A Mediterranean derecho: Catalonia (Spain), 17th August 2003

At approximately 6:10 UTC in the morning of 17th August 2003, a squall line developed over south Catalonia (the northeast region of Spain). During the next 9 h, the squall moved rapidly northeast and crossed Catalonia and the French regions of Languedoc–Roussillon and Province, damaging and uprooting hundreds of trees and blocking trains in the region. Wind gusts reached were recoded up to 52 m/s with evidence of F2 intensity damage. This case study shows the characteristics of a derecho (widespread convectively induced windstorm).Radar observations of the evolving squall line show signatures often correlated with damaging surface winds, including:

a. Bow echoes,

b. Rear inflow notches,

c. Rear inflow jets,

d. Medium altitude radial convergence,

e. Narrow gradient of very marked reflectivity,

f. Development of isolated cells ahead of the convective line,

g. A band of convection off the northern end of the line known as a “warm advection wing”.

When examining the different surface observations, satellite, radar imagery and cloud-to-ground lightning data, this case shows many similarities to those investigated in the United States. The derecho is a hybrid case, but has many characteristics of warm season derechoes. This emanates from a mesoscale convective complex (MCC) moving along a quasi-stationary, low-level thermal boundary in an environment characterized by high potential instability and relatively strong mid-tropospheric winds.     

Airborne measurements of dimethylsulfide,sulfur dioxide,and aerosol ions over the Southern Ocean South of Australia

Vertical distributions of dimethylsulfide (DMS), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), aerosol methane-sulfonate (MSA), non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO₄ ^2-), and other aerosol ions were measured in maritime air west of Tasmania (Australia) during December 1986. A few cloudwater and rainwater samples were also collected and analyzed for major anions and cations. DMS concentrations in the mixed layer (ML) were typically between 15–60 ppt (parts per trillion, 10^–12; 24 ppt=1 nmol m^–3 (20°C, 1013 hPa)) and decreased in the free troposphere (FT) to about <1–2.4 ppt at 3 km. One profile study showed elevated DMS concentrations at cloud level consistent with turbulent transport (cloud pumping) of air below convective cloud cells. In another case, a diel variation of DMS was observed in the ML. Our data suggest that meteorological rather than photochemical processes were responsible for this behavior. Based on model calculations we estimate a DMS lifetime in the ML of 0.9 days and a DMS sea-to-air flux of 2–3 mol m^–2 d^–1. These estimates pertain to early austral summer conditions and southern mid-ocean latitudes. Typical MSA concentrations were 11 ppt in the ML and 4.7–6.8 ppt in the FT. Sulfur-dioxide values were almost constant in the ML and the lower FT within a range of 4–22 ppt between individual flight days. A strong increase of the SO₂ concentration in the middle FT (5.3 km) was observed. We estimate the residence time of SO₂ in the ML to be about 1 day. Aqueous-phase oxidation in clouds is probably the major removal process for SO₂. The corresponding removal rate is estimated to be a factor of 3 larger than the rate of homogeneous oxidation of SO₂ by OH. Model calculations suggest that roughly two-thirds of DMS in the ML are converted to SO₂ and one-third to MSA. On the other hand, MSA/nss-SO₄ ^2- mole ratios were significantly higher compared to values previously reported for other ocean areas suggesting a relatively higher production of MSA from DMS oxidation over the Southern Ocean. Nss-SO₄ ^2- profiles were mostly parallel to those of MSA, except when air was advected partially from continental areas (Africa, Australia). In contrast to SO₂, nss-SO₄ ^2- values decreased significantly in the middle FT. NH₄ ⁺/nss-SO₄ ^2- mole ratios indicate that most non-sea-salt sulfate particles in the ML were neutralized by ammonium.     

