A non-hydrostatic modeling study of surface moisture effects on mesoscale convection induced by sea breeze circulation

Summary Convection and subsequent precipitation induced by the sea breeze circulations are often observed in the Florida peninsula during summer. In this study, the mechanisms of initiation and maintenance of the convective clouds and precipitation are investigated. A fully-compressible fine resolution non-hydrostatic mesoscale numerical model is used in this study. Surface energy and moisture budget were included in this model to simulate the diurnal cycle of ground surface temperature and wetness. The model also has a sophisticated boundary layer and explicit cloud physics. A sounding obtained from Orlando, Florida at 1110 UTC 17 July 1991 as part of the Convection and Precipitation Electrification (CaPE) experiment is used for initialization. The initial data for the model is kept in geostrophic and thermal wind balance. Several sensitivity tests were conducted to investigate the effects of different treatments of ground surface moisture and temperature on the model forecast of the convection and precipitation induced by the sea breeze circulations. The simulations agree reasonably well with the observations when both surface energy and moisture budget were included in the model to predict ground surface temperature and wetness. The surface moisture has a significant impact on the formation, strength, sustenance, and the location of convection and precipitation induced by the sea breezes.With 17 Figures     

The evolution and structure of a tropical island sea/land-breeze system, northern Australia

Summary This paper is concerned with sea/land-breeze systems over relatively flat tropical islands to the north of continental Australia. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the relatively small body of knowledge on tropical island sea/land-breeze systems in this region and to highlight their particular characteristics. The evolution and structure of coastal circulations over the Tiwi Islands, northern Australia are examined using observations made during the Maritime Continent Thunderstorm Experiment (MCTEX), November/December 1995. During the transition period between dry and wet (monsoon) seasons, strong diurnal surface heating dominates the local meteorology. Thermally modified pressure differences across the coastline are seen to control the timing, direction and intensity of local winds. The evolution and structure of the resulting circulations appear to be affected greatest by tropospheric stability and friction, while the Coriolis force, synoptic winds and topography are of much less importance in this case. Consequently, even small differences in surface properties seem to produce strong and well defined local wind circulations. The depth of the sea breeze averaged 1200 m, while the land breeze was considerably shallower (290 m). Return flows were evident in both circulations, although better defined in land breeze cases. Day to day variation in vertical structure was considerable and appeared to be controlled by stability in the lower troposphere. Spatial patterns of surface temperature, pressure and wind show formation of an island heat low by day and a cool high pressure centre at night, resulting in island scale convergence and divergence, respectively. Received February 27, 2000/Revised October 16, 2000     

Interaction of the sea breeze with a river breeze in an area of complex coastal heating

A three-dimensional finite-element mesoscale model is used to study the interaction of two different but related mesoscale phenomena in an area having a complex pattern of surface heating. The model simulations have been compared with temperature and wind fields observed on a typical fall day during the Kennedy Space Center Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment on the east coast of Florida.Numerical results and observations both show that the meso- scale flow field is significantly modified from the conventional coastal-flow patterns by the smaller meso- scale irregular geographic features in this area. A local river breeze is observed to develop around the Indian River almost the same time as the Atlantic sea breeze. A comparison of the sea and the river breezes shows a large difference in their horizontal circulations but only slight differences in their vertical scales. The sea breeze intensifies more rapidly than the river breeze, so that a lag of 1 to 1.5 h exists between their most developed stages. The river breeze is relatively stationary, whereas the sea breeze propagates inland, with an eventual merger of the two circulations occurring about 6–8 h after their onset.Different synoptic wind regimes create different flow structures. Well-defined sea- and river-breeze circulations become established under calm, weak offshore, and weak alongshore synoptic-wind conditions. Maximum vertical velocities occur in the sea-breeze front (river-breeze front) in the cases of calm (offshore winds). The sea breeze and the river breeze are weaker when the synoptic winds are stronger.Finally, the results from numerical experiments designed to isolate the rivers' effect indicate that the convergence in the sea-breeze front is suppressed when it passes over the cooler surface of the rivers.Journal Paper No. J-14150 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project No. 2779     

