Vortex Rossby waves on smooth circular vortices: Part II. Idealized numerical experiments for tropical cyclone and polar vortex interiors

Idealized linear and nonlinear numerical experiments are carried out to test the predictions of the theory developed in Brunet and Montgomery [Vortex Rossby Waves on Smooth Circular Vortices Part I: Theory (pages 153–177, this issue)]. For a monopolar tropical cyclone-like vortex whose strength lies between a tropical depression and tropical storm, linear theory remains uniformly valid in time in the vortex core for all azimuthal wavenumbers. Examples elucidate aspects of the vortex Rossby wave/merger spin up mechanism proposed previously. For the case of the polar vortex, however, wavenumber 1 disturbances in the continuous spectrum are predicted to develop a nonlinear evolution for realistic polar-night stratospheric-jet configurations and wave breaking is demonstrated to occur within the dynamics of the continuous spectrum.     

On the symmetrization rate of an intense geophysical vortex

Numerical models demonstrate that a broad class of geophysical vortices freely evolve toward vertically aligned, axisymmetric states. In principle, this intrinsic drive toward symmetry opposes destructive shearing by the environmental flow.This article examines the case in which a discrete vortex-Rossby-wave dominates a perturbation from symmetry, and symmetrization occurs by decay of the wave. The wave is damped by a resonance with the fluid rotation frequency at a critical radius, r_*. The damping rate is proportional to the radial derivative of potential vorticity at r_*. Until now, the theory of resonantly damped vortex-Rossby-waves (technically quasi-modes) was formally restricted to slowly rotating vortices, which obey quasigeostrophic (QG) dynamics. This article extends the theory to rapidly rotating vortices.The analysis makes use of the asymmetric balance (AB) approximation. Even at a modest Rossby number (unity), AB theory can predict damping rates that exceed extrapolated QG results by orders of magnitude. This finding is verified upon comparison of AB theory to numerical experiments, based on the primitive equations. The experiments focus on the decay of low azimuthal wave-number asymmetries.A discrete vortex-Rossby-wave can also resonate with an outward propagating inertia-buoyancy wave (Lighthill radiation), inducing both to grow. At large Rossby numbers, this growth mechanism can be dynamically relevant. All balance models, including AB theory, neglect inertia-buoyancy waves, and therefore ignore the possibility of a Rossby-inertia-buoyancy (RIB) instability. This article shows that a large potential vorticity gradient (of the proper sign) at the critical radius r_* can suppress the RIB instability, and thereby preserve balanced flow, even at large Rossby numbers.     

台风螺旋雨带——涡旋Rossby波

台风中的螺旋云雨带是由多种探测手段被观测到的现象 ,是为大家所共识的不争事实。但是 ,对它的形成、维持的理论解释 ,虽有多种学说 ,一直以来人们都倾向于重力惯性波说。而重力惯性波说有一个致命的弱点 ,即波的相速理论值为 10 1m/s量级 ,它要比螺旋云雨带实测移速只有 10 0 m/s几乎大一个量级。于是从前几年开始 ,人们又回到 30多年前提出的涡旋 Rossby波说那里去寻找合适的解释。经典的Rossby波是 β =(df/dy)作用的大尺度波动 ,而适用于台风中螺旋云雨带的涡旋———Rossby波乃是 f平面 (β =0 )上的中尺度波动。那末 ,对这两类尺度不同和成波机理不同的波动 ,何以均冠予Rossby波一词 ?本文试图从动力学等价原理上 ,对此作统一联系的说明。其结果是 :台风基本气流的涡度 ζ随径向 (r)变化的梯度d ζdr=1rr(r vλ) ,在动力学上等价于科氏参数 f随纬度变化的梯度即β=df/dy ;或者说它们在绝对涡度守恒的前提下 ,作为波扰动的成波机理是等价的     

