This observationally based study demonstrates the importance of the delayed hydrological response of snow cover and snowmelt over the Eurasian region and Tibet for variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall during the first two months after onset. Using snow cover fraction and snow water equivalent data during 1967–2003, it is demonstrated that, although the snow-albedo effect is prevalent over western Eurasia, the delayed hydrological effect is strong and persistent over the eastern part. Long soil moisture memory and strong sensitivity of surface fluxes to soil moisture variations over eastern Asia and Tibet provide a mechanism for soil moisture anomalies generated by anomalies in winter and spring snowfall to affect rainfall during the initial months in summer. Dry soil moisture anomalies over the eastern Eurasian region associated with anomalous heating at the surface and midtroposphere help in anchoring of an anomalous upper-tropospheric “blocking” ridge around 100°E and its persistence. This not only leads to prolonged weakening of the subtropical westerly jet but also shifts its position southward of 30°N, followed by penetration of anomalous troughs in the westerlies into the Indian region. Simultaneously, intrusion of cold and dry air from the midlatitudes can reduce the convective instability and hence rainfall over India after the onset. Such a southward shift of the jet can also significantly weaken the vertical easterly wind shear over the Indian region in summer and lead to decrease in rainfall. This delayed hydrological effect also has the potential to modulate the snow–atmosphere coupling strength for temperature and precipitation in operational forecast models through soil moisture–evaporation–precipitation feedbacks.

In this paper, we demonstrate the impact of the delayed hydrological response of snow cover and snowmelt over eastern Eurasia in the variability of ISMR during the first two months (30- and 60-day averaged periods) after onset. Based on our analysis, we propose a hypothesis that explains how soil moisture anomalies over the eastern Eurasian region can play a role in reducing or enhancing rainfall activity over the Indian region during the first two months after onset through land–atmosphere feedbacks. The paper is organized as follows. Data and methodology are described in detail in section 2 . Observed climatology and variability of snow cover fraction and snow water equivalent during winter and spring and their changes associated with rainfall after the onset of monsoon are discussed in sections 3a and 3b . Our hypothesis related to the mechanism of changes in post-onset rainfall is proposed in section 3c . Furthermore, the delayed hydrological effect associated with snowmelt and characteristics of land–atmosphere coupling over the Eurasian region is described in section 3d . Finally, conclusions are summarized in section 4 .

Some studies based on statistical analysis (e.g., Shinoda 2001 ; Robock et al. 2003 ; Peings and Douville 2010 ) have questioned the validity of this teleconnection and argued that it is modulated strongly by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)–ISMR relationship. Meehl (1994) suggested that surface temperature anomalies over Eurasia and South Asia are controlled by changes in large-scale midlatitude circulation that are, in turn, driven by convective heating anomalies associated with the tropical biennial oscillation (TBO). Fasullo (2004) found the relationship between Eurasian snow cover and rainfall mainly over northern parts of India to be stronger during neutral ENSO years. Despite that, modeling studies ( Ferranti and Molteni 1999 ; Turner and Slingo 2011 ) have proved that this relationship holds independent of the ENSO–ISMR relationship. Senan et al. (2016) have further shown that positive snow depth anomalies over the Himalayan–Tibetan Plateau region in early April can delay the onset of the monsoon. However, none of the above studies have investigated in detail the impact the delayed hydrological feedback associated with snowmelt has on the snow–atmosphere coupling over the Eurasian region and the variability of the ISMR on subseasonal time scales or its inherent mechanisms. Buermann et al. (2005) , using statistical techniques, did hypothesize on the role of springtime surface conditions as a probable “bridge” between the wintertime Arctic circulation and summer monsoon rainfall during June, but they concentrated more on the northwest part of India. It needs to be thoroughly investigated whether anomalous circulation changes associated with changes in surface hydrology over the Eurasian region could also affect the ISMR variability on subseasonal time scales and whether persistence in land surface states can induce and/or prolong reduced rainfall activity.

