Understanding the weakening patterns of inner Tibetan Plateau vortices

Abstract

This study focuses on changes in the Tibetan Plateau vortices (TPVs) by using ERA5 reanalysis, covering the summers from 1979 to 2022 within the Tibetan Plateau (TP) region. These TPVs were identified using a geopotential height analysis. We discovered that the central-western TP had the most TPV activity and observed a clear decreasing trend in both the intensity and frequency of the TPVs in this region. This decrease was also accompanied by a decline in the strength of the associated vertical upward motion. To better understand this change, we employed the quasi-geostrophic omega equation. This allowed us to examine the dynamic, diabatic, and topographic factors contributing to the vertical motion during different phases of TPV activity in this region. Our results indicate that the main reason behind the weakened TPVs is the diminishing upper-level jet stream, which exerts dynamic forcing on the system. In the later stage, we observed that intensive moisture transport induces heightened diabatic vertical motion. However, this effect is not potent enough to counterbalance the diminishing dynamic influence. Therefore, our findings suggest a significant shift in TPV activity, transitioning from a dynamic-dominated regime to a latent heating-dominated diabatic regime. This new insight enhances our understanding of the complex mechanisms that influence TPV behavior.