涡旋Rossby波传播和台风切向风速变化的数值研究

设计了一个高分辨率f平面准地转正压涡度方程半谱模式，用以研究非线性对台风切向风速变化，以及不同初始异常条件下台风环流内涡旋Rossby波传播和台风切向风速变化特征。6类(14组)试验的数值结果表明：非线性使台风切向风速的增强减弱，可能使最大风速半径收缩。初始扰动中心位置对涡旋Rossby波传播和台风切向风速变化的影响明显。扰动中心在最大风速半径附近时，台风最大切向风速增强最多；异常中心在台风外区时，使最大切向风速减小。初始异常尺度(范围)减小对台风最大切向风速变化的影响减弱。双涡分布条件下，台风环流外区的涡旋使内区或近眼壁区对流涡旋对台风最大切向风速的影响减弱。     

The Roles of Barotropic Instability and the Beta Effect in the Eyewall Evolution of Tropical Cyclones

Diabatic heating by convection in the eyewall often produces an annular region of high potential vorticity (PV) around the relatively low PV eye in a strong tropical cyclone (TC). Such a PV ring is barotropically unstable and can encourage the exponential growth of PV waves. In this study, such instability and the subsequent nonlinear evolution of three TC-like vortices having PV rings with different degrees of hollowness on an f-plane are first examined using an unforced, inviscid shallow-water-equation model. Results show that the simulated eyewalls evolve similarly to those in the nondivergent barotropic model. It is also found that the polygonal eyewall structure can be decomposed into vortex Rossby waves (VRWs) of different wavenumbers with different amplitudes, allowing for wave-wave interactions to produce complicated behaviors of mesovortices in the TC eyewall. The same set of PV rings has been examined on a beta-plane. Although the beta effect has been rendered unimportant to the eyewall evolution due to the relatively small scale of the inner-core circulation, this study shows that the beta effect may erode the coherent structure of mesovortices in the eyewall of an initially hollow PV-ring vortex. Mesovortices modeled on the beta-plane with a greater beta parameter tend to experience an earlier breakdown and enhanced radial gradients of the basic-state (azimuthally mean) angular velocity, followed by wave-wave, wave-flow interactions, leading to earlier merger and axisymmetrization processes. This result implies that the beta effect could be one of the forcings that shorten the lifetime of quasi-steady mesovortices in the eyewall of real TCs.     

Mesoscale Barotropic Instability of Vortex Rossby Waves in Tropical Cyclones

In this study, the barotropic stability of vortex Rossby waves (VRWs) in 2D inviscid tropical cyclone (TC)-like vortices is explored in the context of rotational dynamics on an f-plane. Two necessary instable conditions are discovered: (a) there must be at least one zero point of basic vorticity gradient in the radial scope; and (b) the relative propagation velocity of perturbations must be negative to the basic vorticity gradient, which reflects the restriction relationship of instable energy. The maximum ...     

热带风暴中波动特征的研究进展和问题

在分析热带风暴眼壁和螺旋雨带中尺度波动特征最新研究的基础上，指出这些研究所忽略的问题，其中包括重力惯性波和涡旋Rossby波波解存在的前提条件和约束、理论分析与观测研究存在的差异等。提出一种基于准平衡动力条件下，热带风暴内中尺度扰动涡散运动共存时，区别于标准模混合的不可分的混合涡旋Rossby-重力惯性波，并讨论了位涡守恒条件下这一类不可分混合波的可能成波机制。利用高分辨率的模式大气资料，采用非对称波分量的分解方法分析了Bonnie飓风中的中尺度波动特征，结果表明，热带风暴中1波型扰动既具有涡旋波性质，但也存在散度扰动的变化，而2波型扰动则体现了明显的不可分混合波的特性。     