The impact of geophysical parameters on longwave radiation budget at the top and base of the atmosphere

Summary The effect of clouds on longwave radiation budget at the top and base of the atmosphere is studied by using the HIRS2/MSU-retrieved temperature and humidity fields, and cloud fields and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project-produced fields. Detailed studies are carried out at four selected sites: one at Equatorial Eastern Pacific (ITCZ) area, one at Libyan Desert (Libya), one at Ottawa, Montreal (Ottawa), and one at central Europe (Europe). The monthly mean differences in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) (the ISCCP-based OLR minus the HIRS2-based OLR), ranging from –2.8 Wm^–2 at ITCZ to –15.4 Wm^–2 at Ottawa, are less than the monthly mean differences in surface downward flux, ranging from –2.7 Wm^–2 at Libya to 40.6 Wm^–2 at the ITCZ. The large differences in surface downward flux are mainly due to large differences in cloud amount and moisture in the low levels of the atmosphere.Monthly mean OLR and surface downward flux can be derived either (1) from instantaneous temperature, humidity, and cloud fields over a month period or (2) from monthly mean temperature, humidity, and cloud fields. The monthly mean OLR and surface downward flux derived from the first approach is compared with the second. The differences in OLR are small, ranging from –0.05 Wm^–2 to 6.2 Wm^–2, and the differences in surface downward flux is also small, ranging from 0.4 Wm^–2 to 6.4 Wm^–2.List of Acronyms AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution radiometer - ERB Earth Radiation Budget - ERBE Earth Radiation Budget Experiment - FGGE First Global GARP Experiment - GARP Global Atmospheric Research Program - GCM General Circulation Model - GISS Goddard Institute for Space Studies - GLA Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres - GMS Geostationary Meteorological Satellite - GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - HIRS2 High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder/2 - ISCCP International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project - IR Infrared - MSU Microwave Sounding Unit - NFOV Narrow Field of View - NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NESDIS National Environmental Satellite Data Information Service - TOVS TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder With 4 Figures     

Wind shear at tilted inversions

Vertical wind shear at a temperature inversion can be caused by baroclinicity associated with a tilt of the inversion. Four observational cases of tilted inversions are presented. The tilts on horizontal scales of 20–100 km range from 2–10 × 10^-3 and the vertical wind shear is between 1 and 25 m/s per 100 m. In general, there is remarkable agreement between observed and geostrophic wind shear.The observations show that the inversion tilt is particularly strong at the edges of mesoscale cloud fields. The Richardson number can reach subcritical values. Cloud fields may be surrounded by a cyclonically rotating wind field and cloud gaps by an anticyclonically rotating wind field.     

Rayleigh-Bénard convection as a tool for studying dust devils

Intense columnar vortices in a convecting layer are explored with direct numerical simulations that are otherwise similar to the large-eddy simulations of6, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 126, 2789–2810). With free-slip boundaries and a Rayleigh number of 10⁶(4096 times critical), vortices similar to large dust devils are readily produced. The genesis, intensity and life cycle of these intense vortices (dust devils) are studied. The simulated dust devils last for the order of the over-turning time of the largest eddies. The intensity is limited by the hydrostatic pressure drop supported by the buoyancy confined in the core. The genesis of a simulated dust devil requires not only tilting of the baroclinically generated vorticity, but also a symmetry-breaking event that allows one sign of vorticity to become concentrated in an updraft. Such symmetry breaking is the rule with random initialization in the simulations. However, when initialization is restricted to certain Fourier modes, exceptions are found that produce only symmetric vortex couplets that are relatively weak.     

Topographic influence on surface winds

Using data collected during 1975–1976 from a meteorological network operating in the vicinity of the Columbia Generating Site approximately 8 km south of Portage, Wis., the influence of the Baraboo Hills on the surface wind field is determined. Half-hour means of wind speed and direction measured at 9 m at three sites were used to compute divergence and vorticity using Bellamy's method. The data were grouped into 18 sectors each 20 deg wide and averages computed for each quantity. Results indicate that for wind directions perpendicular to the eastern edge of the Baraboo Hills, the surface (9m) wind field is significantly perturbed up to 4 km from the bluffs. The largest convergence of 2.1 × 10^–4 s^–1 occurs with 160 deg wind direction and the largest divergence of 1.2 × 10^–4 s^–1 with 290 deg wind direction. The maximum anticyclonic vorticity was 1.6 × 10^–4 s^–1 at 210 deg and the maximum cyclonic vorticity was 1.6 × 10^–4 s^–1 at 330 deg.     

