The relationship between synoptic scale airflow direction and daily rainfall: a methodology applied to Devon and Cornwall, South West England

Summary Trans-scale relationships are established between fluctuations in the direction of the geostrophic flow over the British Isles and spatial variations in rainfall over Devon and Cornwall, South West England. The rationale for using such an approach is to provide the basis for assessing changes to the region’s rainfall climatology that may result from possible future enhanced greenhouse effect forced alterations to large-scale wind flow patterns. A new method, the concentration factor (CF), that relates rainfall totals to the frequency of the flow, is applied to investigate spatial variations in rainfall totals at twelve stations in the two counties under eight wind direction groups (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). S and SW flow types are found to produce the highest daily rainfall totals at all locations, with the three easterly groups (NE, E, SE) yielding higher daily precipitation intensities than the maritime NW group. Inter-annual and seasonal variations in daily wind direction – rainfall (WD/R) relationships are then assessed at two contrasting sites in Cornwall (St. Mawgan, Culdrose) using 40 years of data (1957–96). In general, there is a trend over this period toward maritime airflows (S, SW, W, NW) producing higher daily rainfall totals, with the continental groups (N, NE, E, SE) yielding lower totals relative to their frequency of occurrence. The trend toward maritime airflows producing higher rainfall totals is in line with recent trends in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Notable seasonal variations in WD/R relationships over Cornwall are interpreted in terms of the location’s exposure to the prevailing wind, sea temperature variations and the orography of the South West Peninsula. Received October 23, 2000/Revised February 2, 2001     

Winter daily precipitation variability over the South West Peninsula of England

Summary Daily precipitation totals for five consecutive winters (1995–99) were obtained for 127 stations in Devon and Cornwall to explore spatial variations in rainfall. This dataset was assembled with the explicit aim of assessing the appropriateness of current arrangements for daily rainfall forecasts in the SW Peninsula of England. Firstly, the extent to which fundamental geographic variables determine precipitation was investigated by correlating each station’s mean wet day amount (WDA) and percentage of wet days (PERWET) with altitude, latitude, longitude and distance from the coast. Altitude emerged as the most important control on precipitation, with a two-variable multiple linear regression model containing altitude and latitude being able to explain 39.3% (29.8%) of the variance in WDA (PERWET) values. The main spatial modes of variability in the region’s precipitation field were identified by using S mode principal components analysis (PCA). Six PCs were statistically significant and explained 83.4% of the geographic variance in precipitation over Devon and Cornwall. The components were interpreted physically by examining the synoptic flow environment (pressure and wind anomalies) on days with high positive and negative PC scores. Explaining 25.1% of the variance, the most important pattern (PC1) depicts a location’s degree of exposure or shelter in a moist, unstable W–NW airflow. The higher PCs describe modes of variability that accentuate rainfall in East Devon (PC2), Cornwall (PC3), Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor (PC4), South Devon (PC5), and North Cornwall and NW Devon (PC6) relative to other areas of the Peninsula. Finally, a winter precipitation regionalisation was derived by applying agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis to the PC loadings of the significant components. In most cases, the six coherent precipitation regions do not reflect the familiar administrative or topographic areas used for forecasting, suggesting that forecasts issued on such a basis are likely to be insufficiently detailed and misleading.     

A study of orographic effects on mountain-generated precipitation systems under weak synoptic forcing