For the analysis of near-surface variables, we have used monthly 2-m temperature (0.5° × 0.5°) from the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia ( Harris et al. 2014 ) for the period 1967–2003. We have used daily values of planetary boundary layer height (HPBL) simulated using the global coupled model Climate Forecast System, version 2, (CFSv2) of the National Centers of Environmental Prediction ( Saha et al. 2014 ) at T126L64 resolution. For that purpose, the model is initialized at 0000 UTC 1 April every year from 1982 until 2003, using the CFS reanalysis ( Saha et al. 2010 ) and run until 1800 UTC 1 October. The atmospheric model is coupled to the Modular Ocean Model, version 4, (MOM4) ( Griffies et al. 2004 ) and the Noah land surface model ( Ek et al. 2003 ), version 2.7.1, which is also the model used in GLDAS-2.0. Apart from that, monthly geopotential height, temperature and zonal and meridional wind (~1.4° × 1.4°) at multiple pressure levels from ERA-40 ( Uppala et al. 2005 ) have been used for the period 1967–2002 for the analysis of upper-atmospheric features. To account for the spatial variability in soil and vegetation types used in GLDAS-2.0, soil wetness index (SWI) values are calculated by scaling the soil moisture using porosity and wilting points of each soil type. Significance for differences in the mean is tested based on a Welch’s t test, which is a Student’s t test for unequal sample sizes and variance.

We have defined average SCF and SWE for the months December–January (DJ) to represent winter, February–March (FM) to represent the transition from winter to spring, and April–May (AM) to represent late spring conditions for our study. The climatological mean date of onset of the Indian summer monsoon over the southern tip of the state of Kerala is 1 June, as defined by the India Meteorological Department. However, there is considerable interannual variability in the onset date. For this study, we analyzed the post-onset variation of rainfall over the Indian monsoon region by averaging rainfall during the first 30 days after onset (30DAO) and first 60 days after onset (60DAO). For that purpose, we have used observed onset dates of the Indian summer monsoon reported by Pai and Rajeevan (2009) . The 60DAO period captures the rainfall variability mostly during June and July, and some part of August during years when the onset is late.

We have used high-resolution (0.5° × 0.5°) daily gridded rainfall from the Asian Precipitation–Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Toward Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) ( Yatagai et al. 2012 ) for the 37 years 1967–2003. Northern Hemisphere monthly gridded 2° × 2° snow cover fraction (SCF) data for the same period as described in Robinson (1993) and Robinson and Frei (2000) have been used for understanding its variability during winter and spring. Apart from that, Global Land Data Assimilation System, version 2.0, (GLDAS-2.0) daily snow water equivalent (SWE), latent and sensible heat fluxes, and soil moisture [surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface (10–40 cm)] analyses for 1967–2003 at 1° × 1° resolution are used ( Rodell et al. 2004 ).

SWE (kg m −2 ) is a measure of water mass in the snowpack. It is the characteristic that determines the potential for the snow hydrologic effect. From Fig. 1 it is evident that snow cover in winter (DJ) is relatively deep over the region north of 50°N and west of 100°E, apart from western Tibet and the Himalayas and the eastern Eurasian edge. These areas and parts of eastern Siberia have large interannual variability as a result of freezing/thawing of snow. During FM, there is an increase in the water content of the snowpack and its interannual variability as well that may enhance the snow hydrologic effect. By AM, the area with large SWE retreats farther north but still shows strong interannual variability north of 50°N. Western Tibet and the Himalayas demonstrate strong interannual variability even in late spring, which could possibly affect the surface temperature and diabatic heating of the atmosphere through the snow hydrological effect. The retreat over the western part of Eurasia appears to be faster than that over the eastern part, which could be attributed to warm temperature advection over that region ( Thompson and Wallace 2000 ). As a result, there is a slight northwest–southeast tilt in the spatial pattern of maximum SCF and SWE during AM.

Figure 1 shows the mean SCF and SWE averaged during DJ (top row), FM (middle row), and AM (bottom row) and their interannual standard deviations for the period 1967–2003. SCF is the main factor controlling the snow-albedo effect. During winter, northern parts of Eurasia and western and southeast Tibet are completely covered by snow. Snow cover is also evident south of the Caucasus and the western part of the plateau of Iran. There is little interannual variability north of 50°N, implying complete snow cover. However, southern Eurasia has large interannual variability along a zonal band bounded mostly between 30° and 55°N, where snow becomes more ephemeral. There is weak (strong) variability in snow cover over western (eastern) Tibet, which means that snow cover is more (less) continuous there. During the transition from winter to spring (FM), the mean SCF changes little, but increased snowmelt, greater solar radiation, and feedbacks discussed above contribute to enhanced variability over western and southern Eurasia, including Tibet. During late spring (AM), the edge of permanent snow cover has receded farther north. There is enhanced variability between 45° and 70°N and over Tibet. This is the period when snow hydrological processes and the albedo effect start working in tandem over this latitudinal belt and may increase the snow–atmosphere coupling strength, affecting surface and atmospheric parameters close to the ground. Western Tibet still remains covered with snow because of its altitude and colder temperatures.

