Responses of East Asian Summer Monsoon to Natural and Anthropogenic Forcings in the 17 Latest CMIP5 Models

Journal Article · Fri Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Geophysical Research Letters, 41(2):596–603

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058705· OSTI ID:1129349

Song, Fengfei; Zhou, Tianjun; Qian, Yun

In this study, we examined the responses of East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) to natural (solar variability and volcanic aerosols) and anthropogenic (greenhouse gasses and aerosols) forcings simulated in the 17 latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Program phase 5 (CMIP5) models with 105 realizations. The observed weakening trend of low-level EASM circulation during 1958-2001 is partly reproduced under all-forcing runs. A comparison of separate forcing experiments reveals that the aerosol-forcing plays a primary role in driving the weakened low-level monsoon circulation. The preferential cooling over continental East Asia caused by aerosol affects the monsoon circulation through reducing the land-sea thermal contrast and results in higher sea level pressure over northern China. In the upper-level, both natural-forcing and aerosol-forcing contribute to the observed southward shift of East Asian subtropical jet through changing the meridional temperature gradient.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1129349
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-100187; KP1703010
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, 41(2):596–603, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters, 41(2):596–603
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CMIP5 models
East Asian
anthropogenic forcings
summer monsoon