Abstract
The accurate prediction of the onset and withdrawal of the southwest monsoon (SWM) is crucial to the economic and social well-being of the local community whose livelihoods depend strongly on monsoon rains. To date however, there has been a paucity of research into the prediction of SWM timing in east coast Peninsular Malaysia (ECPM) as compared to other monsoon regions. Thus, this study attempts to identify the variability of SWM dates in ECPM and analyze the influence of ENSO on the timing of SWM. Composites of daily 850 hPa zonal winds and outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) during 2000-2020 were analyzed. The SWM onset is identified by the sudden acceleration of southerly winds in mid-May, while the retreating SWM wind is recognized by the steady decrease of westerly winds through September until October. The average date of SWM onset and withdrawal over ECPM was found to be May 23rd and September 27th, respectively. ENSO has a greater influence on the SWM onset than the SWM withdrawal. The study adds to our understanding of the inter-annual variability of SWM start and retreat dates, laying the groundwork for future research into the impact of climate change on the monsoon timing variability in the study area.
Reference36 articles.
1. B. Wang, L. Ho, , Y. Zhang, and M. Lu, “Definition of South China Sea Monsoon Onset and Commencement of the East Asia Summer Monsoon,” Journal of Climate, 17(4), pp. 699-710, Feb. 2004. doi: https://doi.org/10.1175/2932.1
2. J. Li, and L. Zhang, “Wind onset and withdrawal of Asian summer monsoon and their simulated performance in AMIP models,”Climate Dynamics, 32, pp. 935-968, Jun 2009. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-008-0465-8
3. M. Luo, Y. Leung, H.F. Graf, M. Herzog, and W. Zhang, “Interannual variability of the onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon,” International Journal of Climatology, 36(2), pp. 550-562, Feb. 2016. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.4364
4. Y.J. Diong, N.K. Chang, and M.K. Adam, “ The Definitions of the Southwest Monsoon Climatological Onset and Withdrawal over Malaysian Region”. Malaysian Meteorological Department. Research Public, 3, 2015. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24817.74085/1
5. S.Y. Tao, and L.X. Chen, “A review of recent research on the East Asian summer monsoon in China,” Monsoon Meteorology, Oxford Univ. Press, 1987, pp. 60-92.