On the Differences and Climate Impacts of Early and Late Stratospheric Polar Vortex Breakup

The stratospheric polar vortex breakup (SPVB) is an important phenomenon closely related to the seasonal transition of stratospheric circulation. In this paper, 62-year NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data were employed to investigate the distinction between early and late SPVB. The results showed that the anomalous circulation signals extending from the stratosphere to the troposphere were reversed before and after early SPVB, while the stratospheric signals were consistent before and after the onset of late SPVB. Arctic Oscillation (AO) evolution during the life cycle of SPVB also demonstrated that the negative AO signal can propagate downward after early SPVB. Such downward AO signals could be identified in both geopotential height and temperature anomalies. After the AO signal reached the lower troposphere, it influenced the Aleutian Low and Siberian High in the troposphere, leading to a weak winter monsoon and large-scale warming at mid latitudes in Asia. Compared to early SPVB, downward propagation was not evident in late SPVB. The high-latitude tropospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere was affected by early SPVB, causing it to enter a summer circulation pattern earlier than in late SPVB years.     

涡动在南北半球平流层极涡崩溃过程中作用的比较

比较了南北半球春季平流层极涡的崩溃过程以及涡动在此崩溃过程中的作用。极涡的崩溃时间以平流层极夜急流核区最后一次西风转换为东风的时间来确定。结果表明南北半球平流层极涡的崩溃过程有着共同的特点,涡动和非绝热加热过程都对极涡的崩溃起着重要的作用,在极涡崩溃前平流层行星尺度波动活动明显,极涡崩溃以后,这种波动活动便迅速减弱。其中从对流层上传的行星波决定着极涡的具体崩溃时间。两个半球的差别主要表现在南半球极涡崩溃过程一般始于平流层高层,然后逐渐下传,而北半球这种下传不是很明显。其次,北半球平流层极涡崩溃偏晚年,极涡的减弱有两次过程,第一次为快速变化过程,第二次变化比较缓慢,而南半球平流层极涡崩溃无论早晚年只有一次减弱过程。长期的变化趋势分析表明南北半球平流层极涡的崩溃时间逐渐推迟,特别是20世纪90年代中后期以来,这种推迟更加明显。进一步的研究还发现,伴随着平流层极涡的崩溃过程平流层和对流层存在强烈的动力耦合,南北半球极涡迅速减弱前,各自半球的环状模指数也由负指数增加为正指数,表明低层环流对于平流层极涡的崩溃起到重要的作用;同时极涡不同强度所对应的低层环状模指数也不同,这可能与不同强度平流层极涡对于上传的行星波的反射有关。     

An update on dynamical changes in the Arctic and Antarctic stratospheric polar vortices

Dynamical changes in the Arctic and Antarctic lower stratosphere from autumn to spring were analysed using the NCEP/NCAR, ERA40 and FUB stratospheric analyses for three periods: 1979–1999, 1979–2005, and 1965–2005. We found a weakening of the Arctic vortex in winter and a strengthening in spring between 1979/1980 and 1998/1999, with corresponding changes in the zonal mean circulation. The vortex formed earlier in autumn and broke down later in spring. These changes however were statistically not significant due to the high interannual dynamical variability in northern hemisphere (NH) winter and spring and the relatively short time series. In the Antarctic, the vortex formed earlier in autumn, intensified in late spring, and broke down later. The changes of the Antarctic vortex were at all levels and for both autumn and spring transitions larger and more significant than the changes of the Arctic vortex. These changes of the 1980s and early to mid 1990s were however not representative of a long-term change. The dynamically more active winters in the Arctic and Antarctic since 1998/1999 led to an enhanced weakening of the polar vortex in winter, and to a reduction of the polar vortex intensification in spring. As two of the recent Arctic major warmings occurred rather early in winter the polar vortex could recover in late winter and the delay in spring breakdown further increased. In contrast, the increase in Antarctic vortex persistence did no longer appear when including the recent winters due to the dominant impact of the three recent dynamically active Antarctic winters in 2000, 2002, and 2004. The long-term changes of 1965/1966–2005 were smaller in amplitude and partly opposite to the trends since the 1980s. There is no significant long-term change in the Arctic vortex lifetime or spring persistence, while the Antarctic vortex shows a long-term deepening and shift towards later spring transitions. The changes in the stratospheric dynamical situation could be attributed in both hemispheres to changes in the dynamical forcing from the troposphere.     

