Impacts of Air–Sea Coupling on the Simulation of Mean Asian Summer Monsoon in the ECHAM4 Model*

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Abstract
Atmosphere–ocean coupling was found to play a critical role in simulating the mean Asian summer monsoon and its climatological intraseasonal oscillation (CISO) in comparisons of the results from a stand-alone ECHAM4 atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and a coupled ECHAM4–ocean [Wang–Li–Fu (WLF)] model. The stand-alone simulation considerably overestimates the equatorial Indian Ocean rainfall and underestimates monsoon rainfall near 15°N, particularly over the eastern Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Upon coupling with an ocean model, the simulated monsoon rainfall becomes more realistic with the rainbelt near 15°N (near the equator) intensified (reduced). These two rainbelts are connected by the northward-propagating CISOs that are significantly enhanced by the air–sea interactions. Both local and remote air–sea interactions in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans contribute to better simulation of the Asian summer monsoon. The local impact is primarily due to negative feedback betw... Abstract Atmosphere–ocean coupling was found to play a critical role in simulating the mean Asian summer monsoon and its climatological intraseasonal oscillation (CISO) in comparisons of the results from a stand-alone ECHAM4 atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and a coupled ECHAM4–ocean [Wang–Li–Fu (WLF)] model. The stand-alone simulation considerably overestimates the equatorial Indian Ocean rainfall and underestimates monsoon rainfall near 15°N, particularly over the eastern Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Upon coupling with an ocean model, the simulated monsoon rainfall becomes more realistic with the rainbelt near 15°N (near the equator) intensified (reduced). These two rainbelts are connected by the northward-propagating CISOs that are significantly enhanced by the air–sea interactions. Both local and remote air–sea interactions in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans contribute to better simulation of the Asian summer monsoon. The local impact is primarily due to negative feedback betw...