Summary ?Mountains profoundly impact precipitation systems in Taiwan, particularly in areas occupying roughly two-thirds of the island’s landmass. This study examines the terrain structures possibly affecting the formation of rainfall systems in northern Taiwan by analyzing radar data, surface rainfall data, and simulation results from MM5 (Fifth-Generation NCAR/Penn State Mesoscale Model) under a weak synoptic influence condition. More specifically, this study analyzes precipitation systems formed in three different days with different ambient wind directions (i.e., southwesterly, southerly and south-southeasterly flows) in a low Froude number regime in Mei-Yu (or Baiu) season. The southwesterly (southerly) predominant wind was blocked by CMR (central mountain range) over southwestern (southern) Taiwan. Consequently, the southwesterly (southerly) winds were diverted around southern Taiwan, traveled northward following the terrain contour of CMR and then converged in northeastern (northern) Taiwan to produce a NE-SW (N-S) orientated convergence area. As anabatic flow and onshore flow intensified in northern Taiwan and thus enhanced the existing convergence in the late morning and early afternoon, the precipitation system appeared over slope first and then moved down the slope following the predominant wind direction. Upwards motion persisted in this convergence region, and initiated a new precipitation system. Consequently, rainfall accumulation was orientated in a NE-SW (N-S) direction in northern Taiwan. On the windward side of CMR in central Taiwan, precipitation was first produced in the slope by anabatic flow and was generated in lower land because of the interaction between down slope and onshore flow in the late afternoon. When the flow was predominantly from the south-southeast, the convergence due to the splitting of the predominant over western Taiwan became weaken after onshore flow over west coast developed since the direction of onshore flow was against the splitting predominant flow. Precipitation only appeared in the sloping areas of northwestern and central Taiwan in the relatively dry environment resulting from the anabatic flow. Several sensitivity tests indicated that the lee-side convergence in a low Froude number regime superimposed by anabatic flow and onshore flow is important for producing rainfall in northern Taiwan. The prevailing wind direction determined the orientation of the rainfall accumulation in northern Taiwan. The high relative humidity is important for precipitation to form in lower elevations. Received February 9, 2001; Revised November 23, 2001     

Dynamics of distinct intraseasonal oscillation in summer monsoon rainfall over the Meghalaya–Bangladesh–western Myanmar region: covariability between the tropics and mid-latitudes

Detailed spatiotemporal structures for the submonthly-scale (7–25 days) intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) in summer monsoon rainfall and atmospheric circulation were investigated in South Asia using high-quality rainfall and reanalysis datasets. The Meghalaya–Bangladesh–coast of the western Myanmar (MBWM) region is the predominant area of submonthly-scale ISO in the Asian monsoon regions. The distinct rainfall ISO is caused by a remarkable alternation of low-level zonal wind between westerly and easterly flows around the Gangetic Plain on the same timescales. In the active ISO phase of the MBWM, a strong low-level westerly/southwesterly flows around the plain and a center of cyclonic vorticity appears over Bangladesh. Hence, a local southerly flows toward the Meghalaya Plateau and there is strong southwesterly flow towards the coast along southeastern Bangladesh and western Myanmar, resulting in an increase in orographic rainfall. Rainfall also increases over the lowland area of the MBWM due to the low-level convergence in the boundary layer under the strong cyclonic circulation. The submonthly-scale low-level wind fluctuation around the MBWM is caused by a westward moving n = 1 equatorial Rossby (ER) wave. When the anticyclonic (cyclonic) anomaly related to the ER wave approaches the Bay of Bengal from the western Pacific, humid westerly/southwesterly (easterly/southeasterly) flows enhance around the Gangetic Plain on the northern fringe of the anticyclone (cyclone) and in turn promote (reduce) rainfall in the MBWM. Simultaneously, robust circulation signals are observed over the mid-latitudes. In the active phase, cyclonic anomalies appear over and around the TP, having barotropic vertical structure and also contributing to the enhancement of low-level westerly flow around the Gangetic Plain. In the upper troposphere, an anticyclonic anomaly is also observed upstream of the cyclonic anomaly over the TP, having wavetrain structure. The mid-latitude circulation around the TP likely helps to induce the distinct ISO there in conjunction with the equatorial waves. Thus, the distinct ISO in the MBWM is strongly enhanced locally (~500 km) by the terrain features, although the atmospheric circulation causing the ISO has a horizontal scale of ~6,000 km or more, extending across the whole Asian monsoon system from the tropics to mid-latitudes.     