The cause of the spring strengthening of the Antarctic polar vortex

The stratospheric polar vortex strengthening from late winter to spring plays a crucial role in polar ozone depletion. The Arctic polar vortex reaches its peak intensity in mid-winter, whereas the Antarctic vortex usually strengthens in early spring. As a result, the strong ozone depletion is observed every year over the Antarctic, while over the Arctic short-term ozone loss occasionally occurs in late winter or early spring. However, the cause of such a difference in the life cycles of the Arctic and Antarctic polar vortices is still not completely clear. Based on the ERA-Interim reanalysis data, we show a high agreement between the seasonal variations of temperature in the subtropical lower stratosphere and zonal wind in the subpolar and polar lower stratosphere in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, the spring strengthening of the Antarctic polar vortex can occur due to the seasonal temperature increase in the subtropical lower stratosphere in this period.     

北极臭氧垂直分布和天气尺度变化的观测研究

北极地区臭氧对北极气候和环境系统起着重要作用。研究其分布和变化有助于了解北极的气候和环境及其对全球气候系统的影响,有助于气候和环境变化的数值预报。中国北极科学探测1999在北冰洋楚可奇海域成功的进行了大气臭氧观测。通过在中国“雪龙”号破冰船甲板上（于1999年8月18-24日在75°N,160°W附近处）释放大气臭氧探空仪获得了高分辨率的大气垂直结构和臭氧分布资料,可以进行大气尺度的大气臭氧变化研究。分析大气监测资料、TOMS臭氧总量资料和NCEP大气环流资料表明,大气臭氧总量随着对流层顶的低一高一低变化呈高一低一高的变化过程。研究还表明,大气柱的臭氧总量与13公里以下的大气臭氧含量关系密切,而在约20公里处的大气臭氧浓度最大值的变化与整个气柱臭氧的关系不大。500 hPa天气形势图上一个弱一强一弱的西南天气型造成的弱臭氧平流可能是这次臭氧变化的主要原因。     

初生西南涡扰动不稳定发展的弱非线性动力分析

文献[1]研究了初生西南涡扰动在弱不稳定层结下出现不稳定发展的情形,但没回答扰动不稳定发生后,西南涡怎样发展的问题。本文利用临界摄动方法,讨论了初生西南涡扰动不稳定后,在垂直速度及位温垂直分布不均匀引起的弱非线性垂直平流的调节和反馈作用下,扰动发展形成稳定的具有一定空间结构的过程。当参数取适当数值时,可获得与实际基本一致的结果。     

Overview of the Major 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere Stratospheric Sudden Warming：Evolution and Its Association with Surface Weather

In this study, we analyzed the dynamical evolution of the ma jor 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere （NH） stratospheric sudden warming （SSW） on the basis of ERA-Interim reanalysis data provided by the ECMWF. The intermittent upward-propagating planetary wave activities beginning in late November 2012 led to a prominent wavenumber-2 disturbance of the polar vortex in early December 2012. However, no major SSW occurred. In mid December 2012, when the polar vortex had not fully recovered, a mixture of persistent wavenumber-1 and -2 planetary waves led to gradual weakening of the polar vortex before the vortex split on 7 January 2013. Evolution of the geopotential height and Eliassen-Palm flux between 500 and 5 hPa indicates that the frequent occurrence of tropospheric ridges over North Pacific and the west coast of North America contributed to the pronounced upward planetary wave activities throughout the troposphere and stratosphere. After mid January 2013, the wavenumber-2 planetary waves became enhanced again within the troposphere, with a deepened trough over East Asia and North America and two ridges between the troughs. The enhanced tropospheric planetary waves may contribute to the long-lasting splitting of the polar vortex in the lower stratosphere. The 2012-2013 SSW shows combined features of both vortex displacement and vortex splitting. Therefore, the anomalies of tropospheric circulation and surface temperature after the 2012-2013 SSW resemble neither vortex-displaced nor vortex-split SSWs, but the combination of all SSWs. The remarkable tropospheric ridge extending from the Bering Sea into the Arctic Ocean together with the resulting deepened East Asian trough may play important roles in bringing cold air from the high Arctic to central North America and northern Eurasia at the surface.     