Mean (top left) GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture (0–10 cm; mm) and (top right) CRU Time Series (TS3.21) 2-m temperature (K) during 1967–2003. (middle left), (middle right) Differences only during AM calculated as in Fig. 3 , for (middle left) GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture (mm) and (middle right) CRU TS3.21 2-m temperature (K). (bottom left), (bottom right) Similar differences during AM based on (bottom left) ERA-40 geopotential height (GPH; m) and (bottom right) tropospheric temperature (TT; K) averaged between 700 and 400 hPa. Stippled areas denote differences significant at the 90% confidence level. The eastern Eurasian box is enclosed in black lines.

Mean (top left) GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture (0–10 cm; mm) and (top right) CRU Time Series (TS3.21) 2-m temperature (K) during 1967–2003. (middle left), (middle right) Differences only during AM calculated as in Fig. 3 , for (middle left) GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture (mm) and (middle right) CRU TS3.21 2-m temperature (K). (bottom left), (bottom right) Similar differences during AM based on (bottom left) ERA-40 geopotential height (GPH; m) and (bottom right) tropospheric temperature (TT; K) averaged between 700 and 400 hPa. Stippled areas denote differences significant at the 90% confidence level. The eastern Eurasian box is enclosed in black lines.

During AM there are positive (negative) SCF anomalies over western (eastern) Eurasia. However, SWE anomalies suggest that the snow depth is higher mostly over northern Europe, northern and extreme eastern Eurasia, and south of 50°N over western Eurasia. Although SCF anomalies over western Eurasia (45°–65°N, 30°–80°E) during NEGRF years are higher than during POSRF years, the snow depths are relatively thin. These positive anomalies, through the snow-albedo effect, may also decrease the land–ocean temperature gradient and affect the all-India rainfall adversely. However, the snow-albedo effect during AM for NEGRF years would be short lived, as the SWE is found to be relatively less than during POSRF years. We also note that there is a significant decrease in SCF as well as SWE in many areas over eastern Eurasia, around Mongolia, and eastern China (35°–60°N and 85°–125°E). However, changes in SWE extend farther toward the south. The entire region over eastern Eurasia south of 60°N happens to be arid to semiarid, with less soil moisture (cf. Fig. 4 ) but ample net radiation (figure not shown), which implies that it is more moisture limited and not radiation limited. Anomalous soil moisture changes resulting from snowmelt would shift the land–atmospheric conditions from that of a dry to that of a transitional regime and result in profound sensitivity of the surface fluxes of heat and moisture, unlike in western Eurasia. Therefore, although changes in SWE (and hence associated soil moisture anomalies) are small, they are expected to create large changes in surface moisture and heat fluxes (further shown in section 3d ). As an aside, it may be noted that the eastern Eurasian region around Mongolia is important both in terms of snow–atmosphere coupling ( Xu and Dirmeyer 2011 , 2013a , b ) and soil moisture–atmosphere coupling ( Koster et al. 2004 ), although the multimodel averaged coupling strength was reported to be weaker than in other global hot spots. During the entire winter and spring seasons (DJ, FM, and AM), negative anomalies of SCF and SWE are mostly observed over the Himalayan range and Tibetan region during NEGRF years as compared to POSRF years. Although this may suggest a positive association with all-India rainfall in the post-onset period (mostly during June and July) the changes are not significant. Differences in composites based on early and late monsoon onset years during the period 1967–2003 (figure not shown) suggest there is a significant increase in SCF and SWE over the western Himalayas and Tibet when the onset is late. This relationship has also been investigated through modeling experiments ( Senan et al. 2016 ). In the following sections, differences in hydrological properties between these two regions and their effect on other surface and atmospheric variables are explored.

Mean difference (NEGRF − POSRF years) of NOAA/NESDIS SCF based on NEGRF and POSRF years identified from standardized anomalies of CI averaged rainfall from APHRODITE during 1967–2003 for the (left) 30DAO and (center left) 60DAO periods of Indian summer monsoon. The differences (%) are shown during (top) DJ, (middle) FM, and (bottom) AM. (center right),(right) As in (left) and (center left), but for GLDAS-2.0 SWE (kg m −2 ). Stippled areas denote differences significant at the 90% confidence level. The western and eastern Eurasian boxes are enclosed in black lines.

Mean difference (NEGRF − POSRF years) of NOAA/NESDIS SCF based on NEGRF and POSRF years identified from standardized anomalies of CI averaged rainfall from APHRODITE during 1967–2003 for the (left) 30DAO and (center left) 60DAO periods of Indian summer monsoon. The differences (%) are shown during (top) DJ, (middle) FM, and (bottom) AM. (center right),(right) As in (left) and (center left), but for GLDAS-2.0 SWE (kg m −2 ). Stippled areas denote differences significant at the 90% confidence level. The western and eastern Eurasian boxes are enclosed in black lines.