中国东部—西太平洋副热带季风和降水的气候特征及成因分析

利用1981—2000年候平均NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和CMAP全球降水资料,分析了从中国东部大陆到西太平洋副热带地区季风和降水季节变化的特征及其与热带季风降水的关系,探讨了季风建立和加强的原因。夏季东亚—西太平洋盛行的西南风开始于江南和西太平洋副热带的春初,并向北扩展到中纬度,热带西南风范围向北扩展的迹象不明显。从冬到夏,中国西部和西太平洋副热带的表面加热季节变化可以使副热带对流层向西的温度梯度反转比热带早,使西南季风在副热带最早开始;从大气环流看,青藏高原东侧低压槽的加强和向东延伸,以及西太平洋副热带高压的加强和向西移动,都影响着副热带西南季风的开始和发展;初夏江南的南风向北扩展与副热带高压向北移动有关,随着高原东侧低压槽向南延伸,槽前的偏南风范围向南扩展。随着副热带季风建立和向北扩展,其最大风速中心前方的低层空气质量辐合和水汽辐合以及上升运动也加强和向北移动,导致降水加强和雨带向北移动。热带季风雨季开始晚,主要维持在热带而没有明显进入副热带,江淮梅雨不是由热带季风雨带直接向北移动而致,而是由春季江南雨带北移而致。在热带季风爆发前,副热带季风区水汽输送主要来自中南半岛北部和中国华南沿海,而在热带季风爆发后,水汽输送来自孟加拉湾和热带西太平洋。     

福建入夏早晚异常的风场特征分析

本文以850 hPa、200 hPa月平均风场和西太平洋副热带高压脊线北抬至25°N日期资料及福建省25个代表站(县)5—7月的降水资料为基本分析素材。首先标定福建入夏异常的标准与年例,其次揭示850 hPa2、00 hPa 6月风场与异常年例的基本特征,进而探讨了对福建入夏早晚的影响关系。结果表明:在低层索马里-阿拉伯海区的越赤道气流强劲,南海至东亚低纬区域西南风偏大,西太平洋区域低纬度地区南风减弱、东风强劲,且东西风交汇区偏西;而在高层辐合区东风范围偏大,索马里-阿拉伯海区的区域东风风速强劲,青藏高原南侧和副高主体季节性位移的关键区以吹东风为主,东亚区域经向度小,位于青藏高原至我国东部区域范围内,形成一逆时针“距平”风环流;在此高低层风场特征的匹配下,有利于福建提早进入夏季;反之亦然。     

Characteristics of Subtropical Monsoon and Rainfall over Eastern China and Western North Pacific

Using the NCAR/NCEP (National Center for Atmospheric Research/National Centers for Environmental Prediction) reanalysis and the NOAA Climate Prediction Center's merged analysis of precipitation (CMAP)during 1981-2000, we investigated the seasonal evolution of the southwesterly wind and associated precipitation over the eastern China-subtropical western North Pacific area and its relationship with the tropical monsoon and rainfall, and analyzed the reasons responsible for the onset and development of the wind. It was found that the persistent southwesterly wind appears over southern China and the subtropical western Pacific the earliest in early spring, and then expands southwards to the tropics and advances northward to the midlatitudes. From winter to summer, the seasonal variation of surface heating over western China and the subtropical western Pacific may result in an earlier reversal of the westward tropospheric temperature gradient over the subtropics relative to the tropics, which may contribute to the earliest beginning of the subtropical southwesterly wind. Additionally, the strengthening and eastward expanding of the trough near the eastern Tibetan Plateau as well as the strengthening and westward moving of the western Pacific subtropical high also exert positive influences on the beginning and development of the subtropical southwesterly wind.In early summer,the northward expansion of the southwesterly wind over southern China is associated with a northward shift of the subtropical high, while the southward stretch of the southwesterly wind is associated with a southward stretch of the trough in the eastern side of the plateau. With the beginning and northward expansion of the subtropical southwesterly wind (namely southwest monsoon), convergences of the low-level air and water vapor and associated upward motion in front of the strongest southwesterly wind core also strengthen and move northward, leading to an increase in rainfall intensity and a northward shift of the rain belt. Accordingly, the subtropical rainy season occurs the earliest over southern China in spring, moves northward to the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley in early summer, and arrives in North China in mid summer.Compared with the subtropical rainy season, the tropical rainy season begins later and stays mainly over the tropics, not pronouncedly moving into the subtropics. Clearly, the Meiyu rainfall over the Yangtze-Huaihe River valley in early summer results from a northward shift of the spring rain belt over southern China,instead of a northward shift of the tropical monsoon rain belt. Before the onset of the tropical monsoon,water vapor over the subtropical monsoon region comes mainly from the coasts of the northern Indo-China Peninsula and southern China. After the onset, one branch of the water vapor flow comes from the Bay of Bengal, entering into eastern China and the subtropical western Pacific via southwestern China and the South China Sea, and another branch comes from the tropical western North Pacific, moving northwestward along the west edge of the western Pacific subtropical high and entering into the subtropics.     