对流涡度矢量垂直分量在西南涡暴雨中的应用

将对流涡度矢量 (CVV) 应用于浅薄系统西南低涡引发的暴雨中,特别是将对流涡度矢量垂直分量 (C_z) 应用在2010年7月16—18日由西南涡引发的一次暴雨过程诊断中。研究了CVV垂直积分的各个分量与6 h累积降水量的关系,尤其是CVV垂直分量在西南涡暴雨过程中的指示意义。诊断结果表明:CVV垂直分量与西南涡引发的暴雨有一定对应关系,强降水发生时段与C_z垂直积分峰值出现的时间对应一致;在对流层低层850 hPa水平分布上,暴雨区位于CVV垂直分量的正值中心附近,偏向其梯度较大处;沿暴雨中心的CVV垂直分量,当对流层低层至高层呈现一致的正值时,暴雨强度会明显加强。     

“7.20”华北特大暴雨过程中低涡发展演变机制研究

利用中国地面加密自动站观测资料、北京地区雷达探测资料、NCEP （1°×1°） FNL资料、ECMWF ERA Interim （0.125°×0.125°）逐日再分析资料等,对造成2016年7月19-20日华北极端暴雨中的低涡系统发展演变的结构特征和加强机制进行了研究。华北地区这次特大暴雨过程出现了3个阶段降水,其中与低涡系统强烈发展对应的第2阶段降水是本次华北暴雨过程的主要降水阶段。针对该低涡的分析表明：（1）850 hPa以西南低涡为中心的低压带中,在河南西北部新生低涡系统,并且其在向华北地区移动过程中显著加强,该低涡系统在空间结构上,从倾斜涡柱逐渐发展成近乎直立的、贯穿整个对流层的深厚低涡系统;（2）中低层低涡系统快速发展过程与高低空系统构成耦合作用有关：低层低涡系统显著加强之前,对流层上层（300-200 hPa）首先出现高空槽异常加深并向南发展,该高空槽发展的开始阶段与其本身冷暖平流造成的斜压发展过程对应;而后,随着高纬度平流层高位涡沿等熵面向南运动,造成华北地区对流层上层涡度增强,形成正位涡异常区;当这一正位涡异常区叠加在对流层中低层锋区上空时,造成对流层中低层气旋快速发展并向下伸展,诱发河南西北部的新生气旋;低涡系统的发展进一步强化了低空暖平流,促使低空气旋向东北方向发展"移动"（本质上是暖平流前端造成的气旋发展）,这一动力学过程反过来使高层的涡度增强;这一正反馈过程形成的耦合环流不仅造成了整个涡度柱强度增强,而且垂直结构上逐渐由倾斜涡柱演变为近乎于直立的涡柱;（3）随着低涡系统增强,极大地加强了垂直上升运动并触发了对流,形成大范围的强降水,大量的凝结潜热释放,造成了低层低涡系统在强降水开始阶段的快速发展和增强;20日00时（世界时）以后,虽然对流活动显著减弱,但低涡系统的加深维持了大范围强降水过程的持续。强降水与低涡发展的正反馈过程是这次华北暴雨得以长时间维持的重要机制之一,这一过程形成的持续性潜热释放也是对流层中上层低涡系统热力结构发生改变的重要原因。     

