Barotropic interaction between planetary- and synoptic-scale waves during the life cycles of blockings

1. IntroductionIn the mid--high latitudes, l' blocking flow" is an importaht part of the low--frequency variability of the atmospheric circulation. Owing to its longevity and large amplitude, a blocking flow configuration can usually cause prolonged anomalous weather situations over certain extratropical regions. Therefore, it has been a primary interest of many synoptic anddynamical meteorologists. In the past decades, the interaction of planetary waves with migratory, synoptic--scale waves h…     

Study of the Optimal Precursors for Blocking Events

The precursors of dipole blocking are obtained by a numerical approach based upon a quasi-geostrophic barotropie planetary- to synoptic-scale interaction model without topography and with a localized synopticscale wave-maker. The optimization problem related to the precursors of blocking is formulated and the nonlinear optimization method is used to examine the optimal synoptic-scale initial field successfully. The results show that the prominent characteristics of the optimal synoptic-scale initial field are that the synoptic-scale wave train structures exist upstream of the incipient blocking. In addition, the large-scale low/high eddy-forcing pattern upstream of the incipient blocking is an essential precondition for the onset of dipole blocking.     

The Behaviors of Optimal Precursors during Wintertime Eurasian Blocking Onset

In this paper the optimal precursors for wintertime Eurasian blocking onset are acquired by solving a nonlinear optimization problem whose objective function is constructed based on a blocking index with a triangular T21,three-level,quasi-geostrophic global spectral model.The winter climatological state is chosen as the reference basic state.Numerical results show that the optimal precursors are characterized by a baroclinic pattern with a westward tilt with height,which are mainly located upstream of the blocking region.For an optimization time of 5 days,these perturbations are mainly localized over the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and continental Europe.With the extension of the optimization time to 8 days,these perturbations are distributed more upstream and extensively in the zonal direction.Wave spectrum analysis reveals that the optimal precursors are composed of not only synoptic-scale(wave numbers 5-18) waves,but planetary-scale(wave numbers 0-4) waves as well.The synoptic-scale optimal precursors are mainly located in the mid-latitude area,while the planetary-scale optimal precursors focus primarily on the highlatitude region.The formation of a strong planetary-scale positive blocking anomaly is accompanied by the reinforcement of synoptic-scale perturbations and further fragmentation into two branches,in which the northern branch is generally stronger than the southern one.The eddy forcing arising from the selfinteraction of synoptic-scale disturbances is shown to be crucial in triggering the dipole blocking anomaly,and the planetary-scale optimal precursor provides the initial favorable background conditions for blocking onset.     

Interaction between a slowly moving planetary—scale dipole envelope rossby soliton and a wavenumber— two topography in a forced higher order nonlinear Schrödinger equation

A parametrically excited higher-order nonlinear Schr dinger (NLS) equation is derived to describe the interaction of a ,slowly moving planetary-scale envelope Rossby soliton for zonal wavenumber-two with a wavenumber-two topography under the LG-type dipole near-resonant condition. The numerical solution of this equation is made. It is found that in a weak background westerly wind satisfying the LG-type dipole near-resonance condition, when an incipient envelope Rossby soliton is located in the topographic trough and propagates slowly, it can be amplified through the near-resonant forcing of wavenumber-two topography and can exhibit an oscillation.However, this soliton can break up after a long time and excite a train of small amplitude waves that propagate westward. In addition, it is observed that in the soliton-topography interaction the topographically near-resonantly forced planetary-scale soliton has a slowly westward propagation, but a slowly eastward propagation after a certain time. The instantaneous total streamfunction fields of the topographically forced planetary-scale soliton are found to bear remarkable resemblance to the initiation, maintenance and decay of observed omega-type blocking high and dipole blocking. The soliton perturbation theory is used to examine the role of a wavenumber-two topography in near-resonantly forcing omega-type blocking high and dipole blocking. It can be shown that in the amplifying process of forced planetary-scale soliton, due to the inclusion of the higher order terms its group velocity gradually tends to be equal to its phase velocity so that the block envelope and carrier wave can be phase-locked at a certain time.This shows that the initiation of blocking is a transfer of amplified envelope soliton system from dispersion to nondispersion. However, there exists a reverse process during the decay of blocking. It appears that in the higher latitude regions, the planetary-scale envelope soliton-topography interaction could be regarded as a possible mechanism of the establishment of blocking.     