Mesoscale dynamics and its application in torrential rainfall systems in China

Progress over the past decade in understanding moisture-driven dynamics and torrential rain storms in China is reviewed in this paper. First, advances in incorporating moisture effects more realistically into theory are described, including the development of a new parameter, generalized moist potential vorticity(GMPV) and an improved moist ageostrophic Q vector(Qum). Advances in vorticity dynamics are also described, including the adoption of a "parcel dynamic" approach to investigate the development of the vertical vorticity of an air parcel; a novel theory of slantwise vorticity development, proposed because vorticity develops easily near steep isentropic surfaces; and the development of the convective vorticity vector(CVV)as an effective new tool. The significant progress in both frontal dynamics and wave dynamics is also summarized, including the geostrophic adjustment of initial unbalanced flow and the dual role of boundary layer friction in frontogenesis, as well as the interaction between topography and fronts, which indicate that topographic perturbations alter both frontogenesis and frontal structure. For atmospheric vortices, mixed wave/vortex dynamics has been extended to explain the propagation of spiral rainbands and the development of dynamical instability in tropical cyclones. Finally, we review wave and basic flow interaction in torrential rainfall, for which it was necessary to extend existing theory from large-scale flows to mesoscale fields, enriching our knowledge of mesoscale atmospheric dynamics.     

GENERALIZED ENERGY CONSERVATION AND UNSTABLE PERTURBATION PROPERTY IN BAROTROPIC VORTEX

Based on a barotropic vortex model, generalized energy-conserving equation was derived and two necessary conditions of basic flow destabilization are gained. These conditions correspond to generalized barotropic instability and super speed instability. They are instabilities of vortex and gravity inertial wave respectively. In order to relate to practical situation, a barotropic vortex was analyzed, the basic flow of which is similar to lower level basic wind field of tropical cyclones and the maximum wind radius of which is 500 km. The results show that generalized barotropic instability depending upon the radial gradient of relative vorticity can appear in this vortex. It can be concluded that unstable vortex Rossby wave may appear in barotropic vortex.     

Study on the Interaction of Non-axisymmetric Binary Vortices

In the context of advection dynamics,19 experiments(Exps.)are performed using a quasi-geostrophic barotropic vorticity equation model to explore the condition for the mergence of binary vortices and the self-organization of the larger scale vortex.Results show that the initial distance between the centers of binary vortices and the non-axisymmetric distributions of their initial vorticity are two factors affecting the mergence of binary vortices.There is a critical distance for the mergence of initial symmetric binary vortices, however,the mergence of initial non-axisymmetric binary vortices is also affected by the asymmetric structure of initial vortices.The self-organization processes in 19 experiments can be classified into two types:one is the merging of identical,axisymmetric binary vortices in which the interaction of the two vortices undergoes slowly change,rapid change,and the formation,stretching,and development of the filaments of vorticity, and the two vortices merge into a symmetric vortex,with its vorticity piled up in the inner region coming from the two initial vortices,and the vorticity of the spiral band in the outer region from the stretching of the filaments of the two initial vortices.And the other type is the merging of the two non-axisymmetric initial vortices of an elliptic vortex and an eccentric vortex in which the elliptic vortex,on the one hand, mutually rotates,and on the other hand moves towards the center of the computational domain,at the same time expands its vorticity area,and at last forms the inner core of resultant state vortex;and the eccentric vortex mutually rotates,meanwhile continuously stretches,and finally forms the spiral band of resultant state vortex.The interaction process is characteristic of the vorticity piled up in the inner core region of resultant state vortex originating from the elliptic vortex and the vorticity in spiral band mainly from the successive stretch and rupture of the eccentric vortex.     

涡旋Rossby波传播的不同特征

用一个柱坐标系涡度正压方程的半谱模式，实施了4组试验，研究了不同初始扰动涡旋分布条件下，涡旋Rossby波的传播特征问题。结果指出：正值、负值相间的沿方向角二波分布的初始场，与只有正值涡旋的初始场相比，其后涡旋Rossby波的传播有明显的差别，即前者向内传播的涡量比后者衰减得快，而且前者是单峰传播，后者是双峰传播。     

