An analysis of heavy precipitation caused by a retracing plateau vortex based on TRMM data

In this paper, we study a persistent heavy precipitation process caused by a special retracing plateau vortex in the eastern Tibetan Plateau during 21–26 July 2010 using tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) data. Results show that during the whole heavy rainfall process, the precipitation rate of convective cloud is steady for all four phases of the plateau vortex movement. Compared with the convective precipitation clouds, the stratiform precipitation clouds have a higher fraction of area, a comparable ratio of contribution to the total precipitation, and a much lower precipitation rate. Precipitation increases substantially after the vortex moves out of the Tibetan Plateau, and Sichuan Province has the most extensive precipitation, which occurs when the vortex turns back westward. A number of strong convective precipitation cloud centers appear at 3–5 km. With strong upward motion, the highest rain top can reach up to 15 km. In various phases of the vortex evolution, there is always more precipitable ice than precipitable water, cloud ice water and cloud liquid water. The precipitating cloud particles increase significantly in the middle and lower troposphere when the vortex moves eastward, and cloud ice particles increase quickly at 6–8 km when the vortex retraces westward. The center of the latent heat release is always prior to the center of the vortex, and the vortex moves along the latent heat release areas. Moreover, high latent heat is released at 5–8 km with maximum at 7 km. Also, the latent heat release is more significant when the vortex moves out of the Tibetan Plateau than over the Tibetan Plateau.     

Main Detrainment Height of Deep Convection Systems over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Southern Slope

Deep convection systems (DCSs) can rapidly lift water vapor and other pollutants from the lower troposphere to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The main detrainment height determines the level to which the air parcel is lifted. We analyzed the main detrainment height over the Tibetan Plateau and its southern slope based on the CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar 2B_GEOPROF dataset and the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Level 2 cloud ice product onboard the A-train constellation of Earth-observing satellites. It was found that the DCSs over the Tibetan Plateau and its southern slope have a higher main detrainment height (about 10?16 km) than other regions in the same latitude. The mean main detrainment heights are 12.9 and 13.3 km over the Tibetan Plateau and its southern slope, respectively. The cloud ice water path decreases by 16.8% after excluding the influences of DCSs, and the height with the maximum increase in cloud ice water content is located at 178 hPa (about 13 km). The main detrainment height and outflow horizontal range are higher and larger over the central and eastern Tibetan Plateau, the west of the southern slope, and the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau than that over the northwestern Tibetan Plateau. The main detrainment height and outflow horizontal range are lower and broader at nighttime than during daytime.     

A Study of the Characteristics of the Low-Frequency Circulation over the Tibetan Plateau and its Association with Precipitation in the Yangtze River Valley in 1998

The propagation characteristics of the atmospheric low frequency (LF, 30--60 days) oscillation (LFO) around the Tibetan Plateau from troposphere to stratosphere and its relationship with the floods over the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the summer of 1998 are studied, based on the GAME dataset from Meteorological Research Institute (MRI)/Japan Meteorological Agency, the TRMM satellite rainfall and the 730-station precipitation over China. The results show that the zonal propagation direction of LFOs in horizontal winds varies with seasons in the troposphere during May to August in 1998. The eastward propagation of LFOs is remarkable before the start of the rainy season in the Tibetan Plateau and the eastern Asian continent, while the westward propagation is significant after the start date. The northward LFOs from the south side of the plateau and the southward LFOs from the north are both significant before and after the start date. The plateau is a LFO sink in the meridional and zonal directions, but the west part of it is an intensifying area for the continual westward LFOs only after the start of the rainy season. Besides, the strongest LFOs occur at the tropopause (100 hPa) and rapidly decay after entering the stratosphere. The rainfall over the mid-low reaches of Yangtze River in the summer of 1998 exhibits two LFO cycles. According to the phases of the two rainfall LFO cycles, the composite analysesof precipitation distribution, LF circulations at 500 and 100 hPa,and LF vertical motion along 30°N are performed. It is the joint effect of the mid-upper tropospheric strong 30--60-day filtered cyclone (anticyclone) over the eastern plateau and the LFO anticyclone (cyclone) over the west subtropical Pacific that induces the whole layer LF descending (ascending) motion over the mid-lower reaches of Yangtze River, which provides the favorable condition for the break (maintenance) of precipitation.     

