Influence of Tibetan Plateau snow cover on East Asian atmospheric circulation at medium-range time scales

Li, Wenkai; Guo, Weidong; Qiu, Bo; Xue, Yongkang; Hsu, Pang‐Chi; Wei, Jiangfeng

doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06762-5

Cited by 116 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…This is consistent with figures 2(b) and 4, which is ascribed to the different regional snow-atmosphere coupling strengths, as well as the intrinsic memory difference of the TP and the EA snow. The elevated TP is a region of strong sensible heating [1,42] receiving the primary research focus for the Asian monsoon [37,53,54]. Our results suggest that due to the relatively shorter memory of the TP snow (figure 2(b): forced atmospheric response disappears by May; see similar discussions on the TP snow by Orsolini et al [55]), the contribution of snow DA over the TP may be limited to pre-monsoon season.…”

Section: Relative Importance Of Regional Snow Da In the Ism Forecastsupporting

confidence: 55%

Assimilating multi-satellite snow data in ungauged Eurasia improves the simulation accuracy of Asian monsoon seasonal anomalies

Lin

Yang

Wei

et al. 2020

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Properly initializing land snow conditions with multi-satellite data assimilation (DA) may help tackle the long-standing challenge of Asian monsoon seasonal forecasts. However, to what extent can snow DA help resolve the problem remains largely unexplored. Here we establish, for the first time, that improved springtime snow initializations assimilating the Moderate Spectral Imaging Satellite (MODIS) snow cover fraction and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) terrestrial water storage data can improve the simulation accuracy of Asian monsoon seasonal anomalies. Focusing on the western Tibetan Plateau (TP) and mid-to high-latitude Eurasia (EA), two regions where multi-satellite snow DA is critical, we found that DA influences the monsoon circulation at different months depending on the regional snow-atmosphere coupling strengths. For the pre-monsoon season, accurate initialization of the TP snow is key, and assimilating MODIS data slightly outperforms jointly assimilating MODIS and GRACE data. For the peak-monsoon season, accurate initialization of the EA snow is more important due to its long memory, and assimilating GRACE data brings the most pronounced gains. Among all the Asian monsoon subregions, the most robust improvement is seen over central north India, a likely result of the region's strong sensitivity to thermal forcing. While this study highlights complementary snow observations as promising new sources of the monsoon predictability, it also clarifies complexities in translating DA to useful monsoon forecast skill, which may help bridge the gap between land DA and dynamical climate forecasting studies.

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Section: Relative Importance Of Regional Snow Da In the Ism Forecastsupporting

confidence: 55%

Assimilating multi-satellite snow data in ungauged Eurasia improves the simulation accuracy of Asian monsoon seasonal anomalies

Lin

Yang

Wei

et al. 2020

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…The TP is the headwater for the largest rivers in Asia, such as Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong, and plays a significant role in the hydrological cycle of surrounding countries by reserving water in the forms of snow, glaciers, and permafrost (Ma et al, 2017). Furthermore, the cryosphere (ice and snow) and land that cover this region have a crucial effect on the EA monsoon (Hsu & Liu, 2003;Li et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2008;Wu et al, 2012;Yanai et al, 1992). Therefore, climate changes over the TP region should be studied further.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Köppen‐Trewartha Climate‐Type Changes Over the CORDEX‐East Asia Phase 2 Domain Under 2 and 3 °C Global Warming

