Analysis of Basic Features of the Onset of the Asian Summer Monsoon

In this paper,a relatively systematic climatological research on the onset of the Asian tropical summer monsoon(ATSM)was carried out.Based on a unified index of the ATSM onset,the advance of the whole ATSM was newly made and then the view that the ATSM firstly breaks out over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean and the middle and southern Indo-China Peninsula was further documented,which was in the 26th pentad(about May 10),then over the South China Sea(SCS)in the 28th pentad.It seems that the ATSM onset over the two regions belongs to the different stages of the same monsoon system.Then,the onset mechanism of ATSM was further investigated by the comprehensive analysis on the land-sea thermodynamic contrast,intraseasonal oscillation,and so on,and the several key factors which influence the ATSM onset were put forward.Based on these results,a possible climatological schematic map that the ATSM firstly breaks out over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean,the Indo-China Peninsula,and the SCS was also presented, namely seasonal evolution of the atmospheric circulation was the background of the monsoon onset;the enhancement and northward advance of the convections,the sensible heating and latent heating over the Indo-China Peninsula and its neighboring areas,the dramatic deepening of the India-Burma trough,and the westerly warm advection over the eastern Tibetan Plateau were the major driving forces of the summer monsoon onset,which made the meridional gradient of the temperature firstly reverse over this region and ascending motion develop.Then the tropical monsoon and precipitation rapidly developed and enhanced. The phase-lock of the 30-60-day and 10-20-day low frequency oscillations originated from different sources was another triggering factor for the summer monsoon onset.It was just the common effect of these factors that induced the ATSM earliest onset over this region.     

Effects of Turbulent Dispersion of Atmospheric Balance Motions of Planetary Boundary Layer

New Reynolds' mean momentum equations including both turbulent viscosity and dispersion are used to analyze atmospheric balance motions of the planetary boundary layer. It is pointed out that turbulent dispersion with r 0 will increase depth of Ekman layer, reduce wind velocity in Ekman layer and produce a more satisfactory Ekman spiral lines fit the observed wind hodograph. The wind profile in the surface layer including tur-bulent dispersion is still logarithmic but the von Karman constant k is replaced by k1 = 1 -2/k, the wind increasesa little more rapidly with height.     

Characteristics of Lightning Discharges and Electric Structure of Thunderstorm

Progresses in the research on physical processes of lightning discharge and electric structure of thunderstorm in the last decade in China have been reviewed. By using the self-developed lightning detecting and locating techniques with high temporal and spatial resolution, the characteristics and parameters of lightning discharge in some representative areas in China have been obtained. Observations on lightning activity were conducted for the first time in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in 2002-2005, and the special characteristics of the thunderstorm and lightning activity in the plateau were revealed. The lightning spectra in the band of visible light were recorded, and the spectral lines were identified in detail with introduction of modern theories of atomic structure. The techniques on artificially altitude triggered lightning and related measurements under a harsh electromagnetic environment have been well developed. Evidences of bi-directional leader propagation were observed by means of optics and VHF radiation during the triggered lightning discharges. Some lightning protection devices have been tested using the artificial lightning triggering techniques. In addition, the correlation between lightning activities and weather and climate was preliminarily studied.     

Variational Principle of Instability of Atmospheric Motions

Problems of instability of rotating atmospheric motions are investigated by using nonlinear governing equations and the variational principle. The method suggested in this paper is universal for obtaining criteria of instability in all models with all possible basic flows. For example, the model can be barotropic or baroclinic, layer or continuous, quasi-geostrophic or primitive equations; the basic flow can be zonal or nonzonal, steady or unsteady.Although the basic flows possess a great deal of variety, they all are the stationary points in the functional space determined by an appropriate invariant functional. The basic flow is an unsteady one if the conservation of angular momentum is included in the associated functional.The second variation, linear or nonlinear, gives the criteria of instability. Especially, the general criteria of instability for unsteady basic flow, orographically disturbed flow as well as nongeostrophic flow are first obtained by the method described in this paper.It is also sh     

Effect of Merging of the Convective Cloud Clusters on Occurrence of Heavy Rainfall

Sun et al., (1983) have given some favourable environmental conditions and have shown that there are four common features in convective rainstorms. In this paper, an important process of evolution of cloud systems was revealed when heavy rainfall occurred based on the diagnostic analysis of heavy rainfall cases. When the different cloud systems merge into a large one, the mesoscale heavy rainfall occurs and enhances. In other words, the process of evolution of cloud systems emphasized in this paper is the process of interaction between two cloud systems when the heavy rainfall occurs. The favourable environmental condition is also investigated.     

