Determination of the onset date of South China Sea summer monsoon in 2012 and its relationship with air-sea heat fluxes

Traditionally, regional dynamics and thermodynamics of the South China Sea at 850 hPa are used to determine the onset date of the SCS summer monsoon. However, it is insufficient for some years when affected by typhoon (or low pressure) and the Subtropical High activities. The forecast of SCS summer monsoon onset in 2012 by the China Meteorological Administration National Climate Center (CMANCC) has left to dispute. The purpose of this article is to determine the onset date of 2012 by analyzing abnormal variations of the atmospheric circulation, Subtropical High, and precipitation. Besides, the methods of predicting onset dates of SCS summer monsoon by using air-sea heat fluxes are reviewed in this paper.