Hydrologic processes associated with the first transition of the Asian summer monsoon : A pilot satellite study
Abstract Results of a pilot study of the evolution of large-scale hydrologic processes associated with the first transition of the Asian summer monsoon in conjunction with the launching of the South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (SCSMEX) in May 1998 are presented. SCSMEX is a major international field experiment to study the water and energy cycles of the Asian monsoon region, with the aim toward better understanding and improved prediction of the onset, maintenance, and variability of the monsoon of southern China, Southeast Asia, and the western pacific region. In this paper, the utility of reliable satellite data in revealing characteristics of the South China Sea (SCS) monsoon is emphasized. Using a combination of satellite-estimated rainfall, moisture, surface wind, and sea surface temperature, the authors present some interesting and hitherto unknown features in large-scale atmospheric and oceanic hydrologic processes associated with the fluctuation of the SCS monsoon. Results show that, climatologic...