Numerical analysis of flux footprints for different landscapes

Summary A model for the canopy – planetary boundary layer flow and scalar transport based on E- closure was applied to estimate footprint for CO₂ fluxes over different inhomogeneous landscapes. Hypothetical heterogeneous vegetation patterns – forest with clear-cuts as well as hypothetical heterogeneous relief – a bell-shaped valley and a ridge covered by forest were considered. The distortions of airflow caused by these heterogeneities are shown – the upwind deceleration of the flow at the ridge foot and above valley, acceleration at the crest and the flow separation with the reversed flow pattern at lee slopes of ridge and valley. The disturbances induce changes in scalar flux fields within the atmospheric surface layer comparing to fluxes for homogeneous conditions: at a fixed height the fluxes vary as a function of distance to disturbance. Correspondingly, the flux footprint estimated from model data depends on the location of the point of interest (flux measurement point) and may significantly deviate from that for a flat terrain. It is shown that proposed method could be used for the choice of optimal sensor position for flux measurements over complex terrain as well as for the interpretation of data for existing measurement sites. To illustrate the latter the method was applied for experimental site in Solling, Germany, taking into account the complex topography and vegetation heterogeneities. Results show that in certain situations (summer, neutral stratification, south or north wind) and for a certain sensor location the assumptions of idealized air flow structure could be used for measurement interpretation at this site, though in general, extreme caution should be applied when analytical footprint models are used in the interpretation of flux measurements over complex sites.     

Estimates of the Chemical Budget for Ozone at Waliguan Observatory

Waliguan Observatory (WO) is an in-land Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) baseline station on the Tibetan plateau. In addition to the routine GAW measurement program at WO, measurements of trace gases, especially ozone precursors, were made for some periods from 1994 to 1996. The ozone chemical budget at WO was estimated using a box model constrained by these measured trace gas concentrations and meteorological variables. Air masses at WO are usually affected by the boundary layer (BL) in the daytime associated with an upslope flow, while it is affected by the free troposphere (FT) at night associated with a downslope flow. An anti-relationship between ozone and water vapor concentrations at WO is found by investigating the average diurnal cycle pattern of ozone and water vapor under clear sky conditions. This relationship implies that air masses at WO have both the FT and BL characteristics. Model simulations were carried out for clear sky conditions in January and July of 1996, respectively. The chemical characteristics of mixed air masses (MC) and of free tropospheric air masses (FT) at WO were investigated. The effects of the variation in NO_x and water vapor concentrations on the chemical budget of ozone at WO were evaluated for the considered periods of time. It was shown that ozone was net produced in January and net destroyed in July for both FT and MC conditions at WO. The estimated net ozone production rate at WO was –0.1 to 0.4 ppbv day^–1 in FT air of January, 0.0 to 1.0 ppbv day^–1 in MC air of January, –4.9 to –0.2 ppbv day^–1 in FT air of July, and –5.1 to 2.1 ppbv day^–1 in MC air of July.     

Cloud changes in a warmer Europe

Cloud cover records for western Europe have been analysed in the context of the warming world analogue model described by Lough et al. (1983). It is found that cloud cover has generally increased in moving from a cold period (1901–1920) to a warm period (1934–1953). The exception to this general trend is over the central part of the area considered (Germany, France and some parts of Spain) where there is a tendency towards decreasing cloud as warming occurs. While the results presented here are not closely correlated with the temperature and precipitation results of Lough et al. (1983), there is support for their hypothesis that cloudiness increased in autumn over northern Europe. The suggestion that successful performance of numerical climate models in seasonal simulations might demonstrate adequacy in other climatic simulation modes is also examined It is shown that whilst there is good agreement with observations in one such numerical model in the seasonal simulation, there is no agreement in the case of a warming world in either the direction or the amount of cloudiness change.     