Numerical Simulation of the Scavenging Rates of Ice Crystals of Various Microphysical Characteristics

Numerical models of trajectories of small aerosol spheres relative to oblate spheroids were used to determine ice crystal scavenging efficiencies. The models included the effects of aerodynamic flow about the ice particle, gravity, aerosol particle inertia and drag and electrostatic effects. Two electric configurations of the ice particle were investigated in detail. The first applied a net charge to the ice particle, of magnitude equal to the mean thunderstorm charge distribution, while the second applied a charge distribution, with no net charge, to the ice particle to model the electric multipole charge distribution. The results show that growing ice crystals with electric multipoles are better scavengers than single ice crystals with net thunderstorm charges, especially in the Greenfield gap (0.1 to 1.0 um), and that larger single crystals are better scavengers than smaller single crystals. The results also show that the low density ice crystals are more effective scavengers with net charges than th     

An Intercomparison of Rules for Testing the Significance of Coupled Modes of Singular Value Decomposition Analysis

This paper clarifies the essence of the significance test of singular value decomposition analysis （SVD）, and investigates four rules for testing the significance of coupled modes of SVD, including parallel analysis, nonparametric bootstrap, random-phase test, and a new rule named modified parallel analysis. A numerical experiment is conducted to quantitatively compare the performance of the four rules in judging whether a coupled mode of SVD is significant as parameters such as the sample size, the number of grid points, and the signal-to-noise ratio vary.
The results show that the four rules perform better with lower ratio of the number of grid points to sample size. Modified parallel analysis and nonparametric bootstrap perform best to abandon the spurious coupled modes, but the latter is better than the former to retain the significant coupled modes when the sample size is not much larger than the number of grid points. Parallel analysis and random-phase test are robust to abandon the spurious coupled modes only when either （1） the observations at the grid points are spatially uncorrelated, or （2） the coupled signal is very strong for parallel analysis and is not weak for random-phase test. The reasons affecting the accuracy of the test rules are discussed.     

Overview of Advances in Synoptic Meteorology： Four Stages of Development in Conceptual Models of Frontal Cyclones

The advance of fluid dynamics may be divided into four stages： ancient, classical, neoteric, and contem- porary. A similar four-stage framework can be used to describe the advance of synoptic meteorology, such as the conceptual models of extratropical cyclones and their attendant fronts. The first conceptual model of extratropical cyclones was proposed by Admiral FitzRoy in 1863. Based purely on Admiral FitzRoy＇s personal experience （although it does contain some scientific essentials）, this model represents the “ancient” stage of synoptic meteorology. The Norwegian cyclone model was developed based on Newtonian mechanics about 100 yr ago, and represents the classical stage of synoptic meteorology. This model was based on the idea that weather changes are primarily caused by baroclinicity, but contain some serious flaws. In particu- lar, the Norwegian model regards fronts as zeroth-order discontinuities in density, which is inconsistent with the continuity principle of fluid dynamics. The Chicago three-dimensional conceptual model of fronts and cyclones, which was developed approximately 50 yr ago by using quasi-geostrophic theory, can be thought of as representing the neoteric stage of synoptic meteorology. The Chicago model was replaced in the late 20th century by a model of extratropical cyclones characterized by back-bent and wrap-up warm fronts. This model has been developed with massive numerical calculations, and represents the contemporary stage of synoptic meteorology. In the era of large data, contemporary synoptic meteorology should be careful to maintain and make full use of the profound physical understanding generated during the neoteric stage of synoptic meteorology.     

