On the vertical structure of composite surface cyclones in the Mediterranean region

Summary The average pressure distribution at mean sea level and the vertical structure of synoptic scale surface cyclones (with central pressure less than 1000 hPa) that occur in the Mediterranean region is studied for a 40 year period (1958–1997) on a seasonal and daily basis. The cyclonic occurrences are studied in three regions of enhanced cyclonic activity: gulf of Genoa, Southern Italy and Cyprus. The cyclones are identified with the aid of an objective method based on grid point values, available every 6 hours. The analysis revealed different characteristics of the cyclones that occur in the three regions, reflecting the different mechanisms that are responsible for their occurrence in each region. For the Genoa region the cyclone pressure minimum is located over the gulf, associated with orographic forcing, while surface dynamics occur further south. Over Southern Italy, the pressure minimum covers a wide area, whilst the surface dynamics are found to act in the same region, becoming more important in winter and spring. The pressure minimum of cyclones over Cyprus is located over the land during winter and spring and is influenced by surface dynamics and orography. Received November 7, 2000 Revised July 14, 2001     

东亚地区北方气旋和南方气旋活动频数的时空特征

利用1953-2007年NCEP／NCAR再分析逐日海平面气压场资料,统计分析东亚地区北方气旋和南方气旋的时间和地域分布特征。结果表明：南、北气旋活动频数存在明显的年际和年代际变化,伴随着一次全球性的年代际气候跃变,20世纪80年代初期北方气旋活动频数出现了显著的突变。从月际分布可知,5月北方气旋频数最多,8月南方气旋频数最多;春季北方气旋活动频繁,存在着明显的两个高值中心,分另Ij位于蒙古国中部和中国东北地区北部;夏季南方气旋活动频繁,主要集中在中国东部沿海及日本南部海面。南北气旋活动频数的季节变化与大气环流的变化密切相关。相关统计结果可增加对东亚温带气旋活动规律的认识和了解,并为预测和预报提供参考。     

A climatology of Southern Hemisphere extratropical cyclones

A climatology of extratropical cyclones determined by an objective automatic scheme applied to 15 years (1975–89) of once-daily Australian Bureau of Meteorology hemispheric analyses is presented. Contour maps of the positions of formation (cyclogenesis), dissipation (cyclolysis) together with other cyclone statistics are presented. The distribution of cyclones through the hemisphere was found to be dominated by a permanent high latitude core coincident with the circumpolar trough. During the winter and intermediate seasons, two mid latitude branches are evident in the cyclone density originating in the Tasman Sea and South American sectors, both spiraling poleward and merging with the circumpolar core in the Southern Oceans. Systems were observed to move in an castsouth-east direction, away from their location of formation, exhibiting peak speeds of migration in the mid latitudes. Little seasonality was evident in the densitiy distribution of cyclones through the Southern Oceans, but a considerable amount was found in their central pressure. Correspondence to: I Simmonds     

Interannual variability and predictability of sea level along the Indian Coast

Summary The Indian coast stretching more than 7,500 km constitutes the major portion of the South Asian coastline in the North Indian Ocean region. The South Asian region is significantly influenced by meteorological/oceanographic phenomena like monsoons, El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and tropical cyclones. Direct/indirect impacts of these phenomena, which exhibit large interannual variabilities, on sea level changes in this region are considerable. Our results show that the mean sea level along the eastern coast of India, which is highly vulnerable to the incidence of severe tropical cyclones, is considerably higher than normal during the intense cyclonic period of a year falling in the positive phase of the Southern Oscillation (La Ni?a epoch), thereby enhancing the hazardous potential of tropical cyclones. Further, in the closing phase of the La Ni?a southwest monsoon, higher sea level anomalies prevail along the Indian coast raising the flooding potential of such monsoons. Over the west coast of India significant simultaneous correlations have been found between the amount of southwest monsoon rainfall and the mean sea level during the period from June to September. Over the east coast of India at Visakhapatnam, mean sea level is predictable with a fair degree of confidence one month in advance, by using the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) as predictors. These results will be useful in the annual preparedness programmes aimed at mitigating the impacts of natural disasters like tropical cyclones and floods in the South Asian region. Received November 9, 2001     

