The Effects of Strong Ageostrophic Outflows on the Formation of Surface Mesoscale Pressure Systems in Squall Lines

Based on the previous study of the streamline field triggered by singularities in a two-dimensional potential flow,the wind ficld caused by vorticity lines in an incompressible flow is deduced in this paper.The result shows an elliptic cyclonic(anticyclonic)circulation in association with a positive(negative)vorticity line.By use of the shallow-water model,the flow fields are simulated in a weak wind background under the influence of mesoscale vorticity lines.In the case of two vorticity line,one positive and the other negative,a mesoscale vortex couplet forms in the flow.When three vorticity lines are considered,three mesoscale circulations develop,and a mesohigh and two mesolows similar to the thunderstorm high,wake low and pre-squall mesolow of a mature squall line are produced.Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations show that the formation of the surface mesoscale pressure systems in squall lines may be partly attributed to the dynamical effects of the ageostrophic outflows.The strong downdrafts under the thundercloud base of the squall line lead to surface ageostrophic outflows,and produce positive-negative-positive arranged vcrtical vorticity bands(VBs)along the direction normal to the squall line,then the mesoscale circulations develop and mesoscale pressure systems form or strengthen during the geostrophic adjustment.By use of the scale separation method,this dynamic mechanism is confirmed by a case study of a severe storm passing over eastern China on 17 June 1974.     

新疆克拉玛依强下坡风暴的机理研究

利用美国中尺度数值模式 WRF 对2013年3月7—8日克拉玛依强风进行了模拟,对下坡风发生、发展和结束3个阶段的三维结构特征进行了分析,并由此提出克拉玛依强下坡风的形成机制模型：上游地区出现中高层西南风、低层西北风并伴有强冷平流的配置,当风速不断增大时,气流能够翻越加依尔山在背风坡侧形成重力波,重力波相位向气流上游方向倾斜产生非线性效应,促进了波不稳定区域的形成并导致波破碎,形成湍流活跃层,不断把上层的能量向下传播;克拉玛依中低层形成三层夹心的大气层结稳定度分布,出现明显的过渡气流带从而导致强下坡风的形成;南北风分量在低层和中层符号相反,形成了临界层,不断吸收上层波能量并向地面传送,强下坡风暴不断维持发展。最后利用2006—2012年克拉玛依33个强下坡风过程中的探空观测资料对提出的形成机制进行了验证。     

台风云娜（2004）的高分辨率数值模拟研究:眼壁小尺度对流运动

通过对2004年云娜台风高分辨率模拟结果的分析,发现在环境垂直风切变不是单一方向情况下,中尺度涡旋只在对流层低层的眼壁区域形成.这些涡旋中有的伴随气旋环流是闭合的,有的则为非闭合;并且有的伴随着小尺度对流上升运动,而有的则没有.进一步分析发现当环境入流与涡旋的出流相遇产生辐合时,或者入流受涡旋本身阻挡产生辐合时,小尺度对流上升运动随即发生.中尺度涡旋伴随着对流上升活动在眼壁中沿气旋方向移动,表现出涡旋Rossby波特征,当移动至垂直风切变矢量下风向时对流加强,加强的上升气流通过拉伸涡管使得相麻的涡旋环流也加强,通常对流在移向垂直风切变矢量上风向时逐渐减弱.反观在眼壁区域的对流层中上层,没有明显的中尺度涡旋活动,强对流活动主要集中在眼壁东南侧,并且强上升运动也呈现小尺度特征.眼壁区域中速度大于1 m/s的上升运动仪占14%,大于2 m/s的则小于7%,但速度超过1 m/s的向上的质量通量约占整个上升运动的30%,表明尽管这些小尺度强对流运动所占空间比例较小,却在眼壁质量输送中起着重要作用.另外,这些强上升运动核表现出正的浮力特征,大值浮力分布与上升运动核位置一致的特征也进一步说明眼壁中大量的垂直质量通量输送与只占很小范围的小尺度上升运动有关.     