Effect of the Interaction of Different Scale Vortices on the Structure and Motion of Typhoons

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Split-Explicit Integration of Primitive Equation Barotropic Model for the Prediction of Movement of Monsoon Depression

The split-explicit version of a limited area primitive equation barotropic model is formulated and tested for the prediction of movement of monsoon depressions. The model is integrated upto 48 hours with split-explicit time integration scheme (Gadd, 1978a) using input of four synoptic cases. The model is also integrated explicitly. The forecast results obtained from both the versions are compared and discussed. The computational time in former version is less than half of the computational time needed in explicit version.     

Internal Dynamics of the Generation of Atmospheric Teleconnection Patterns

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Study of Effects of Beta Term and Nonlinear Advection on the Structure of Tropical Cyclones

The effects of the Beta term on the typhoon structure are examined within the linear framework in terms of an analytical method of 2-D Fourier representation and numerical experiments by a Beta-plane quasi-geostrophic barotropic model. Results show that the joint effects of the difference of Rossby phase velocities and the dispersion of typhoon energy keep the maximum wind velocity reasonably evolving rather than irrestrictively increasing. On the one hand, the nonlinear advection accelerates typhoon vortex damping, and on the other, the high pressure system formed downstream due to energy dispersion makes it easy to maintain.     

A Study of Supersaturation Spectra of Deposition Ice Nuclei

Ice nuclei-supersaturation spectra in the form of a Power Law ( Ni=RSir; B and y are empirical constants) have been expressed since 1973 when the curve was first introduced independentally by Gagin and Huffman. Experiments performed with a thermal gradient diffusion chamber in order to investigate the validity of the power curve. The results show that a linear curve fit to the data is as good as the power curve. The linear curve has the coefficients of correlation between 0.75 and 0.93 whereas the power curve fit to the same data has the coefficients between 0.82 and 0.93. The data reported by other workers, Zamurs and Jiusto and Zamurs et al., exhibit the same trend.     

Determination of Kolmogorov Entropy of Chaotic Attractor Included in One-Dimensional Time Series of Meteorological Data

The 1970-1985 day to day averaged pressure dataset of Shanghai and the extension method in phase space are used to calculate the correlation dimension D and the second-order Renyi entropy K2 of the approximation of Kolmogorov's entropy, the fractional dimension D = 7.7-7.9 and the positive value K2 - 0.1 are obtained. This shows that the attractor for the short-term weather evolution in the monsoon region of China exhibits a chaotic motion. The estimate of K2 yields a predictable time scale of about ten days. This result is in agreement with that obtained earlier by the dynamic-statistical approach.The effects of the lag time i on the estimate of D and K2 are investigated. The results show that D and K2 are convergent with respect to i. The day to day averaged pressure series used in this paper are treated for the extensive phase space with T = 5, the coordinate components are independent of each other; therefore, the dynamical character quantities of the system are stable and reliable.     

Sensitivities of Numerical Model Forecasts of Extreme Cyclone Events

A global forecast model is used to examine various sensitivities of numerical predictions of three extreme winter storms that occurred near the eastern continental margin of North America: the Ohio Valley blizzard of January 1978, the New England blizzard of February 1978, and the Mid-Atlantic cyclone of February 1979. While medium-resolution simulations capture much of the intensification, the forecasts of the precise timing and intensity levels suffer from various degrees of error. The coastal cyclones show a 5-10 hPa dependence on the western North Atlantic sea surface temperature, which is varied within a range (± 2.5℃) compatible with interannual fluctuations. The associated vertical velocities and precipitation rates show proportionately stronger dependences on the ocean temperature perturbations. The Ohio Valley blizzard, which intensified along a track 700-800 km from the coast, shows little sensitivity to ocean temperature. The effect of a shift of - 10?latitude in the position of the snow bo     

Conditions of generation of extremely high water content of Primorye rivers in autumn–winter 2012

Analyzed are the synoptic and hydrological conditions of the generation of extremely high water content of Primorye rivers in the autumn of 2012. Revealed are the general features of atmospheric circulation, precipitation, water content, and hydrological regime of rivers. Presented are quantitative parameters characterizing the extremity of observed events. The expert assessment of the probability of such combination of events demonstrates that its return period is about 500–1000 years if there is assumption on the stationarity of processes. Taking into account the revealed facts and available assessments of climate changes it can be supposed that the analyzed event rather indicates real changes in the hydrological regime of the region than represents a rare random phenomenon.     

