Research Progress on Numerical Simulations of the Tibetan Plateau Thermodynamic Forcing Based on Potential Vorticity Theory
Received date: 2025-04-05
Revised date: 2025-05-05
Online published: 2025-07-03
Supported by
the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42475020)
The thermodynamic forcing of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) plays a crucial role in modulating the formation and variability of the Asian summer monsoon. However, due to limitations in both observational data and numerical models, the relative importance of the Plateau’s dynamic versus thermal effects on monsoon development remains a subject of ongoing debate. In recent years, a new framework based on Potential Vorticity (PV) theory has been proposed, introducing the concept of surface PV forcing over the Tibetan Plateau and revealing its relationship with the Asian summer monsoon. This paper reviews and synthesizes related research findings. Key conclusions include the following: the relative significance of TP thermodynamic forcing is closely related to experimental design and model performance; the surface PV index can serve as a quantitative metric to assess this relative significance. Compared to sensible heat flux, surface PV more accurately represents summer surface forcing over the Plateau and can be used to evaluate the strength of TP surface forcing under different model configurations and its impact on monsoonal rainfall. Climatologically, TP surface heating plays a dominant role in the formation of the summer monsoon over land. From an extended-range forecasting perspective, the spatiotemporal scales of thermodynamic disturbances over the TP that modulate synoptic-scale waves are key factors influencing the predictability of downstream precipitation. Notably, the intensity of TP surface forcing in climate system models—and its sensitivity in influencing monsoon precipitation—was quantified across different regions in 2022. Accurate simulation of TP surface PV forcing in June 2022 proved essential for reproducing the persistent rainfall observed over South China. These theoretical and modeling advancements contribute to a deeper understanding of the climatic dynamics associated with TP. However, observational data scarcity—particularly in high-elevation regions of the western TP—due to terrain and environmental constraints, limits the understanding of boundary-layer processes and results in biased physical parameterizations in climate models. Therefore, advancing TP simulation capabilities and deepening understanding of its climatic role require integrating observations, numerical modeling, and theoretical research into a unified framework. This approach will enhance the prediction of weather and climate extremes across TP and adjacent regions.
Bian HE , Shijian FENG , Guoxiong WU , Yimin LIU , Chen SHENG , Xinyu HE . Research Progress on Numerical Simulations of the Tibetan Plateau Thermodynamic Forcing Based on Potential Vorticity Theory[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2025 , 40(5) : 441 -455 . DOI: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2025.037
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