区域对流层光化学过程研究

将 MM5和 RADM耦合 ,建立了一个区域大气光化学模式。用此模式来研究区域大气光化学过程。分析了大气光化学过程中前体物、自由基以及主要产物的时空分布及其随时间的变化情况。得到了大气光化学过程各主要成分的分布及其演变特征。在此基础上 ,分析了水平平流、垂直扩散及沉降以及化学转化等物理、化学过程在大气光化学过程中的相对重要性 ,结果表明 ,水平平流和垂直扩散及沉降等物理过程对大气光化学过程中各种成分的浓度分布及其随时间的变化有重要的作用。     

一次台风变性并入东北冷涡过程的动力诊断分析

台风北移变性并入东北冷涡是造成东北地区夏季大范围暴雨的主要形式之一, 但其中的热动力结构变化特征及其物理机制尚不清晰。本文利用美国国家环境预报中心(NCEP)的再分析资料对一次台风变性并入东北冷涡过程进行动力诊断分析, 分析结果显示:冷涡冷空气的不断侵入以及台风移动形成的相对冷平流使得台风暖心结构消亡, 其低层低压辐合和高层高压辐散结构消失, 变性并入东北冷涡后气旋整层偏冷, 低层出现冷中心。台风变性并入东北冷涡过程中, 冷涡中心附近高空急流南侧的反气旋切变抑制气旋直接往高空发展, 而急流轴左侧的热动力分布特征有利于垂直涡度的发展, 变性后的气旋环流向冷涡的移近有利于急流轴维持倾斜, 从而促进气旋向高空冷涡倾斜发展。同时, 冷空气在气旋低层附近堆积导致等假相当位温线发生倾斜, 造成垂直涡度在气旋中层倾斜发展。台风变性并入东北冷涡后, 高空冷涡槽底的正垂直涡度平流促进气旋由中层直接向高层发展, 而高空冷涡槽底急流促进正垂直涡度平流的维持。气旋高空环流的发展反过来削弱了东北冷涡的高层环流, 导致高空冷涡中心出现北撤。     

Depletion of Column Ozone in the Arctic During the Winters of 1993-94 and 1994-95

The total ozone reduction in the Arctic during the winters of 1993/94 and 1994/95 has been evaluated using the ground-based total ozone measurements of five SAOZ spectrometers distributed in the Arctic and from number density profiles of a balloon-borne version of the instrument. The ozone change resulting from transport has been removed using a 3D Chemistry Transport Model (CTM) run without chemistry. A cumulative total ozone depletion at the end of winter in March of 18% ± 4% in 1994 and of 32% ± 4% in 1995 was observed within the polar vortex, and of 15% ± 4% in both years outside the vortex. This evaluation is not sensitive to the vertical transport in the model. The periods, locations and altitudes at which ozone loss occurred were tightly connected to temperatures lower than NAT condensation temperature. The maximum loss was observed at 50 hPa in 1994 and lower, 60-80 hPa, in 1995. Half of the depletion in 1994 and three quarters in 1995 occurred during the early winter, showing that a late final warming is not a prerequisite for large ozone destruction in the northern hemisphere. The timing, the geographical location and the altitude of the ozone losses are well captured by the 3D CTM photochemical model using current chemistry, but its amplitude at low sun during the early winter, is underestimated. The model simulations also capture the early season reductions observed outside the vortex. This suggests that the losses occurred in situ in the early winter, when low temperatures are frequent, and not later in March, when ozone is most reduced inside the vortex, which would be the case if leakage from the vortex was the cause of the depletion.     