EFFECTS OF SPRING SOIL MOISTURE IN THE INDOCHINA PENINSULA ON SUMMER PRECIPITATION OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS: A SIMULATION STUDY FOR 1999

Using the regional climate model RegCM4.4.5, coupled with the land model CLM4.5, we investigated the effects of springtime soil moisture in the Indochina Peninsula on summer precipitation over the South China Sea and its surrounding areas in 1999. Results have indicated that there exists positive correlation between soil moisture and summer precipitation over the western Pacific Ocean and negative correlation between soil moisture and summer precipitation over the eastern Indian Ocean. Summer precipitation in the South China Sea and its surrounding areas responds to springtime soil moisture in the Indochina Peninsula (the northwest region is critical) because general atmospheric circulation is sensitive to the near-surface thermodynamic state. Increased (decreased) soil moisture would result in decreased (increased) local surface temperatures. Latitudinal, small-scale land–sea thermal differences would then result in northeasterly wind (southwesterly wind) anomalies in the upper layer and southwesterly wind (northeasterly wind) anomalies in the lower layer, which strengthen (weaken) monsoon development. As a result, precipitation would enter the Western Pacific region earlier (later), and water vapor over the eastern Indian Ocean would enter the South China Sea earlier (later), causing a precipitation reduction (increase) in the eastern Indian Ocean and increase (reduction) in the Western Pacific.     

Onset of southwesterly wind over eastern China and associated atmospheric circulation and rainfall

Using the 5-day averaged data from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis, and precipitation from rain gauge stations in China for the period 1981–2000, we investigated seasonal variations and associated atmospheric circulation and precipitation of the southwesterly wind over eastern China. The southwesterly wind over eastern China begins earliest over southeastern China and strengthens gradually from spring to the early summer, as it extends northward. The strengthening of the spring southwesterly wind, the tropospheric upward motion, and the convergence of low-level water vapor over southeastern China results in the beginning of the local rainy season. The beginning of the Mei-yu (Plum rainfall) is connected with the northward march of the southwesterly wind. The southwesterly wind reaches the valley of the Yangtze River in the early summer and northern China in the middle summer. This signifies an onset of the large-scale southwesterly wind over eastern China. Accordingly, the rain belt over southeastern China moves to the valley of the Yangtze River in the early summer and to northern China in the middle summer. Moreover, the southerly wind extends southward to the South China Sea from the spring to summer, though it does not stretch from the South China Sea to southeastern China at those times. The strengthening of the southerly wind over southeastern China is associated with a weakening/strengthening of the eastward/westward subtropical tropospheric temperature gradient between southwestern China and the western North Pacific. The developments of a low-pressure system over southwestern China and the subtropical high-pressure system over the western North Pacific may contribute to the strengthening of the southwesterly wind. A northward advance of the high-pressure system favors the southwesterly wind stretching from southeastern China to northern China. The onset of the Indian summer monsoon also strengthens the summer southwesterly wind over eastern China.     

影响海南岛的台风降水及水汽输送源地分析

利用1986—2016年中国气象局台风最佳路径资料、海南岛区域站降水数据以及基于拉格朗日方法的轨迹模式对近30 a影响海南岛的台风降水和大气环流特征进行分析,并探讨了台风影响降水期间水汽输送通道和源地。结果表明：6—10月是台风影响海南岛的主要时段,也是台风降水主要时段。在台风降水偏多(少)年,长江以南地区冷空气影响偏弱(强),副热带高压偏弱(强),南支槽偏强(弱),低层水汽通量场呈现异常气旋性(反气旋性)环流。降水偏多年,海南岛受到来自西北太平洋异常东北气流与印度洋、孟加拉湾的异常偏强西南气流影响;降水偏少年,水汽主要来自西太平洋的偏东气流和南海较弱的西南气流。海南岛台风降水的四个主要水汽源地分别为西太平洋、孟加拉湾、南海和印度洋,在台风降水偏多年,水汽输送贡献最大的是西太平洋和孟加拉湾,分别为33%和30%,来自东西两路的水汽供应充足,而在偏少年西太平洋水汽输送贡献最大,为38%,其余水汽源地贡献均在30%以下,以110°E以东的水汽输送为主。     

