Anomalous Characteristics and Mechanisms of Autumn Rain in Western China: A Synergistic Analysis of Upper and Lower Atmospheric Circulation Influences

Autumn rain in western China (ARWC) is a unique and significant precipitation phenomenon that occurs during the summer-to-winter transition of the atmospheric circulation. Using the fifth generation of global climate and weather reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and CN05.1 grid precipitation data, this study examined the anomalous characteristics and mechanisms of ARWC by combining the synergistic effect of the westerly jet and meridional wind. Over the past 60 years, ARWC has exhibited significant interdecadal and interannual variations, as well as a north-south seesaw pattern. The westerly jet index (meridional wind index) exhibited a negative (positive) correlation with precipitation in the northern autumn rain zone (NARZ), and a positive (negative) correlation with precipitation in the southern autumn rain zone (SARZ). The coupling of a weak meridional southerly wind with a southward westerly jet and a strong meridional southerly wind with a northward westerly jet are the two primary modes that synergistically influence the ARWC. These synergistic effects cause significant atmospheric changes throughout the troposphere. The contrasting circulation structure, temperature advection, vertical motion, and water vapor flux contributed to the opposite precipitation anomalies observed in the NARZ and SARZ. A new comprehensive index that reflects the coupled synergistic effect is proposed to characterize the anomalous changes in ARWC. This study improves the understanding of the anomalous characteristics and mechanisms of ARWC.