Progress in Climatological Research on the Southwest China Vortex

Southwest China vortex (SCV) is an α-mesoscale weather system created by the interaction between a special topography (e.g., Tibetan Plateau) and regional circulation conditions, which largely affects the weather, climate, and environment in southwest China. This study systematically compares the multitemporal and spatial distribution characteristics of the source, frequency, track, and intensity variation of the SCV; describes the effect of the SCV on weather, climate, and regional environment in southwest China and its downstream areas; and summarizes the coupled processes of the SCV with the plateau vortex, South Asian high, and other important systems. Herein, the progress of the climatological research on the SCV in recent years is reviewed to provide basic information for subsequent research on the objective identification algorithms and techniques of the SCV. The findings of previous studies on SCV anomalies are not always consistent due to the different research periods considered, lengths chosen, and SCV identification methods used. Therefore, the establishment of the SCV data based on objective algorithm identification is crucial for understanding and predicting SCV activities and will help improve the weather, climate, and environmental prediction in southwest China.