Using 1961—1995 monthly atmospheric apparent heat source/sink over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) and reanalysis data of NCEP/NCAR, and 1961—1994 monthly SST of UK/GISST2, the statistical study is undertaken on the QXP heat source/sink in relation to both atmospheric circulation in Asia and El Ni o/La Ni a events. It is discovered that there exists noticeable interaction in a quasi-4-year period among the of the QXP, low-level meridional winds east of the QXP, low-level zonal winds in the equatorial Pacific, SST in the equatorial eastern Pacific, and the circulation at mid and high latitudes north of the QXP. They have difference in phase. The cold source intensity of the QXP in winter favours a low-level meridional wind anomaly to prevail in the mainland of China and its coast east of the QXP and to last until the subsequent autumn. The wind anomaly can induce a low-level zonal wind anomaly of the tropic Pacific that finally affects an El Ni o/La Ni a event in the autumn and subsequent winter. The event in autumn/winter has effect on the deep trough position and cold air track of East Asia in next winter that influences the intensity of the QXP winter cold source.
