基于云亮温和降水回波顶高度分类的夏季青藏高原降水研究

本文利用热带测雨卫星(TRMM, Tropical Rain Measuring Mission)第七版逐日逐轨测雨雷达(PR, Precipitation Radar)及可见光和红外扫描仪(VIRS, Visible and Infrared Scanner)的融合数据集,研究了夏季青藏高原上降水类型的特征.统计结果表明第七版PR降水回波强度及降水率廓线资料(2A25)仍旧误判青藏高原上以层云降水为主(比例高达85%);以云顶相态定义的青藏高原降水类型统计表明,冰相云顶和冰水混合相云顶的降水分别占43%和56%;以降水回波顶高度定义的降水类型统计表明,深厚弱对流降水和浅薄降水分别占77%和22%,而深厚强对流降水仅占1%.空间分布的统计表明,冰相云顶降水和冰水混合相云顶降水的频次和强度自高原西部向高原东部和东南部增加,其降水回波顶高度自高原西、中部向东部降低.深厚强对流降水和浅薄降水的频次由西向东增加,而深厚弱对流降水频次分布是西少、北少、南多,高原南部比北部的深厚弱对流降水频次高出近1倍;深厚弱对流降水和浅薄降水的平均强度也表现了自高原西部、中部向东部的增大,而其降水回波顶高度分布则相反.总体上,夏季青藏高原降水频次和强度自西向东增多和增大,而云顶和降水回波顶高度则相反.     

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF CLOUD COVER OVER EASTERN CHINA AND THE EAST CHINA SEA

Based on data from satellite and surface observations,the horizontal and vertical distributions of clouds over eastern China and the East China Sea are examined.Three maximum centers of cloud cover are clearly visible in the horizontal distribution of total cloud cover.Two of these maxima occur over land.As the clouds mainly originate from the climbing airflows in the southern and eastern slopes of the Tibetan Plateau,they can be classified as dynamic clouds.The third center of cloud cover is over the sea.As the clouds mainly form from the evaporation of the warm Kuroshio Current,they can be categorized as thermodynamic clouds.Although the movement of the cloud centers reflect the seasonal variation of the Asian summer monsoon,cloud fractions of six cloud types that are distinct from the total cloud cover show individual horizontal patterns and seasonal variations.In their vertical distribution,cloud cover over the land and sea exhibits different patterns in winter but similar patterns in summer.In cold seasons,limited by divergent westerlies in the middle troposphere,mid-level clouds prevail over the leeside of the Tibetan Plateau.At the same time,suppressed by strong downdraft of the western Pacific subtropical high,low clouds dominate over the ocean.In warm seasons both continental and marine clouds can penetrate upward into the upper troposphere because they are subject to similar unstable stratification conditions.     

An analysis of heavy precipitation caused by a retracing plateau vortex based on TRMM data

In this paper, we study a persistent heavy precipitation process caused by a special retracing plateau vortex in the eastern Tibetan Plateau during 21–26 July 2010 using tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) data. Results show that during the whole heavy rainfall process, the precipitation rate of convective cloud is steady for all four phases of the plateau vortex movement. Compared with the convective precipitation clouds, the stratiform precipitation clouds have a higher fraction of area, a comparable ratio of contribution to the total precipitation, and a much lower precipitation rate. Precipitation increases substantially after the vortex moves out of the Tibetan Plateau, and Sichuan Province has the most extensive precipitation, which occurs when the vortex turns back westward. A number of strong convective precipitation cloud centers appear at 3–5 km. With strong upward motion, the highest rain top can reach up to 15 km. In various phases of the vortex evolution, there is always more precipitable ice than precipitable water, cloud ice water and cloud liquid water. The precipitating cloud particles increase significantly in the middle and lower troposphere when the vortex moves eastward, and cloud ice particles increase quickly at 6–8 km when the vortex retraces westward. The center of the latent heat release is always prior to the center of the vortex, and the vortex moves along the latent heat release areas. Moreover, high latent heat is released at 5–8 km with maximum at 7 km. Also, the latent heat release is more significant when the vortex moves out of the Tibetan Plateau than over the Tibetan Plateau.     