台风麦莎登陆后粘性摩擦对正压特征波动的影响

本文推导出柱坐标系下含有粘性摩擦项的正压方程组。选取2005年台风麦莎登陆浙江过程中的8月6日15时的WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)模式输出资料,利用数值差分方法对该正压方程组求特征波解,分析粘性摩擦对台风麦莎内部正压特征波动的影响。结果表明,重力惯性外波在粘性摩擦的影响下,最不稳定波的波数为45左右,波动在摩擦的影响下衰减,波动沿逆时针传播,在半径1000 km处,1波波速为47.43 m/s,在半径r>800 km的范围内,径向风分量扰动加大,辐合辐散运动增强;而摩擦影响下的涡旋Rossby波,2波最不稳定,波动增长率减小,在半径r=200 km处波动相速度为4.282~29.172 m/s,扰动涡度大值区范围减小,涡旋Rossby波的波动区域沿着径向向台风中心收缩。分析包含所有波动时,考虑摩擦后,最不稳定波数在45左右且波动衰减,1波波速在r=1000 km处(外螺旋雨带)为26.374 m/s;在半径r=200 km(内螺旋雨带)为5.275 m/s,考虑径向基本气流后,最不稳定波的波数保持不变,半径r=1000 km处的波速增加为30.324 m/s,r=200 km(内螺旋雨带)处波速为6.065 m/s,摩擦使得径向风分量扰动明显增大,辐合辐散运动加强。     

飓风中的涡旋罗斯贝波

文中从柱坐标系下的正压无辐散涡度方程出发,用WKBJ方法求解方程,发现在飓风中存在类似于行星罗斯贝波的涡旋罗斯贝波,这种波的形成主要是由于飓风中基态涡度垂直分量的径向梯度所决定。利用一次飓风过程的精确数值模拟所输出高分辨的资料,计算了飓风中径向涡度梯度的分布,指出这类波动主要存在于眼墙和眼心中。波动结构分析表明,波动能量具有径向频散,这有可能是飓风暖心结构的一种形成机制。最后用波射线法讨论了定常涡旋罗斯贝波的径向频散     

Buoyancy in tropical cyclones and other rapidly rotating atmospheric vortices

Motivated primarily by its application to understanding tropical-cyclone intensification and maintenance, we re-examine the concept of buoyancy in rapidly rotating vortices, distinguishing between the buoyancy of the symmetric balanced vortex or system buoyancy, and the local buoyancy associated with cloud dynamics. The conventional definition of buoyancy is contrasted with a generalized form applicable to a vortex, which has a radial as well as a vertical component. If, for the special case of axisymmetric motions, the balanced density and pressure distribution of a rapidly rotating vortex are used as the reference state, the buoyancy field then characterizes the unbalanced density perturbations, i.e. the local buoyancy. We show how to determine such a reference state without approximation.The generation of the toroidal circulation of a vortex, which is necessary for vortex amplification, is characterized in the vorticity equation by the baroclinicity vector. This vector depends, inter-alia, on the horizontal (or radial) gradient of buoyancy evaluated along isobaric surfaces. We show that for a tropical-cyclone-scale vortex, the buoyancy so calculated is significantly different from that calculated at constant height or on surfaces of constant σ (σ = (p − p^*)/(p_s − p^*), where p is the actual pressure, p^* some reference pressure and p_s is the surface pressure). Since many tropical-cyclone models are formulated using σ-coordinates, we examine the calculation of buoyancy on σ-surfaces and derive an expression for the baroclinicity vector in σ-coordinates. The baroclinic forcing term in the azimuthal vorticity equation for an axisymmetric vortex is shown to be approximately equal to the azimuthal component of the curl of the generalized buoyancy. A scale analysis indicates that the vertical gradient of the radial component of generalized buoyancy makes a comparatively small contribution to the generation of toroidal vorticity in a tropical cyclone, but may be important in tornadoes and possibly also in dust devils.We derive also a form of the Sawyer–Eliassen equation from which the toroidal (or secondary) circulation of a balanced vortex may be determined. The equation is shown to be the time derivative of the toroidal vorticity equation in which the time rate-of-change of the material derivative of potential toroidal vorticity is set to zero. In analogy with the general case, the diabatic forcing term in the Sawyer–Eliassen equation is shown to be approximately equal to the time rate-of-change of the azimuthal component of the curl of generalized buoyancy.Finally, we discuss the generation of buoyancy in tropical cyclones and contrast the definitions of buoyancy that have been used in recent studies of tropical cyclones. We emphasize the non-uniqueness of the buoyancy force, which depends on the choice of a reference density and pressure, and note that different, but equivalent interpretations of the flow dynamics may be expected to arise if different reference quantities are chosen.     

