A CIRCULATION SIGNAL OF ABNORMAL SNOW COVER OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU AND ITS RELATION TO SUMMER RAINFALL IN CHINA

Based on the integrated analysis for 1955—1993 snow cover data on the Tibetan Plateau and the NCEP/NCAR reanalyzed Northern Hemisphere 500 hPa geopotential height data, comparison and correlation analysis were performed. It reveals that there is a atmospheric teleconnection pattern during snowcover anomaly over the Plateau in winter, so abnormal snowcover teleconnection pattern intensity index (I_asp) is given. Results further reveal the possible association with East Asia-Pacific summer teleconnection patter and its impact on the rainy season rainbelt distribution in China, especially on rainfall over the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River Valley. The result provides a physical base for the application of Iasp in show-term climate prediction.