Diurnal variation in the occurrence frequency of the Tibetan Plateau vortices

A diagnostic study is made on the diurnal variation in the occurrence frequency of the Tibetan Plateau vortices (TPVs) in four local time (LT) periods of a day (06–12 LT, 12–18 LT, 18–00 LT, 00–06 LT) using the data from May to September in 2006–2008. The occurrence frequency of the TPVs shows a robust diurnal variation with its maximum from evening to midnight (18–00 LT) and minimum from early morning to noon (06–12 LT). The physical processes in association with the diurnal variation of the TPVs are revealed. Both large-scale circulations and condensational latent heat induced by the precipitation system have important effect on the diurnal variation of the TPVs’ occurrence. In the evening at 18 LT, there are strongest convergence at 500 hPa and divergence at 200 hPa. Meanwhile, the largest water vapor is transported to the main body of the Tibetan Plateau, and the stratification is unstable, which are conducive to the strongest convection and condensational latent heat release accompanied with the largest precipitation system. All these conditions are responsible for the maximum occurrence of the TPVs in 18–00 LT. On the contrary, at 06 LT the weakest convergence at 500 hPa and divergence at 200 hPa as well as the stable stratification result in little latent heat release, and the minimum occurrence of the TPVs is observed in 06–12 LT.