青藏高原热力异常与华北汛期降水关系的研究

利用1980～1994年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,以及我国336个测站1956～1994年月降水量资料,通过诊断分析和数值实验,研究了夏季高原上热力异常与华北汛期降水的关系.结果表明:华北汛期干旱年,青藏高压及西太平洋副热带高压偏南、偏东,华北汛期降水偏多年则相反;华北汛期旱年时,高原上升、高原东侧邻近地区下沉的垂直环流明显加强,而降水偏多年时,垂直环流减弱,华北地区为上升气流控制;夏季高原为热源和水汽汇区,它们的异常对华北地区降水有很大影响,当热源和水汽汇增强(减弱)时,华北地区降水偏少(偏多).数值试验表明,高原上潜热加热异常引起青藏高压、西太平洋副热带高压、亚洲季风以及欧亚中高纬地区环流的变化,进而影响到华北地区的降水.     

Simulation of urban climate with high-resolution WRF model: A case study in Nanjing, China

In this study, urban climate in Nanjing of eastern China is simulated using 1-km resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with a single-layer Urban Canopy Model. Based on the 10-summer simulation results from 2000 to 2009 we find that the WRF model is capable of capturing the high-resolution features of urban climate over Nanjing area. Although WRF underestimates the total precipitation amount, the model performs well in simulating the surface air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation frequency and inter-annual variability. We find that extremely hot events occur most frequently in urban area, with daily maximum (minimum) temperature exceeding 36°C (28°C) in around 40% (32%) of days. Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect at surface is more evident during nighttime than daytime, with 20% of cases the UHI intensity above 2.5°C at night. However, The UHI affects the vertical structure of Planet Boundary Layer (PBL) more deeply during daytime than nighttime. Net gain for latent heat and net radiation is larger over urban than rural surface during daytime. Correspondingly, net loss of sensible heat and ground heat are larger over urban surface resulting from warmer urban skin. Because of different diurnal characteristics of urban-rural differences in the latent heat, ground heat and other energy fluxes, the near surface UHI intensity exhibits a very complex diurnal feature. UHI effect is stronger in days with less cloud or lower wind speed. Model results reveal a larger precipitation frequency over urban area, mainly contributed by the light rain events (< 10 mm d^?1). Consistent with satellite dataset, around 10?C20% more precipitation occurs in urban than rural area at afternoon induced by more unstable urban PBL, which induces a strong vertical atmospheric mixing and upward moisture transport. A significant enhancement of precipitation is found in the downwind region of urban in our simulations in the afternoon.     

全球变暖背景下青藏高原夏季气温在对流层上下反相变化及其与降水和环流的关系

本文利用NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料及中国596个测站月降水资料,采用线性倾向估计、经验正交函数分解(EOF)、相关分析、合成分析等方法,对青藏高原夏季对流层气温垂直变化及其与降水和环流的关系进行了分析。气温垂直变化特征分析表明:自1971年以来,青藏高原夏季对流层低层至对流层中上部气温呈现显著增暖趋势,对流层上部气温呈现显著变冷趋势,高原对流层低层至中上部气温及对流层上部气温在年际、年代际尺度上均呈较显著负相关,且均存在2~4 a及8~13 a的周期;夏季青藏高原地区沿27.5°N~40°N平均的气温距平垂直分布的EOF分解第一模态特征向量在对流层表现为"下降温上增温"的反相变化,其时间系数呈显著负趋势,且存在1978年及1994年的突变点。高原夏季气温在对流层的上下反相变化与我国夏季降水的关系在年际、年代际尺度上均显示:当高原对流层低层至对流层中上部升温而对流层上部降温时,我国夏季降水表现为南方型,其中以江南至华南地区降水显著偏多而我国东北地区降水显著偏少为主要分布特征;另外,长江流域的局部地区及我国西北的部分地区降水也明显偏少,而华北东部的局部地区、青藏高原中部及东部地区以及新疆西北部地区降水明显偏多;降水异常分布在年代际尺度上比年际尺度更显著。环流分析显示:当高原对流层低层至对流层中上部升温而对流层上部降温时东亚中高纬度地区为异常高压控制,中低纬度地区受异常低压影响。环流场与降水分布有较好的配置关系。     

