THE FEATURES OF ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION DURING MEIYU ONSET AND POSSIBLE MEHANISMS FOR WESTWARD EXTENSION (NORTHWARD SHIFT) OF PACIFIC SUBTROPICAL HIGH

Through composite analysis, the features of the atmospheric circulation during Meiyu onset and possible mechanisms responsible for the westward extension and northward shift of the western Pacific Subtropical High are investigated. Results indicate that the most pronounced characteristics of the circulation evolution prior to the Meiyu onset are: the subtropical High intensifies first, jumps northward in the middle Pacific, and then extends westward, thus resulting in the reinforcement (northward migration) of the western part of the Pacific Subtropical High ridge at 120°E. The further study reveals that the enhancement (northward movement) and westward shift of the Subtropical High over the middle Pacific are closely related to the abnormally active convection in the ITCZ to the south and over the northern Bay of Bengal. A GCM simulation is performed to study the effects of abnormal convection over the middle equatorial Pacific on the Subtropical High and results show that the abnormal convection can result in both the enhancement (northward migration) of the Subtropical High over the middle Pacific and its westward extension as well, which are in agreement with diagnostic results.