To understand the delayed hydrological effect of Eurasian snow on rainfall over India during the monsoon season, composites of SCF and SWE during DJ, FM, and AM of different years are prepared on the basis of standardized CI averaged rainfall anomalies during the 30DAO and 60DAO periods. An above- (below-) normal rainfall year for India is identified when the standardized CI averaged rainfall anomaly during 30DAO and 60DAO (1967–2003) is ≥+1 standard deviation (≤−1 standard deviation). For simplicity, we will refer to these above- and below-normal rainfall years (6 in each case) as positive rainfall (POSRF) and negative rainfall (NEGRF) years, respectively. Figure 3 shows the difference (NEGRF − POSRF) of SCF and SWE composites based on the NEGRF and POSRF years determined on the basis of rainfall anomalies during the 30DAO and 60DAO periods, for DJ (top row), FM (middle), and AM (bottom). Differences in SCF north of 50°N and east of 30°E between NEGRF and POSRF years are minimal during DJ or FM mostly because snow coverage is of a permanent nature over these areas during these months. Negative anomalies of SWE over a large part of western Eurasia suggest that snow depths are relatively thin during DJ and FM in the NEGRF years. There are at times positive anomalies of both SCF and SWE over Europe, western Russia, Kazakhstan, and areas north and northeast of Tibet. Positive anomalies of SCF over these areas during DJ and FM would increase the surface albedo and possibly affect the surface temperature gradient between the land and ocean and hence rainfall over India during the 30DAO and 60DAO periods. This supports earlier results shown for the entire June–September season (cf. Fig. 4a in Bamzai and Shukla 1999 ). However, it is also important to mention that the spatial pattern of surface temperature anomalies over the entire domain is too complex to speculate specifically on any resulting north–south land–ocean temperature gradient. Northern parts of Eurasia (north of 65°N, east of 75°E) also have positive SWE anomalies during DJ and FM for NEGRF years, suggesting increased snow depth. However, those changes are farther away from the tropics. On the other hand, south of 65°N and closer to India there is decreased SWE that may have a greater impact on all-India rainfall through changes in surface hydrology, fluxes, and near-surface temperature. There are some changes in sign of the anomalous SCF over southern Europe and western Russia during FM that may be induced by atmospheric wave activity suggested in earlier studies ( Thompson and Wallace 2000 ).

The mean onset date of the Indian summer monsoon during the period 1967–2003 is 2 June, with an interannual standard deviation of 7.5 days [based on data from Pai and Rajeevan (2009) ]. Average rainfall during the 30DAO period shows maxima over the Western Ghats, the hilly terrain of the eastern parts of central India (CI; 16.5–26.5°N and 74.5–86.5°E), east and northeast India, and the foothills of the Himalayas ( Fig. 2 ). The rain-shadow region over peninsular India and the drier northwestern areas are also evident. Rainfall further increases in intensity during the 60DAO period over these places and particularly over central India, covering more parts of western India and its northwest primarily because of an increase in rainfall in July. Interannual variability follows the mean spatial pattern but shows greater spatial coverage and magnitude during the 60DAO period. Kothawale and Kulkarni’s (2014) analysis using observed data for over 100 years suggests that, during the period 1967–2003, there were about 6 years when the all-India rainfall departure during June, July, or June plus July exceeded 10% of the climatology, and that affected the seasonal total rainfall as well. The climatological mean and interannual standard deviation of rainfall averaged over the all-India domain during the 30DAO and 60DAO periods are captured very well by the statistics over CI (figure not shown). Therefore, we have chosen the CI domain in our study for further analysis of rainfall anomalies over India during these periods. There is a small but insignificant increasing trend in rainfall over the 37-yr period (figure not shown).

