Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2025

Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information
Published on: June 13, 2020
Distinctive South and East Asian monsoon circulation responses to global warming
Tim Li1, Yuhao Wang2, Bin Wang3
1Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters/Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster, Ministry of Education/Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Change, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China; International Pacific Research Center and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu HI 96822, USA.
Abstract:
The Asian summer monsoon (ASM) is the most energetic circulation system. Projecting its future change is critical for the mitigation and adaptation of billions of people living in the region. There are two important components within the ASM: South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) and East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). Although current state-of-the-art climate models projected increased precipitation in both SASM and EASM due to the increase of atmospheric moisture, their circulation changes differ markedly-A robust strengthening (weakening) of EASM (SASM) circulation was projected. By separating fast and slow processes in response to increased CO2 radiative forcing, we demonstrate that EASM circulation strengthening is attributed to the fast land warming and associated Tibetan Plateau thermal forcing. In contrast, SASM circulation weakening is primarily attributed to an El Niño-like oceanic warming pattern in the tropical Pacific and associated suppressed precipitation over the Maritime Continent.
Related Concept Videos
Global Climate Change
What is Climate?
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Precipitation Processes