青藏高原东南部复杂地形区不同天气状况下陆气能量交换特征分析

青藏高原地理环境复杂,已有大气陆面-边界层研究工作多集中于不同下垫面,很少有对复杂地形区的研究。本文利用青藏高原东南部林芝地区2013年5月20日至7月9日四个野外试验站点的观测资料,分析了不同天气条件下,高原复杂地形区不同下垫面的陆-气能量交换特征。结果表明:在各站向下短波辐射基本一致的情况下,地形较陡的北坡阔叶林站感热通量远大于其他3个站点;下垫面植被覆盖最多的南面麦田站潜热通量最大。各站能量通量有明显的日变化特征,晴天时,感热通量和净辐射明显大于阴雨天,而潜热通量随天气状况变化不大。青藏高原复杂地形环境比不同天气条件对于感热通量的影响更显著;不同地形阴雨天时对于潜热通量有明显的影响。当南亚季风槽前的西南暖湿气流影响到林芝地区时,该地区以阴雨天为主,反之则以晴天为主。林芝地区地-气通量的月内变化明显受南亚季风活动的影响。     

The quasi-stationary feature of nocturnal precipitation in the Sichuan Basin and the role of the Tibetan Plateau

The nocturnal precipitation in the Sichuan Basin in summer has been studied in many previous works. This paper expands the study on the diurnal cycle of precipitation in the Sichuan Basin to the whole year. Results show that the nocturnal precipitation has a specific quasi-stationary feature in the basin. It occurs not only in summer but also in other three seasons, even more remarkable in spring and autumn than in summer. There is a prominent eastward timing delay in the nocturnal precipitation, that is, the diurnal peak of precipitation occurs at early-night in the western basin whereas at late-night in the center and east of the basin. The Tibetan Plateau plays an essential role in the formation of this quasi-stationary nocturnal precipitation. The early-night peak of precipitation in the western basin is largely due to strong ascending over the plateau and its eastern lee side. In the central and eastern basin, three coexisting factors contribute to the late-night peak of precipitation. One is the lower-tropospheric southwesterly flow around the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, which creates a strong cyclonic rotation and ascendance in the basin at late-night, as well as brings abundant water vapor. The second is the descending motion downslope along the eastern lee side of the plateau, together with an air mass accumulation caused by the warmer air mass transport from the southeast of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, creating a diabatic warming at low level of the troposphere in the central basin. The third is a cold advection from the plateau to the basin at late-night, which leads to a cooling in the middle troposphere over the central basin. All these factors are responsible for precipitation to occur at late-night in the central to eastern basin.     

增暖背景下新疆昼夜降水的变化特征

利用新疆地区89个台站1961~2005年昼、夜降水观测数据,分析了该地区昼夜降水过程的时空演变特征,目的是认识这个地区在年降水增加背景下昼夜间降水过程的变化特征及趋势。研究结果表明:(1)1961~2005年,多年平均的降水量为夜大于昼,且昼、夜降水量均呈显著增加趋势;夜降水量增长趋势大于昼降水量,昼、夜年降水量增长趋势分别占年总降水增长趋势的49%、51%,这种变化在南、北疆存在明显的区域差异。昼、夜降水量都存在由少到多的显著突变,但两者发生突变时间不同,昼降水量发生突变的时间为1986年,而夜降水量的突变点却发生在1991年。(2)昼降水日数小于夜降水日数,且昼、夜降水日数都呈显著增加趋势,昼降水日数增加趋势大于夜降水日数。昼、夜降水强度都呈显著增大趋势,夜降水强度及其增长趋势均大于昼降水强度。降水量增加的主要原因是由于降水日数的增多,降水强度对降水量影响较小。(3)昼、夜毛毛雨日数都呈显著减少趋势,昼毛毛雨日数及其减少趋势均大于夜毛毛雨日数。而强降水的日数和强度均呈现增加趋势;昼、夜强降水量和各自的总降水量有很好的相关,强降水量对总降水量的影响很大。引起这些昼、夜间降水变化特征差异的原因有待于进一步研究。     