Figure 6 is like Fig. 5 , but for zonal (U) wind composites from 925–200 hPa, averaged between 50° and 80°E. The vertical distribution of mean zonal winds during AM shows westerlies north of 20°N and easterlies south of it that extend up to about 850 hPa (top row). During JJ, the subtropical westerly jet moves farther northward beyond 30°N, and the easterlies strengthen in the upper-atmospheric levels while surface westerlies emerge and strengthen over the Arabian Sea and northern Indian Ocean (bottom row). Furthermore, a strong vertical easterly shear of winds just north of the equator that is important for the northward propagation of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), which brings in cloudiness and rainfall over the Indian region ( Jiang et al. 2004 ) is evident. The difference between the composites of NEGSM and POSSM years during AM suggests that, when there are dry soil moisture anomalies over the eastern Eurasian region, there are anomalous upper-level westerlies north of the equator between 50° and 80°E and anomalous easterlies below. The strength of the subtropical westerly jet also decreases north of 30°N, and there is a southward shift in its position. This is further evident in the difference plot during JJ. Studies suggest that in normal monsoon years the subtropical westerly jet moves northward up to north of 30°N around the time of onset from May to June (cf. Soman and Krishna Kumar 1993 ). Furthermore, our analysis shows that the strength of the vertical easterly wind shear is significantly decreased during JJ in NEGSM years. The vertical easterly wind shear (the first baroclinic mode in the vertical) has been demonstrated to be important in maintaining the overall diabatic heating during the Asian monsoon ( Webster and Yang 1992 ). These processes explain the dynamical mechanism through which the post-onset Indian summer monsoon rainfall is decreased along with anomalous soil moisture changes over eastern Eurasia. Conversely, wet soil moisture anomalies over the eastern Eurasian region would result in changes of opposite sign in the surface and upper-atmospheric variables, thus increasing rainfall activity after the onset of the Indian summer monsoon (figure not shown). In the following section, we further explore the surface hydrological characteristics over the Eurasian region and associated land–atmosphere coupling to understand the feedback between soil moisture and atmospheric variables.

The climatological location and strength of the subtropical westerly jet is evident around 30°N during AM, with easterlies south of 10°N over India. During JJ, the jet position moves farther northward around 40°N, easterlies take over its position over the Indian region, and the Tibetan anticyclone becomes evident near 25°N. Differences (NEGSM − POSSM) show that the core of the subtropical westerly jet shifts south of its normal position in AM during NEGSM years. Furthermore, the streamlines also suggest that anomalous troughs in the westerlies penetrate deep into the Indian region between 50° and 75°E during NEGSM years, possibly bringing dry and cold air into the Indian region and decreasing the convective instability (figure not shown) and, hence, the strength of the monsoon and rainfall (cf. Krishnan et al. 2009 ; Samanta et al. 2015 ). There is an anomalous anticyclone located to its northwest, a ridge toward its east located around 100°E, and an anomalous cyclonic circulation farther to the east over eastern China and Japan. The upper-level anticyclone east of India over Myanmar and Thailand (around 100°E) is associated with convection and rainfall activity over that region during May. That anticyclone is also found to extend to 60°N in the form of a ridge (a blocking ridge) and is centered over the eastern Eurasian box, which shows negative soil moisture anomalies and increased surface temperature. The upper-tropospheric blocking ridge around 100°E has been suggested to be responsible for preventing the eastward passage of troughs in the midlatitude westerlies [cf. Krishnan et al. (2009) and other references therein]. There are anomalous westerlies over the Indian region in the upper level, implying weakened easterlies. This is a classic example of the interaction of midlatitude waves with the Indian summer monsoon through upper-level circulation anomalies that is evident during certain long break situations on intraseasonal time scales (e.g., June and July) ( Krishnan et al. 2000 , 2009 ; Samanta et al. 2015 ). Differences in upper-level circulation during JJ composited on AM soil moisture anomalies also support this situation, the only difference being that the differences are slightly weaker. However, the location of the anomalous ridge around 100°E is in the same place during JJ, which suggests there is some persistence in the upper-level circulation features that are tied to the dry soil moisture anomalies over eastern Eurasia. So far, in none of the earlier studies had the role of soil hydrology over eastern Eurasia been identified in determining the position and duration of the blocking ridge.

Mean 200-hPa ERA-40 wind (m s −1 ) during (top left) AM and (bottom left) JJ from 1967 until 2003. Shaded color shows the magnitude, and streamlines show the direction. Mean difference (NEGSM − POSSM years) of 200-hPa ERA-40 wind (m s −1 ) during (top right) AM and (bottom right) JJ based on NEGSM and POSSM years identified from standardized anomalies of GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture in AM during 1967–2003. Stippled areas denote differences in magnitude of wind significant at the 90% confidence level. The eastern Eurasian box is enclosed in black lines.

Mean 200-hPa ERA-40 wind (m s −1 ) during (top left) AM and (bottom left) JJ from 1967 until 2003. Shaded color shows the magnitude, and streamlines show the direction. Mean difference (NEGSM − POSSM years) of 200-hPa ERA-40 wind (m s −1 ) during (top right) AM and (bottom right) JJ based on NEGSM and POSSM years identified from standardized anomalies of GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture in AM during 1967–2003. Stippled areas denote differences in magnitude of wind significant at the 90% confidence level. The eastern Eurasian box is enclosed in black lines.