东移低涡动力学的初步研究

用一个正压原始方程模式实施了六组试验，研究了东移低涡的动力学。结果表明：无论是切变基流与低涡的相互作用，还是涡块与低涡的相互作用，都可引起低涡强度在短暂时段内增强，但整个积分时段内低涡强度的演变仍呈下降趋势。切变基流、低涡和多个涡块的相互作用，可以改变下降的趋势。正相对涡度切变基流中低涡和涡块的合并，是东移低涡强度得以维持和发展的一个直接的原因。     

北京“7.21”特大暴雨过程中尺度系统的模拟及演变特征分析

在2012年7月21日北京特大暴雨过程天气尺度环流背景分析的基础上,主要用WRF模式对该次暴雨过程进行了高分辨率的模拟。利用模拟资料分析了影响此次北京特大暴雨的辐合线及辐合线上生成的中尺度低涡的热动力结构及其演变。从热力场来看,来自于西北和东北方向的强冷空气与西南和东南暖湿气流的长时间对峙形成的辐合以及中低层冷空气从西北和东北方向向西南的入侵迫使整层暖湿空气抬升,以及低空急流的暖湿平流与低空弱冷空气之间形成的"西冷东暖"的结构,对对流不稳定的触发有一定作用,有助于该次特大暴雨的发生。对流层低层的西(东)南风与西北风之间形成了一条持续时间长的辐合切变线,切变线上不断有中尺度低涡生成并沿切变线发展移动,模拟资料分析表明,低涡不断沿切变线生成并移动经过北京从而对该次暴雨造成影响,这与"列车效应"现象类似。切变线上生成的中尺度低涡位置也同时处于急流左前侧和山前,低涡加强和发展时对应有暴雨的明显增强,是直接造成北京特大暴雨的中尺度系统,其生成与低层辐合、低空急流及地形均有关系。低层辐合引发的垂直运动在地形迎风坡附近得到加强,低层辐合及地形抬升共同导致了强垂直运动的发展和维持,是暴雨持续的重要原因。大气中层有下沉气流与低层上升气流相互作用,在大气中低层形成一系列中尺度环流,房山附近一直有中尺度环流的垂直上升支维持,也是暴雨中心出现在房山的原因之一。     

Characteristics of mesoscale vortices over China in 2015

Mesoscale vortices, which appear at middle and lower levels of rainstorms, are cyclonic circulations with a size ranging from tens of kilometers to several hundred kilometers. Mesoscale vortices often have close relationships with convective activities. The ERA-Interim dataset and an automatic vortex-searching method were used to identify the mesoscale vortices occurring over China in 2015 and their basic characteristics were analyzed. The mesoscale vortices are divided into three categories: mesoscale convective vortices, mesoscale stratiform vortices, and mesoscale dry vortices. The mesoscale convective vortices have the largest intensity, size, and duration, whereas the mesoscale dry vortices have the smallest. Mesoscale convective vortices are able to form in any direction of the parent mesoscale convective system, although the secondary convection tends to appear to the southeast of the parent vortices. The mesoscale vortices tend to generate in the transition area between high and low altitudes. The leeward side of the Tibetan Plateau is the main source region of mesoscale vortices in China. Most of vortices are generated at midday and midnight. The activities of mesoscale convective vortices and mesoscale stratiform vortices peak in summer, whereas those of the mesoscale dry vortices peak in winter.     

地形对于气流运动影响的数值研究

建立了二维、非静力平衡的数值模式，研究地形对上游气流的阻挡以及大振幅背风波谷与下坡风的形成。结果表明：地形的阻挡效应受地形高度、大气层结及地形非对称性等因子的影响。数值试验与理论分析都证明地形越高、层结越稳定时阻挡作用越强；同样条件下，迎风坡坡度大的地形容易对气流形成阻挡。此外，分析了地形高度、大气层结、地形非对称性以及基本入流大小对背风波谷及下坡风强度影响的规律，并通过一次实际观测对数值模拟结果进行了检验。     

On atmospheric vortex streets in the wake of large islands

Summary Results from laboratory experiments on stably stratified flows over three-dimensional obstacles are related to atmospheric vortex streets formed in the lee of large islands. A quasi horizontal flow around the island can be expected if stable stratification favours the formation of a so-called dividing streamline below the islands top. The subsequent shedding of vortices with vertical axis from islands may then be due to viscous boundary layer separation, but also other possible mechanisms of vortex shedding in stably stratified flows are discussed.With 6 Figures     

夏季青藏高原低涡的切向流场及波动特征分析

从大气动力学原理出发,将高原低涡视为受热源强迫的边界层内涡旋,建立了柱坐标下满足梯度风平衡的低涡控制方程组,分析高原低涡切向流场的基本特征.在此基础上,通过求解线性化涡旋模式,得出高原低涡中各类波动的频散关系及其特征,同时定性讨论了热力作用对混合波动的影响以及混合波动与高原低涡流场特征的联系.使用中尺度数值模式WRF分...     