Recent trends in Australian region tropical cyclone activity

Summary The number of tropical cyclones observed in the Australian region (south of equator; 105–160° E) has apparently declined since the start of reliable (satellite) observations in the 1969/70 season. However, the number of more intense cyclones (with minimum pressures dropping to 970 hPa or lower) has increased slightly. The numbers of weak (minimum pressures not dropping below 990 hPa) and moderate systems (minimum pressures between 970 and 990 hPa) have declined. Possible reasons for these different trends are discussed. The decline in the number of weaker cyclones may at least partly reflect improved understanding of the nature of some weak systems. The decline in the number of cyclones more intense than 990 hPa primarily reflects the downward trend in the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). Previous work has demonstrated that the number of tropical cyclones observed in the Australian region each cyclone season is related to the value of the SOI prior to the start of the cyclone season. This relationship is clearest with the number of moderate cyclones. The SOI is only weakly related to the number of intense or weak cyclones. The increase in the number of intense cyclones is not attributable to the trend in the SOI. Nor is there clear reason, at present, to suspect that it is artificial (i.e., due to changes in observing or analysis techniques).With 7 Figures     

Using the databases of the ocean climate laboratory of the NODC NOAA for constructing climatology maps by the example of the upwelling area at the coast of Southern Vietnam

Maps of monthly temperature means of the South China Sea at 0- and 50-m depths were constructed using the WOD98 oceanological database. Analysis of the maps confirmed the climatological character of coastal upwelling operating at the coast of Southern Vietnam in June–August. The upwelling area is a natural protection of Southern Vietnam against tropical cyclones. The oceanological databases should be used after their check for stations with erroneous coordinates.     

Climatology of extratropical cyclones over the South American–southern oceans sector

A climatology of extratropical cyclones is presented. Extratropical cyclones, their main characteristics and their predominant tracks, as well as their interannual variability, affect weather in South America. For that purpose, a storm track database has been compiled by applying a cyclone tracking scheme to six-hourly sea level pressure fields, available from the National Center for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalyses II for the 1979–2003 period. The spatial distribution of the cyclogenesis frequency shows two main centers: one around Northern Argentina, Uruguay, and Southern Brazil in all seasons and the other near to the North Antarctic Peninsula. The lifetime of extratropical cyclones in the South American sector exhibits small seasonality, being typically of the order of 3.0 days during most of the year and slightly higher (3.5 days) in austral summer. The distance travelled by the cyclones formed in the South American sector tends to be smaller than the total paths found in other areas of the Southern Hemisphere. A k-mean clustering technique is used to summarize the analysis of the 25-year climatology of cyclone tracks. Three clusters were found: one storm-track cluster in Northeast Argentina; a second one west of the Andes Cordillera; and a third cluster located to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula (around the Weddell Sea). The influence of the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) in the variability of extratropical cyclones is explored, and some signals of the impacts of the variability of the AAO can be observed in the position of the extratropical cyclones around 40°S, while the impacts on the intensity is detected around 55°S.     

影响广西的热带气旋年频数的BP神经网络预测模型

对影响广西的热带气旋(TC)年频数与大气环流的关系进行分析表明,TC年频数与全球范围大气环流异常有密切关系,特别是春季南半球中高纬度环流异常和低纬越赤道气流异常.利用相关分析从春季全球大气环流场中选择初选预报因子,然后对初选预报因子作EOF展开构造综合预报因子,运用BP神经网络方法建立TC年频数预报模型,并对所建立的模型进行独立样本试验.结果表明,该预报模型对历史样本拟合精度高,试报效果优于传统的逐步回归模型,可在汛期预测业务中应用.     