To understand the impact of eastern Eurasian hydrology on the post-onset changes in Indian monsoon rainfall, changes in large-scale circulation are further analyzed using composite analyses based on soil moisture over the eastern Eurasian region. A time series of surface soil moisture anomalies during AM averaged over the eastern Eurasian box is prepared for the period 1967–2003. The anomalies are normalized by the standard deviation of the time series and detrended. Based on this, years are identified as positive soil moisture (POSSM) [negative soil moisture (NEGSM)] when the normalized anomalies are ≥+1 standard deviation (≤−1 standard deviation). The resultant number of years is 6 in each case. The climatology of 200-hPa wind from ERA-40 (1967–2002) during AM and the difference between NEGSM and POSSM years are analyzed ( Fig. 5 , top row). Bottom panels in Fig. 5 show the same for 200-hPa wind composite in JJ and difference (NEGSM − POSSM years) based on standardized AM soil moisture anomalies.

The climatology of surface soil moisture and 2-m near-surface air temperature during AM are analyzed at first ( Fig. 4 , top row). Mean surface soil moisture is high across Eurasia (north of 55°N, west of 130°E), the western Himalayas, west of the Caspian Sea (all areas where SWE variability is high; Fig. 1 ), and East Asia. Areas over Tibet and the Gobi Desert around Mongolia and China are relatively dry. Surface temperatures are freezing over the extreme northeast of Eurasia, as areas north of 60°N are still covered with snow, and the Tibetan Plateau. South of 40°N, surface temperatures are relatively warm. The difference between the composites of NEGRF and POSRF years shows a significant decrease in surface soil moisture over the eastern Eurasian box (35°–60°N, 85°–125°E,) enclosed in black lines and parts of western Eurasia. Associated with such drying (moistening) at the surface and changes in surface moisture fluxes (figure not shown), there is a significant increase (decrease) in 2-m air temperature. Decreased surface temperature over a large part of western Eurasia (between 25° and 80°E) and the northwest of India are indicative of a decreased land–ocean temperature gradient that affects the Indian monsoon adversely during NEGRF years. This is a well-known hypothesis (decrease in surface temperature due to the snow-albedo effect) that has been already proposed and tested in earlier studies. However, the hydrological effect associated with changes in SWE has not been investigated so far, at least in modeling studies, because of suspicion over the physical realism of the hydrological aspect of the land surface models employed in GCMs. Perhaps it is also a reason why the multimodel averaged coupling strength was noted to be weaker over the Eurasian region than over other global hot spots ( Koster et al. 2004 ). We further note that such a decrease in surface temperature during NEGRF years, particularly to the north of India, is stronger during the 30DAO period than during 60DAO. This suggests that the hydrological effect associated with SWE changes may also be stronger during that period. It is interesting that, associated with warming (cooling) at the surface centered over Mongolia, there is also a significant warming (cooling) in the midtropospheric temperature averaged between 700 and 400 hPa. Apart from that, there is also an increase (decrease) in 500-hPa geopotential height associated with warming (cooling) over that region, but changes are not significant, unlike over western Eurasia. Nevertheless, this indicates the deep barotropic nature of the changes in the atmosphere associated with the surface changes.

Memory of the snow anomalies persists in soil moisture states at the surface and subsurface and can contribute to the snow–atmosphere coupling strength after melting. To understand the difference in soil hydrological features between western and eastern Eurasia in terms of SWE and soil moisture, we first analyze their mean annual cycles and interannual variability (Fig. 7). For this, daily SWE and surface and subsurface soil moisture values are averaged over the western and eastern boxes. In all these figures, the solid line in the middle depicts the climatological mean, the long dashed lines bounding the mean show the interannual standard deviation, and the short dashed black lines show the range of maximum and minimum values. Over the western box, SWE attains its maximum by the end of February and thereafter rapidly decreases to zero by May. The variability is highest in April, which is also the time when the snow–atmosphere coupling strength is maximum (cf. Fig. 3 in Xu and Dirmeyer 2011). Over the eastern box, the mean and interannual variability are relatively less than for the western box. The maximum in SWE is attained during February; however, the decrease thereafter is more gradual. A decrease in SWE leads through snowmelt to a rapid increase in surface and subsurface soil moisture and variability over western Eurasia (Fig. 7, middle and bottom rows). Peak soil moisture is attained by early April, which is followed by a gradual decrease until July. However, the variability is subdued compared to that in April. Another interesting feature is that the mean soil moisture in July is much lower than the driest values attained before April. Over the eastern box that is collocated with the Gobi Desert, soil moisture during spring is relatively less compared to the west. Interestingly, peak soil moisture values as well as strong interannual variability over the eastern box are attained one month later than in the west. Furthermore, mean soil moisture as well as its variability remain almost constant until mid May. There is a secondary peak in soil moisture over the eastern Eurasian region during June–August that could be attributed to local rainfall activity; however, the underlying reason is not investigated in the present study.