Prediction of Monthly Mean Surface Air Temperature in a Region of China

In conventional time series analysis, a process is often modeled as three additive components： linear trend, seasonal effect, and random noise. In this paper, we perform an analysis of surface air temperature in a region of China using a decomposition method in time series analysis. Applications to the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/the National Center for Atmospheric Research （NCEP/NCAR） Collaborative Reanalysis data in this region of China are discussed. The main finding was that the surface air temperature trend estimated for January 1948 to February 2006 was not statistically significant at 0.5904℃ （100 yr）^-1. Forecasting aspects are also considered.     

Characteristics of the Onset of the Asian Summer Monsoon and the Importance of Asian-Australian “Land Bridge”

Based on summarizing previous achievements and using data as long and new as possible, the onset characteristics of Asian summer monsoon and the role of Asian-Australian “land bridge” in the onset of summer monsoon are further discussed. In particular, the earliest onset area of Asian summer monsoon is comparatively analyzed, and the sudden and progressive characteristics of the onset of summer monsoon in different regions are discussed. Furthermore, the relationships among such critical events during the onset of Asian summer monsoon as the splitting of subtropical high belt over the Bay of Bengal (BOB), the initiation of convection over Indo-China Peninsula, the westward advance, reestablishment of South Asian High, and the rapid northward progression of convection originated from Sumatra in early summer are studied. The important impact of the proper collocation of the latent heating over Indo-China Peninsula and the sensible heating over Indian Peninsula on the splitting of the subtropical high belt, the deepening of BOB trough, the activating of Sri Lanka vortex (twin vortexes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres), and the subsequent onset of South China Sea summer monsoon are emphasized.     

Reappraisal of Asian Summer Monsoon Indices and the Long-Term Variation of Monsoon

The Webster and Yang monsoon index (WYI)-the zonal wind shear between 850 and 200 hPa was calculated and modified on the basis of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. After analyzing the circulation and divergence fields of 150-100 and 200 hPa, however, we found that the 200-hPa level could not reflect the real change of the upper-tropospheric circulation of Asian summer monsoon, especially the characteristics and variation of the tropical easterly jet which is the most important feature of the upper-tropospheric circulation. The zonal wind shear U850-U(150 100) is much larger than U850-U200, and thus it can reflect the strength of monsoon more appropriately. In addition, divergence is the largest at 150 hPa rather than 200 hPa, so 150 hPa in the upper-troposphere can reflect the coupling of the monsoon system. Therefore, WYI is redefined as DHI, i.e., IDH=U850* - U(150 100)*, which is able to characterize the variability of not only the intensity of the center of zonal wind shear in Asia, but also the monsoon system in the upper and lower troposphere. DHI is superior to WYI in featuring the long-term variation of Asian summer monsoon as it indicates there is obvious interdecadal variation in the Asian summer monsoon and the climate abrupt change occurred in 1980. The Asian summer monsoon was stronger before 1980 and it weakened after then due to the weakening of the easterly in the layer of 150-100 hPa, while easterly at 200 hPa did not weaken significantly. After the climate jump year in general, easterly in the upper troposphere weakened in Asia, indicating the weakening of summer monsoon; the land-sea pressure difference and thermal difference reduced, resulting in the weakening of monsoon; the corresponding upper divergence as well as the water vapor transport decreased in Indian Peninsula, central Indo-China Peninsula, North China, and Northeast China, indicating the weakening of summer monsoon as well. The difference between NCEP/NCAR and ERA-40 reanalysis data in studying the intensity and long-term variation of Asian summer monsoon is also compared in the end for reference.