FGOALS2两个模式版本对青藏高原东侧冬季层云的模拟特征

冬季青藏高原东部（22°N～32°N，102°E～118°E）层云区是唯一存在于副热带陆地的层云密集区，环流特征较为复杂，大多数耦合气候系统模式对该地区层云的模拟存在较大的偏差。对该地区层云模拟能力的系统分析评估是改进模式性能的重要基础。本文基于国际卫星云计划（ISCCP）卫星资料，评估了中国科学院大气物理研究所两个版本的气候系统模式FGOALS-s2和FGOALS-g2的大气环流模式试验（AMIP）对青藏高原东侧层云的模拟能力。通过分析云辐射强迫等相关特征、大气环流、稳定度、以及地表气温和云的关系，探讨了模式偏差的可能原因。结果表明，两个模式都不同程度地低估了青藏高原东侧的低层云量和云水含量。在垂直结构模拟方面，FGOALS-s2模式能较好地模拟出高原东侧低云主导的特征，其模拟的云顶高度与卫星资料更为接近；而FGOALS-g2模式则高估了该地区的平均云顶高度。分析表明，两个模式均低估了高原东侧的低层稳定度，同时不同程度地低估了该地区中低层水平水汽输送，导致层云云量的模拟偏少。此外，FGOALS-g2高估了高原东侧的上升运动和垂直水汽输送，使得模拟的低云偏少而云顶高度偏高。     

BCC_AGCM2.1对中国东部地区云辐射特征模拟的偏差分析

通过与观测及再分析资料的对比,评估了中国国家气候中心大气环流模式BCC_AGCM 2.1对中国东部地区云辐射特征的模拟性能,并着重分析了模拟偏差的原因.在云辐射特征的基本气候态模拟方面,模式能大致再现中国东部中纬度层状云大值带,以及层状云冷季多、暖季少的季节特征,模拟的短波云辐射强迫也具有与观测相对应的季节变化特征.在云辐射强迫和地面温度相互影响过程的模拟方面,模式也能模拟出与观测相近的相互作用过程,即地面温度降低伴随着层状云云量增多以及负的净云辐射强迫加强,升温时层状云云量减少和净云辐射强迫减弱.但模式模拟的大陆层状云云量系统性偏少(尤其在冷季),使得模式在该处的短波云辐射强迫明显偏弱.初步分析表明,造成层状云模拟差异的主要原因是在中国西南地区对流层低层模式模拟的偏南气流明显偏弱以及陆-气潜热通量偏小.偏南气流偏弱导致低层散度和垂直运动条件不利于中层云的形成.同时偏南气流偏弱也不利于向西南地区的水汽输送,再加上模式模拟地表向上潜热通量偏小,这二者都使得模式模拟中国西南区域对流层低层的水汽含量严重偏少,相对湿度偏低,同样不利于层状云生成和发展.水汽偏少进一步导致在冷异常情况下青藏高原下游云辐射-地表温度反馈模拟偏弱,即呈现冷异常时,水汽条件偏弱限制了云量增加,弱化了进一步降低温度的反馈过程.     