Fig . 7. View largeDownload slide Mean annual cycle of daily GLDAS-2.0 SWE (kg m−2) averaged over the (top left) western Eurasia and (top right) eastern Eurasia boxes during 1967–2003. (middle), (bottom) As in (top), but for GLDAS-2.0 (middle) surface (0–10 cm) and (bottom) subsurface (10–40 cm) soil moisture. Units are volumetric. Solid line in the middle depicts the climatological mean value; long and short dashed lines depict the interannual std dev and the maximum and minimum values, respectively. Fig . 7. View largeDownload slide Mean annual cycle of daily GLDAS-2.0 SWE (kg m−2) averaged over the (top left) western Eurasia and (top right) eastern Eurasia boxes during 1967–2003. (middle), (bottom) As in (top), but for GLDAS-2.0 (middle) surface (0–10 cm) and (bottom) subsurface (10–40 cm) soil moisture. Units are volumetric. Solid line in the middle depicts the climatological mean value; long and short dashed lines depict the interannual std dev and the maximum and minimum values, respectively.

The implication of these differences between the west and the east is explored using land–atmosphere coupling metrics. Land–atmospheric coupling takes place via two legs: the terrestrial leg, where soil moisture affects surface fluxes of moisture and sensible heat (Dirmeyer 2011), and, second, the atmospheric leg, where variations in those fluxes affect the near-surface atmospheric variables, such as temperature, humidity, and boundary layer and its growth up to the lifting condensation level. Anomalous changes in surface and subsurface soil moisture can affect the near-surface atmospheric variables and possibly increase or decrease chances of triggering moist convection through the water or energy cycles (Dirmeyer et al. 2014) only if both the legs are in place. For that, strong sensitivity of the surface fluxes to soil moisture variations apart from variability is also required.

The area-averaged mean sensitivity of the surface latent heat flux (LHF) and sensible heat flux (SHF) to soil wetness variations over the western and eastern Eurasian boxes, respectively, are shown in the first two panels of Fig. 8 (top row) during April–July. Sensitivity is calculated from the slope of the linear regression of the fluxes on the soil wetness index (described in section 2). Furthermore, the sensitivities of surface fluxes are multiplied by the difference in mean monthly soil moisture anomalies during POSSM and NEGSM years over each box in order to depict the contrast. It is evident that the sensitivity of surface LHF and SHF is much stronger over the eastern box than over the west, at least until June. It is further interesting to note that sensitivity of LHF over the western box is negative during AM, which means that LHF variations are not controlled by soil moisture variations but by availability of net radiation and atmospheric demand. Therefore, the terrestrial leg of coupling is not in place. For the atmospheric leg, the mean sensitivity of HPBL to SHF variations during the same months is also shown (third panel of top row, Fig. 8), but based on simulations using the CFSv2 operational forecast model. The plot suggests that the atmospheric leg of coupling is also stronger over the eastern Eurasian box. Daily soil moisture anomalies composited during the POSSM and NEGSM years (bottom row, Fig. 8) suggest that, although the values are higher over the western Eurasian box during April, they decrease rapidly to almost zero by May. Hence, memory of the anomalies is also lost very soon. On the contrary, anomalies over the eastern Eurasian box, although lower in magnitude, persist longer. Therefore, despite the fact that the mean SWE, the soil moisture, and their variability are lower over the eastern Eurasian region than over the west, stronger land–atmosphere coupling creates a favorable location where surface fluxes can strongly impact the variables near the surface and in the upper atmosphere.