Interaction of Orographic Disturbance with Front

1.IntroductionTheimportanceoforographiceffectsonfrontwasrecognizedintheearly20thcentury.Butforthecomplexityofthisproblem,theinvestigationoforographiceffectsonfrontfromdynamicalviewpointisnottakenuntilthe1980s.Bannon(1983)derivedanalyticalsolutionsforthequasi--geostrophicfrontforcedbyahorizontalwinddeformationfieldthatmovesoveratwo--dimensionalmountainridge.Thesolutionsshowthatasacoldfrontapproachestheridge,itweakens,relativetotheflat--bottomsolution,andthefrontstrengthensasitmovesdowntothelees…     

Mesoscale cyclones over the Black Sea

Considered are the results of the numerical analysis of two mesoscale cyclonic vortices generated over the Black Sea near the Caucasian coast on August 3, 2007 and August 7, 2010. It is demonstrated for the axially symmetric and more long-lived vortex occurred in 2007 that the Caucasian vortices are two-dimensional structures dying out rapidly due to the turbulent friction in the near-water boundary layer, and the deviation from the strictly two-dimensional motion is associated with the presence of the secondary circulation. The difference is demonstrated in the mechanisms of the origin of vortices in 2007 and 2010. In the first case, this is the formation of cyclonic circulation over the eastern part of the Black Sea limited by the Anatolian and high Caucasian Mountains, at the intrusion of the airflow of northwestern direction. In the second case, these are the processes of the generation of cyclonic vorticity at the baroclinic airflow running around the northwestern edge of the mountain range over the land.     

On the bogusing of tropical cyclones in numerical models: The influence of vertical structure

Summary In this study, idealised conditions are used to study the influence of vertical structure of the bogus vortex on its motion in numerical models by comparing the resultant forecast tracks. Two vortices were used: one has a cyclonic circulation throughout the troposphere and the other has an upper tropospheric anticyclone. Both vortices have the same structure in the middle and lower troposphere. The two vortices were inserted into four different environmental flows on a beta-plane: (a) a resting atmosphere; (b) a uniform flow; (c) a horozontal shear flow and (d) a vertical shear flow. The results show that the forecast tracks are very sensitive to the vertical structure of the bogus vortex, especially when the environmental flow is very weak, or is westerly and has a cyclonic horizontal shear. However, this sensitivity is reduced in moderate vertical shear. This motion sensitivity is found to arise from the vertical coupling mechanism by which the upper-and lower-level circulations interact with each other when a horizontal displacement occurs between them.The vertical structure of the bogus vortex can also affect the intensity of the model cyclone, depending on the configuration of the environmental flow. In general, the bogus vortex without an upper-level anticyclone will intensify quicker and will develop more intense than the one with an upper-level anticyclone. The vertical coupling mechanism can result in different asymmetric rainfall pattern in cyclone core region depending on the vertical structure of the bogus vortex. The asymmetric divergent flow associated with these convective asymmetries may in turn further influence the vortex motion. It is suggested that care needs to be taken in determining the vertical structure of the bogus vortex in numerical models.With 14 Figures     

A review of ground-based,mobile, W-band Doppler-radar observations of tornadoes and dust devils

A ground-based, mobile, W-band Doppler-radar has been used in the U.S. during the last decade to obtain high-spatial resolution maps of the radar reflectivity and wind fields in tornadoes and dust devils. This radar is one of the best tools available for studying the substructure of intense, small-scale vortices in the boundary layer. The most significant findings to date are summarized.In one case, it was found that just prior to tornadogenesis in a supercell, a 100–200 m scale cyclonic vortex formed at the leading edge of a bulge in the rear–flank gust front. This vortex appeared to interact with a larger-scale (500 m to 1 km wide) cyclonic vortex, just as the tornado formed. Other small-scale cyclonic vortices were present along the rear–flank gust, but they did not develop into tornadoes. The mature tornado-vortex was dominated by quasi-stationary wavenumber-two disturbances, while the mean vortex resembled a two-celled, Rankine combined vortex. The diameter of the mean vortex narrowed as it intensified and widened as it weakened, even though the tornado condensation funnel narrowed as the tornado was dissipating. Evidence was also found of short-term, inertial-like oscillations in vortex diameter and intensity. Spiral bands and eyes were ubiquitous. The eye in one well-documented case was broader in the lowest few hundred meters than it was aloft. Multiple vortices and “umbilical” cords of very narrow bands of reflectivity have also been found.Both cyclonic and anticyclonic dust devils have been documented. Some dust devils resemble a relatively narrow, Rankine combined vortex, while others are wider and have a broad, calm eye and a narrow annulus of intense vorticity just within the radius of maximum wind (RMW), and rising motion just inside the RMW and sinking motion well inside the RMW. Multiple-vortex structure, Rossby-like wave motion, and the Fujiwhara effect have also been documented.     