盛夏渤海湾大气边界层辐合线触发对流风暴对比分析

本文对渤海湾2008—2009年,由大气边界层辐合线引起的对流风暴进行了分析。结果表明,在高温、高湿不稳定大气层结环境条件下：（1）单一的海风锋在其端点可产生对流性降水。（2）海风锋与弱冷锋相遇,或者两条海风锋相交,或者雷暴单体的出流边界与海风锋相遇均会产生强对流风暴。（3）渤海湾边界层辐合线触发对流风暴大多发生在每年7 8月,且在副热带高压控制渤海湾后东退的过程中,此时大气层结处在高温、高湿不稳定状态。辐合线触发的对流风暴是沿辐合线移动,移动方向取决于辐合线两侧的主导风向。（4）边界层辐合线触发对流风暴,具有突发性强,持续时间短等特点,分析渤海湾边界层辐合线的移动与演变能提高强对流风暴的临近预报、预警,减少突发性天气引起的灾害。     

京津冀地区与海风锋相互作用的对流系统的发展预判分析

运用WRF模式,对京津冀地形触发对流系统与海风锋相互作用的两个个例开展了数值模拟,通过对两个个例模拟的广义湿位涡异常和雷达回波分布的对比分析,对广义湿位涡异常预判该类天气过程中对流系统发展的潜力进行了检验。分析结果显示,广义湿位涡异常较雷达回波提前0.5至1 h示踪到山地背风坡和海风锋处的对流系统的发展。斜压与水汽梯度相互作用和非绝热加热对广义湿位涡异常提前示踪山地背风坡和海风锋处对流系统发展有重要的贡献。过山气流的显著扰动和午后相对于陆地大气较为冷湿的海风辐合上升是分别造成山地背风坡和海风锋出现明显的斜压与水汽梯度相互作用的主要原因。     

我国东南沿岸及复杂山地后汛期降水日变化的数值研究

利用2009~2017年7~9月福建省逐小时地面加密自动站资料和2015~2017年7~9月厦门站的探空资料,通过K均值聚类法和中尺度数值模式(WRF3.9.1.1版本)理想数值模拟,分析了我国东南沿岸及复杂山地(福建)后汛期降水日变化特征,揭示了地形热力环流以及海陆风环流在热对流降水日变化形成中的作用,探讨了环境温湿廓线及风垂直廓线对热对流降水日峰值强度和日峰值出现时间的影响。结果发现:我国东南沿岸复杂山地(福建)后汛期降水日变化受地形热力环流和海陆风环流的影响和调制,白天辐射加热在复杂山地形成的局地热力环流激发出对流降雨带,午后受海风环流的影响,对流降雨带组织发展达到峰值,之后随着地形热力环流和海风环流减弱雨带逐渐减弱。武夷山及周边复杂山地的降水日变化主要受地形热力环流的影响,在午后对流降水达到峰值,夜间减弱几近消失。理想数值试验进一步证实了我国东南沿岸复杂山地地形热力环流对对流降雨的触发以及海陆风环流在山地对流雨带组织发展中的作用,环境温湿廓线以及风垂直廓线对热对流降水日峰值强度以及日峰值出现的时间具有重要影响,其中环境温湿廓线的大气抬升凝结高度、大气可降水量、大气的对流不稳定度以及大气中低层湿度分布的不同,会影响热对流降水日峰值强度,并通过影响山地热力对流触发时间,改变热对流降水日峰值时间,而环境风垂直廓线的低层气流强度和方向、中低层垂直风切变的不同,会影响地形热力对流系统的启动、组织发展和移动等特征,进而影响热对流降水日峰值强度以及热对流降水日峰值时间。     