热带气旋登陆华南前后的强降水大尺度环境场特征

运用2001年和2002年7个热带气旋 (TC) 登陆华南前后的38个日降水量、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料以及卫星云图, 经普查和分析将TC造成的降水区划分为纬向型、经向型、NE—SW向型3种; 对各型高、中、低层中的主要气象因子作了详细分析, 如高层流场、中层副热带高压、低层急流和切变线或辐合线、整层水汽通量散度以及季风云涌等, 在此基础上归纳概括出了这些降水型各自前24 h的大尺度环境场特征概略模型图, 并对其强降水形成机理尽可能地给出了解释, 为TC登陆前后的超短期降水预报提供某种参考方法。     

台风“潭美”(2013)影响江西期间的路径和降水诊断分析

利用NCEP 1°×1°再分析资料、常规气象观测资料、数值模式预报资料、多普勒天气雷达产品等,针对台风"潭美"(2013)登陆后影响江西的移动路径变化和强降水过程,从大尺度环流背景、物理量场等方面进行了诊断分析。结果表明:1)台风的移动路径与副高变化有关,由于受副高南缘的偏东南气流影响,其中心向西北偏西方向移动,进入江西后受副高阻挡逐渐转为偏西和西南偏西方向,因此强大的副高是影响"潭美"移动路径变化的重要系统。2)"潭美"登陆后,中心附近的风速分布表现出明显的不对称结构。随着其向偏西方向移动,大风速区呈逆时针旋转。这种风场结构中不对称的强风速区转移影响了台风的移动路径,使向西北方向的移动逐渐转为西行和西南行。东西风分量差与台风移动路径的变化之间具有很好的对应关系。3)多普勒雷达产品1 h降水量(OHP)与雷达反射率以及大气空中垂直液态含水量(VIL)具有很好的对应关系,与实际降水落区具有较好的对应关系,但其量值要比实际降水量明显偏小,平均在50%左右。4)水汽通量辐合越强,暴雨越强。强降水的产生与来自西南方向的水汽输送带密切相关。江西省中部大范围上升运动的出现和发展,为强降水的产生提供了动力机制;低层辐合、高层辐散的存在是此次台风强降水发生发展的重要因素之一。     

亚洲热带夏季风指数与中国南方降水的关系

利用1979-2013年夏季全球2.5°×2.5°逐日环流资料和中国气象站点降水观测资料,采用动力学因子(西南风)与热力学因子(Radiation Longwave covting,OLR)相结合定义了标准化的亚洲热带夏季风指数(Tropical Summer Monsoon Index,TSMI).结果 表明,该指数...     

Roles of Synoptic to Quasi-Monthly Disturbances in Generating Two Pre-Summer Heavy Rainfall Episodes over South China

In this study, power spectral analysis and bandpass filtering of daily meteorological fields are performed to explore the roles of synoptic to quasi-monthly disturbances in influencing the generation of pre-summer heavy rainfall over South China. Two heavy rainfall episodes are selected during the months of April-June 2008-15, which represent the collaboration between the synoptic and quasi-biweekly disturbances and the synoptic and quasi-monthly disturbances,respectively. Results show that the ...     