Fig . 8. View largeDownload slide (top) Mean sensitivity (SENS) of monthly (left) LHF and (middle) SHF to changes in SWI (W m−2 SWI−1) over the western and eastern Eurasia boxes, based on GLDAS-2.0 data (1967–2003) during April–July. (right) Mean sensitivity of monthly HPBL to changes in SHF (W−1 m3) based on CFSv2 model simulations (1982–2003). Sensitivity values for respective boxes are multiplied by the difference in mean monthly soil moisture anomalies (volumetric) during POSSM and NEGSM years. (bottom) Mean daily surface soil moisture anomalies (volumetric) during POSSM and NEGSM years identified from standardized anomalies of GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture in AM over respective boxes, during 1967–2003. Fig . 8. View largeDownload slide (top) Mean sensitivity (SENS) of monthly (left) LHF and (middle) SHF to changes in SWI (W m−2 SWI−1) over the western and eastern Eurasia boxes, based on GLDAS-2.0 data (1967–2003) during April–July. (right) Mean sensitivity of monthly HPBL to changes in SHF (W−1 m3) based on CFSv2 model simulations (1982–2003). Sensitivity values for respective boxes are multiplied by the difference in mean monthly soil moisture anomalies (volumetric) during POSSM and NEGSM years. (bottom) Mean daily surface soil moisture anomalies (volumetric) during POSSM and NEGSM years identified from standardized anomalies of GLDAS-2.0 surface soil moisture in AM over respective boxes, during 1967–2003.

The modern paradigm of land–atmosphere coupling proposes that variability, strong sensitivity of surface fluxes, and long soil moisture memory should all be collocated over the same region for that region to be a strong source of land surface feedback. We support our argument about the importance of the delayed hydrological effect of eastern Eurasian snow cover using the climatological pattern of preonset soil moisture memory. Figure 9 shows the mean significant subsurface (10–40 cm below surface) soil moisture memory from GLDAS-2.0 during the premonsoon season. We estimate soil moisture memory by calculating daily lagged autocorrelations of soil moisture anomaly backward up to a lag of 90 days, starting from the onset date of monsoon in a particular year. Daily soil moisture anomaly is calculated by removing the annual cycle (sum of annual mean and first three harmonics) of each year. Significance is stringently designated when the autocorrelation falls below the 99% level of confidence. High preonset soil moisture memory is evident over the eastern part of the domain (i.e., the Tibetan Plateau), eastern Asia, and parts of northern Eurasia compared to the regions toward the west. These regions over the eastern part of Asia and Tibet are the places where the delayed snow hydrologic effect can potentially modulate the snow–atmosphere coupling strength and affect surface and atmospheric variables. Longer persistence in soil moisture anomalies over the eastern Eurasian region could also impart longer persistence in the upper-air circulation anomalies around 100°E. Furthermore, we note that these are also the locations that have significant negative anomalies in SWE and soil moisture during NEGRF years over India. Soil moisture memory over the north and northwest of India during the preonset period could be associated with prolonged dry conditions or precipitation due to western disturbances generated over the Mediterranean region (Madhura et al. 2015). Detailed investigation of such events is beyond the scope of the present study. However, such evidence of long preonset soil moisture memory could be potentially utilized in improving the forecast of the monsoon onset over land through accurate land surface initialization in dynamical models (Dirmeyer and Halder 2016a).

Fig . 9. View largeDownload slide Mean significant (99% confidence) GLDAS-2.0 subsurface soil moisture (10–40 cm) memory in days based on lagged autocorrelation calculated backward starting from the onset date of the Indian summer monsoon, for years 1967–2003. The western and eastern Eurasian boxes are enclosed in black lines. Fig . 9. View largeDownload slide Mean significant (99% confidence) GLDAS-2.0 subsurface soil moisture (10–40 cm) memory in days based on lagged autocorrelation calculated backward starting from the onset date of the Indian summer monsoon, for years 1967–2003. The western and eastern Eurasian boxes are enclosed in black lines.

Therefore, based on our analysis, we propose the following hypothesis. Persistence in dry soil moisture anomalies over the eastern Eurasian region during AM could help in anchoring the upper-atmospheric blocking ridge around 100°E. This, in turn, could adversely affect the Indian summer monsoon rainfall after onset through anomalous changes in the location and strength of the subtropical westerly jet and southward penetration of troughs embedded in it, as well as reduction in vertical easterly wind shear over the Indian region. It is plausible that the “dynamical response” evident in Fig. 5 is partly the cause for the initiation of eastern Eurasia soil moisture anomalies shown in Fig. 4 or that the circulation and soil moisture are covarying with respect to something else (e.g., SST). We have not addressed that question here, but that is a matter for investigation through modeling experiments. A schematic diagram is shown in the end (Fig. 10) in support of our proposed hypothesis. Our analysis further suggests that the snow-albedo effect is relatively more dominant (but short-lived) over the western Eurasian region, where the soil moisture memory is low. Relatively longer soil moisture memory associated with anomalous dry conditions over the eastern Eurasian region during April and May could also give us enough lead time in predicting the probability of decrease in rainfall activity on a subseasonal time scale (June and July) using operational dynamical forecast models and accurate land surface initial conditions. Validation of this hypothesis using dynamical models is being addressed in a follow-up work.