Ahn

Cha

et al. 2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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For the comprehensive estimation of regional climate change over East Asia (EA) at the 2 and 3°C global warming levels (GWLs), the Köppen-Trewartha climate-type change is assessed with ensemble regional climate change projections in line with Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX)-EA phase 2. Under the 2°C (3°C) GWL, 17.6% (25.2%) of the EA region is expected to undergo major climate-type changes. Tropical and subtropical climate types will expand northward, accompanied by increasing hydroclimatic intensity. Limiting GWL to 2°C shows benefits by preventing subtropical-type expansion around far EA. Desertification over inland regions of EA exhibits scenario dependency. Boreal and tundra climate types over high-latitude regions will tend to decrease rapidly, especially over the Tibetan Plateau. The results are expected to be a baseline assessment of climate change over EA under the 2 and 3°C GWLs above the preindustrial level.Plain Language Summary This paper investigates the Köppen-Trewartha climate-type changes over East Asia (EA) at the 2 and 3°C global warming levels (GWLs) with the ensemble regional climate simulations. Under the 2°C (3°C) GWL, 17.6% (25.2%) of the EA region is expected to undergo major climate-type changes. The result shows increased tropical, subtropical, and desert climate types accompanied by intensification of hydroclimatic stress. In addition, boreal and tundra climate types over high-latitude regions will tend to decrease rapidly, especially over the Tibetan Plateau under the 2 and 3°C GWLs.

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“…It can modulate local climate through its reflection of solar energy into space (Cohen, 1994;Gong et al, 2004;Jeong et al, 2013). Snowpack melting consumes surface radiation, and low thermal conductivity of snow prevents the heat exchange between soil and air (Clark et al, 1999;Clark & Serreze, 2000;Cohen & Entekhabi, 1999;Gong et al, 2002;Henderson et al, 2018;Henderson & Leathers, 2010;Kim et al, 2013;Li et al, 2018). The snow cover at the high latitudes can enhance diabatic cooling in the atmospheric boundary layer, increase local sea level pressure, and enhance upper level trough and ridge (Dutra et al, 2011;Fletcher et al, 2007;Gastineau et al, 2017;Henderson & Leathers, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The interannual variations of the intensity of the Arctic Oscillation (North Atlantic Oscillation [NAO]) and the blocking are associated with the snow cover anomalies over Eurasia (Choi & Ahn, 2017;Cohen et al, 2010;Kim et al, 2013;Xu et al, 2019). On intraseasonal time scale, snow cover variations over the Tibetan Plateau are influenced by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (Li et al, 2016) and affect the East Asian atmospheric circulation through snow thermodynamic effects (Li et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraseasonal Snow Cover Variations Over Western Siberia and Associated Atmospheric Processes

Song

2019

JGR Atmospheres

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The present study documents intraseasonal snow cover variations over western Eurasia and associated atmospheric processes using the latest Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Terra daily snow cover product and National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research atmospheric reanalysis. It is found that 9‐ to 30‐day variation dominates total intraseasonal snow cover variations over western Siberia. Composite analysis based on 69 positive snow events over western Siberia reveals that atmospheric circulation anomalies control the 9‐ to 30‐day snow variation over western Siberia. A zonal wave train associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation leads to the development of an anomalous cyclone over western Siberia. The associated anomalous ascending motion, anomalous water vapor convergence, and water vapor increase in the atmosphere provide a favorable condition for snowfall. The snowfall starts when anomalous ascending motion reaches the strongest. The maximum snow cover appears about 1 day after the peak of anomalous descending motion and water vapor flux divergence. The surface air temperature tends to vary out of phase with snow cover over western Siberia. Surface air temperature anomalies over western Siberia are contributed by horizontal advection and diabatic heating. The adiabatic heating has a damping effect in surface air temperature variation.

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Influence of Tibetan Plateau snow cover on East Asian atmospheric circulation at medium-range time scales

Cited by 116 publications

References 49 publications

Assimilating multi-satellite snow data in ungauged Eurasia improves the simulation accuracy of Asian monsoon seasonal anomalies

Assimilating multi-satellite snow data in ungauged Eurasia improves the simulation accuracy of Asian monsoon seasonal anomalies

The Köppen‐Trewartha Climate‐Type Changes Over the CORDEX‐East Asia Phase 2 Domain Under 2 and 3 °C Global Warming

Intraseasonal Snow Cover Variations Over Western Siberia and Associated Atmospheric Processes

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