青藏高原那曲地区夏季一次对流云降水过程的云微物理及区域水分收支特征

第三次青藏高原科学试验针对高原夏季云和降水物理过程开展了大量观测研究,为进一步揭示高原云微物理结构、云中水分转化和区域水分收支特征,本文采用中尺度数值预报模式（WRF）并结合高原试验期间的各种观测资料,对那曲观测试验区2014年7月5~6日的一次较为典型的夏季对流云降水过程进行了数值模拟研究。结果表明WRF模式能够基本再现高原夏季对流云的发展演变过程以及降水的日变化特征。模拟结果显示高原夏季对流云中具有较高的过冷云水和霰粒子含量,冰相过程在高原云和降水的形成和发展中具有十分重要的作用,地面降水主要由霰粒子融化产生。暖雨过程对降水的直接贡献很小,但在霰胚形成中具有十分重要的作用。霰粒子胚胎的形成主要来源于冰晶与过冷雨滴的撞冻过程,雪粒子和过冷雨水的碰冻转化及过冷雨滴的均质冻结贡献相对较小。霰粒子的增长过程在12 km（-40℃）以上层主要依靠对冰晶、雪粒子的聚并收集过程,而在其下层的增长过程主要依赖对过冷云水的凇附增长,对雪粒子的聚并收集和凝华增长过程较小。高原那曲地区净水汽收支为正,日平均降水转化率可达20.75%,接近长江下游地区,高于华北、西北地区。该地区日降水再循环率为10.92%,说明局地蒸发的水汽对高原降水的水汽来源具有一定的贡献,但高原降水的90%仍然由外界输入的水汽转化形成。     

Vertical Structures of Convective and Stratiform Clouds in Boreal Summer over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Neighboring Regions

Cloud is essential in the atmosphere, condensing water vapor and generating strong convective or large-scale persistent precipitation. In this work, the relationships between cloud vertical macro- or microphysical properties, radiative heating rate, and precipitation for convective and stratiform clouds in boreal summer over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are analyzed and compared with its neighboring land and tropical oceans based on CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite measurements and TRMM precipitation data. The precipitation intensity caused by convective clouds is twofold stronger than that by stratiform clouds. The vertical macrophysics of both cloud types show similar features over the TP, with the region weakening the precipitation intensity and compressing the cloud vertical expansion and variation in cloud top height, but having an uplift effect on the average cloud top height. The vertical microphysics of both cloud types under conditions of no rain over the TP are characterized by lower-level ice water, ice particles with a relatively larger range of sizes, and a relatively lower occurrence of denser ice particles. The features are similar to other regions when precipitation enhances, but convective clouds gather denser and larger ice particles than stratiform clouds over the TP. The atmospheric shortwave (longwave) heating (cooling) rate strengthens with increased precipitation for both cloud types. The longwave cooling layer is thicker when the rainfall rate is less than 100 mm d^?1, but the net heating layer is typically compressed for the profiles of both cloud types over the TP. This study provides insights into the associations between clouds and precipitation, and an observational basis for improving the simulation of convective and stratiform clouds over the TP in climate models.     

青藏高原及其下游地区降水厚度季、日变化的气候特征分析

利用10年的TRMM卫星降水雷达观测资料, 首次对青藏高原及其下游平原及海洋地区降水厚度的地区差异进行了对比分析, 并对青藏高原及其周边地区对流和层云降水厚度的水平分布及其日变化和季节变化进行了统计分析, 结果表明: (1) 青藏高原地区对流和层云降水厚度都要比下游平原地区更为浅薄, 东部海洋地区对流降水厚度比平原地区小, 而层云降水厚度与平原地区相当。青藏高原及其下游平原地区对流降水厚度的日变化特征非常明显, 海洋地区对流降水厚度日夜差异则不大。层云降水厚度在各地区的日变化特征都不明显。青藏高原、下游平原及海洋地区对流和层云降水厚度的季节变化都非常明显, 从冬至夏, 对流和层云降水逐渐变得深厚, 而从夏入冬, 对流和层云降水则逐渐变得浅薄。(2) 青藏高原及其周边地区对流和层云平均降水厚度的分布形式和降水量分布具有较好的对应关系, 降水量大的地区其降水厚度一般较为深厚, 降水少的地区则降水厚度比较浅薄。对流和层云降水厚度存在明显差异, 对流降水一般要比层云降水深厚。青藏高原及其周边地区降水厚度水平分布的日夜差距不大, 但季节变化非常明显, 且与气候系统的季节变化紧密相关。     

Diurnal phase of late-night against late-afternoon of stratiform and convective precipitation in summer southern contiguous China

