DIAGNOSIS OF WAVE ACTIVITY OVER RAINBAND OF LANDFALL TYPHOON

A generalized wave-activity density, which is defined as an absolute value of production of three-dimensional vorticity vector perturbation and gradient of general potential temperature perturbation, is introduced and its wave-activity law is derived in Cartesian coordinates. Constructed in an agoestrophic and nonhydrostatic dynamical framework, the generalized wave-activity law may be applicable to diagnose mesoscale weather systems leading to heavy rainfall. The generalized wave-activity density and wave-activity flux divergence were calculated with the objective analysis data to investigate the character of wave activity over heavy-rainfall regions. The primary dynamical processes responsible for disturbance associated with heavy rainfall were also analyzed. It was shown that the generalized wave-activity density was closely correlated to the observed 6-h accumulative rainfall. This indicated that the wave activity or disturbance was evident over the frontal and landfall-typhoon heavy-rainfall regions in middle and lower troposphere. For the landfall-typhoon rainband, the portion of generalized wave-activity flux divergence, denoting the interaction between the basic-state cyclonic circulation of landfall typhoon and mesoscale waves, was the primary dynamic process responsible for the evolution of generalized wave-activity density.     

A Diagnostic Analysis of the Simulated Structure of a Meiyu Front System in 1999

A numerical simulation of a torrential rain event occurring in the Jiang-Huai Valley of China from 22-24 June 1999 is performed and analyzed by using the PSU/NCAR MM5 mesoscale non-hydrostatic model. The high-resolution model output data are utilized to diagnose the double front structure, and the distributions of potential temperature, equivalent potential temperature, and specific humidity in the vicinity of the Meiyu Front System （MYFS） in the Jiang-Huai Valley. The results show that both the potential temperature gradient and the specific humidity gradient have important impacts on the two strong equivalent potential temperature gradient zones associated with the double front structure of the MYFS, but the latter （moisture gradient） is more important. In addition, the tendency equation of specific humidity gradient is theoretically derived. It shows that variations of the specific humidity gradient are related to the advection, convergence/divergence, horizontal and vertical vorticities （secondary circulation） effects and the gradient of water vapor source/sink. As an example, the budget of the meridional component of the tendency equation is selected and diagnosed by using the above model simulation data of the torrential rain event. It is shown that the variation of the specific humidity gradient averaged throughout the simulation is mainly controlled by the convergence/divergence effect, the secondary circulation effect associated with the horizontal vorticities, and the water vapor source/sink effect. Since the water vapor source/sink is often formed from the phase change processes of water vapor in the air and thus directly associated with cloud and precipitation microphysics processes, the variation of the specific humidity gradient is closely related with cloud and precipitation microphysics and the distribution, development and evolution of cloud and rainfall systems. The double front structure of the MYFS provides an advantageous environmental condition for the development and movement of the mesoscale torrential rain system nearby. In turn, the development of the torrential rain exerts a signifiant impact on the MYFS through changing the thermal and moisture distributions.     

Diagnosis of a Moist Thermodynamic Advection Parameter in Heavy-Rainfall Events

A moist thermodynamic advection parameter, defined as an absolute value of the dot product of hori- zontal gradients of three-dimensional potential temperature advection and general potential temperature, is introduced to diagnose frontal heavy rainfall events in the north of China. It is shown that the parameter is closely related to observed 6-h accumulative surface rainfall and simulated cloud hydrometeors. Since the parameter is capable of describing the typical vertical structural characteristics of dynamic, thermodynamic and water vapor fields above a strong precipitation region near the front surface, it may serve as a physical tracker to detect precipitable weather systems near to a front. A tendency equation of the parameter was derived in Cartesian coordinates and calculated with the simulation output data of a heavy rainfall event. Results revealed that the advection of the parameter by the three-dimensional velocity vector, the covariance of potential temperature advection by local change of the velocity vector and general potential temperature, and the interaction between potential temperature advection and the source or sink of general potential temperature, accounted for local change in the parameter. This indicated that the parameter was determined by a combination of dynamic processes and cloud microphysical processes.     

