluation study of the Regional Climate Model version 4.3 (RegCM4.3) over the Loess Plateau in northern China, which is a semi‐arid region characterized by complex topography. During recent years, a series of reforestation programmes have been implemented across the region that might influence the local climate in complex ways. To better understand the local climate, the RegCM4.3 was applied to simulate the present‐day conditions over the Loess Plateau. The simulation was carried out from 1990 to 2009 at the 50‐km horizontal resolution, with lateral boundary conditions taken from the ECMWF‐Interim reanalysis. A series of climate variables and processes were evaluated during the winter and summer seasons, such as 2‐m air temperature, precipitation, wind circulation, surface energy balance, full moisture budget, and cloud radiative forcing (CRF). The possible origins of the simulation bias and the physical linkages with other model processes were examined.In general, RegCM4.3 is able to reproduce both the spatial and temporal features of the regional climate over the Loess Plateau. However, there are still biases in some meteorological variables including precipitation and 2‐m air temperature. In particular, the model tends to produce cold biases during winter and underestimate precipitation during summer. Further analyses indicates that the cold biases in winter may have resulted from the deficiency of the downward longwave radiation fluxes, excessive ground heat fluxes, and negative temperature advection by the seasonal mean circulation. These processes are primarily triggered by deficiencies in CRF and excessive northwesterlies over the plateau. The underestimated precipitation during summer is associated with a weak southerly monsoon in the model. A full moisture budget analysis reveals that the dry bias in this region can be mainly attributed to model deficiency in moisture advection and convergence, and to a lesser extent to that in surface evaporation.

Coastal circulation in the southwestern Yellow Sea in the summers of 2008 and 2009

The coastal ocean circulation off the Chinese Subei (north Jiangsu Province) coasts in the southwestern Yellow Sea in summer is studied using hydrographic data from four research cruises, moored current meter data in the Lunan (south Shandong Province) trough, and Lagrangian trajectories of satellite-tracked ARGOS surface drifters in the summers of 2008 and 2009. The hydrographic data indicate a fresh water plume extending offshore in the northeastward direction from the Sheyang River mouth and a belt of relatively cold surface temperature from the surrounding areas located offshore of the Subei coasts to the south of the plume in summer. The drifter trajectories show that the Subei coastal current, which is traditionally thought to flow southward year round, flows northward in June through July under the forcing of the southerly monsoon. A northward intrusion along the submarine valley off the Changjiang mouth is indicated by the movement of the drifters, which is persistently strong and independent of the winds. Associated with the northward flow, coastal upwelling is generated offshore of the Subei coast to the south of the Sheyang River plume, below which upwelling is generated but is shut down by the buoyancy of the fresh water at the surface. Coastal upwelling is also observed off the coast of Qingdao city in middle July through early August of 2008, which is forced by the along-shore component of the southerly and southwesterly winds. The Qingdao upwelling in summer is reported for the first time in history.

Seasonal and Interannual Variability in the Wind-Driven Upwelling Along the Southern East China Sea Coast

The southern East China Sea coast (ECSC) is strongly influenced by the eastern Asian monsoon. During the summer when the southerly monsoon dominates, coastal upwelling is favored. This paper applies a coastal upwelling index (CUI) proposed by Bakun to quantify the upwelling intensity. Using observed sea surface wind and chlorophyll concentration (Chlc) data, we examine the seasonal and interannual variations of the upwelling in the ECSC, as well as its spatial distribution. The high correlation between the CUI and Chlc indicates the validation of the CUI. The temporal variation is linked to the basin-scale variation—the El Nino southern oscillation (ENSO) and pacific decadal oscillation (PDO)—to interpret its long-term variation. A high eddy kinetic energy (EKE) band is coincidently located at the upwelling front along the ECSC, which implies that the mixing caused by frontal instabilities could further modulate the Chlc.