Using the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) observations combined with the surface rain gauge data during 1998–2006, the robust diurnal features of summer stratiform and convective precipitation over the southern contiguous China are revealed by exploring the diurnal variations of rain rate and precipitation profile. The precipitation over the southern contiguous China exhibits two distinguishing diurnal phases: late-night (2200–0600 LST) and late-afternoon (1400–2200 LST), dependent on the location, precipitation type and duration time. Generally, the maximum rain rate and the highest profile of stratiform precipitation occur in the late-afternoon (late-night) over the southeastern (southwestern) China, while most of the stratiform short-duration rain rate tends to present late-afternoon peaks over the southern China. For convective precipitation, the maximum rain rate and the highest profile occur in the late-afternoon over most of the southern contiguous China, while the convective long-duration rain rate exhibits late-night peaks over the southwestern China. Without regional dependence, the convective precipitation exhibits much larger amplitude of diurnal variations in both near surface rain rate and vertical extension compared with stratiform precipitation and the convective rain top rises most rapidly between noon and afternoon. However, there are two distinctive sub-regions. The diurnal phases of precipitation there are very weakly dependent on precipitation type and duration time. Over the eastern periphery of the Tibetan Plateau, the maximum rain rate and the highest profile of either convective or stratiform precipitation occur in the late-night. Over the southeastern coastal regions, both the near surface rain rate and rain top of convective and stratiform precipitation peak in the late-afternoon.     

中国东部云-降水对应关系的分析与模式评估

为评估和改进模式中不同类型云与降水的对应关系,利用1998—2007年卫星-台站融合降水资料和国际卫星云气候计划的卫星观测云资料,采用诊断方法分析了中国东部季风区冬季层云、夏季对流云、层云与降水的水平分布及季节变化对应关系,并评估了BCC_AGCM模式的T42和T106分辨率版本对云-降水对应关系的模拟能力。观测资料分析结果表明,中国东部冬季云带和雨带都稳定少动,降水主要来自雨层云和高层云,南部沿海层云和层积云也对降水有贡献;夏季,中国东部表现为层积混合云降水特征,对流云带与降水带具有较好的对应关系,并具有一致的移动特征。对流降水主要来自深对流云和卷层云,深对流云云量和降水中心完全吻合,卷层云云带则表现出比深对流云主体和降水带偏北的现象;层云降水主要来自高层云和层积云。模式评估结果表明,中、低分辨率版本的BCC_AGCM模式均模拟出了冬季层云和稳定少动的降水带、夏季深对流云、卷层云和降水带的对应关系及随季风推进的移动特征。与T42模式版本相比,T106模式版本在夏季对流云云量的模拟及其与降水带的对应关系方面有所改善,说明改进的BCC_AGCM积云对流参数化方案与高分辨率模式网格更匹配,但冬季层云云量模拟误差变大,与降水带的对应关系变差,其原因值得进一步分析研究。     

Progress in Studies of the Precipitation Diurnal Variation over Contiguous China

This paper summarizes the recent progress in studies of the diurnal variation of precipitation over con- tiguous China. The main results are as follows. （1） The rainfall diurnal variation over contiguous China presents distinct regional features. In summer, precipitation peaks in the late afternoon over the south- ern inland China and northeastern China, while it peaks around midnight over southwestern China. In the upper and middle reaches of Yangtze River valley, precipitation occurs mostly in the early morning. Summer precipitation over the central eastern China （most regions of the Tibetan Plateau） has two diurnal peaks, i.e., one in the early morning （midnight） and the other in the late afternoon. （2） The rainfall diurnal variation experiences obvious seasonal and sub-seasonal evolutions. In cold seasons, the regional contrast of rainfall diurnal peaks decreases, with an early morning maximum over most of the southern China. Over the central eastern China, diurnal monsoon rainfall shows sub-seasonal variations with the movement of summer monsoon systems. The rainfall peak mainly occurs in the early morning （late afternoon） during the active （break） monsoon period. （3） Cloud properties and occurrence time of rainfall diurnal peaks are different for long- and short-duration rainfall events. Long-duration rainfall events are dominated by strat- iform precipitation, with the maximum surface rain rate and the highest profile occurring in the late night to early morning, while short-duration rainfall events are more related to convective precipitation, with the maximum surface rain rate and the highest profile occurring between the late afternoon and early night. （4） The rainfall diurnal variation is influenced by multi-scale mountain-valley and land-sea breezes as well as large-scale atmospheric circulation, and involves complicated formation and evolution of cloud and rainfall systems. The diurnal cycle of winds in the lower troposphere also contributes to the regional differences     

