Seasonal Variations of the East Asian Subtropical Westerly Jet and the Thermal Mechanism

The seasonal variations of the intensity and location of the East Asian subtropical westerly jet (EAWJ)and the thermal mechanism are analyzed by using NCEP/NCAR monthly reanalysis data from 1961 to 2000.It is found that the seasonal variation of the EAWJ center not only has signi cant meridional migration, but also shows the rapid zonal displacements during June-July. Moreover, there exists zonal inconsistency in the northward shift process of the EAWJ axis. Analysis on the thermal mechanism of the EAWJ seasonal variations indicates that the annual cycle of the EAWJ seasonal variation matches very well with the structure of the meridional di erence of air temperature, suggesting that the EAWJ seasonal variation is closely related to the inhomogeneous heating due to the solar radiation and the land-sea thermal contrast. Through investigating the relation between the EAWJ and the heat transport, it is revealed that the EAWJ weakens and shifts northward during the warming period from wintertime to summertime, whereas the EAWJ intensifies and shifts southward during the cooling period from summertime to wintertime. The meridional difference of the horizontal heat advection transport is the main factor determining the meridional temperature difference. The meridional shift of the EAWJ follows the location of the maximum meridional gradient of the horizontal heat advection transport. During the period from April to October, the diabatic heating plays the leading role in the zonal displacement of the EAWJ center. The diabatic heating of the Tibetan Plateau to the mid-upper troposphere leads to the rapid zonal displacement of the EAWJ center during June-July.