天气尺度波激发的阻塞流的生命循环:观测结果和数值试验

通过观测研究证实了天气尺度波激发的阻塞流的生命循环是频散和非频散之间的转换过程。除此之外，进行了一个数值试验，发现天气尺度波似乎对阻塞的形成和支配作用，而地形似乎起位相锁相的作用。同时可以发现天气尺度波在阻塞的产生过程中分裂成两支。这些结果支持了我们所得到的观测结果。     

北半球定常波输送西风动量的气候态及其年变化

利用高分辨率的再分析资料ERA40，分析了纬向平均状态下北半球不同尺度的定常波对西风动量沿经向输送的气候态及其年变化。结果表明，对流层中定常波对西风动量输送最强的区域位于中纬度对流层的中上层，定常波在该区域长年向北输送纬向动量，且输送中心随季节有南北移动和强弱变化。此外，在高纬度地区的对流层中上层以及赤道对流层顶附近还有两个相对较弱的输送中心。前者对西风动量的输送长年向南，其垂直范围从对流层低层一直伸展到平流层下层，中心位置相对固定，强度有明显的季节变化。后者位置也相对固定，但输送方向随季节改变。平流层中定常波对西风动量的输送主要位于中高纬度的平流层中上层，定常波在该区域长年向北输送西风动量，中心位置非常稳定，而强度则随季节变化明显。行星尺度定常波的输送作用与总波动的输送作用非常一致，并在很大程度上决定了波动对动量输送强度的季节变化。天气尺度定常波和10波以上的短波的输送作用主要集中在中纬度对流层的中高层。前者与行星尺度定常波共同决定了该区域内的输送强度，并主导了输送中心的南北移动；后者的作用很小，除夏季外均可以忽略。作者给出的不同尺度定常波对西风动量输送的气候态分布不但可以作为日后研究其年际变化的基础，而且还可以为大气环流模式对大气环流模拟能力的评估提供重要的参考。     

Topographically forced three-wave quasi-esonant and non-resonant interactions among barotropic rossby waves on an infinnite beta-plane

In this paper, we first apply the assumption h = εh′ of topographic variation (h is the nondimensional topographic height and is a small parameter) to obtain nonlinear equations describing three-wave quasi-resonant and non-resonant interactions among Rossby waves for zonal wavenumbers 1—3 over a wavenumber-two bottom topography (WTBT). Some numerical calculations are made with the fourt-order Rung-Kutta Scheme. It is found that for the case without topographic forcing, the period of three-wave quasi-resonance (TWQR) is found to be independent of the zonal basic westerly wind, but dependent on the meridional wavenumber and the initial amplitudes. For the fixed initial data, when the frequency mismatch is smaller and the meridional wavelength is moderate, its period will belong to the 30–60-day period band. However, when the wavenumber-two topography is included, the periods of the forced quasi-resonant Rossby waves are also found to be strongly dependent on the setting of the zonal basic westerly wind. Under the same conditions, only when the zonal basic westerly wind reaches a moderate extent, intraseasonal oscillations in the 30–60-day period band can be found for zonal wavenumbers 1–3. On the other hand, if three Rossby waves considered have the same meridional wavenumber, three-wave non-resonant interaction over a WTBT can occur in this case. When the WTBT vanishes, the amplitudes of these Rossby waves are conserved. But in the presence of a WTBT, the three Rossby waves oscillate with the identical period. The period, over a moderate range of the zonal basic westerly wind, is in the intraseasonal, 30–60-Day range.     