采用TIPEX科学试验资料对1998年7月长江特大暴雨系统的梅雨期区域边界水汽输送模型及其数值试验

采用1998年第二次青藏高原大气科学实验(TIPEX)现场观测资料,包括加密探地面与探空观测、系留气球资料及遥感和高原试验中的中日合作研究(GAME/Tibet)基地Doppler雷达资料对青藏高原上空发展的积云对流系统及其生成和移动进行监测,讨论了与1998年长江下游暴雨的关系。结果表明:1)卫星云图动态分析及TBB资料制作的Hovmoller时空剖面分析表明,1998年7月下旬的长江暴雨洪水系统可追溯到高原。2)对上述TBB分析的云团在安多站过境时段(7月18-19日)进行Doppler跟踪,Doppler雷达回波跟踪分析揭示出,这种在高原中部地区发展和东移、加强的回波十分频繁。TIPEX多种仪器联合观测资料的综合分析可捕捉高原对流系统的生消和移动轨迹,对诊断预测高原系统对其下游的影响很有价值。3)综合分析上述TIPEX同时段地面和高空加密观测报告的时空剖面发现,高原腹地区(那曲地区)对流云系频繁发展,与准静止的地面风场辐合的维持有关。高原地面风场的动力辐合、高原上空风场垂直切变以及高原西风增湿过程所提供的高原水汽输送对1998年长江暴雨的发展与加强起重要作用。4)对高原水汽垂直分布的中尺度过滤分析发现,高原水汽的高值与低值随时间的交替变化,清楚地揭示了生命史为几小时的次天气尺度的波动。高原中尺度波动东移的揭示进     

基于Himawari-8气象卫星的东亚夏季冰云云顶特征分布

利用Advanced Himawari Imager(AHI)/Himawari-8(HW8)云产品分析2017 年夏季东亚地区不同下垫面条件对冰云云顶特征的影响,针对不同下垫面条件选择了9 个研究区域.结果表明,冰云最常出现在青藏高原和南亚季风区.冰云的发生频率存在南北递减的趋势,并在日本附近有高值中心.冰云云顶的垂...     

中国大陆降水日变化研究进展

文章概述了中国大陆降水日变化的最新研究成果,给出了中国大陆降水日变化的整体图像,指出目前数值模式模拟降水日变化的局限性,为及时了解和掌握降水日变化研究进展、开展相关科学研究和进行降水预报服务提供了有价值的科学依据和参考。现有研究表明：（1）中国大陆夏季降水日变化的区域特征明显。在夏季,东南和东北地区的降水日峰值主要集中在下午;西南地区多在午夜达到降水峰值;长江中上游地区的降水多出现在清晨;中东部地区清晨、午后双峰并存;青藏高原大部分地区是下午和午夜峰值并存。（2）降水日变化存在季节差异和季节内演变。冷季降水日峰值时刻的区域差异较暖季明显减小,在冷季南方大部分地区都表现为清晨峰值;中东部地区暖季降水日变化随季风雨带的南北进退表现出清晰的季节内演变,季风活跃（间断）期的日降水峰值多发生在清晨（下午）。（3）持续性降水和局地短时降水的云结构特性以及降水日峰值出现时间存在显著差异。持续性降水以层状云特性为主,地表降水和降水廓线的峰值大多位于午夜后至清晨;短时降水以对流降水为主,峰值时间则多出现在下午至午夜前。（4）降水日变化涉及不同尺度的山-谷风、海-陆风和大气环流的综合影响,涉及复杂的云雨形成和演变过程,对流层低层环流日变化对降水日变化的区域差异亦有重要影响。（5）目前数值模式对中国降水日变化的模拟能力有限,且模拟结果具有很强的模式依赖性,仅仅提高模式水平分辨率并不能总是达到改善模拟结果的目的,关键是要减少存在于降水相关的物理过程参数化方案中的不确定性问题。     