Climatic characteristics of Mediterranean cyclones

Based on the data for the period of 1948?C2004 using the objective methods of automatic identification of cyclones, the main areas of Mediterranean cyclogenesis are revealed, the main regularities of their trajectories are described, and the peculiarities of interseasonal variability of characteristics of the genesis and movement of Mediterranean cyclones are determined. Special attention is paid to the cyclones coming to the European part of Russia and to the territory of CIS countries, i.e., to so-called southern cyclones. The areas of genesis and trajectories of southern cyclones are classified. A trend of the total number of Mediterranean cyclones and of the number of southern cyclones is analyzed and their synchronous relationships with the low-frequency variability of atmospheric circulation are estimated using the indices of major teleconnection systems. It is demonstrated that the significant feedbacks exist between the number of southern cyclones and the NAO and EA2 teleconnection indices, as well as the index of North Asian system.     

Extra-tropical cyclones in the present and future climate: a review

Based on the availability of hemispheric gridded data sets from observations, analysis and global climate models, objective cyclone identification methods were developed and applied to these data sets. Due to the large amount of investigation methods combined with the variety of different datasets, a multitude of results exist, not only for the recent climate period but also for the next century, assuming anthropogenic changed conditions. Different thresholds, different physical quantities, and considerations of different atmospheric vertical levels add to a picture that is difficult to combine into a common view of cyclones, their variability and trends, in the real world and in GCM studies. Thus, this paper will give a comprehensive review of the actual knowledge on climatologies of mid-latitude cyclones for the Northern and Southern Hemisphere for the present climate and for its possible changes under anthropogenic climate conditions.     

Climatology of deep cyclones over Asia and the Northwest Pacific

Summary A frequency analysis of deep cyclones with central pressure less than or equal to 990 hPa over Asia and the Northwest Pacific in the period 1958–1989 is presented. The most active areas of deep cyclones are: 1) Western Siberia, east of the Ural Mountains; 2) Northeastern China, east of the Mongolia Plateau and, 3) South-west of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The first most active area is related to European cyclones (Schinke, 1993) and starts in the lee of the Ural Mountains; the second is related to cyclones in the lee of Altai-Sayan and the third to East Asian coastal cyclones. After zonal averaging, two frequency maxima of deep cyclones emerged, one between 62.5–67.5° N and the other between 47.5–52.55° N. This is different from the European and North Atlantic regions where only one maximum occurs. The seasonal frequency deep cyclones in Northeastern China reaches maximum in spring and summer while in western Siberia and the Northwest Pacific deep cyclones are more frequent in winter. The annual trend of deep cyclones over the Northwest Pacific shows an increase from the sixties to the eighties while deep cyclones over East Asia decreased during this period. In the 1980's, more deep cyclones occurred over the Northwest Pacific and less deep cyclones over main land Asia which may be associated with the northern hemisphere warming. The monthly number of oceanic deep cyclones in December and January appeared to be positively correlated with the August and September sea surface temperatures over the East Pacific (El Nino regions 1 + 2).With 7 Figures     

Changes in the activity and tracks of Arctic cyclones

Changes in the frequency and air pressure of cyclones that enter or are formed within the Arctic basin are herein examined by applying the database of cyclones created using NCEP/NCAR re-analysis. The Arctic basin is defined as the area north of latitude 68° N. Deep cyclones with a mean sea level pressure (SLP) of below 1,000 hPa, were analysed separately from shallow cyclones. Changes in the variables in the first, last, deepest and northernmost points of cyclones were studied. The cyclones were grouped into sectors by using the point on latitude 68° N at which the cyclone entered the Arctic region. The analysis described herein shows that the frequency of incoming cyclones, i.e. those that entered the Arctic basin, increased significantly during the period 1948?C2002, but that the frequency of Arctic cyclones formed within the Arctic basin did not. The frequency of deep cyclones that entered the Arctic basin, as well as the frequency of cyclones that formed within it, clearly increased, while the frequency of shallow Arctic cyclones decreased. The most significant changes in the seasonal parameters associated with the cyclones occurred in winter. The mean annual SLP of deep cyclones decreased significantly, particularly for deep Arctic cyclones. The frequency of incoming cyclones showed an increase in the Bering Strait, Alaskan, Baffin Sea, and East Siberian sectors.     

