Antarctic sea-ice oscillation index with a seesaw pattern is defined using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis girds data of monthly Antarctica sea-ice concentration from 1979 to 2002.The relationships between the index of winter and the summer precipitations in China as well as the onset date of the summer East Asia monsoon are presented.The study result shows that the grids of correlation coefficients passed 5% confidence level between Antarctic sea-ice oscillation index and Antarctic sea-ice concentration are more than 1/3 of all grids of Antarctica sea-ice,that means the index can represent 1/3 sea-ice area.The winter index has a significant correlation with abnormal summer(June-August) precipitation in China.The area of positive correlation lies in the Yangtze River basin and its south,and that of negative correlation lies mainly in the north of Yangtze River basin.While the winter index is positive(negative),the onset date of South China Sea monsoon is earlier(later),with a probability of 79%(80%).Consequently, a conceptual model is given in term of discussing the possible process between the winter Antarctic sea ice and the monsoon precipitation in China.
The Antarctic and Arctic are sensitive to global climate change;therefore,they are key regions of global climate change research.This paper,the progress in scientific investigations and research regarding the atmosphere in the polar regions over the last 30 years by Chinese scientists is summarized.Primary understanding of the relationship between the polar regions and global change,especially,the variations in time and space in the Antarctic and Arctic regions with respect to climate change is indicated.Operational weather forecasts for investigation of the polar regions have also been established.Moreover,changes in sea ice and their impact on the atmosphere of polar regions have been diagnosed and simulated.Parameterization of the atmospheric boundary layer of different underlying layers and changes in the atmospheric ozone in the polar region has also been experimented.Overall,there has been great progress in studies of the possible impact of changes in the atmospheric environment of polar regions on circulation in East Asia and the climate of China.
Surface meteorological observations have been carried out at the Great Wall station (GW) and Zhongshan station (ZS) from 1984 to 2008 and from 1989 to 2008 respectively.The variation in mean air temperature and its trends are derived from the meteorological observation data recorded at both stations.The warming rate of the annual mean temperature at GW is similar to that at Bellingshausen station,which is about 3 km distant.Thus,the warming trend is representative of the King George Island region.The warming rate of ZS is less different from that at Davis station,which is about 100 km from ZS.It can be said that the meteorological data recorded at both stations are representative of the regions of the King George Island and east coast of the Antarctic.