Interaction between an eddy and a zonal jet : Part II. Two-and-a-half-layer model

In a two-and-a-half-layer quasi-geostrophic model, a process study is conducted on the interaction between a vortex and a zonal jet, both with constant potential vorticity. The vortex is a stable anticyclone, initially located north of the eastward jet. The potential vorticity of the jet is allowed to have various vertical structures, while the vortex is concentrated in only one layer. The flow parameters are set to values characteristic of the Azores region.First, the jet is stable. Weak vortices steadily drift north of the jet without crossing it while strong vortices can cross the jet and tear off a cyclone with which they pair as a heton (baroclinic dipole). This heton often breaks later in the shear exerted by the jet; the two vortices finally drift apart. When crossed by deep anticyclones, the jet develops meanders with 375 km wavelength. These results exhibit a noticeable similarity with the one-and-a-half-layer case studied in Part I.Secondly, the jet is allowed to be linearly unstable. In the absence of the vortex, it develops meanders with 175 km wavelength and 25-day e-folding time on the β-plane. For various vertical structures of the jet, baroclinic instability is shown to barely affect jet–vortex interaction if the linear growth rate of unstable waves is smaller than 1/(14 days). Further simulations with a linearly unstable, nonlinearly equilibrated jet evidence its strong temporal variability when crossed by a deep vortex on the β-plane. In particular, long waves can dominate the spectrum for a few months after jet crossing by the vortex. Again in this process, the deep vortex couples with a surface cyclone and both drift southwestward.     

The perturbed structure of the neutral atmospheric boundary layer over irregular terrain

The first-order (linear) response of the planetary boundary layer is calculated for flow over periodic terrain, for variations in both surface roughness and terrain elevation. Calculations are made for horizontal wavenumbers varying from 10^–4m^–1 to 3 × 10^–3m^–1. A simple second-order closure model of the turbulence is used, and Coriolis and buoyancy forces are neglected. As expected, flow over a periodic terrain produces corresponding periodic structure in all meteorological fields above the surface. The periodic structure consists of two components. The first is very nearly evanescent with height, showing little vertical structure. It corresponds to the motion that would be observed were the atmosphere inviscid. The second component, introduced by turbulent viscosity, exhibits considerable vertical structure, with vertical wavelengths the order of 100 m, and thus could be responsible for the layering often seen on acoustic sounder observations of the atmospheric boundary layer.Wave Propagation Laboratory.Environmental Science Group.     

The impact of Global Positioning System data on the prediction of an extratropical cyclone: an observing system simulation experiment

In this paper, we report a series of observing system simulation experiments that we conducted to assess the potential impact of Global Positioning System/meteorology (GPS/MET) refractivity data on short-range numerical weather prediction. We first conducted a control experiment using the Penn State/NCAR mesoscale model MM5 at 90-km resolution on an extratropical cyclone known as the ERICA (Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic) IOP 4 storm. The results from the control experiment were then used to simulate GPS/MET refractivity observations with different spatial resolution and measurement characteristics. The simulated refractivity observations were assimilated into an 180-km model during a 6-h period, which was followed by a 48-h forecast integration. Key findings can be summarized as follows:

• The assimilation of refractivity data at the 180-km resolution can recover important atmospheric structures in temperature and moisture fields both in the upper and lower troposphere, and, through the internal model dynamical processes, also the wind fields. The assimilation of refractivity data led to a considerably more accurate prediction of the cyclone.

• Distributing the refractivity randomly in space and applying a line averaging did not alter the results significantly, while reducing the spatial resolution from 180 km to 360 km produced a moderately degraded result. Even at the 360-km resolution, the GPS-type refractivity data still have a notable positive impact on cyclone prediction.