一次引发暴雨的东北低涡的涡度和水汽收支分析

对2005年7月25～29日引发较大范围持续性暴雨的东北低涡的结构、涡度和水汽收支进行了分析研究,结果表明:1)东北低涡是一个较深厚的冷性涡旋.初期,气旋性涡度出现在对流层中层,然后向中低层及高层伸展.而低涡加强阶段,气旋性涡度在对流层高层增加得最快,并逐渐向中低层传播,诱发地面气旋的发展;由于高低空锋生的相互作用,在低涡南部形成了深厚的近乎垂直的低层略前倾的"弓形"锋区.2)对涡度收支的计算表明,水平涡度平流项和水平辐散项对低涡的发展、加强起到最主要的作用.但在不同阶段,这两项的作用和大小各不相同.3) 对流层高层位涡大值区在低涡东部向下传播,有利于低涡的发展加强,与低涡暴雨的落区位置较为接近.此外对卫星云顶亮度温度(TBB)的分析,发现低涡暴雨典型的涡旋云带中对流活动旺盛的地区与局地暴雨的位置对应.4) 低涡暴雨的水汽初期主要来自北部,随着低纬地区西南季风的增强,沿副高西侧从低纬到中高纬建立起一条较强的水汽输送带,东北地区水汽收支以南北向的辐合为主.5)将2005年和1998年夏季6～8月的东北低涡暴雨个例的天气形势配置进行逐月比较,发现持续的较大范围的低涡暴雨过程与亚洲中高纬的阻塞形势、低涡的维持、西太平洋副热带高压的位置及夏季风和低纬系统的水汽输送有密切的关系.     

一次引发川东暴雨的西南涡特征分析

利用NCEP再分析格点资料、常规观测资料、自动站降水资料、0.1°×0.1°的FY-2E云顶亮温资料,对2013年6月29日至7月1日发生在四川东部的大暴雨过程进行分析,结合涡度收支方程重点分析了引发这次大暴雨的西南涡结构。结果表明：在西南低涡发生发展过程中,对低涡发展起直接作用的是水平辐合辐散项和水平平流项,低涡形成前水平辐合辐散项起主要贡献,低涡形成后水平平流项贡献增大,并在对流层中低层以正贡献为主,扭转项贡献最小,而垂直输送项在低涡形成前期以正贡献为主,低涡减弱阶段以负贡献为主;在西南低涡形成前期,对流层高层有位涡大值区向下传输至中层,中高层正位涡叠加在低层负位涡之上,有利于低层低涡的发展及不稳定能量的存储与释放,是低涡维持发展的重要因素。     

2003年夏季梅雨期一次强气旋发展的位涡诊断分析

通过位涡诊断和回推轨迹分析, 对2003年夏季梅雨期间一次强江淮气旋的发展过程进行了研究。结果表明: 气旋发展初期, 非绝热加热在气旋的低层发展中起了主要作用, 随后由于高层水平平流的增强, 通过垂直平流使高低层大值位涡耦合在一起, 从而使气旋迅速发展。从中、 高、 低层对位涡柱形成所起的作用来看, 低层主要是非绝热加热, 中层是垂直平流, 而高层主要是水平平流; 从构成气旋的气流来说, 在气旋迅速发展阶段, 低层主要以西南暖湿气流为主, 高层 (500 hPa以上) 主要以沿急流轴下降的高层干冷气流和对流层底层流向气旋东北部并迅速上升的暖湿气流为主。高低层冷暖空气的相互作用主要发生在600 hPa及以上层次, 因凝结加热引起的垂直运动通过垂直平流可能在冷暖气流相互作用和上下大位涡的垂直耦合中发挥了重要作用。     

A Technique for Estimating Polar Ozone Loss: Results for the Northern 1991/92 Winter Using EASOE Data

In this paper we describe a technique for estimating chemical ozone loss in the Arctic vortex. Observed ozone and temperature profiles are combined with the model potential vorticity field to produce time series of vortex averaged ozone mixing ratios on chosen isentropic surfaces. Model-derived radiative heating rates and observed vertical gradients of ozone are then used to estimate the change in ozone that would occur due to diabatic descent. Discrepancies with the observed ozone are interpreted as being of chemical origin, assuming that there is negligible horizontal transport or mixing of air into the vortex. The technique is illustrated using ozone sonde measurements collected during the 1991/92 European Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Experiment (EASOE), meteorological analyses from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and radiative heating rates extracted from the Global Atmospheric Modelling Programme (UGAMP) 3D General Circulation Model. Our results show that there was photochemical ozone destruction inside the Arctic vortex in early 1992 with a loss between 475 K and 550 K (around 20 km) of 0.32±0.15 ppmv in the first 20 days of January, equivalent to a rate of 0.51±0.24%/day (at the 95% confidence level).     

