CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITIES OVER ASIAN-AUSTRALIAN “LAND BRIDGE” REAS AND ITS POSSIBLE FACTORS^*

Based on TBB data from GMS of Japan,NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and precipitation data from CMAP(CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation),an investigation is carried out of seasonal changes of precipitation and convection over Asian-Australian "land bridge" areas and its possible factors.The results show that the precipitation and convection over Sumatra take on clearly seasonal changes with abundant (less) rainfall in winter (summer).The convection over Sumatra moves northwestward rapidly along "land bridge" in the late-April and the early-May (the 25th pentad) and the rainfall shows similar variations.It is the accelerating of the convection moving that affects directly the subsequent enhancement of the convection over Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) area followed by the rupture of the subtropical high (SH) bands in this region leading to South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon establishment.The zonal wind at lower troposphere in the equatorial Indian Ocean and the cross-equatorial flow in 105°E are the main factors associated with the accelerating of the convection moving northwestward along "land bridge".The further study suggests that the intensity of Sumatra convection has a close relation to the SST:when the central-east equatorial Pacific SST is warmer (colder),i.e.E1 Nino (La Nina) events,the SST in West Pacific warm pool is colder (warmer),Sumatra convection is weaker (stronger).