• Restricting the refractivity data to altitude 3 km and above considerably degraded its impact on cyclone prediction. This degradation was greater than the combined effects of distributing the refractivity data randomly, performing line averaging, and reducing the resolution to 360 km.

These results showed that the GPS/MET refractivity data is likely to have a significant impact on short-range operational numerical weather prediction. The random distribution and line averaging associated with the inherent GPS occultation do not pose a problem for effective assimilation. On the other hand, these results also argue that we need to improve the GPS/MET retrieval algorithm in order to recover useful data in the lower troposphere, and to increase the number of low-earth-orbiting satellites carrying GPS receivers in order to increase the density of GPS soundings, so that the potential impact of GPS/MET refractivity data on numerical weather prediction can be fully realized.     

Changes of cloud water chemical composition in the Western Sudety Mountains, Poland

The changing chemical composition of cloud water and precipitation in the Western Sudety Mountains are discussed against the background of air-pollution changes in the Black Triangle since the 1980s until September 2004. A marked reduction of sulphur dioxide emissions between the early 1990's and the present (from almost 2 million tons to around 0.2 million tons) has been observed, with a substantial decline of sulphate and hydrogen concentration in cloud water (SO₄²⁻ from more than 200 to around 70 μmol l^− 1; H⁺ from 150 to 50 μmol l^− 1) and precipitation (SO₄²⁻ from around 80 to 20–30 μmol l^− 1; H⁺ from around 60 to 10–15 μmol l^− 1) samples. At some sites, where fog/cloud becomes the major source of pollutants, deposition hot spots are still observed where, for example, nitrogen deposition can exceed 20 times the relevant critical load. The results show that monitoring of cloud water chemistry can be a sensitive indicator of pollutant emissions.     

Summer circulation patterns related to the upper tropospheric vortices over the Tropical South Atlantic

Summary Daily 200-hPa relative vorticity data have been used to study the dominant patterns related to the cyclonic vortices over the South Atlantic Ocean in the vicinities of northeast Brazil, during the 1980–1989 period. Reference modes were obtained through empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the 200-hPa filtered vorticity anomalies over northeast Brazil, considering all the southern hemisphere (SH) summers within the study period. The amplitude time series of the first reference mode, separately for each SH summer, was correlated with the corresponding filtered vorticity anomalies in a larger area extending from 20°N to 40°S and between 120°W and 20°W. The correlation patterns feature a wave-like structure along eastern South America, with three main centers: the first one, over the South Atlantic off the northeast Brazil coast, is associated with the cyclonic vortices; the second one, over eastern Brazil, represents the corresponding anomalously amplified ridges; and the third one, over southern Brazil/Uruguay, is related to the equatorward incursions of midlatitude upper level troughs. This wave-like pattern is consistent with the vortex formation mechanism suggested in previous works. Another wave-like pattern southwest-northeast oriented is evident over the tropical southeastern Pacific, for some years. The internannual variability of these patterns is discussed in this paper.With 9 Figures     

Direct cloud water recovery by inertial impaction: Implications for large scale water supply in the Cape Verde Islands

Summary In this study, we explore the idea of harvesting cloud water in mountainous areas of the drought prone Cape Verde Islands as a year-round fresh water resource based on three cloud water collection experiments in the islands. Cloud water was collected by impaction on a commercially available, plastic, agricultural shade cloth at Serra Malagueta, Santiago, and at Monte Verde, São Vicente. This shade screen possesses superior properties to other reported materials for cloud water collection, including an impact-efficient mesh shape, high tensile strength and durability, tear resistance, and excellent water drainage characteristics. Collection efficiency of monofilament knitted shade screen varied with the mesh density (50% or 70% shading) and height of the screens, but for Monte Verde all screens above 3 m collected greater than 6 lm^–2 day^–1 on average for 315 days of measurement. Dry season collection for the most effective panel, a double layer of 50% shading screen, ranged from 1.3 lm^–2 day^–1 in December, 1988, to 7.8 and 7.7 lm^–2 day^–1 in November and April, 1988 respectively. Based on these measurements, we discuss a logical next phase for implementation of a large scale cloud water catchment system.With 3 Figures     