Development and structure of a maritime continent thunderstorm

Summary The evaluation of a maritime continent thunderstorm complex (Hector) occurring over Bathurst and Melville Islands north of Darwin, Australia (12° S, 131° E) is investigated primarily using Doppler radar data. Thunderstorm formation follows the development of sea breeze circulations and a period of shallow non-precipitating convection. Evidence exists for initiation of long-lived and organised convection on the sea breeze fronts, although short-lived, scattered convection is apparent earlier in the day. Merging of the convective systems is observed in regions of enhanced low-level convergence related to sea breeze circulations. The merged convective complex is initially aligned in an almost east-west direction consistent with the low-level forcing. The merged complex results in rapid vertical development with updraughts reaching 40 m s^– and echo tops reaching 20 km height. Maximum precipitation production occurs during this merger phase. On the perimeter of the merged convective complex, evidence exists for front-to-rear updraughts sloped over lower-level downdraughts with rear-to-front relative flow and forward propagating cold pools. The mature phase is dominated by this convection and the complex re-orientates in the prevailing easterly vertical shear to an approximate north-south direction, then moves westward off the islands with the classic multicellular squall-like structure.The one-dimensional cloud model of Ferrier and Houze (1989) used with a four class ice formulation reproduced the cloud top height, updraught structure and echo profile very well. To test the importance of ice physics upon thunderstorm development, several sensitivity tests were made removing the effects of the ice phase. All of these model clouds reached nearly 20 km, although simulations without the effects of ice had updraughts reduced from about 40 m s^–1 to 30 m s^–1. The simulated convection was more sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and parameterised cloud dynamics. The strong intensity of the convection was largely accounted for by increasing equivalent potential temperatures due to diurnal heating of the surface layer. The vertical velocity and radar structure of the island thunderstorm has more similarity with continental rather than oceanic convection. Maximum vertical velocities, in particular are almost an order of magnitude greater than typical of oceanic convection. With the intense updraughts, even in the low shear environment, there is evidence for mesoscale circulations within the convection.With 17 Figures     

Modeling of urban heat island and its impacts on thermal circulations in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region,China

Through regulating the land–atmosphere energy balance, urbanization plays an important role in modifying local circulations and cross-border transport of air pollutants. The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) metropolitan area in northern China is frequently influenced by complex atmospheric thermal circulations due to its special topography and geographic position. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model combined with remote sensing is used to explore the urbanization impacts on local circulations in the BTH region. The urban heat island (UHI) effect generated around Beijing and Tianjin shows complex interactions with local thermal circulations. Due to the combined effects of UHI and topography, the UHI circulation around Beijing and valley breeze at the southern slopes of Yan Mountain are coupled together to reinforce each other. At the coastal cities, the increased land/sea temperature gradient considerably accelerates the sea breeze along Bohai Bay and moves the sea breeze front further inland to reach as far as Beijing. This study may lay a foundation for the better understanding of air pollutant dispersion on complex terrain.

     

中国地区山谷风研究进展

随着城市化的发展,越来越多的城市建立在山区附近或山谷之中。受地理环境和气象条件等因素影响,各地山谷风特征各不相同。山谷风对局地风场、气候特征有着重要作用,与逆温和污染物浓度变化也具有良好相关。本文从山谷风研究的主要手段—观测、理论和数值模拟出发,重点回顾了国内山谷风研究成果,并讨论了与其他中尺度环流(海陆风、湖陆风、城市热岛、植被风、冰川风环流)的相互作用,以及包括山谷风在内的山地环流对大气污染的影响。最后对国内研究进展进行总结,并提出了一些还需深入研究和探讨的问题。     

渤海湾地区一次碰撞型海风锋天气过程的数值模拟分析

利用WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)模式对渤海湾地区2009年9月26日一次碰撞型海风锋天气过程进行了数值模拟分析,模拟结果较好地重现了这次天气过程以及海风锋的结构和特征。结果显示,海风锋锋后是较为深厚的对流不稳定能量和水汽高值区,锋后水汽高值区的形成源于海风的堆积和往高空输送,而锋后对流不稳定能量的产生归因于抬升凝结高度和自由对流高度的降低以及平衡高度的升高,这些高度变化则源于冷湿海风给低层大气带来的降温和增湿,其中给低层大气带来的增湿是主要影响因子。对流系统与海风锋相向碰撞时,对流系统容易进入海风锋锋后触发强对流不稳定能量形成强对流运动,同时弱对流抑制为对流运动的触发提供了有利的条件,强对流运动把海风锋锋后充沛的水汽往上输送,从而造成强降水天气。另外,对流系统与海风锋碰撞后沿着海风锋锋后移动可能更有利于对流运动的发展和维持。     

