Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach
<p>The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is a complex phenomenon, influenced by both tropical and mid-latitude dynamics and by the presence of the Tibetan Plateau. The EASM front (EASMF) separates tropical and extratropical air masses as the monsoon marches northwards. Although the different fa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Weather and Climate Dynamics |
| Online Access: | https://wcd.copernicus.org/articles/3/575/2022/wcd-3-575-2022.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818231502485323776 |
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| author | A. Volonté A. Volonté A. G. Turner A. G. Turner R. Schiemann R. Schiemann P. L. Vidale P. L. Vidale N. P. Klingaman N. P. Klingaman |
| author_facet | A. Volonté A. Volonté A. G. Turner A. G. Turner R. Schiemann R. Schiemann P. L. Vidale P. L. Vidale N. P. Klingaman N. P. Klingaman |
| author_sort | A. Volonté |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is a complex phenomenon, influenced by both tropical and mid-latitude dynamics and by the presence of the Tibetan Plateau. The EASM front (EASMF) separates tropical and extratropical air masses as the monsoon marches northwards. Although the different factors behind EASM progression are illustrated in a number of studies, their interactions, in particular between tropical and extratropical air masses, still need to be clarified. In this study we apply Eulerian and Lagrangian methods to the ERA5 reanalysis dataset to provide a comprehensive study of the seasonal progression of and interannual variability in the EASM, and we highlight the dynamics of the air masses converging at its front.</p>
<p>A frontal detection algorithm is used to perform a front-centred analysis of EASM progression. The analysis highlights the primary role of the subtropical westerly jet (STWJ) and of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in controlling the strength and the poleward progression of the EASMF, in particular during <i>Mei Yu</i>, the primary stage of EASM progression. These forcings act to steer the southerly advection of low-level moist tropical air, modulated by the seasonal cycle of the Asian monsoon. The Mei Yu stage is distinguished by an especially clear interaction between tropical and extratropical air masses converging at the EASMF. The analysis of composites based on the latitude of the EASMF during Mei Yu reveals the influence exerted by the STWJ on the cool extratropical flow impacting on the northern side of the EASMF, whose progression is also dependent on the location of the WNPSH. In turn, this affects the extent of the warm moist advection on its southern side and the distribution and intensity of resultant rainfall over China.</p>
<p>This study shows the validity of an analysis of EASM progression focused on its front and on the related low- and mid-level airstreams, at least in the Mei Yu stage. The framework highlighted shows how the regional flow over East Asia drives the low-level airstreams that converge at the EASMF, thus controlling the shape of EASM progression. This framework provides a basis for studies of climate variability and extreme events and for model evaluation.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:51:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0fa1ce314a054a18a1e198524a25ed84 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2698-4016 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:51:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Weather and Climate Dynamics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0fa1ce314a054a18a1e198524a25ed842022-12-22T00:26:45ZengCopernicus PublicationsWeather and Climate Dynamics2698-40162022-05-01357559910.5194/wcd-3-575-2022Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approachA. Volonté0A. Volonté1A. G. Turner2A. G. Turner3R. Schiemann4R. Schiemann5P. L. Vidale6P. L. Vidale7N. P. Klingaman8N. P. Klingaman9Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKDepartment of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKDepartment of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKDepartment of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKDepartment of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ET, UK<p>The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is a complex phenomenon, influenced by both tropical and mid-latitude dynamics and by the presence of the Tibetan Plateau. The EASM front (EASMF) separates tropical and extratropical air masses as the monsoon marches northwards. Although the different factors behind EASM progression are illustrated in a number of studies, their interactions, in particular between tropical and extratropical air masses, still need to be clarified. In this study we apply Eulerian and Lagrangian methods to the ERA5 reanalysis dataset to provide a comprehensive study of the seasonal progression of and interannual variability in the EASM, and we highlight the dynamics of the air masses converging at its front.</p> <p>A frontal detection algorithm is used to perform a front-centred analysis of EASM progression. The analysis highlights the primary role of the subtropical westerly jet (STWJ) and of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in controlling the strength and the poleward progression of the EASMF, in particular during <i>Mei Yu</i>, the primary stage of EASM progression. These forcings act to steer the southerly advection of low-level moist tropical air, modulated by the seasonal cycle of the Asian monsoon. The Mei Yu stage is distinguished by an especially clear interaction between tropical and extratropical air masses converging at the EASMF. The analysis of composites based on the latitude of the EASMF during Mei Yu reveals the influence exerted by the STWJ on the cool extratropical flow impacting on the northern side of the EASMF, whose progression is also dependent on the location of the WNPSH. In turn, this affects the extent of the warm moist advection on its southern side and the distribution and intensity of resultant rainfall over China.</p> <p>This study shows the validity of an analysis of EASM progression focused on its front and on the related low- and mid-level airstreams, at least in the Mei Yu stage. The framework highlighted shows how the regional flow over East Asia drives the low-level airstreams that converge at the EASMF, thus controlling the shape of EASM progression. This framework provides a basis for studies of climate variability and extreme events and for model evaluation.</p>https://wcd.copernicus.org/articles/3/575/2022/wcd-3-575-2022.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Volonté A. Volonté A. G. Turner A. G. Turner R. Schiemann R. Schiemann P. L. Vidale P. L. Vidale N. P. Klingaman N. P. Klingaman Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach Weather and Climate Dynamics |
| title | Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach |
| title_full | Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach |
| title_fullStr | Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach |
| title_short | Characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling East Asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach |
| title_sort | characterising the interaction of tropical and extratropical air masses controlling east asian summer monsoon progression using a novel frontal detection approach |
| url | https://wcd.copernicus.org/articles/3/575/2022/wcd-3-575-2022.pdf |
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