Study of initial vorticity forcing for block onset by a 4-dimensional variational approach

With the aid of a global barotropic model, the role of the interaction of the synoptic-scale disturbance and the planetary flow in block onset is examined by a 4-dimensional variational approach. A cost function is defined to measure the squared errors of the forecasted stream functions during block onset period (day 4 and day 5 in this study) over a selected blocking domain. The sensitivity of block onset with respect to the initial synoptic-scale disturbance is studied by examining the gradient of the defined cost function with respect to the initial (during the first 24 hours) vorticity forcing, which is evaluated by the adjoint integration. Furthermore, the calculated cost function and gradient are connected with the limited-memory quasi-Newton optimization algorithm for solving the optimal initial vorticity forcing for block onset. For two studied cases of block onset (northern Atlantic and northern Pacific) introducing the optimal initial vorticity forcing, the nonlinear barotropic advection process mostly reconstructs these blocking onset processes. The results show that the formation of blocking can be correctly described by a barotropic nonlinear advection process, in which the wave- (synoptic-scale) flow (planetary-scale) interaction plays a very important role. On an appropriate planetary-scale flow, a certain synoptic-scale disturbance can cause the blocking onset by the interaction between the synoptic scale perturbations and the planetary scale basic flows. The extended forecasts show that the introduction of the optimal initial vorticity forcing can predict the blocking process up to the 7th or 8th day in this simple model case. The experimental results in this study show that the 4-dimensional variational approach has a good potential to be applied to study the dynamics of the medium-range weather processes. This simple model case study is only an initial trial. Applying the framework in this study to a complex model will further our understanding of the mechanism of the atmospheric/oceanic processes and improve their prediction.     

2003年淮河大水期间亚洲北部阻塞高压的形成特征

利用观测资料和NCEP再分析资料分析2003年淮河大水期间亚洲北部阻塞高压的形成维持机制, 结果表明, 2003年淮河梅汛期亚洲中高纬地区阻塞高压的异常活动中, 波流作用十分显著。6月上旬, 阻高建立前期和维持过程中, 上游地区天气尺度波动活跃, 欧洲斜压区不断有瞬变动能生成, 并在阻塞区向阻高平均流转化。从瞬变涡动的作用来看, 上游传播而来的瞬变波不断将较低纬度的低位涡空气向阻塞区输送, 有利于阻塞高压的建立维持; 平均流则使位涡呈相反形势发展, 引导阻塞高压向东频散, 削弱了扰动位涡输送的作用, 对阻高的维持起到耗散作用。阻高建立前, 瞬变涡位涡输送作用强于平均流位涡平流, 造成阻塞区位涡降低, 有利于阻高生成; 阻高维持期间, 瞬变涡位涡输送与平均流位涡平流输送量相当; 6月25～30日, 阻塞高压明显西退, 该阶段瞬变涡动明显强于平均耗散作用, 引导低位涡场向西移动。研究表明, 大气内部的波波作用对阻高的建立维持也十分重要。1波与5波在一定范围内的共同作用可能是阻高建立维持的决定因素, 而天气尺度波动扰动则对阻塞高压的建立、 维持和崩溃起到重要的作用。波波作用表明, 2003年6月份阻塞高压建立、 维持时, 尺度较长的波一般从平均动能得到扰动动能的转化, 尤其5波, 斜压能的转换不但是其能量的来源, 同时非线性作用也使得尺度更小或更长的波向其提供能量; 阻高衰退时, 5波则通过非线性作用向其他波动输送能量, 同时也存在斜压耗散, 能量逐渐失去。     

大气中局地阻高和偶极子阻塞的动力学特征

在局地阻塞形成前期的原地一般有比较弱的高压脊存在，在这个高压脊上可以逐形成局地阻塞高压或偶极子阻塞。本文将局地阻塞形成前期的弱高压脊环流看成是具有反气旋式切变的带状基本西风，在此基础上用Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ孤立波理论研究了局地阻高和偶极子阻塞的动力学特征及其区别，得到了一些结果。     

A Perspective on the Evolution of Atmospheric Blocking Theories: From Eddy-Mean flow Interaction to Nonlinear Multiscale Interaction

In this paper, we first review the research advancements in blocking dynamics and highlight the merits and drawbacks of the previous theories of atmospheric blocking. Then, the dynamical mechanisms of atmospheric blocking are presented based on a nonlinear multi-scale interaction(NMI) model. Previous studies suggested that the eddy deformation(e.g., eddy straining, wave breaking, and eddy merging) might lead to the formation and maintenance of atmospheric blocking.However, the results were specu...     