A Coastal Bay Summer Breeze Study,Part 2: High-resolution Numerical Simulation of Sea-breeze Local Influences

We complete the analysis of the data obtained during the experimental campaign around the semi circular bay of Quiberon, France, during two weeks in June 2006 (see Part 1). A reanalysis of numerical simulations performed with the Advanced Regional Prediction System model is presented. Three nested computational domains with increasing horizontal resolution down to 100 m, and a vertical resolution of 10 m at the lowest level, are used to reproduce the local-scale variations of the breeze close to the water surface of the bay. The Weather Research and Forecasting mesoscale model is used to assimilate the meteorological data. Comparisons of the simulations with the experimental data obtained at three sites reveal a good agreement of the flow over the bay and around the Quiberon peninsula during the daytime periods of sea-breeze development and weakening. In conditions of offshore synoptic flow, the simulations demonstrate that the semi-circular shape of the bay induces a corresponding circular shape in the offshore zones of stagnant flow preceding the sea-breeze onset, which move further offshore thereafter. The higher-resolution simulations are successful in reproducing the small-scale impacts of the peninsula and local coasts (breeze deviations, wakes, flow divergences), and in demonstrating the complexity of the breeze fields close to the surface over the bay. Our reanalysis also provides guidance for numerical simulation strategies for analyzing the structure and evolution of the near-surface breeze over a semi-circular bay, and for forecasting important flow details for use in upcoming sailing competitions.     

Numerical Simulations of a Florida Sea Breeze and Its Interactions with Associated Convection: Effects of Geophysical Representation and Model Resolution

The Florida peninsula in the USA has a frequent occurrence of sea breeze(SB)thunderstorms.In this study,the numerical simulation of a Florida SB and its associated convective initiation(CI)is simulated using the mesoscale community Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model in one-way nested domains at different horizontal resolutions.Results are compared with observations to examine the accuracy of model-simulated SB convection and factors that influence SB CI within the simulation.It is found that the WRF model can realistically reproduce the observed SB CI.Differences are found in the timing,location,and intensity of the convective cells at different domains with various spatial resolutions.With increasing spatial resolution,the simulation improvements are manifested mainly in the timing of CI and the orientation of the convection after the sea breeze front(SBF)merger into the squall line over the peninsula.Diagnoses indicate that accurate representation of geophysical variables(e.g.,coastline and bay shape,small lakes measuring 10-30 km2),better resolved by the high resolution,play a significant role in improving the simulations.The geophysical variables,together with the high resolution,impact the location and timing of SB CI due to changes in low-level atmospheric convergence and surface sensible heating.More importantly,they enable Florida lakes(30 km2 and larger)to produce noticeable lake breezes(LBs)that collide with the SBFs to produce CI.Furthermore,they also help the model reproduce a stronger convective squall line caused by merging SBs,leading to more accurate locations of postfrontal convective systems.     

盛夏杭州湾一次海风锋触发雷暴的数值模拟分析

利用常规气象观测资料、多普勒气象雷达资料、浙江省自动站加密资料、NCEP/FNL再分析资料,结合高分辨率中尺度数值模式WRF对杭州湾地区2016年7月28日一次海风锋触发雷暴天气的发生、发展演变特征进行数值模拟。结果表明:1)海风锋是此次强雷暴天气过程的主要触发系统。2)中尺度模式WRF较好地模拟出此次雷暴过程的降水和低层风场、温度场分布以及海风锋水平垂直结构。3)海风锋对局地比湿及涡度特征的加强有明显的促进作用,为雷暴的发生发展提供有利的水汽和动力条件。4)分析对流参数演变曲线的突变位置,对雷暴发生的时间有一定的指示和预报意义,杭州湾南侧单纯的海风锋也可以触发雷暴的发生发展。     

