The influence of the Indian ocean warm pool on extreme precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau
Haoran Jiang
State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co.
Quda Zhaxi
Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co., Ltd
Bo Yu
State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co., Ltd
Jie Zeng
State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co., Ltd
Junxiang Jin
Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co., Ltd
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/pest.v6i4.8447
Keywords: Tibetan Plateau; Extreme precipitation; Indian ocean warm pool
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Indian Ocean Warm Pool, represented by the Indian Ocean Warm Pool Strength (IOWPS) index, on extreme precipitation (RX1day) over the Tibetan Plateau. Using daily precipitation data from the Climate Prediction Center and SST data from the National Climate Center, we assess the relationship between IOWPS and extreme precipitation from 1994 to 2023. Results show a strong positive correlation (r = 0.610) between IOWPS and regionally averaged RX1day. Spatial analysis indicates that the strongest positive correlations are located in the southeastern and southern parts of the plateau, where the South Asian monsoon, modulated by the Indian Ocean warm pool, brings substantial moisture. The findings highlight the significant role of the Indian Ocean warm pool in driving extreme precipitation, particularly through monsoonal moisture transport. This research underscores the importance of understanding ocean-atmosphere interactions for predicting extreme precipitation events in this climate-sensitive region.
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