一次黄海之滨中尺度对流复合体多尺度结构特征观测研究

2006年7月3日傍晚到4日凌晨,苏北到黄海的一个中尺度对流复合体(MCC)产生了系列龙卷、直线型对流大风和强降水,利用常规高空地面观测、区域自动气象站、卫星云图以及多普勒天气雷达资料,详细分析此次中尺度对流复合体的结构和产生的天气背景。主要结论如下:(1)该中尺度对流复合体高层为对应分离背景场的强辐散,中层在副热带高压西北侧和500 hPa东移的短波槽前,地面位于锋面气旋暖区内;该中尺度对流复合体发生在中等到强的对流有效位能、强的深层(0—6 km)和低层(0—1 km)风垂直切变环境下;(2)该中尺度对流复合体主要垂直环流特征为:近地层东南气流和其上的中低层西南暖湿气流从对流复合体南部流入到复合体中心,复合体后部对流层中低层和中层为较干冷的西北气流夹卷进入中尺度对流复合体,导致降水蒸发冷却形成强烈下沉气流,产生带有西北风动量的下沉气流,到地面形成β中尺度冷池,冷池与周边暖湿气流的交界处为β中尺度阵风锋,同时中尺度对流复合体位于对流层低层到地面部分形成深厚冷池导致的雷暴高压,阵风锋前部有β中尺度暖低压;中尺度对流复合体中高层由于水汽凝结潜热释放加热形成暖心结构,位于对流层中层的主要特征为β中尺度气旋性涡旋对应的中尺度低压,对流层高层存在β中尺度辐散反气旋环流;(3)多普勒天气雷达探测揭示该中尺度对流复合体成熟阶段主要呈现为线性结构,主要构成是一条尺度在150—200 km的活跃弓形飑线,还有数条较弱的呈气旋性弯曲的对流雨带,雨带旋入共同的涡旋中心,该涡旋中心与地面锋面气旋的中心相对应(重合),同时也是相应中尺度对流复合体的β中尺度气旋的中心,直径为40—60 km;(4)在上述活跃弓形飑线的前侧出现多个中尺度涡旋,4个EF2级龙卷和3个EF1级龙卷都发生在这些中尺度涡旋内,导致龙卷的中尺度涡旋水平尺度为4—5 km,旋转速度接近超级单体的强中气旋旋转速度,垂直伸展比超级单体中气旋浅薄,形成机制也与超级单体中气旋有明显差异;(5)该中尺度对流复合体成熟阶段的云系尺度为1000 km,其中低于220 K (-52℃)冷云盖的尺度在400 km左右,其内部结构的主要构成是一条150—200 km长的活跃弓形飑线,地面β中尺度冷池和阵风锋,沿着弓形飑线前侧出现多个尺度为4—5 km的中尺度涡旋,其中部分中尺度涡旋导致尺度只有几十至几百米的EF1和EF2级龙卷,呈现出明显的多尺度结构特征。      

正压无辐散模式中双涡的相互作用

本文在无环境流场的情况下,利用正压无辐散模式对双涡的相互作用以及β效应的影响进行了数值模拟研究。一系列的试验结果表明:双涡的相对运动对双涡间的初始距离及双涡的相对强度是十分敏感的,双涡间的非线性涡度平流可导致两个系统的气旋隆互旋;同时可造成两个系统的相互吸引和合并或相互排斥,吸引或排斥的临界距离取决于双涡的结构及相对强度:"合并"的快慢取决于双涡的联合强度,联合强度越强越难于"合并"β效应对双涡的相互作用具有显著的影响。它可以改变双涡相互吸引或排斥的性质,还可以使两个相互吸引的同等强度的涡旋"合并"后较平直地向西北方向漂移,而使两个不同强度的涡旋"合并"后的运动表现为β漂移和陀螺运动的叠加。      