多云天气下海南岛海风环流结构的数值模拟

利用WRF-Noah耦合中尺度模式对海南岛2012年7月5日的多云海风个例进行三维高分辨率数值模拟,重点分析多云天气条件下复杂地形区域的海风环流结构及其演变特征。通过观测资料与模拟结果的对比发现,WRF模式能够合理地模拟出岛屿四周的海风演变特征。与少云海风日相似,多云海风日中全岛海风于12时开始形成,15时海风发展最为强盛,影响范围最广,18时全岛海风的辐合程度最强,海风辐合区是主要的潜在降水区域。对比山区与平坦地区的海风环流发现,山区海风环流强盛期为13—18时,而平坦地区海风环流强盛期为15—18时。复杂的山地对海风环流结构有直接和间接的影响:一方面在山地地形动力阻挡和抬升作用下,海风环流变得更加清晰完整,间接延长了海风环流的维持时间;另一方面局地地形热力作用形成的谷风环流与海风几乎同时产生和消亡,两者汇合后,谷风的瞬间加强会引起海风锋锋消,瞬间减弱会引起海风锋锋生;两者同相叠加会使得海风环流结构更加完整。相比之下,平坦地区的海风受到的地形动力和热力作用小,海风水平分布比较规则,海风环流垂直结构的变化主要取决于不同方向海风之间的相互作用。     

Impacts of topography and land degradation on the sea breeze over eastern Spain

Summary A three-dimensional non-hydrostatic atmospheric model RAMS, version3b, is used to examine the impact of complex topography on the sea breeze under heterogeneous and degradation land use characteristics. In the study, it is shown that topography plays an important role in the sea-breeze circulation by aligning the sea breeze front to the coastline and locating the convergence zones close to the mountain range. When the sea breeze is coupled with the upslope wind, the sea-breeze circulation is strengthened by the topography.Sensitivity analyses are carried out to determine the influence of vegetation and soil moisture, i.e., land surface modifications, to this thermally driven flow. Land degradation results in an enhanced sea-breeze circulation which is characterized by a stronger onshore flow, a stronger return current, a larger updraft velocity associated with the sea-breeze front and further inland penetration. Other important features are a deeper sea-breeze depth, a larger downdraft velocity behind the sea-breeze front, and a longer offshore extent. The results also show how land changes modify the sea breeze temporal evolution resulting in an earlier onset and later end. The study stresses the convenience of using three-dimensional models with detailed land surface information to model the sea breeze in complex terrain where land use is rapidly modified.Received February 25, 2002; accepted October 7, 2002 Published online April 10, 2003     

THE ROLE OF LOCAL CIRCULATIONS IN SUMMERTIME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND NOCTURNAL FOG IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

A non-hydrostatic, fully compressible, regional-scale numerical model of the atmosphere that includes parameterization of cloud microphysics is run in a two-dimensional mode. It uses two different observed vertical profiles of temperature, relative humidity and wind to simulate the local circulation evolution and impact on convection and nocturnal fog occurrence in São Paulo, Brazil. Theatmospheric behaviour generated by the model is similar to the observations of the two summer days with and without sea breeze progression over the plateau. The convective development occurs in the afternoon of the two experiments but with different features and intensities. In the experiment with sea-breeze progression, there is fog formation over the plateau during the following night, in accordance with the observations. A strong northwesterly flow acting in the lower troposphere, with intensity varying between 7 and 10 m s_-1,appears as an inhibiting agent of the sea-breeze progression over the plateau and of convective development in the afternoon and of the nocturnal fog occurrence. In this case, observed gusts during the night are well simulated and appear to be related to the topography.     

城市下垫面对渤海湾海风锋特征影响的一次数值试验

海风锋与沿海强对流天气密切相关,而城市化发展对沿海地区下垫面的改变会对海风锋特征产生影响。鉴于此,本文利用耦合了新一代城市物理方案UCP-BEM(Urban Canopy Parameterization-Building Energy Model)的WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)模式开展数值试验分析了城市下垫面对渤海湾海风锋特征的影响。结果显示:城市下垫面高粗糙度对低层海风风速的明显削弱造成海风锋往内陆推进距离稍减,低层辐合和上升运动减弱;城市下垫面较大的向上感热通量和较小的向上水汽通量以及高粗糙度对海风的削弱的共同作用造成冷湿海风对低层大气的降温和增湿幅度减弱;高粗糙度的城市下垫面对海风环流的摩擦力效应使得海风得到抬升,这导致了冷湿海风对低层大气的降温和增湿的垂直范围得到提升;受这些结果影响,海风锋背后低层有效位能减小,但垂直分布范围扩大,从而造成对流抑制高值区抬升,同时海风锋背后的静力不稳定区变厚,其上面的动力不稳定区则变薄,但不稳定区总厚度基本不变。     