A Nonlinear Response of Sahel Rainfall to Atlantic Warming

Abstract The response over West Africa to uniform warming of the Atlantic Ocean is analyzed using idealized simulations with a regional climate model. With warming of 1 and 1.5 K, rainfall rates increase by 30%–50% over most of West Africa. With Atlantic warming of 2 K and higher, coastal precipitation increases but Sahel rainfall decreases substantially. This nonlinear response in Sahel rainfall is the focus of this analysis. Atlantic warming is accompanied by decreases in low-level geopotential heights in the Gulf of Guinea and in the large-scale meridional geopotential height gradient. This leads to easterly wind anomalies in the central Sahel. With Atlantic warming below 2 K, these easterly anomalies support moisture transport from the Gulf of Guinea and precipitation increases. With Atlantic warming over 2 K, the easterly anomalies reverse the westerly flow over the Sahel. The resulting dry air advection into the Sahel reduces precipitation. Increased low-level moisture provides moist static energy to initiate convection with Atlantic warming at 1.5 K and below, while decreased moisture and stable thermal profiles suppress convection with additional warming. In all simulations, the southerly monsoon flow onto the Guinean coast is maintained and precipitation in that region increases. The relevance of these results to the global warming problem is limited by the focus on Atlantic warming alone. However, confident prediction of climate change requires an understanding of the physical processes of change, and this paper contributes to that goal.

Impact of soil moisture and convectively generated waves on the initiation of a West African mesoscale convective system

AbstractA mesoscale convective system (MCS) case study was observed over northeast Mali as part of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) on 31 July 2006. Observations of this case suggest that the soil‐moisture heterogeneity and atmospheric gravity waves emitted from a ‘parent’ MCS were important trigger mechanisms for this system. This study uses high‐resolution Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) simulations to assess the importance of the synoptic circulation, land‐surface and gravity waves in the initiation and development of the MCS. During the early afternoon shallow convection developed over a region of dry soil within a synoptic‐scale convergence zone, which was caused by the confluence of the southerly monsoon flow with winds associated with the circulation around the Saharan heat low. Two pronounced waves were emitted from a nearby ‘parent’ storm and propagated towards the convergence zone. When the second wave reached the location of the shallow convection, deep convection was immediately initiated. Further convective cells developed later in the afternoon over dry soil, many adjacent to strong soil moisture gradients; these aggregated with the main storm, which later developed into the case study MCS. A comparison of model simulations with/without the soil‐moisture heterogeneity and gravity waves shows that the synoptic‐scale circulation and convergence zones, specified by the atmospheric analysis, were the most important factors for the successful simulation of the MCS. If the location of the initiation of the system is to be forecast accurately, the land‐surface, that is, the soil moisture, must be represented adequately. In order to reproduce the timing of the secondary initiation of convection correctly the model must be able to capture gravity waves that are emitted by existing systems.

Analysis of Airborne Particulate Matter (PM2.5) over Hong Kong Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Airborne fine particulates (PM2.5; particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 μm) are receiving increasing attention for their potential toxicities and roles in visibility and health. In this study, we interpreted the behavior of PM2.5 and its correlation with meteorological parameters in Hong Kong, during 2007–2008. Significant diurnal variations of PM2.5 concentrations were observed and showed a distinctive bimodal pattern with two marked peaks during the morning and evening rush hour times, due to dense traffic. The study observed higher PM2.5 concentrations in winter when the northerly and northeasterly winds bring pollutants from the Chinese mainland, whereas southerly monsoon winds from the sea bring fresh air to the city in summer. In addition, higher concentrations of PM2.5 were observed in rush hours on weekdays compared to weekends, suggesting the influence of anthropogenic activities on fine particulate levels, e.g., traffic-related local PM2.5 emissions. To understand the spatial pattern of PM2.5 concentrations in the context of the built-up environment of Hong Kong, we utilized MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) 500 m data and visibility data to derive aerosol extinction profile, then converted to aerosol and PM2.5 vertical profiles. A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) prototype was developed to integrate atmospheric PM2.5 vertical profiles with 3D GIS data. An example of the query function in GIS prototype is given. The resulting 3D database of PM2.5 concentrations provides crucial information to air quality regulators and decision makers to comply with air quality standards and in devising control strategies.

