Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Long-Term Variation of the Principal Mode of Boreal Spring Hadley Circulation Linked to SST over the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool

Juan Feng State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Juan Feng in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Jianping Li State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Jianping Li in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Fei Xie State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Search for other papers by Fei Xie in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
15 Jan 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00066.1
Page(s):
532–544
Restricted access

Abstract

The variability of the boreal spring [March–May (MAM)] Hadley circulation (HC) is investigated, focusing on the long-term variation of the first principal mode for 1951–2008, which is an equatorially asymmetric mode (AM) with the rising branch located around 10°S. This mode explains about 70% of the variance of the MAM HC and shows an obvious upward trend and thus contributes to the strengthening of the MAM HC. The robust warming trends of sea surface temperature (SST) over the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP) play an essential role in the variations of the MAM HC. When SST over the IPWP is warm, anomalous meridional circulation is induced with descending branches located in regions 30°–20°S and 5°–15°N and rising motion located near 10°S. The anomalous rising south of the equator is due to the inhomogeneous warming of SST over the IPWP. SST within the IPWP in the Southern Hemisphere shows a larger warming trend than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The position of the anomalous convergence associated with SST variations over the IPWP is aligned with the maximum meridional gradient of zonal mean SST, resulting in an equatorially asymmetric meridional circulation. This point is further established in theoretical analyses. However, the meridional SST gradient within the IPWP shows a decreasing trend, suggesting the associated anomalous meridional circulation intensifies, which in turn explains the strengthening of the MAM HC. Under this scenario, the accompanied descent in the regions of 30°–20°S and 5°–15°N is enhanced, implying a frequent drought in these regions during MAM.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Jianping Li, National Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 9804, Beijing 100029, China. E-mail: ljp@lasg.iap.ac.cn

Abstract

The variability of the boreal spring [March–May (MAM)] Hadley circulation (HC) is investigated, focusing on the long-term variation of the first principal mode for 1951–2008, which is an equatorially asymmetric mode (AM) with the rising branch located around 10°S. This mode explains about 70% of the variance of the MAM HC and shows an obvious upward trend and thus contributes to the strengthening of the MAM HC. The robust warming trends of sea surface temperature (SST) over the Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP) play an essential role in the variations of the MAM HC. When SST over the IPWP is warm, anomalous meridional circulation is induced with descending branches located in regions 30°–20°S and 5°–15°N and rising motion located near 10°S. The anomalous rising south of the equator is due to the inhomogeneous warming of SST over the IPWP. SST within the IPWP in the Southern Hemisphere shows a larger warming trend than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The position of the anomalous convergence associated with SST variations over the IPWP is aligned with the maximum meridional gradient of zonal mean SST, resulting in an equatorially asymmetric meridional circulation. This point is further established in theoretical analyses. However, the meridional SST gradient within the IPWP shows a decreasing trend, suggesting the associated anomalous meridional circulation intensifies, which in turn explains the strengthening of the MAM HC. Under this scenario, the accompanied descent in the regions of 30°–20°S and 5°–15°N is enhanced, implying a frequent drought in these regions during MAM.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Jianping Li, National Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 9804, Beijing 100029, China. E-mail: ljp@lasg.iap.ac.cn
Save
Cover Journal of Climate
Journal of Climate

  • Chang, E. K. M., 1995: The influence of Hadley circulation intensity changes on extratropical climate in an idealized model. J. Atmos. Sci., 52, 2006–2024.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chen, J. Y., B. E. Carlson, and A. D. Genio, 2002: Evidence for strengthening of the tropical general circulation in the 1990s. Science, 295, 838–841.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chen, M., P. Xie, J. E. Janowiak, and P. R. Arkin, 2002: Global land precipitation: A 50-yr monthly analysis based on gauge observations. J. Hydrometeor., 3, 249–266.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chiang, J. C. H., 2004: Present-day climate variability in the tropical Atlantic: A model for paleoclimate changes? The Hadley Circulation: Present, Past, and Future, H. F. Diaz and R. S. Bradley, Eds., Kluwer Academic, 465–488.

  • Chiang, J. C. H., S. E. Zebiak, and M. A. Cane, 2001: Relative roles of elevated heating and surface temperature gradients in driving anomalous surface winds over tropical oceans. J. Atmos. Sci., 58, 1371–1394.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chiang, J. C. H., Y. Kushnir, and A. Giannini, 2002: Deconstructing Atlantic intertropical convergence zone variability: Influence of the local cross-equatorial SST gradient and remote forcing from the eastern equatorial Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 107, 4004, doi:10.1029/2000JD000307.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Diaz, H. F., and B. Bradley, 2004: The Hadley Circulation: Present, Past and Future. Kluwer Academic, 511 pp.

  • Dima, I. M., and J. M. Wallace, 2003: On the seasonality of the Hadley cell. J. Atmos. Sci., 60, 1522–1526.

  • Feng, J., and J. P. Li, 2011: Influence of El Niño Modoki on spring rainfall over south China. J. Geophys. Res., 116, D13102, doi:10.1029/2010JD015160.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Feng, R., J. P. Li, and J. C. Wang, 2010: The principal modes of variability of the boreal summer Hadley circulation and their variations (in Chinese). Chin. J. Atmos. Sci., 35, 201–216.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Feng, R., J. Li, and J. C. Wang, 2011: Regime change of the boreal summer Hadley circulation and its connection with the tropical SST. J. Climate, 24, 3867–3877.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fu, Q., C. M. Johanson, J. M. Wallace, and T. Reichler, 2006: Enhanced mid-latitude tropospheric warming in satellite measurements. Science, 312, 1179, doi:10.1126/science.1125566.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hare, S. R., and N. J. Mantua, 2000: Empirical evidence for North Pacific regime shifts in 1977 and 1989. Prog. Oceanogr., 47, 103–145.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Held, I. M., and A. Y. Hou, 1980: Nonlinear axially symmetric circulations in a nearly inviscid atmosphere. J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 515–533.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Holton, J. R., 1992: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology. 3rd ed. Academic Press, 511 pp.