The role of topography and diabatic heating in the formation of dipole blocking in the atmosphere

In this paper, the nonlinear stationary waves forced by topography and diabatic heating are investigated. It is pointed out that (1) the nonlinear interaction of different stationary waves forced only by topography might form dipole blocking in the atmosphere, this might explain the dipole blocking appeared in the Pacific and Atlantic regions; (2) the dipole blocking could not be caused by the nonlinear interaction of the different stationary waves forced by the diabatic heating alone; (3) the nonlinear interaction of the diffferent stationary waves forced by both topography and diabatic heating could initiate dipole blocking in the atmosphere. In winter, the dipole blocking mainly occurs in the west regions of the Pacific and the Atlantic, and the heat source over the western part of the two oceans is advantageous to the formation of dipole blocking in the west of two oceans. However, in summer, the dipole blocking could be formed in the east part of the two oceans, and the heat source over the eastern part of two continents is favourable for the formation of dipole blocking in the east regions of two oceans.     

The Role of Topography and Diabatic Heating in the Formation of Dipole Blocking in the Atmosphere

In this paper, the nonlinear stationary waves forced by topography and diabatic heating are investigated. It is pointed out that (1) the nonlinear interaction of different stationary waves forced only by topography might form dipole blocking in the atmosphere, this might explain the dipole blocking appeared in the Pacific and Atlantic regions; (2) the dipole blocking could not be caused by the nonlinear interaction of the different stationary waves forced by the diabatic heating alone; (3) the nonlinear interaction of the diffferent stationary waves forced by both topography and diabatic heating could initiate dipole blocking in the atmosphere. In winter, the dipole blocking mainly occurs in the west regions of the Pacific and the Atlantic, and the heat source over the western part of the two oceans is advantageous to the formation of dipole blocking in the west of two oceans. However, in summer, the dipole blocking could be formed in the east part of the two oceans, and the heat source over the eastern     

Response of extreme precipitation to increasing extratropical cyclonic vortex frequency

Since the 2000s, extratropical extremes have been more frequent, which are closely related to anomalies of planetary-scale and synoptic-scale systems. This study focuses on a key synoptic system, the extratropical cyclonic vortex (ECV) over land, to investigate its relations with extreme precipitation. It was found that ECVs have been more active post-2000, which has induced more extreme precipitation, and such variation is projected to persist along with increasing temperature within 1.5°C of global warming. An enhanced quasi-stationary vortex (QSV) primarily contributes to the ECV, rather than inactive synoptic-scale transient eddies (STEs). Inactive STEs respond to a decline in baroclinicity due to the tendency of the homogeneous temperature gradient. However, such conditions are helpful to widening the westerly jet belt, favoring strong dynamic processes of quasi-resonant amplification and interaction of STEs with the quasi-stationary wave, and the result favors an increasing frequency and persistence of QSVs, contributing to extreme precipitation.摘要自21世纪以来, 热带外极端降水频次增加. 随着中高纬度的显著增温, 经向温度梯度减弱导致低层大气斜压性减小, 由此产生的气旋型瞬变涡天气系统等活动减弱. 然而, 热力分布导致西风急流带变宽, 经向环流加大, 有助于行星尺度波动相关的涡旋异常增加, 如东北冷涡, 中亚涡, 东欧-地中海涡, 北美涡等, 进而增加了气旋涡影响范围的极端降水频次. 在未来变暖背景和1.5°C增温的目标内, 热带外气旋涡增强会进一步促进极端降水发生.     

热带平流层多尺度波动分离方案的研究：多站点高分辨率无线电探空联合分析

利用太平洋地区台风过境期间6个热带气象站的高分辨率无线电探空资料,结合扩展经验正交函数（EEOF）展开,对热带下平流层行星波和重力波扰动进行了分离,给出了一种热带地区提取重力波扰动的新方案。对观测数据做EEOF展开后,选择表征行星尺度波动模态的特征向量和相应权重进行气象要素场的重建。结果显示,在不同的台风过程期间,温度、纬向风和经向风的重建扰动量显示出不同的动力学偏振关系:在准两年振荡（QBO）东风位相时与赤道开尔文波的偏振关系一致,而在准两年振荡西风位相时与混合罗斯贝-重力波（MRG）的偏振关系一致。把行星尺度波动模态从原始观测中剔除,得到新的扰动廓线,对其进行重力波垂直波数谱的谱型拟合。结果发现,与以往方法提取的重力波扰动相比,新方法所得谱型参数中特征垂直波长λ*在不同时期不同站点变化很小,稳定在1.7 km左右,且低频波数段谱斜率s的数值与理论假设1十分接近。综合其研究结果可以推测,用新方法提取的热带重力波扰动更加符合当前的理论垂直波数谱模型。      