青藏高原东坡高原草甸近地层气象要素与能量输送季节变化分析

本文简要介绍了青藏高原东坡理塘大气综合观测站的情况。利用该站20072008年观测资料, 分析比较了青藏高原东坡地区高原草甸下垫面情况下近地层气象要素及能量输送的季节变化特征。结果表明:理塘地区近地层气象要素及能量输送的季节变化显著, 具有明显的水热同期特点。各个季节近地层气象要素和湍流通量, 如风、气温、感热通量、潜热通量等, 日变化显著。风速、动量通量、摩擦速度等要素的平均日最大值和最小值分别出现在下午和日出前。比湿的峰值出现在日出前。辐射和热平衡分量的日均最大值与最小值分别出现在正午及日出前。地表热源强度分析表明, 理塘白天为热源, 在春夏秋三季夜间为弱的热源与冷源交替出现。在雨季, 潜热输送在陆气间热量交换过程中占主导作用, 感热输送是次要的;干季的结果与雨季相反, 感热是首要的。      

青藏高原热力对四川盆地西部一次持续性暴雨影响的数值模拟

通过对四川盆地西部一次持续性暴雨过程的半理想数值模拟,研究了青藏高原热力作用对四川盆地持续性暴雨过程的影响。研究表明,高原的热力作用对于下游地区有着显著的影响,主要表现为:（1）关闭高原地面感热和潜热后,高原地区和四川盆地西部的降水明显减弱,而盆地中东部降水却有所加强,且四川盆地降水的日变化特征稍有减弱;（2）500 hPa青藏高原上的短波槽减弱,位于四川盆地中西部的背风槽强度、范围有所减弱,但低层盆地东部的气旋性涡旋加强;（3）涡度收支的定量分析发现,关闭高原热力作用后,盆地东部对流层低层垂直风切变的增强使得夜间倾斜项的正贡献增强,从而使该区域涡旋发展加强,盆地东部降水增强。     

Complexity analysis of the air temperature and the precipitation time series in Serbia

Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) was applied to the study of the effect of the topographical altitude of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) on a severe drought event which took place in eastern China from November 2008 to January 2009. Two simulations of this drought event were conducted: a control simulation (CNTRL run) using original model settings and a sensitive simulation (TOPO run), where no change other than to reduce the TP topography by 50 %. The results show that the CNTRL simulation validates RAMS by reproducing this drought event fairly accurately. However, as part of the TOPO simulation, the total heat flux showed a decrease over most parts of the TP, latent heat flux underwent a significant increase over the southeastern TP, contrary to sensible heat, and a universal decrease over eastern China; this led to an increase in precipitation over the southeastern TP and a decrease in precipitation over eastern China. The decrease of total heat flux over the TP is collocated with an anomalous anticyclonic circulation from the TP to the coasts of southeastern China. Changes in atmospheric circulation and low-level water vapor transport pathways were consistent with changes in precipitation. In general, reducing the topographical altitude of the TP worsens drought in eastern China and moreover causes a significant decrease in precipitation over southern China.     

