Quasi-biweekly oscillation of the Asian monsoon rainfall in late summer and autumn: different types of structure and propagation

Abstract

This study contrasts two types of quasi-biweekly oscillations (QBWOs) over tropical Asia in late-summer and autumn (from August to October). Using a tracking method to calculate the frequency of QBWO events over the Asian monsoon region, two types of QBWOs in monsoon rainfall are revealed. One originates from 110° to 140°E and propagates westward to southern China with a notable impact on the regional rainfall, while the other initiates from 160°E to the dateline and does not affect southern China rainfall significantly. Analysis of the vertical structure of moisture flux shows that the moisture source for type 1 events is dominated by the zonal flux component and that for type 2 the meridional flux component. The nature of the moisture flux determines whether the oscillation can propagate across 120°E and affect rainfall over southern China. Results also show that the strength of the South Asian high and the western Pacific subtropical high differently modulate the generation of the two types of QBWOs. Specifically, mutually stronger (weaker) highs favor the first (second) type of the oscillation. A close relationship also exists between the QBWOs and western Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, suggesting that the SST anomalies can potentially trigger the QBWOs.