Nitrogen species in rainwater and aerosols of the Yellow and East China seas: Effects of the East Asian monsoon and anthropogenic emissions and relevance for the NW Pacific Ocean

[1] Rainwater and aerosol samples were collected from a coastal urban area (Qingdao) and remote islands (Qianliyan and Shengsi) and along cruise tracks in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea from 1997 to 2005. The samples were analyzed for nitrogen species (NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, and organic nitrogen) and other important elements. The nitrogen species concentrations showed considerable temporal and spatial variations for wet as well as dry atmospheric depositions. In addition, there was a dramatic reduction in the influence of anthropogenic emissions on nitrogen species with increasing distance from coastal urban stations to remote areas across the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The monsoon climate of East Asia also had prominent effects on the atmospheric composition of nitrogen, with higher loadings in northerly (i.e., winter) than southerly (i.e., summer) monsoon periods, owing to strong emissions from the East Asian landmass. Dust storms in spring dramatically reduced the periodically high concentrations of atmospheric pollutants (e.g., nitrogen species) across the NW Pacific Ocean, but this was accompanied by a twofold-to-fourfold increase in the temporal deposition flux, which showed broad spatial dimensions. Finally, our study identified a strong gradient of wet as well as dry nitrogen deposition fluxes from East Asia to the interior of the North Pacific Ocean. The gradient reflected changes in emission sources and chemical reactions (e.g., forming secondary aerosols), rainfall and scavenging, and change in air mass trajectory.

Droughts near the northern fringe of the East Asian summer monsoon in China during 1470–2003

Historical annual dry–wet index for 1470–2003 combined with instrumental precipitation since 1951 were used to identify extremely dry years and events near the northern fringe of the East Asian summer monsoon in China—the Great Bend of the Yellow River (GBYR) region. In total, 49 drought years, of which 26 were severe, were identified. Composites of the dry–wet index under the drought years show an opposite wet pattern over the Southeast China. The longest drought event lasted for 6 years (1528–1533), the second longest one 4 years (1637–1640). The most severe 2-year-long drought occurred in 1928–1929, and the two driest single years were 1900 and 1965. These persistent and extreme drought events caused severe famines and huge losses of human lives. Wavelet transform applied to the dry–wet index indicates that the severe drought years are nested in several significant dry–wet variations across multiple timescales, i.e., the 65–85 year timescale during 1600– 1800, 40–55 year timescale before 1640 and 20–35 year timescale mainly from 1550 to 1640. These timescales of dry–wet variations are discussed in relation to those forcing such as cycles of solar radiation, oscillation in the thermohaline circulation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Comparing 850 hPa winds in Asia in extremely dry and wet years, it was concluded that dry–wet variability in the GBYR region strongly depends upon whether the southerly monsoon flow can reach northern China.

Generation processes of mesoscale convective systems following midlatitude troughs around the Sichuan Basin

[1] The generation processes of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that occurred over the Sichuan Basin in China were revealed in the early 2008 monsoon season. MCS occurrences detected in METEOSAT geostational satellite images are associated with the traveling of midlatitude troughs after the onset of the Indian monsoon. Three episodes of large-scale MCSs were generated under synoptic conditions of merging southwesterly low-level monsoon flows with a northerly midlatitude air mass following the trough in the leeward of the Tibetan Plateau without direct migration of the vortex generated from the plateau surface. Numerical simulations using a weather research and forecast (WRF) model showed that the MCS was triggered in the evening by strengthening of the low-level wind convergences with horizontal shear between the southerly monsoon flow, with large convective available potential energy, and the northerly dry intrusion. A sudden increase in the northerly winds was confirmed by sonde observation data in the western basin, and the winds were simulated as intrusions passing over the Qinling Mountains when the daytime clouds over the mountain were diminished. Sensitivity experiments by a WRF simulation revealed that the topography of the Sichuan Basin was able to capture the dry intrusion at the bottom to prevent the propagation of disturbances from the plateau and to cause the sudden onset of MCSs apart from the plateau with a heavy precipitation zone.