The Dynamical Characteristics and Wave Structure of Typhoon Rananim （2004）

Typhoon Rananim (2004) was one of the severest typhoons landfalling the Chinese mainland from 1996 to 2004. It brought serious damage and induced prodigious economical loss. Using a new generation of mesoscale model, named the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling system, with 1.667 km grid horizontal spacing on the finest nested mesh, Rananim was successfully simulated in terms of track, intensity, eye, eyewall, and spiral rainbands. We compared the structures of Rananim to those of hurricanes in previous studies and observations to assess the validity of simulation. The three-dimensional (3D) dynamic and thermal structures of eye and eyewall were studied based on the simulated results. The focus was investigation of the characteristics of the vortex Rossby waves in the inner-core region. We found that the Rossby vortex waves propagate azimuthally upwind against the azimuthal mean tangential flow around the eyewall, and their period was longer than that of an air parcel moving within the azimuthal mean tangential flow. They also propagated outward against the boundary layer inflow of the azimuthal mean vortex. Futhermore, we studied the connection between the spiral potential vorticity (PV) bands and spiral rainbands, and found that the vortex Rossby waves played an important role in the formation process of spiral rainbands.     

Effect of Baroclinicity on Vortex Axisymmetrization.Part Ⅱ：Baroclinic Basic Vortex

The effect of baroclinicity on vortex axisymmetrization is examined within a two-layer dynamical model.Three basic state vortices are constructed with varying degrees of baroclinicity：（i） barotropic,（ii） weak baroclinic,and （iii） strong baroclinic.The linear and nonlinear evolution of wavenumber-2 baroclinic disturbances are examined in each of the three basic state vortices.The results show that the radial propagating speed of the vortex Rossby wave at the lower level is larger with the stronger baroclinicity,resulting in a faster linear axisymmetrization process in the stronger baroclinic vortex.It is found that the nonlinear axisymmetrization process takes the longest time in the strongest baroclinic vortex among the three different basic vortices due to the weaker kinetic energy transfer from asymmetric to symmetric circulations at the lower level.A major finding in this study is that the same initial asymmetric perturbation can have different effects on symmetric vortices depending on the initial vortex baroclinicity.In numerical weather prediction models,this implies that there exists a sensitivity of the subsequent structural and intensity change solely due to the specification of the initial vertical shear of the tropical cyclone vortex.     

Vortex Rossby Waves in Asymmetric Basic Flow of Typhoons

Wave ray theory is employed to study features of propagation pathways(rays) of vortex Rossby waves in typhoons with asymmetric basic flow, where the tangential asymmetric basic flow is constructed by superimposing the wavenumber-1 perturbation flow on the symmetric basic flow, and the radial basic flow is derived from the non-divergence equation. Results show that, in a certain distance, the influences of the asymmetry in the basic flow on group velocities and slopes of rays of vortex Rossby waves are mainly concentrated near the radius of maximum wind(RMW), whereas it decreases outside the RMW. The distributions of radial and tangential group velocities of the vortex Rossby waves in the asymmetric basic flow are closely related to the azimuth location of the maximum speed of the asymmetric basic flow, and the importance of radial and tangential basic flow on the group velocities would change with radius. In addition, the stronger asymmetry in the basic flow always corresponds to faster outward energy propagation of vortex Rossby waves. In short, the group velocities, and thereby the wave energy propagation and vortex Rossby wave ray slope in typhoons, would be changed by the asymmetry of the basic flow.     