高原地表过程中冻融过程在东亚夏季风中的作用

用茶卡站冻结日数与季风指数的相关简单说明高原冻融过程与东亚夏季风之间存在联系。作为个例,对沱沱河区域1998,1999年从冬到夏过渡季节的冻融过程与感、潜热变化及东亚夏季风建立之间的关系进行了初步分析。结果表明:从冬到夏的过渡季节中,青藏高原的冻融过程与高原加热存在着联系,土壤季节性冻融使得高原地表向大气的感、潜热输送随季节发生变化,青藏高原的加热作用对东亚夏季风的爆发时间和强度有重要影响。因此,高原地表过程中土壤冻融过程在东亚夏季风的爆发过程中扮演着重要角色。     

夏季青藏高原热源对下游降水影响的研究进展

青藏高原作为耸入对流层中层的“巨大热岛”,其产生的热力强迫对东亚以及全球的天气气候起着举足轻重的作用。因此,关于夏季高原热源对下游降水影响及其机理的研究有助于加深对青藏高原影响下游天气气候的认识,提高青藏高原及下游降水的预报水平。本文针对青藏高原夏季热源的时空分布及演变特征、青藏高原热源在不同时空尺度上对下游降水的影响规律及物理机制,总结了已有的相关研究进展,指出了存在的主要问题,并展望了未来不同时空尺度上青藏高原热源对下游降水影响的研究方向,提出了值得进一步加强研究的重点与难点问题。      

南亚夏季风爆发前后青藏高原地表热通量的长期变化特征分析

青藏高原作为世界第三极,其热力强迫作用不仅对亚洲季风系统的发展和维持十分重要,也会对大气环流场产生深远影响。利用欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）的ERA-Interim中1979-2016年3-10月青藏高原及其周边地区的地表热通量月平均再分析资料,通过分析得出以下结论:3-5月青藏高原主体由感热占据,感热强度快速上升且呈西高东低的分布态势,潜热强度较小但随时间而增强。季风爆发后的6-8月,青藏高原感热强度减弱,潜热强度迅速增强且呈东高西低的分布特征。季风消退后的9-10月,感热与潜热强度相当,但感热呈现出西高东低的分布特征。过去38年,青藏高原地表感热总体呈现微弱下降趋势,潜热呈较弱上升趋势。青藏高原西部地区感热呈微弱下降趋势,潜热呈上升趋势。东部感热呈较为明显的下降趋势且近年来变化趋势增强,东部潜热通量则呈现较为明显的上升趋势,分析结论与近期全球变暖条件下青藏高原气候变暖变湿这一变化状况一致,通过对青藏高原地表热通量的变化分析为下一步运用第三次青藏高原大气科学试验所获资料分析青藏高原上空大气热源的变化以及地表加热场如何影响大气环流奠定基础。      

青藏高原夏季大气视热源与中国东部降水的关系的年代际变化

基于1979～2017年欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）提供的ERA-Interim逐日再分析资料和热力学方程,本研究估算了大气视热源,分析研究了青藏高原夏季大气视热源的异常与中国东部降水关系的年代际变化,以及青藏高原大气视热源影响我国东部夏季降水的物理机制。结果表明:（1）高原热源东、西部反相变化模态的重要性发生了年代际转变,表现为由1994年之前方差贡献相对小的第二变异模态变为1994之后方差贡献明显增大而成为第一主导变异模态。（2）青藏高原夏季大气视热源的东、西反相变化模态与中国东部降水的关系存在年代际变化。1993年之前和2008年之后,高原大气视热源的异常分别仅与长江下游降水和长江中游降水异常存在密切的联系;而在1994～2007年,其对长江流域及附近区域和华南地区的夏季降水的影响显著,具体表现为,当高原夏季大气视热源异常表现为东强西弱（东弱西强）时,长江中上游、江淮地区的降水偏多（少）,华南地区降水偏少（多）。（3）高原大气视热源显著影响我国东部夏季降水主要是通过经高原上空发展加强的天气系统东移过程影响长江流域及附近地区的降水,以及通过垂直环流影响华南地区的降水。     

Impact of Indian summer monsoon on the South Asian High and its influence on summer rainfall over China