Meteorological scenario of Ethiopian floods in 2006–2007

The meteorological scenario of Ethiopian highlands floods is studied. Daily rainfall in the period 1997–2007 reveals two peaks: 23–28 July 2006 and 26–31 July 2007. National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) composites suggest that anomalous southerly monsoon flow over the West Indian Ocean is re-directed by an anomalous Arabian ridge westward across the Red Sea and Ethiopia. A tongue of moisture stretches from the Congo towards the highlands, but westerly equatorial wind anomalies are absent. Anomalous sinking motions and dry conditions are evident over the West Indian Ocean. Diurnal analysis reveals northwesterly flow over eastern Sudan during afternoon hours, whilst back-trajectory analysis highlights a Red Sea source and lifting over the eastern escarpment of Ethiopia. The upper level tropical easterly jet connects Indian and Ethiopian rainfall at intra-seasonal (~40 days) time scale; whilst low-level meridional flow convergence is evident during flood events. Hovmoller analysis on 10°N reveals cyclonic signals propagating westward from the Arabian Sea at 500 km day−1 that produces a 10-day cycle in Ethiopian rainfall. The floods in 2006–2007 occurred at the peak of the annual cycle, with diurnal controls inducing ¾ of rain in the late evening. Whilst cold surges from southern Africa played a role in the 2006 flood, bursts in the northern Hadley cell are a more general determinant. The convection associated with the 2007 flood went on to become a destructive Atlantic hurricane.

Relationship between Reduction of Summer Precipitation in North China and Atmospheric Circulation Anomalies

Based on Reanalysis datasets from National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) and summer rainfall datasets from China National Climate Center (NCC), by using trend analysis and composite analysis methods, the relationship between the reduction of summer precipitation in North China and northern hemispheric circulation changes was investigated. The results show that summer rainfall in North China had a significant decreasing tendency, especially true since 1965 in which an abrupt change occurred. The northern hemisphere atmospheric circulation at 500 hPa had a remarkable change after 1965, from outstanding meridional circulation to outstanding zonal circulation, leading to upper trough activity to decrease, resulting in the rainfall weather processes caused by upward motion behind trough significantly to reduce. At 500 hPa in Mongolian region, air temperature decreased, resulting in lower troposphere pressure to increase, leading to low pressure activity significantly to decrease and rainfall weather processes influencing North China to reduce. At the same time, the decreased air temperature in 500 hPa would caused the upper troposphere geopotential height to reduce, resulting in high–altitude jet southerly location, the East Asian summer monsoon to weaken, then it was difficult for water vapor transport to cross the Yangtze River valley and reach the North China region, with a southerly summer monsoon rainfall zone. The summer precipitation reduction in North China had a good correlation with the northern hemispheric circulation changes.

An overview of dry-wet climate variability among monsoon-westerly regions and the monsoon northernmost marginal active zone in China