Low-Order Point Vortex Models of Atmospheric Blocking

Summary Conceptual models of blocking structures are constructed by reducing the two-dimensional atmospheric vorticity field to a few point vortices. The flow is assumed to be barotropic and divergence-free, and a blocking event is represented by a point vortex dipole. The focus is here on the motion of the blocking dipole under the influence of the zonal mean flow. This is modelled in three different ways: A dipole embedded in a latitude-dependent zonal mean flow exhibits neutrally stable oscillations; their period is estimated analytically. A cyclonic point vortex approaching from upstream can either pass the dipole or break it up, so that an Ω-shaped pattern of three vortices emerges. The stationarity of a blocking between two troughs is modelled by four point vortices. These low-order point vortex models are compared with the dynamics of real blockings in case studies. Despite their high degree of simplification, those models reproduce the kinematics of blocking events properly. This results from the discretization of the flow to its actual physical states, the vortices, in contrast to the common, purely mathematical discretization to grid points. Thus, point vortex dynamics are proposed to be a powerful completion of continuous fluid dynamics in explaining blocking events. Received August 30, 1999 Revised December 22, 1999     

Initiation and Evolution of Long-Lived Eastward-Propagating Mesoscale Convective Systems over the Second-Step Terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley

Based on the previous statistical analysis of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)over the second-step terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley,eight representative long-lived eastward-propagating MCSs are selected for model-based sensitivity testing to investigate the initiation and evolution of these types of MCSs as well as their impact on downstream areas.We subject each MCS to a semi-idealized(CNTL)simulation and a sensitivity(NOLH)simulation that neglects condensational heating in the formation region.The CNTL experiment reveals convection forms in the region downstream of a shortwave trough typified by persistent southwesterly winds in the low-to midtroposphere.Upon merging with other convective systems,moist convection develops into an MCS,which propagates eastward under the influence of mid-tropospheric westerlies,and moves out of the second-step terrain.The MCS then merges with pre-existing local convection over the plains;the merged convection reinforces the cyclonic wind perturbation into a mesoscale vortex at 850 hPa.While this vortex moves eastward to regions with local vortex at 850 hPa,another vortex at 925 hPa is also intensified.Finally,the vortices at 850 and 925 hPa merge together and develop into a mesoscale convective vortex(MCV).In contrast,MCSs fail to form and move eastward in the NOLH experiment.In the absence of eastward-propagating MCSs,moist convection and mesoscale vortices still appear in the plains,but the vortex strength and precipitation intensity are significantly weakened.It is suggested the eastward-propagating MCSs over the second-step terrain significantly impact the development and enhancement of moist convection and vortices in the downstream areas.     

浙江天目山背风坡对流触发个例的对比分析

针对夏季副热带高压背景下浙北天目山附近的强对流天气个例,利用中尺度实况资料,分析了天目山对触发对流的作用。结果表明:浙江省夏季位于副热带高压边缘时,低层处于西南背景风时,在低Froude数条件下,气流经过黄山、天目山后在背风侧形成一段辐合线,在有利的热力条件配合下,容易触发对流。山地的热力强迫作用使地形上空新生了很多积云,积云分布基本与地形一致。同时,天目山背风侧出现一条积云线,其形成的原因是天目山背风侧辐合线的辐合抬升作用。背风侧辐合线尺度有几十千米,方向随环境风向转变。对流触发的位置位于这条辐合线上靠近山地的一端。这可能是由于山地热力强迫作用产生的积云移到辐合线上继续发展产生对流云,即山地的动力和热力作用共同触发了对流。     

Airflow patterns over and around a large three-dimensional hill

Summary Surface wind patterns and air flows within the planetary boundary layer over a large three-dimensional hill of moderate slope are grouped according to Froude number classes. An evolution of flow patterns is shown to occur as the Froude number increases.Separation of the surface flow begins at the base of the lee side of the mountain near the centerline, moving upward on the lee slope as the Froude number increases. Recirculating eddies follow the separation of the lee flow. Eventually the separation line moves forward to the windward side as the Froude number becomes very large. The recirculating eddy becomes unsteady, with indication of an intermittent counterrolating eddy near the lee surface in neutral flow. The lee-side turbulence is enhanced with respect to the windward side due to the large eddies in high Froude number regimes.The concept of a critical height for the approach flow is generally supported. The integral form of the Froude number does not appear to be superior to a bulk Froude calculation in representing a particular airflow pattern.With 6 FiguresDeceased.     

A study of the effect of topography on the merging of vortices

Eight sets of numerical experiments are performed in 48 hours of integtation by using a barotropic primitive equation model with a topographic term so as to investigate the effect of topography on the merging of vortices. It is pointed out that the introduction of topography may change the track of vortices,and it causes the low vortices and vorticity lumps to be detained on the southeast side of the topography,thus creating a favorable condition for the merging of the low vortex and vorticity lumps. It is also shown that the effect of topography may cause double mergers of vortices in a horizontally shearing basic flow,and it can strengthen the low vortex remarkably.