By using the monthly ERA-40 reanalysis data and observed rainfall data, we investigated the effect of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) on the South Asian High (SAH) at 200 hPa, and the role played by the SAH in summer rainfall variation over China. It is found that in the interannual timescale the east–west shift is a prominent feature of the SAH, with its center either over the Iranian Plateau or over the Tibetan Plateau. When the ISM is stronger (weaker) than normal, the SAH shifts westward (eastward) to the Iranian Plateau (Tibetan Plateau). The east–west position of SAH has close relation to the summer rainfall over China. A westward (eastward) location of SAH corresponds to less (more) rainfall in the Yangtze-Huai River Valley and more (less) rainfall in North China and South China. A possible physical process that the ISM affects the summer rainfall over China via the SAH is proposed. A stronger (weaker) ISM associated with more (less) rainfall over India corresponds to more (less) condensation heat release and anomalous heating (cooling) in the upper troposphere over the northern Indian peninsula. The anomalous heating (cooling) stimulates positive (negative) height anomalies to its northwest and negative (positive) height anomalies to its northeast in the upper troposphere, causing a westward (eastward) shift of the SAH with its center over the Iranian Plateau (Tibetan Plateau). As a result, an anomalous cyclone (anticyclone) is formed over the eastern Tibetan Plateau and eastern China in the upper troposphere. The anomalous vertical motions in association with the circulation anomalies are responsible for the rainfall anomalies over China. Our present study reveals that the SAH may play an important role in the effect of ISM on the East Asian summer monsoon.     

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.     

青藏高原东坡地形短波辐射效应的模拟研究

本文选择2012年8月16~17日降水个例,利用WRFV3.5天气模式模拟研究青藏高原东坡的地形坡度、坡向及覆盖短波辐射效应(Effect of Slope,Aspect and Shading,ESAS)。结果显示,ESAS产生的短波辐射强迫(强迫)空间分布与坡度大小一致,表现为坡度大时强迫大,坡度小时强迫小;朝西坡向为负强迫,坡向朝东为正强迫,正负强迫分别超过20和32W m-2。地形覆盖使得坡度和坡向在青藏高原东坡(高原东坡)上产生的地面短波辐射通量变化(辐射通量变化)整体向东南移入盆地,位移后的辐射通量增减仍然和高原东坡的坡度、坡向分布一致。地表热通量、地表温度在白天的变化和辐射通量变化分布一致,均在四川盆地内有一条高值带,且形状类似高原东坡和盆地的衔接线;EASA对地面各热通量的影响可以延续到夜间,使得夜间地表热通量变化和高值区位置与白天相似,但变化幅度减小。水汽混合比和风场的变化均具有与潜热变化相似的空间形态,在夜间尤其明显。潜热的增加(减小)可能引起风速增减加(减小),并最终导致降水的改变。      

青藏高原低涡形成、发展和东移影响下游暴雨天气个例的位涡分析

2016年6月28日至7月1日在我国副热带地区发生了一次青藏高原低涡形成、发展及东传引发长江中下游地区暴雨天气的过程。本文利用MERRA2（Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications）再分析资料和TRMM（Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission）降水资料对该过程进行位涡诊断分析。结果表明，夏季青藏高原地表加热具有强烈的日变化。高原地表加热由白天感热加热源到夜间辐射冷却源的转变直接影响高原上空非绝热加热率的垂直梯度，使高原近地层白天有位涡耗散，夜间有位涡制造，呈现明显的昼夜循环。当夜间的位涡制造异常强，以至不为白天的耗散所抵消时，通常位涡制造的昼夜循环被破坏，高原低涡形成，低涡周围随之出现降水。当低涡中心移动至高原东部时，中心附近伴随有强烈的降水，显著的凝结潜热加热使位涡中心增强，高原低涡进一步发展。随着低涡系统继续向东移出高原，长江中下游地区中高层出现位涡平流随高度增加的大尺度动力背景，上升运动发展，最终导致强降水发生。