Climate in mainland China can be divided into the monsoon region in the southeast and the westerly region in the northwest as well as the intercross zone, i.e., the monsoon northernmost marginal active zone that is oriented from Southwest China to the upper Yellow River, North China, and Northeast China. In the three regions, dry-wet climate changes are directly linked to the interaction of the southerly monsoon flow on the east side of the Tibetan Plateau and the westerly flow on the north side of the Plateau from the inter-annual to inter-decadal timescales. Some basic features of climate variability in the three regions for the last half century and the historical hundreds of years are reviewed in this paper. In the last half century, an increasing trend of summer precipitation associated with the enhancing westerly flow is found in the westerly region from Xinjiang to northern parts of North China and Northeast China. On the other hand, an increasing trend of summer precipitation along the Yangtze River and a decreasing trend of summer precipitation along the monsoon northernmost marginal active zone are associated with the weakening monsoon flow in East Asia. Historical documents are widely distributed in the monsoon region for hundreds of years and natural climate proxies are constructed in the non-monsoon region, while two types of climate proxies can be commonly found over the monsoon northernmost marginal active zone. In the monsoon region, dry-wet variation centers are altered among North China, the lower Yangtze River, and South China from one century to another. Dry or wet anomalies are firstly observed along the monsoon northernmost marginal active zone and shifted southward or southeastward to the Yangtze River valley and South China in about a 70-year timescale. Severe drought events are experienced along the monsoon northernmost marginal active zone during the last 5 centuries. Inter-decadal dry-wet variations are depicted by natural proxies for the last 4–5 centuries in several areas over the non-monsoon region. Some questions, such as the impact of global warming on dry-wet regime changes in China, complex interactions between the monsoon and westerly flows in Northeast China, and the integrated multi-proxy analysis throughout all of China, are proposed.

A modeling assessment of association between East Asian summer monsoon and fate/outflow of α-HCH in Northeast Asia

Using a dynamic numerical atmospheric transport model for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), the relationship between the East Asian summer monsoon and the fate of α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), a banned OCP, in the atmosphere over Northeast Asia was investigated and assessed. The modeled temporal and spatial patterns and variability of α-HCH air concentrations during the summer months of 2005 revealed a strong link between this chemical in the atmosphere over Northeast Asia and the East Asian summer monsoon. At lower atmospheric levels, easterly and southeasterly winds blowing from relatively cold ocean surface convey α-HCH air concentration from southeast China to northeast China. A monsoon front extending from southeast China to Japan, characterized by a strong wind convergence, carried the air concentration to a high elevation of the atmosphere where it was delivered by southerly monsoon flow to northern China and North Pacific Ocean. This summer monsoon associated northward atmospheric transport caused a reversal of the soil/air exchange from outgassing to net deposition during spring–summer period. The modeled wet deposition fluxes of α-HCH agreed well with the changes in the typical summer monsoon rain bands, designated as Meiyu in China, Changma in Korea, and Baiu in Japan. The major wet deposition flux paralleled with the monsoon front as well as the monsoon rain bands. The temporal change in the fluxes exhibits abrupt northward advances, which is associated with a stepwise northward and northeastward advance of the East Asian summer monsoon. The modeled α-HCH outflow in the atmosphere from China occurs mostly in the summer months and through northeast China, featured strongly by the evolution of the summer month. This study suggests that the East Asian summer monsoon provides a major atmospheric pathway and summer outflows to α-HCH over East Asia.

Late Quaternary distribution and biogeography of the southern Lake Eyre basin (SLEB) megafauna, South Australia

Understanding the population demography, species distribution and biogeography of Australia's megafauna is essential for understanding their extinction. This process is only just beginning, and this article discusses these aspects while concentrating on a particular region; the southern Lake Eyre Basin (SLEB). It is also the first detailed description of the distribution of megafauna across that region of central Australia. The data are based on an extensive longitudinal study of 41 palaeontological sites spread across 250 000 km2. Megafauna adaptation and response to extensive environmental change during the late Quaternary is reflected in the composition and distribution of 21 megafauna species found across the region. A flexible migration strategy in response to wet/arid cycles saw occupation focusing on riverine and lacustrine environments formed by episodes of southerly monsoon incursion into the northern Lake Eyre basin. The supply of animals to the area was largely derived from endemic populations inhabiting western parts of southeastern Australia, where the majority of SLEB species are also found. Diprotodon reflects the adaptive flexibility of some species owing to its particular continental distribution, with a number of semi‐arid regions across the continent. A picture of how and when the last of the region's megafauna disappeared is closer to being understood, with likely terminal dates for Genyornis and Diprotodon now available.

