Decadal change in east Asian summer monsoon circulation in the mid-1990s

A climate shift in the mid-1990s in summertime circulation over east Asia is described and the dynamics associated with the climate shift are discussed. The east Asian summer monsoon has a large interdecadal variability as well as interannual variability. It is suggested herein that the east Asian summer monsoon has undergone a decadal change in the mid-1990s. After the mid-1990s, there has been a significant decrease in the strength of zonal winds near the subtropical jet over the east Asia as well as a distinct increase in precipitation in the southeastern part of China. This decrease of the strength of zonal winds over east Asia could be understood as a barotropic response to a steady forcing associated with heating from increased precipitation. These decadal changes are significantly predominant only in the summertime. Concurrently, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of the typhoon passing through the southeastern part of China. It is suggested that the distinctive increase of the typhoon passing may be partly responsible for the increased precipitation in the same area after the mid 1990s.