Relationships between Stratospheric Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and Precipitation Activities in Asia

Abstract

The influence of stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) on global precipitation features was studied over a 25-year period. The years from 1980 to 2004 are classified into easterly and westerly phases of QBO. Composite analyses in Asia reveal noteworthy pluvial anomalies near the Philippines, and inactive front activity and typical drought events due to adiabatic descent over Japan during the easterly phase of QBO. Cool summers and extreme rainfall events in Japan tend to prevail in the westerly phase. In particular, ten Typhoons struck Japan in 2004 accompanied by the westerly phase of QBO.