Diurnal Variability of Precipitation Depth Over the Tibetan Plateau and its Surrounding Regions

The diurnal variability of precipitation depth over the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding regions is investigated using nine years of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission(TRMM) precipitation radar(PR) measurements.The Tibetan Plateau,the plains area,and the East China Sea are selected as the focus regions in this study.The average precipitation depths(PD) are about 4.6 km,5.8 km,and 5.6 km,while convective(stratiform) PDs are about 6.6(4.5) km,7.5(5.7) km,and 6.0(5.6) km over the plateau,the plains,and the...     

末次冰期冰盛期中国地区水循环因子变化的模拟研究

ISCCP卫星资料(1983—2006年)的结果显示:青藏高原地区是高云的高值中心;而以四川为中心直到同纬度的中国东南沿海地区是中云的高值区,同时,青藏高原地区是中云的低值中心。利用全球气候模式CCM3嵌套区域模式MM5模拟了现代和末次冰期冰盛期的气候。MM5模拟的结果与ISCCP的卫星资料对比表明:模拟结果再现了中国地区高云和中云分布的主要特征。这暗示云分布的气候特征可能主要由相对湿度决定。同时,通过MM5的结果与NCEP资料的对比也说明,模式可以较好地模拟水汽和温度的垂直分布。在此基础上,研究了末次冰期冰盛期水循环因子的变化。模拟结果显示:末次冰期冰盛期夏季对流层的温度降低,在对流层中上层存在温度降低的中心;而在冬季在南方的对流层中层存在降温中心,在北方的对流层中上层温度升高。大气中水汽含量与温度变化有很好的正相关,除了冬季北方对流层中上层水汽增加外,水汽含量一般降低,而且在近地层降低的最多,随高度增高水汽变化逐渐变小。但是,水汽的相对变化在对流层上层存在降低的高值中心。相对湿度存在变化,最大的变化超过15%,而且有增加,也有减少。在区域尺度相对湿度不是保守的。相对湿度变化与中云和低云的变化一致。在末次冰期冰盛期,中国地区高云量减少,除中国西南地区外,中云和低云量减少,低云量减少的最多。降水的变化与中云和低云的变化相对应,云量增加降水增加,云量减少降水也减少。从相对湿度和有效降水可以看到在西南地区末次冰期冰盛期变得潮湿,在夏季西北地区也变得潮湿。     

2014年夏季青藏高原云和降水微物理特征的数值模拟研究

为了加强对青藏高原（高原）云和降水微物理特征的深入认识,采用高分辨率中尺度数值预报模式（WRF）,对第三次青藏高原大气科学试验2014年7月3-25日发生的6次不同强度云和降水过程进行了数值模拟分析。研究结果表明:（1）青藏高原夏季云和降水过程具有独特性。高原夏季对流的促发机制主要是午后高原加热造成的,云和降水具有明显的日变化。午夜后,对流性降水一般转化为层状云降水,具有明显的0℃层回波亮带,并且会产生强降水。大部分对流云云顶高度超过15 km（海拔高度）,最大上升气流速度为10-40 m/s。（2）6次云过程中均具有高过冷云水含量,主要分布在0—-20℃层,冰晶含量主要分布在-20℃层以上的区域,强盛的对流云中,可出现在-40℃层以上区域;雨水集中分布在融化层之下,说明其主要依赖降水性冰粒子的融化过程;雪和霰粒子含量高,分布范围广,说明云中冰相过程非常活跃。（3）高原夏季云中水凝物的转化过程和降水的形成机理具有明显特点。霰粒子的融化过程是地面雨水的主要来源,暖雨过程对降水的直接贡献很小,但通过暖雨过程形成的过冷雨滴的异质冻结过程对云中霰胚的形成十分重要。霰粒子的增长主要依靠凇附过程以及聚并雪晶的增长过程。      