关于阻塞形势演变过程中波数域能量的诊断分析

本文对北半球冬季维持时间较长的三次阻塞形势形成前的纬向平均西风变化以及阻塞过程中波数域动能及其转换进行了诊断分析。分析结果表明：在阻塞形势形成前，由于波流相互作用，使得平均流减弱，并且波流相互作用在太平洋地区和大西洋地区有不同的特点；分析结果还表明：阻塞形势维持期间，由于波波相互作用，行星波异常增幅；而在崩溃期间，也主要通过波波相互作用使得行星波动能减少。     

夏季东北亚阻塞形势维持时的天气尺度波

利用NCEP/NCAR逐日资料，分析了一次夏季东北亚阻塞形势维持期间(1991年6月27日至7月16日)高频波活动强弱的分布和传播的特征，发现在阻塞高压上 游的巴伦支海上空有明显异常的高频波活跃区，从该活跃区和位于东北大西洋的常年活跃区，高频波不断东传，传到东北亚时，变弱消亡。据此，作者推测高频波的能量传给了阻塞形势，使阻塞形势得以维持。利用Eu矢量分析的高频波能量传播也表明了这一点。此外，利用Eu和Ev矢量讨论了高频波对纬向平均流和经向平均流的反馈强迫作用。结果表明，高频波的强迫作用使得时间平均纬向流在急流分支处呈减弱的趋势。高频波对时间平均的经向流反馈强迫作用更加明显，这种强迫使得急流在阻塞高压的上游产生分支，而在下游产生南北分支气流的汇合。最后，分析了高频波和低频波对热量的南北输送，表明在阻塞期间高频波在东亚地区对流层顶附近产生非常清楚的向北热量输送(冷空气向南输送或暖空气向北输送)，而低频波(可用来表示阻塞流型)的向北热量输送作用表现在对流层中下层，相对来讲不明显。     

The blocking anticyclones: the state of studies and forecasting

In connection with analysis of anomalous weather in summer of 2010, the state-of-the-art is reviewed of climatology of the blocking anticyclones, of mechanism for their onset and persistence, as well as possibilities of their forecasting. The main results are quoted on occurrence frequency, intensity, and duration of blockings and on their connection with features of general circulation of the atmosphere in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. As the primary cause of the blocking formation, nonlinear instability of the Rossby waves is considered with intense energy exchange with planetary waves and with synoptic-scale eddies. Mathematical means have been developed to investigate the energy exchange on the real data of objective analysis (reanalysis). This approach can be applied to analyze causes of anomalous duration of the summer blocking. From the point of view of forecasting, blockings do not differ much from other atmospheric pressure systems. Namely, within the framework of medium-range forecasting, the blocking onset, under condition of its absence in the initial fields, can be predicted with a projection of several days; also, the ensemble forecasts are generally more successful than those obtained with any single model. The blocking duration and decay can be predicted successfully within the medium-range forecasting.     

副高与阻高形成的Rossby孤立波理论I:不存在临界层

针对不存在临界层情况下非均匀纬向流中的Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ孤立波，从正压、无辐散、准地转自由大气涡度方程出发，经过变量替换，用小参数展开法，得到流函数的各阶近似方程，推导出振幅函数满足的ＫｄＶ方程及修正ＫｄＶ方程（ＭＫｄＶ），并给出它们的孤立波解。对不同风速分布下伴随这些孤立波而出现的流场进行了近似计算，分别得到了副高型Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ孤立波流场、阻高型Ｒｏｓｓｂｙ孤立波流场及偶极子型流场，它们移动的规律性与实际大气的流场移动情况较一致。