太湖地区湖陆风对雷暴过程影响的数值模拟

利用耦合了NOAH陆面模式的WRF中尺度数值模式,对2010年8月18日发生在太湖地区的一次强雷暴过程进行数值模拟,并将模拟结果与实况进行对比。结果表明:模式能较合理地模拟出雷暴演变过程及近地面要素变化。此次雷暴天气过程发生在湖风发展强盛时期,雷暴沿东岸湖风与背景风形成的辐合线发展。通过两个敏感性试验,研究了太湖地区湖陆风对雷暴过程的影响。湖风锋对雷暴过程起触发和增强作用,湖风锋的阻挡和抬升作用导致此次雷暴的产生。在湖风锋前缘形成的初始对流进一步发展加强为雷暴,发展成熟的雷暴低层出流又与湖风作用形成新的雷暴,湖风的辐合为对流云的发展提供水汽和能量。在雷暴的形成发展过程中,感热通量输送可改变大气边界层结构,使低层不稳定能量较易释放,潜热释放加强上升和下沉气流,使边界层湿度增大,对流进一步发展增强。     

Observations of sea breeze events in Rome and the surrounding area by a network of Doppler sodars

In the period June–July 1992, four Doppler sodars were operated simultaneously in Rome and the surrounding area. The data have been used to investigate the contributions from sea breeze events to the local low-level circulation. Three days in which synoptic-scale pressure gradients were weak have been selected. A number of characteristics of the sea breeze are examined including the onset and cessation of the phenomenon, the behavior of the wind speed, and the depth of the density flow. The time propagation of the events and the influence of orography are obtained from a comparison between the data at different sites. The low-level circulation in the early morning is associated with the land breeze and appears to be enhanced by a mountain wind from the surrounding hills. The observed behavior of the vertical velocity field associated with the sea breeze is consistent with model predictions.     

边界层参数化对海南岛海风环流结构模拟的影响

利用WRF V3.7详细分析了应用8种边界层参数化方案（YSU、MYNN2.5、MYNN3、ACM2、BouLac、UW、SH、GBM）所模拟的2014年5月25日海南岛海风环流结构的差异,其中YSU、ACM2和SH为非局地闭合方案,MYNN2.5、MYNN3、BouLac、UW和GBM为局地闭合方案。结果表明:对于海风环流水平结构的模拟,15时,YSU、ACM2、BouLac、UW和SH模拟的北部海风较强,SH和GBM的内陆风速偏大。温度与海风发展强度相对应,MYNN2.5与MYNN3模拟的岛屿温度偏低,海陆温差小,海风相对较弱。对于海风环流垂直结构的模拟,09时海风开始,但强度较小,且存在残余陆风,向内陆传播距离较短,YSU、MYNN2.5和SH方案的海风相对较强。12时,海风已呈现出较为清晰的环流结构,YSU和ACM2的海风厚度及向内陆传播距离相对强于其它方案,MYNN3的环流结构则不太明显,且向内陆推进距离短,海风相对较弱。15时,海风发展强盛,MYNN2.5和MYNN3方案模拟的海风垂直强度较小,ACM2方案的海风垂直环流特征最为明显。18时,海风的强度和扰动均有所减弱,ACM2、BouLac和UW的整体海风相对强于其它方案。21时海风已基本转为陆风,BouLac与UW的陆风环流结构最为清晰。位温、水汽及海风垂直环流强度的发展变化与海风的演变过程基本一致。造成ACM2模拟海风偏强的原因是其边界层垂直混合偏强,形成了足够的湍流混合强度所致。对于边界层高度的模拟,ACM2的边界层顶最高,这与此方案所模拟的海风强度偏大相吻合,其它方案的边界层高度与海风强度并不完全一致。