基于CloudSat–CALIPSO资料的全球不同类型云的水平和垂直分布特征

基于Cloud Sat-CALIPSO(Cloud Sat–Cloud Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations)卫星观测资料,分析了全球总云量和8类云的云量、云底高、云顶高、云厚度的水平和垂直分布。分析结果表明,全球平均总云量为66.7%,其中卷云(Ci)和层积云(Sc)云量之和与其他6类云量总和相当,是全球云量最多的两类云。积状云云量呈现从赤道向极地递减的特征,层状云则相反,反映了二者不同的生成环境,同时下垫面地形和天气系统也严重影响云的分布。8类云的高度及厚度特征有显著差异。Ci的云底高度和云顶高度都较高,厚度则较薄;高层云(As)和高积云(Ac)的云底高度和云顶高度都位于大气中层,但As比Ac出现的高度高且厚度大;层云(St)、层积云和积云(Cu)的云底高度和云顶高度都很低,属于薄的低云;雨层云(Ns)和深对流云(DC)云底较低但云顶伸展很高,归属于厚云类。总体而言,海洋上云底高度较陆地低;赤道等大气不稳定地区,云底较高,云厚度较大;高原地区则表现出"高云不高,低云不低,云厚较薄"的特征。     

Cloud cover over the Tibetan Plateau and eastern China: a comparison of ERA5 and ERA-Interim with satellite observations

This study examines the progress made by reanalyses and satellite products in the estimation of cloud cover over China: the ECMWF reanalyses ERA5 and ERA-Interim, geostationary satellite observation Himawari-8 (H8) and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project H-series (ISCCP) product. There is great similarity in spatial patterns of cloud cover in reanalyses and satellite observations, especially between ERA5 and H8. Distinct characteristics of the seasonal evolution of cloud cover are shown over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the southeast (SE) and northeast (NE) of China. Differences in magnitudes of cloud cover exist. Overestimations are about 10% for reanalyses and about 20% for ISCCP in compared with certain cloud cover in H8. When probable cloud (about 10%) in H8 is included in the estimation, biases reduce the most in ERA5. The cloud hit rate (CHR) and false alarm rate (FAR) in against H8 and ISCCP reveal that simulated clouds in ERA5 have been improved especially over eastern China, but with limited improvement over TP in compared with ERA-Interim. Diurnal variations of cloud cover are characterized by increases during daytime over those three regions. Amplifications of diurnal variation vary over different regions and months. Satellite observations and ERA5 indicate distinguished diurnal cycle of cloud cover over TP, while further investigation based on ERA5 reveals coherent diurnal cycle in meteorological environment. Long-term changes of cloud cover highlight decreasing trends over TP and particular during March in past decades based on ISCCP and ERA5, which require further investigation in future.     

西北地区不同类型云的时空分布及其与降水的关系

利用1983年7月～2001年9月国际卫星云气候计划ISCCP D2的月平均资料，对西北不同区域不同类型云的云量和云水路径的时空分布及其与降水的关系进行了研究。结果表明:高原气候区是各种云出现最多的地区，特别是积状云的云量明显高于其他两区，但这些云的云水路径值低；西北地区大多数云云量的高值区出现在天山山区、北疆地区、陕西东南部和青藏高原的部分地区。高云和部分中云云量空间分布特征与降水有着较好的一致性:沿着天山—昆仑山—祁连山一带以及陕南和／或陇南地区是高值区，低值区在塔里木盆地—内蒙古西部戈壁沙漠—黄土高原西北部一带；绝大多数云类春夏季节云量维持较高，秋冬季节云量较少。云水路径值较大的层状云类的云量多寡与降水多寡相一致；积状云类和层积云类云量多少与降水没有一定的关系，在降水偏少时，这类云的云量大多与降水正常时相近，有些云的云量甚至比降水偏多时还要多。