Dust emissions in the West African heat trough the role of the diurnal cycle and of extratropical disturbances

The summertime West African heat trough (HT) is one of the most active dust sources in the world. A detailed case study during May/June 2006 based upon analyses from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and a new Meteosat dust product illustrates two important mechanisms of dust emissions in this region: (1) The dry continental-scale HT circulation exhibits a strong diurnal cycle characterized by nocturnal low-level jets and downward mixing of momentum to the surface during the build-up of the planetary boundary layer in the morning. This leads to strong gusty surface winds and dust emission, mostly along the northern side of the HT, but also within the southerly monsoon flow. Transports lead to an accumulation of dust near the axis of the HT. (2) Triggered by a lee cyclogenesis south of the Atlas Mountains, the Intertropical Discontinuity that separates dry Saharan and moist monsoonal air shifts northward and allows deep moist convection to penetrate into the Sahara. The evaporation of precipitation in the dry desert air also generates strong gusty winds and dust emissions. This study helps to clarify the physical mechanisms for a previously discovered relation between the annual cycles of dustiness on one hand and near-surface convergence and gustiness on the other hand.

Precipitation division and climate shift in China from 1960 to 2000

Precipitation division and climate shift in China were analysed using daily precipitation data from 486 stations for the period 1960–2000. A modified hierarchical clustering method was used to divide China into sub-regions that have a coherent annual cycle, interannual evolutions and long-term trends. A division with 20 grouping areas can well describe the anomalous regional features seasonally, and a division with 40 grouping areas can reach a relatively stable level, theoretically for the annual and summer precipitation in mainland China. Rapid changes or interdecadal transition points of the regional precipitation series are detected by a multiple timescale t-test method. For mean annual precipitation, the interdecadal shift from a low to a high level is found to occur around 1987 in the Xinjiang region and around 1983 in Northeast China. The transition points of increasing summer rainfall in the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the lower Yangtze River are centred closely about 1979. Changes in the double-decadal precipitation are also detected for the two periods of 1961–1980 and 1981–2000. An increasing trend in annual precipitation is mainly found in the lower Yangtze River valley, the Xinjiang region, and Northeast China. Decreasing annual precipitation is mainly situated from the middle Yangtze River to the Yellow River. In summer and winter, the spatial pattern of precipitation anomalies shows two pairs of contrasting shifts with negative departures in North China and southern coastal China, while positive departures are found in the middle and lower Yangtze River valley and Northeast China. This pattern of regional precipitation shift in China is associated with southerly monsoon flow in eastern China and westerly flow in northwestern China.

Seasonality and Three-Dimensional Structure of Interdecadal Change in the East Asian Monsoon

Abstract A significant interdecadal cooling with vivid seasonality and three-dimensional (3D) structure is first revealed in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere over East Asia. A robust upper-tropospheric cooling appears in March and has two peaks in April and August, but in June, a moderate upper-tropospheric warming interrupts the cooling, while strong cooling occurs in the lower stratosphere. The seasonally dependent upper-tropospheric cooling leads to a clear seasonality of interdecadal changes in the atmospheric general circulation and precipitation against their normal seasonal cycle over East Asia. In March, precipitation over southern China (south of 26°N) has increased in accordance with the strong upper-tropospheric cooling occurring in northeast Asia. In April and May, following the southward extension and intensification of the upper-tropospheric cooling, the normal seasonal march of the monsoon rainband has been interrupted, resulting in a drying band to the south of the Yangtze River valley in late spring. In June, the moderate upper-tropospheric warming and strong lower-stratospheric cooling over northeast Asia has suddenly enhanced the northward migration of the rainband and resulted in an increase of precipitation in the mid–lower reaches of the Yangtze River and farther north. During July and August, the return of upper-tropospheric cooling has weakened the northward progression of southerly monsoon winds, resulting in a mid–lower Yellow River valley (34°–40°N) drought and excessive rain in the Yangtze River valley. The change of surface temperature is well correlated with the change in precipitation, especially in the spring. The surface cooling is generally collocated with excessive rain, while the warming is generally collocated with droughts. Possible causes for the robust interdecadal change are discussed, and stratosphere–troposphere interaction is suggested to play a crucial role in seasonally dependent 3D atmospheric cooling over East Asia.