Statistical and Comparative Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Activity over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal (1977–2018)

A statistical comparative analysis of tropical cyclone activity over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal (BoB) has been conducted using best-track data and wind radii information from 1977 to 2018 issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Results have shown that the annual variation in the frequency and duration of tropical cyclones has a significant increasing trend over the Arabian Sea and an insignificant decreasing trend over the BoB. The monthly frequency of tropical cyclones in both the Arabian Sea and the BoB shows a notable bimodal character, with peaks occurring in May and October–November, respectively. The maximum frequency of tropical cyclones occurs in the second peak as a result of the higher moisture content at mid-levels in the autumn. However, the largest proportion of strong cyclones (H1–H5 grades) occurs in the first peak as a result of the higher sea surface temperatures in early summer. Tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea break out later during the first peak and activity ends earlier during the second peak, in contrast with those in the over BoB. This is related to the onset and drawback times of the southwest monsoon in the two basins. Tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea are mainly generated in the eastern basin, whereas in the BoB the genesis locations have a meridional (zonal) distribution in May–June (October–November) as a result of the seasonal movement of the low-level positive vorticity belt. The Arabian Sea is dominated by western and northwestern tropical cyclones by that track west and NW, accounting for about 74.6%, whereas the tropical cyclones with a NE track account for only 25.4%. The proportions of the three types of tracks are similar in the BoB, with each accounting for about 33% of the tropical cyclones. The mean intensity and size of tropical cyclones over the Arabian Sea are stronger and larger, respectively, than those over the BoB and the size of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean in early summer is larger than that in autumn. The asymmetrical structure of tropical cyclones over North Indian Ocean is affected by the topography and the longest radius of the 34 kt surface wind often lies in the eastern quadrant of the tropical cyclone circulation in both sea areas. FAN Xiao-ting (樊晓婷), LI Ying (李 英), et al.     

ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE DIAGNOSIS OF OCEANIC EXPLOSIVE CYCLONES*

Using the data of ECMWF (European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) to undertake composite diagnoses of 16 explosive cyclones occurring at the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans,it is found that there are a lot of obvious discrepancies on the basic fields between these strong and weak explosive cyclones.The major reasons why the explosive cyclones over the Atlantic are stronger than those over the Pacific Ocean are that the non-zonal upper jet and the low-level warm moist flow over the Atlantic are stronger.The non-zonal upper jet offers stronger divergence,baroclinicity and baroclinic instability fields for explosive cyclones.Anticyclonic curvature at the high level of strong explosive cyclones is easy to make the inertia-gravitational wave developing at the moment of northward transfer of energy and stimulate the cyclones deepening quickly.Warm advection and diabatic heating can cause the upper isobaric surface lifting,as a result,the anticyclone curvature of cyclones enlarges,and wave energy develops easily as well.The most powerful period of the development of explosive cyclones is just the time when the positive vorticity advection center is located over the low vortex.At the upper level,when the distribution of potential vorticity contours changes suddenly from rareness to denseness,and the large values of the potential vorticity both in the west and north sides of cyclones extend downwards together,then cyclones are easy to explosively develop.The formation of strong explosive cyclones is closely related with the non-zonality of upper jet and the anticyclonic curvature.     

目标圆方法在船舶导航中的应用

根据多年指挥海上船舶绕避热带气旋的经验,提出了一种基于热带气旋预报目标圆的绕避热带气旋方法。文中给出了目标圆方法的基本原理、操作流程和关键技术,介绍了实际使用此方法成功指挥船舶绕避热带气旋的实例。统计结果表明,近年来此方法的使用效果和效益评估情况良好,具有较高的使用价值。这种绕避热带气旋的方法同样适用于船舶绕避爆发性气旋。     