青奥开幕式期间南京地区浅层对流成因及逆向移动特征分析

利用常规观测资料、加密自动站资料、多普勒雷达资料及NCEP 1°×1°再分析资料,针对第二届青年奥运会开幕式期间形成发展于对流层低层偏东气流中的对流引发南京局地短时强降水天气进行了分析,探讨了低层偏东气流中浅层弱对流的形成机制、降水期间伴随在降水云系中逆向移动的两类对流单体的雷达特征和移动原因。结果表明,降水期间,南京上空对流层低层维持偏东风,中层以上则为西南风,两者之间的过渡区对应一干层,该干层由对流层中层的一支偏北气流携至的干空气形成,叠置于对流层低层较浅薄偏东暖湿气流之上,促进了对流层中低层对流不稳定层结的发展。地面风场扰动形成的局地辐合及地面非锋性斜压带激发了对流层低层偏东气流中对流的形成。镶嵌于降水回波中逆向移动的两类对流单体结构差异明显,两类对流单体质心高度、垂直伸展厚度与所在高度层中所盛行的背景风场决定了对流单体的传播与移动。     

山东半岛夏季降水异常的环流型及影响因子分析

利用1961—2016年华东地区106个气象观测站的日降水数据和再分析资料,分析引起山东半岛夏季降水异常的大气环流型及其与前期下垫面因子（海温和土壤湿度）的关系,结果发现：1）当孟加拉湾出现西南风异常,日本列岛以南和贝加尔湖西南侧地区分别呈反气旋和气旋式环流异常时,加强了向山东半岛的水汽输送,配合区域大气上升运动异常最终导致山东半岛夏季降水偏多;反之,当孟加拉湾出现西北风异常,日本列岛以南和贝加尔湖西南地区分别呈气旋和反气旋式环流异常时山东半岛降水偏少。2）孟加拉湾和北太平洋中部关键区的对流层整层位势高度与下垫面海温自春季持续至夏季存在显著正相关,当两个地区的整层位势高度均呈正异常时,分别对应夏季孟加拉湾的强西风气流和日本列岛以南的反气旋环流异常。3）区域土壤湿度异常引起的感热和潜热通量异常,可能是引起贝加尔湖关键区位势高度和山东半岛局地对流异常的原因：贝加尔湖西南地区土壤湿度偏大时,其上空对流层位势高度为负异常;山东半岛地区土壤湿度偏大时,其上空对流层大气出现异常上升运动。4）利用关键区春季下垫面因子（海温和土壤湿度）建立山东半岛夏季降水的统计预测模型,留一交叉检验的距平同号率达到75%。这些结果可为山东半岛夏季降水预测提供重要参考。     

Numerical Study of a Mesoscale Vortex in the Planetary Boundary Layer of the Meiyu Front

It was found that the heavy rainfall event along the Meiyu front in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River on 23 June 2009 was connected with a mesoscale disturbance vortex, which originated from the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and developed upward later and was discovered by using the Shuman-Shapiro filtering method. The mesoscale disturbance vortex in the PBL (PMDV) in this process corresponded well to the short-time rainstorm in the Doppler radar echo. Analysis of the high-resolution simulation results from the Advanced Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW) showed that there were several surface disturbances along the southern warm section of the Meiyu front prior to the generation of the PMDV. The PMDV interacted with the mesoscale convective system (MCS) and intensiˉed the local convective precipitation. The north and southwest flows in the PBL converged at the time of the PMDV formation. Meanwhile, a southwesterly jet on the top of the PBL to the south side of the vortex reinforced the ascending motion and convergence. Hence, it is concluded that the PMDV was generated when the strong cold air flows north of the shear line encountered the southwest flow south of the shear line. The convergence line in the PBL, the intensification of the southwest wind, and the southward aggression of the north wind were critical for the development of the PMDV. The release of latent heat was found crucial for the formation of the PMDV as it facilitated the convergence at low levels.     

SIMULATION OF BOUNDARY LAYER EFFECTS ON A HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT CAUSED BY A MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM OVER THE YELLOW RIVER MIDSTREAM AREA