The seasonal cycle in the lower troposphere over West Africa from sounding observations

AbstractIn situ sounding observations from selected sites in West and Central Africa were used to document the seasonal cycle in the lower troposphere associated with the annual migration of precipitation. The main purpose of this exercise is to provide a description of the seasonal cycle free of the errors and biases of numerical models, which can be substantial in this region. Many features in the circulation typically associated with the West African Monsoon (WAM) exist through almost the entire seasonal cycle in the region. The low‐level easterly jet, known as the African Easterly Jet during the monsoon season, remains prominent and closely related to the rain band in other phases of the seasonal cycle, even when the rain band is located near the equator. The surface southerly monsoon onshore flow penetrates through the rain band in the entire season cycle. The depth of the southerly surface monsoon flow undergoes a seasonal variation, and is greatest during the peak season of the monsoon. A unique feature is a low‐level (∼700 hPa) northerly flow penetrating through the rain band in various phases of the seasonal cycle. Risking possible biases of land‐bound sounding data, these observations are synthesized into a schematic describing the salient features in the low‐level circulation associated with the rain band in different phases of the seasonal cycle. This synthesized circulation pattern in West Africa is in contrast to the traditional conceptual circulation pattern associated with the marine ITCZ and other monsoon systems. The results from this study call for more research attention to the low‐level meridional circulation for a full understanding of the dynamics of the WAM. This study also advocates the study of the WAM to be conducted in a broad context of the seasonal cycle in the region and in comparison to the marine ITCZ. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society

Evaluation of 2001 springtime CO transport overWest Africa using MOPITT CO measurements assimilated in a global chemistry transport model

The global chemistry and transport model MOCAGE (Modèle de Chimie Atmosphèrique à Grande Echelle) is used to investigate the contribution of transport to the carbon monoxide (CO) distribution over West Africa during spring 2001. It is constrained with the CO profiles provided by the Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument through a sequential assimilation technique based on a suboptimal Kalman filter. The improvement of troposphericCOdistribution fromMOCAGEis evaluated by comparing the model results (with and without assimilation) with the MOPITT CO concentrations observed during the analysed period (between 2001 March 15 to 2001 April 30), and also with independent in situ CMDL and TRACE-P observations. The initial overestimation in high CO emissions areas (Africa, SE Asia andNWcoast of South America) is considerably reduced by using the MOPITT CO assimilation. We analysed the assimilated CO for a period of three successive 15 d periods in terms of average fields overWest Africa and contributions to the CO budget of transport and chemical sources. It is found that the horizontal and vertical CO distributions are strongly dependent on the characteristics of the large-scale flows during spring, marked by the onset of the low-level southerly monsoon flow and the gradual increase of the well-known African and tropical easterly jets at middle and upper levels, respectively. Total transport by the mean flow (horizontal plus vertical advection) is important in the CO budget since it mostly compensates the local sink or source generated by chemical reactions and small-scale processes. The major source of CO is concentrated in the lower troposphere (1000–800 hPa) mainly due to convergent low-level flow advecting CO from surrounding regions and surface emissions (biomass burning). Vertical transport removes 70% of this low-level COand redistributes it in the middle troposphere (800–400 hPa) where chemical reactions and horizontal exports contribute to the loss of CO. A lesser proportion is transported upwards into upper troposphere, and then horizontally, out of the considered domain.