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

Abstract

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.