Acta Geographica Sinica ›› 2009, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (5): 601-608.doi: 10.11821/xb200905009

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Characteristics of the Moist Pool and Its Moisture Transports over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in Summer Half Year

WANG Xiao,GONG Yuanfa,CEN Sixian   

  1. Center for Plateau Atmospheric and Environmental Research,Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225,China
  • Received:2008-11-09 Revised:2009-03-02 Online:2009-05-25 Published:2009-05-25
  • Supported by:

    National Basic Research Program of China,No.2004CB418302;National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.40633018;No.40675036

Abstract:

The precipitable water vapor, transfer flux of water vapor and divergency of transfer flux of water vapor over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in summer half year (from April to September) is calculated by using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data obtained from 60 years from 1948 to 2007. The distribution and variation characteristic of precipitable water vapor in summer half year over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is analyzed. The transfer of water vapor over the whole plateau and its surrounding is analyzed. THe result shows that there is a significant high center of precipitable water vapor at the middle troposphere over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in summer half year. The characteristics of ‘ moist pool’ are significant, and there are three high centers of precipitable water vapor in the ‘moist pool’ , which are southwest, southeast and south sides of the plateau. The variation of pricipitable water vapor over the whole region is great from April to September. The velocity of moisture increase is faster than its decrease. Water vapor comes into the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau mainly through three moisture channels, which are westerly zone channel, Indian Ocean via the Bay of Bengal channel and South China Sea via the Bay of Bengal channel. The water vapor entering the plateau is mainly from the southeast plateau, the southwest plateau, and the middle Himalaya Mountains.

Key words: moist pool of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, precipitable water content of atmosphere, moisture channe