非轴对称双涡相互作用的研究

在平流动力学的框架内,用准地转正压涡度方程模式实施了19组试验,研究双涡合并的条件及较大尺度涡旋自组织的问题。结果指出:(1)存在着两个影响双涡合并的因素,即初始双涡中心之间的距离和初始涡旋的非轴对称分布。初始两个对称涡旋合并具有明显的临界距离效应,但初始两个非轴对称涡旋能否合并还受到初始涡旋的非对称结构的复杂影响。(2)存在着两类不同的较大尺度涡旋的自组织过程,形成较大尺度涡旋。第一类,初始两个涡旋相同,均呈轴对称分布。双涡作用经历了缓变、快变,以及涡量羽翼的生成、拉伸和发展的过程,合并后呈对称性流型;终态涡内区涡量的堆积来源于两个初始涡,终态涡外区的螺旋带来源于两个初始涡外缘线涡量羽翼的拉伸。第二类,初始两个涡旋不同,一个为椭圆型,一个为偏心型,均呈非轴对称分布。双涡作用中,椭圆涡一边互旋,一边向计算区域中心靠近,同时涡量范围加大,形成了终态涡的内核区;偏心涡一边互旋,一边被不断拉伸,形成了终态涡的螺旋带区;表现出终态涡内区的涡量堆集来源于椭圆涡,终态涡外区螺旋带主要来源于偏心涡的反复拉伸及断裂的特性。     

台风麦莎的正压特征波动结构及其稳定性

利用中尺度WRF模式对2005年8月西北太平洋台风麦莎（Matsa）进行了精细的数值模拟。使用模式输出资料,对正压浅水方程组进行了数值差分计算,分析它在最大强度时刻的正压特征波动结构和稳定性。结果表明,台风麦莎内部包含有沿逆时针方向传播的重力惯性外波和涡旋Ross-by波,两种波动的结构和稳定性存在显著性差异。前者主要存在于台风外围,增长率随波长的减小而增加,台风外围的波动相速度为48．9～68．5m／s;后者主要位于距离台风中心200km内,表现为3波最不稳定,半径100km处相速度约为5m／s。此外,重力惯性外波的扰动风场与高度场基本相垂直,扰动散涡比值大于3倍,甚至达到10＾3倍,运动以辐合、辐散为主;涡旋Rossby波的扰动风场基本平行于高度场,扰动散涡比值为10＾-1～10＾-2,涡旋运动是其主要运动,与内螺旋雨带沿着切向圆周方向的传播具有密切关系。     

Effect of tropical cyclone intensity and instability on the evolution of spiral bands

The evolution of spiral-band-like structures triggered by asymmetric heating in three tropical-cyclone-like vortices of different intensities is examined using the Three-Dimensional Vortex Perturbation Analyzer and Simulator （3DVPAS） model. To simulate the spiral bands, asymmetric thermal perturbations are imposed on the radius of maximum wind （RMW） of vortices, which can be considered as the location near the eyewall of real tropical cyclones （TCs）. All the three vortices experience a hydrostatic adjustment after the introduction of thermal asymmetries. It takes more time for weaker and stable vortices to finish such a process. The spiral-band-like structures, especially those distant from the vortex centers, form and evolve accompanying this process. In the quasi-balance state, the spiral bands are gradually concentrated to the inner core, the wave behavior of which resembles the features of classic vortex Rossby （VR） waves. The unstable vortices regain nonhydrostatic features after the quasi-balance stage. The spiral bands further from the vortex center, similar to distant spiral bands in real TCs, form and maintain more easily in the moderate basic-state vortex, satisfying the conditions of barotropic instability. The widest radial extent and longest-lived distant bands always exist in weak and stable vortices. This study represents an attempt to determine the role of TC intensity and stability in the formation and evolution of spiral bands via hydrostatic balance adjustment, and provides some valuable insights into the formation of distant spiral rainbands.