Regional Persistent Extreme Precipitation Events over Southwest China under Different Low-Latitude Intraseasonal Oscillations during the Rainy Season

This study investigates the mechanisms of low-latitude intraseasonal oscillations affecting regional persis-tent extreme precipitation events (RPEPEs) over Southwest China (SWC) during rainy seasons. Most of the RPEPEs over SWC are dominated by 7-20-day variability. The RPEPEs over SWC are preconditioned by two different types of 7-20-day Rossby waves with almost opposite phases over the western North Pacific (WNP). The two types of 7-20-day Rossby waves have direct and indirect effects on type-1 and-2 RPEPEs, respectively. For type 1, a coupled 7-20-day low-level anticyclone and suppressed convection originating from the tropical WNP propagate northwestward and cover the re-gion from the South China Sea (SCS) to the Bay of Bengal before the RPEPEs. The anticyclone triggers ascending motion over SWC and transports more moisture to SWC, favoring the SWC RPEPEs. Before the type-2 RPEPEs, a coupled 7-20-day low-level cyclone and enhanced convection propagates from the tropical WNP to the SCS. The enhanced convec-tion over the SCS leads to the westward extension of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and the eastward shift of the South Asian high (SAH). The variations in the WPSH and the SAH directly cause SWC RPEPEs by inducing ascending motion and transporting moisture. The mechanisms for type-2 RPEPEs tend to work under the background with a strong WPSH. Using a Lagrangian model, we found that both the 7-20-day oscillations and their background atmo-spheric circulations result in significant differences in moisture sources for the two types of RPEPEs. These findings benefit a better understanding of SWC extreme precipitation events.

Automated summary

This study explores the mechanisms behind low-latitude intraseasonal oscillations and their impact on regional persistent extreme precipitation events in Southwest China during rainy seasons. The majority of these events are characterized by 7-20-day variability, which is preconditioned by two different types of 7-20-day Rossby waves over the western North Pacific. These waves have direct and indirect effects on type-1 and type-2 events, respectively.