登陆我国热带气旋的气候特征

利用1949～2001年西北太平洋热带气旋基本资料,对登陆我国热带气旋活动的气候特征进行了分析。结果表明,登陆我国的热带气旋频数存在显著的月际、年际和年代际差异,具有明显的时间日变化特征。同时指出,登陆我国热带气旋的频数与长江中下游地区梅雨量可能存在一定关系。此外,通过对在不同纬度带登陆的热带气旋进行统计分析发现,热带气旋所登陆的纬度带不同,其维持时间、衰减速度存在明显差异。     

阿拉伯海热带气旋生成特征分析

利用印度气象局（India Meteorological Department,IMD）、国际气候管理最佳路径档案库（International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship,IBTrACS）提供的1982—2020年阿拉伯海热带气旋路径资料,美国国家环境预报中心（National Centers for Environmental Prediction,NCEP）再分析资料,对近39 a阿拉伯海热带气旋源地和路径特征、活跃区域、频数及气旋累积能量（accumulated cyclone energy,ACE）指数的季节特征和年际变化特征进行分析,并结合环境因素,说明其物理成因。结果表明：阿拉伯海热带气旋多发于10°~25°N,65°~75°E海域,5—6月、9—12月发生频数较高且强度较强,1—4月、7—8月发生频数较低且气旋近中心最大风速均小于35 kn;频数的季节变化主要受控于垂直风切变要素;阿拉伯海热带气旋发生频数和ACE近年有上升趋势,年际变化主要受控于海面温度（sea surface temperature,SST）和850 hPa相对湿度要素。     

2010—2019年春季影响大连的温带气旋特征及爆发性气旋成因分析

利用常规和加密气象观测、NCEP再分析、云图等资料,对2010—2019年春季影响大连的温带气旋特征及爆发性气旋造成的极端天气的物理机制进行分析。结果表明：春季进入到渤海、黄海北部的气旋平均每月2.4个;气旋一般先进入黄海,进入黄海和经渤海进入黄海的温带气旋总计有84.5%进入黄海北部,且春季进入黄渤海的气旋73%会给大连地区带来大风或降水天气,影响大连东部沿海的几率远高于其他地区;产生较强灾害性天气的爆发性气旋多发生在春季,路径基本都是由西南向东北方向移动。爆发性气旋主要是因为温带气旋经过黄渤海后短时间快速降压,到大连陆地发生爆发性发展,这种温带气旋的发展一般从低层开始,具有较强的锋区和斜压性,爆发阶段位于正涡度平流最大的高空急流出口区,对应低空位于低空急流左前方辐合区。较强的冷、暖温度平流是造成极端降水和大风天气的主要因素,暴雨的形成主要是温带气旋带来的暖湿气流持续输送,并伴有较强上升运动促使的水汽垂直输送,整层水汽充沛;当低空急流发展和冷、暖空气交绥时,出现了在高湿、高温的湿斜压锋区上的强降水;而北路强冷空气与黄、渤海上爆发性发展的温带气旋形成极强气压梯度,是出现极端大风的主要原因。     

“碧利斯”和“格美”登陆后暴雨强度不同的天气学对比分析

热带气旋碧利斯和格美,在起源地、路径和结构上有一定的相似,但登陆后降水强度却有明显差异。通过对两个热带气旋登陆后环境场和物理量场的对比分析,得出一些结论。热带气旋登陆后暴雨强度与高空盛行东北气流和南海西南季风加强有关。高低空不同的环流形势导致了这两个热带气旋登陆后华南沿海低层辐合、高层辐散、上升运动、水汽及不稳定度等物理量场的不同,从而造成暴雨强度的不同。     

“碧利斯”和“格美”登陆后暴雨强度不同的天气学对比分析

热带气旋碧利斯和格美,在起源地、路径和结构上有一定的相似,但登陆后降水强度却有明显差异.通过对两个热带气旋登陆后环境场和物理量场的对比分析,得出一些结论.热带气旋登陆后暴雨强度与高空盛行东北气流和南海西南季风加强有关.高低空不同的环流形势导致了这两个热带气旋登陆后华南沿海低层辐合、高层辐散、上升运动、水汽及不稳定度等物理量场的不同,从而造成暴雨强度的不同.