  • Hou, A. Y., 1998: Hadley circulation as a modulator of the extratropical climate. J. Atmos. Sci., 55, 2437–2457.

  • Hu, Y. Y., and Q. Fu, 2007: Observed poleward expansion of the Hadley circulation since 1979. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 5229–5236.

  • Hu, Y. Y., K.-K. Tung, and J. Liu, 2005: A closer comparison of early and late winter atmospheric trends in the Northern Hemisphere. J. Climate, 18, 2924–2936.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kalnay, E., and Coauthors, 1996: The NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 437–471.

  • Kanamitsu, M., W. Ebisuzaki, J. Woollen, S.-K. Yang, J. J. Hnilo, M. Fiorino, and G. L. Potter, 2002: NCEP–DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis (R-2). Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 83, 1631–1643.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Li, J. P., 2001: Atlas of Climate of Global Atmospheric Circulation I (in Chinese). China Meteorology Press, 279 pp.

  • Lindzen, R. S., 1994: Climate dynamics and global change. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 26, 353–378.

  • Lindzen, R. S., and S. Nigam, 1987: On the role of sea surface temperature gradients in forcing low-level winds and convergence in the tropics. J. Atmos. Sci., 44, 2418–2436.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lu, J., G. A. Vecchi, and T. Reichler, 2007: Expansion of the Hadley cell under global warming. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L06805, doi:10.1029/2006GL028443.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ma, J., and J. P. Li, 2007: The reason for the strengthening of the boreal winter Hadley circulation and its connection with ENSO. Prog. Nat. Sci., 17, 1327–1333.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ma, J., and J. P. Li, 2008: The principal modes of variability of the boreal winter Hadley cell. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L01808, doi:10.1029/2007GL031883.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mantsis, D. F., and A. C. Clement, 2009: Simulated variability in the mean atmospheric meridional circulation over the 20th century. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L06704, doi:10.1029/2008GL036741.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mantua, N. I., S. R. Hare, Y. Zhang, J. M. Wallace, and R. C. Francis, 1997: A Pacific interdecadal climate oscillation with impacts on salmon production. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 1069–1079.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mitas, C. M., and A. Clement, 2005: Has the Hadley cell been strengthening in recent decades? Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L03809, doi:10.1029/2004GL021765.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mitas, C. M., and A. Clement, 2006: Recent behavior of the Hadley cell and tropical thermodynamics in climate models and reanalyses. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L01810, doi:10.1029/2005GL024406.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • North, G. R., T. L. Bell, R. F. Cahalan, and F. J. Moeng, 1982: Sampling errors in the estimation of empirical orthogonal functions. Mon. Wea. Rev., 110, 699–706.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Onogi, K., and Coauthors, 2005: JRA-25: Japanese 25-year re-analysis project—Progress and status. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 131, 3259–3268.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Oort, A. H., and J. J. Yienger, 1996: Observed interannual variability in the Hadley circulation and its connection to ENSO. J. Climate, 9, 2751–2767.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Quan, X., H. F. Diaz, and M. P. Hoerling, 2004: Change in the Hadley circulation since 1950. The Hadley Circulation: Present, Past, and Future, H. F. Diaz and R. S. Bradley, Eds., Kluwer Academic, 85–120.

  • Smith, T. M., and R. W. Reynolds, 2004: Improved extended reconstruction of SST (1854–1997). J. Climate, 17, 2466–2477.

  • Song, H., and M. Zhang, 2007: Changes of the boreal winter Hadley circulation in the NCEP–NCAR and ECWMF reanalyses: A comparative study. J. Climate, 20, 5191–5200.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tanaka, H. L., N. Ishizaki, and A. Kitoh, 2004: Trend and interannual variability of Walker, monsoon and Hadley circulations defined by velocity potential in the upper troposphere. Tellus, 56A, 250–269.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Uppala, S. M., and Coauthors, 2005: The ERA-40 Re-Analysis. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 612, 2961–3012.

  • Wallace, J. M., C. Smith, and C. S. Bretherton, 1992: Singular value decomposition of wintertime sea surface temperature and 500-mb height anomalies. J. Climate, 5, 561–576.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Webster, P. J., 2004: The elementary Hadley circulation. The Hadley Circulation: Present, Past, and Future, H. F. Diaz and R. S. Bradley, Eds., Kluwer Academic, 9–60.

  • Wielicki, B. A., and Coauthors, 2002: Evidence for large decadal variability in the tropical mean radiative energy budget. Science, 295, 841–843.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Xiao, D., and J. P. Li, 2007: Spatial and temporal characteristics of the decadal abrupt changes of global atmosphere-ocean system in the 1970s. J. Geophys. Res., 112, D24S22, doi:10.1029/2007JD008956.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ye, D. Z., and B. Z. Zhu, 1958: Some Fundamental Problems of the General Circulation for Atmosphere (in Chinese). Science Press, 159 pp.

  • Zhang, J., D. J. Gu, and N. Shi, 2007: Global mean Hadley circulation intensity index during 1948–2004 and its characteristics (in Chinese). J. Nanning Ins. Meteor., 30, 231–238.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zhao, H. X., and G. W. K. Moore, 2008: Trends in the boreal summer regional Hadley and Walker circulations as expressed in precipitation records from Asia and Africa during the latter half of the 20th century. Int. J. Climatol., 28, 563–578.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 314 118 13
PDF Downloads 211 84 13