Seasonal to interannual climate predictability in mid and high northern latitudes in a global coupled model

The upper limit of climate predictability in mid and high northern latitudes on seasonal to interannual time scales is investigated by performing two perfect ensemble experiments with the global coupled atmosphere–ocean–sea ice model ECHAM5/MPI-OM. The ensembles consist of six members and are initialized in January and July from different years of the model’s 300-year control integration. The potential prognostic predictability is analyzed for a set of oceanic and atmospheric climate parameters. The predictability of the atmospheric circulation is small except for southeastern Europe, parts of North America and the North Pacific, where significant predictability occurs with a lead time of up to half a year. The predictability of 2 m air temperature shows a large land–sea contrast with highest predictabilities over the sub polar North Atlantic and North Pacific. A combination of relatively high persistence and advection of sea surface temperature anomalies into these areas leads to large predictability. Air temperature over Europe, parts of North America and Asia shows significant predictability of up to half a year in advance. Over the ice-covered Arctic, air temperature is not predictable at time scales exceeding 2 months. Sea ice thickness is highly predictable in the central Arctic mainly due to persistence and in the Labrador Sea due to dynamics. Surface salinity is highly predictable in the Arctic Ocean, northern North Atlantic and North Pacific for several years in advance. We compare the results to the predictability due to persistence and show the importance of dynamical processes for the predictability.     

一次寒潮降温过程的等熵位涡和热力学分析

通过等熵位涡和热力学能量方程的各项诊断对2018年1月上旬我国东部一次寒潮天气过程进行分析,重点给出垂直运动在寒潮降温中的作用。结果表明：此次寒潮天气过程主要受蒙古国南部的横槽转竖影响,巴尔喀什湖东部和西伯利亚地区及其北部为引起这次寒潮的主要冷空气源地。欧亚大陆北部和极区对流层高层和平流层低层的高位涡强冷空气沿着等熵面向南向下平流,引导强冷空气侵袭我国东部。等熵位涡大值区的东侧对应上升运动区,有利于降水的产生。寒潮期间风场平流引起的850 hPa强降温区主要位于东南沿海地区,降温幅度最高可达6×10^-4 K·s^-1,而东北地区在整个寒潮期间冷平流强度较弱,最大降温幅度仅约为1×10^-4 K·s^-1。通过计算东南沿海和东北地区区域平均风场平流和垂直运动引起850 hPa温度变化,得出寒潮期间两地的温度总降幅约为1×10^-4 K·s^-1。东南沿海地区的寒潮主要由风场的冷平流引起,而东北地区则是由冷平流和垂直上升运动的共同作用引起。垂直方向上,东北地区冷空气能影响的高度要远高于东南沿海地区。     

2008年5月东北冷涡持续性活动的异常特征分析

利用美国NCEP/NCAR的再分析资料和中国辽宁地区逐日降水资料,对2008年5月东北冷涡异常活动进行分析。结果表明：2008年5月东北冷涡活动较比历年明显偏多;500 hPa月平均高度场在50°—180°E范围内为典型的“Ω”阻塞高压环流形势,乌拉尔山与贝加尔湖之间的高压脊明显偏强;高度脊加强或维持时,在高度脊后西南方有暖平流输送,高度脊减弱阶段,在高度脊后西北方向有强冷平流输送;东北冷涡频繁活动时,贝加尔湖到中国东北地区高度场表现为强负距平,副热带高压与东北冷涡的位置密切相关,中国大陆东部副热带高压较比历年弱且位置偏东时,出现中涡的几率增大。