A heavy rainfall event caused by a mesoscale convective system (MCS), which occurred over the Yellow River midstream area during 7–9 July 2016, was analyzed using observational, high-resolution satellite, NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, and numerical simulation data. This heavy rainfall event was caused by one mesoscale convective complex (MCC) and five MCSs successively. The MCC rainstorm occurred when southwesterly winds strengthened into a jet. The MCS rainstorms occurred when low-level wind fields weakened, but their easterly components in the lower and boundary layers increased continuously. Numerical analysis revealed that there were obvious differences between the MCC and MCS rainstorms, including their three-dimensional airflow structure, disturbances in wind fields and vapor distributions, and characteristics of energy conversion and propagation. Formation of the MCC was related to southerly conveyed water vapor and energy to the north, with obvious water vapor exchange between the free atmosphere and the boundary layer. Continuous regeneration and development of the MCSs mainly relied on maintenance of an upward extension of a positive water vapor disturbance. The MCC rainstorm was triggered by large range of convergent ascending motion caused by a southerly jet, and easterly disturbance within the boundary layer. While a southerly fluctuation and easterly disturbance in the boundary layer were important triggers of the MCS rainstorms. Maintenance and development of the MCC and MCSs were linked to secondary circulation, resulting from convergence of Ekman non-equilibrium flow in the boundary layer. Both intensity and motion of the convergence centers in MCC and MCS cases were different. Clearly, sub-synoptic scale systems in the middle troposphere played a leading role in determining precipitation distribution during this event. Although mesoscale systems triggered by the sub-synoptic scale system induced the heavy rainfall, small-scale disturbances within the boundary layer determined its intensity and location.     

太行山地形影响下的极端短时强降水分析

2015年8月2日午夜和2011年8月9日前半夜,在两种不同天气系统背景下太行山东麓都出现了小时雨量超过50 mm的极端短时强降水天气,两次过程都是雷暴先在太行山区触发加强,经过下山2 h先后在丘陵站平山和山前平原站石家庄市区产生极端短时强降水。利用常规探测资料、地面加密观测资料、石家庄SA多普勒天气雷达资料,对不同天气系统背景下太行山特殊地形影响的极端短时强降水成因进行分析。结果表明:偏东气流被南北向的太行山地形强迫抬升,且与下山雷暴出流形成中尺度辐合线触发新的雷暴,雷达回波呈现后向传播特征和列车效应造成局地极端短时强降水。太行山地形通过增强辐合上升运动、增大垂直风切变使雷暴下山加强。不同天气系统强迫下,太行山特殊地形对雷暴发展作用不同。在偏西气流引导下,暖区极端短时强降水由阵风锋触发,具有突发性、降水时间短、伴随风力大的特点,下山雷暴出流加快且与山前偏东风的辐合加强,陆续在丘陵区和山前平原触发对流与下山雷暴合并加强造成极端短时强降水;而在东北气流引导下,回流冷锋和阵风锋共同触发的极端短时强降水具有持续时间较长、降雨总量较大、伴随风力较小的特点,太行山东坡对东北冷湿回流有阻挡积聚作用,东北偏北来的雷暴出流边界西端在迎风坡上强迫抬升使雷暴触发并加强,东北气流遇山后发生气旋性偏转使雷暴出流转向东南下山,与平原的偏东风辐合加强,造成丘陵区和山前平原的总降雨时间更长、降雨总量更大。     

近57a南疆帕米尔地区春季降水季节内差异及环流异常分析

基于1961—2017年帕米尔地区3站的日降水资料及NECP/NCAR再分析资料,利用气候诊断分析及多元统计学方法,研究了近57 a来帕米尔地区春季降水特征及季节内差异,并讨论了降水偏多年大气环流异常特征。研究表明:(1)近57 a来,帕米尔地区季节尺度上和月尺度上降水增加明显,旬尺度上有不显著的增加趋势。21世纪初帕米尔地区进入新的多雨期,降水正距平年份强度和频率均有显著增加。(2)500 hPa高度场上3月东欧沿岸脊发展、东欧—西西伯利亚槽加深,4—5月欧洲沿岸槽加深、乌拉尔山脊发展、巴尔喀什湖槽加深是帕米尔地区降水异常偏多的关键系统及指标。(3)降水异常年的高空急流较常年强度更强、位置更偏东,在旬尺度上是一个逐渐减弱西退的过程;其低层风场距平分为西南风距平辐合型、西南风和东北风距平辐合型和气旋式环流距平辐合型,均有利于低层辐合。(4)降水异常偏多年水汽输送以偏西路径为主,同时还有偏东、西南和偏南路径,水汽辐合强度较常年更强,更有利于降水的产生。