Thermal plumes and turbulence spectra in the atmospheric boundary layer

Experimental observations on the temperature and wind fields above flat grassy terrain have been obtained with an instrumented 92-m tower during intervals of strong insolation about midday. The turbulence characteristics of the air confirm that free convection prevailed at heights between 16 and 48 m, with some tendency for departure at higher levels. The spectra of temperature and vertical velocity contain gaps at wave numbers in the range 0.01–0.025 m^–1. These are attributed to natural thermal plumes that act as sources of extra energy input to the Kolmogorov-Obukhov-Corrsin scheme of turbulence in or at the low-wave number limit of the inertial subrange. Modified forms of the K-O-C spectral laws for thermally unstable air are derived which agree with the observed spectra over the whole range of wave numbers examined, and which contain the spectral gap at wave numbers corresponding to the thermal plume diameters.     

Numerical simulation of the relationship between electrification and microphysics in the prelightning stage of thunderstorms

To further investigate the influence of cloud base temperature, updraft velocity and precipitation particle constitution on cloud electrification, five thunderstorms in various regions of China were simulated by using the three-dimensional compressible hailstorm numerical model including inductive and non-inductive charging mechanisms. The results indicate that changes of cloud base temperature have an influence on the initial electrification. Comparison of the above cases shows that in the case of warm cloud base and moderate updraft velocity (< 20 m s^{−  1}), active electrification occurred below the − 10 °C level before moving upward to the − 20 °C level. In contrast, when cloud base is cold and updraft velocity is intensive, the main charging region is at the − 20 °C or even higher level. In that case, the vertical extent of the main negative charge region becomes larger with the increase of cloud base temperature. Apart from the main dipolar or tripolar charge structure, some smaller charge regions with relatively high values of charge density may also appear. Frozen drops, originating mainly from supercooled raindrops, mainly get electrified through charging interactions with snow at or below the − 20 °C level. They are responsible for the negative charge region near the melting level at the initial stage of precipitation if there is a large supercooled raindrop content. Non-inductive charging during hail-snow collisions is rather weak, resulting in the charge density on hail of no more than − 0.01 nC m^− 3.     

The 3-D model characteristics of a Cb cloud which moves along a valley

Summary The three-dimensional cloud-resolving mesoscale model is used to simulate an individual Cb cloud in condition of real orography. We have conducted our numerical experiments over an area known as hail bearing clouds source. Once formed such clouds regenerate and propagate along the valley if the shallow layer of strong wind shear exists. The orographic effects on model Cb cloud are recognized through comparison of simulated cloud characteristics with those calculated for the flat terrain. Sensitivity experiments with respect to the wind shear layer depth are also conducted.Our results demonstrate the model capability to simulate well some observational Cb cloud characteristics. It is shown that the river valley is of essential importance for Cb cloud development. The most prominent features of the model cloud in this case are as follows: fast propagation along the river valley; considerable depth of the cold air nose with pronounced pulsation mechanism and intense cell regeneration at the leading edge of cold air outflow. Model and observed radar reflectivities in the vertical cross-section are in agreement. Some characteristics of surface cumulative rain precipitation are also well reproduced by the model. In contrast with the real orography case, the model cloud is more intense and it propagates freely in lateral direction for the flat terrain. The cell regeneration associated with forced updraft above the cold air nose is not pronounced in contrast with earlier considerations. Reflectivity pattern near the ground, having mainly bat-like wings, encircles much larger area with altitude compared to the case of real orography. Finally, the model cloud characteristics depend strongly on shear layer.Received June 2002; revised August 22, 2002; accepted October 1, 2002 Published online: April 10, 2003