The Upstream “Strong Signals” of the Water Vapor Transport over the Tibetan Plateau during a Heavy Rainfall Event in the Yangtze River Basin

A heavy rainfall event that occurred over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin(YRB) during July11–13 2000 is explored in this study. The potential/stream function is used to analyze the upstream "strong signals" of the water vapor transport in the Tibetan Plateau(TP). The studied time period covers from 2000 LST 5 July to 2000 LST 15 July(temporal resolution: 6 hours). By analyzing the three-dimensional structure of the water vapor flux, vorticity and divergence prior to and during the heavy rainfall event, the upstream "strong signals" related to this heavy rainfall event are revealed. A strong correlation exists between the heavy rainfall event in the YRB and the convective clouds over the TP. The "convergence zone" of the water vapor transport is also identified, based on correlation analysis of the water vapor flux two days and one day prior to, and on the day of, the heavy rainfall. And this "convergence zone" coincides with the migration of the maximum rainfall over the YRB. This specific coupled structure actually plays a key role in generating heavy rainfall over the YRB. The eastward movement of the coupled system with a divergence/convergence center of the potential function at the upper/lower level resembles the spatiotemporal evolution of the heavy rainfall event over the YRB. These upstream "strong signals" are clearly traced in this study through analyzing the three-dimensional structure of the potential/stream function of upstream water vapor transport.     

华南春季降水和水汽输送的年代际变化特征

The characteristics of spring precipitation and water vapor transport in South China were analyzed by using observational data and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction （NCEP） reanalysis data. The results show that, during the spring, each component of the water cycle （precipitation, wind field, specific humidity, water vapor transport, etc.） in South China exhibits a notable interdecadal variability. An abrupt increase in spring precipitation occurred in the early 1970s. During the dry period from 1958 to 1971, a water vapor flux divergence （positive divQ） existed in South China, which may have led to the deficiency in rainfall. However, during the wet period from 1973 to 1989, there was a remarkable water vapor flux convergence （negative divQ） in South China, which may have resulted in the higher rainfall. The interdecadal variability of water vapor transport is closely related to the interdecadal variability of wind fields, although the interdecadal variability of specific humidity also plays a role to some extent, and the interdecadal variability of the zonal water vapor transport contributes much more to the interdecadal variability of spring precipitation than the meridional water vapor transport.     

Analysis of a Vortex Precipitation Event over Southwest China Using AIRS and In Situ Measurements

A strong precipitation event caused by the southwest vortex(SWV), which affected Sichuan Province and Chongqing municipality in Southwest China on 10–14 July 2012, is investigated. The SWV is examined using satellite observations from AIRS(Atmospheric Infrared Sounder), in situ measurements from the SWV intensive observation campaign, and MICAPS(Marine Interactive Computer-Aided Provisioning System) data. Analysis of this precipitation process revealed that:(1)heavy rain occurred during the development phase, and cloud water content increased significantly after the dissipation of the SWV;(2) the area with low outgoing longwave radiation values from AIRS correlated well with the SWV;(3) variation of the temperature of brightness blackbody(TBB) from AIRS reflected the evolution of the SWV, and the values of TBB reduced significantly during the SWV's development; and(4) strong temperature and water vapor inversions were noted during the development of the SWV. The moisture profile displayed large vertical variation during the SWV's puissant phase,with the moisture inversion occurring at low levels. The moisture content during the receding phase was significantly reduced compared with that during the developing and puissant phases. The vertical flux of vapor divergence explained the variation of the moisture profile. These results also indicate the potential for using AIRS products in studying severe weather over the Tibetan Plateau and its surroundings, where in situ measurements are sparse.     

SENSITIVITY OF PRECIPITATION TO SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND ITS DIURNAL VARIATION: A PARTITIONING ANALYSIS BASED ON SURFACE RAINFALL BUDGET

The sensitivity of precipitation to sea surface temperature(SST) and its diurnal variation is investigated through a rainfall partitioning analysis of two-dimensional cloud-resolving model experiments based on surface rainfall budget.For all experiments,the model is set up using zero vertical velocity and a constant zonal wind and is integrated over 40 days to reach quasi-equilibrium states.The 10-day equilibrium grid-scale simulation data and a time-invariant SST of 29°C are used in the control experiment.In the sensitivity experiments,time-invariant SSTs are 27°C and 31°C with an average value of 29°C when the minimum and maximum values of diurnal SST differences are 1°C and 2°C,respectively.The results show that the largest contribution to total rainfall is from the rainfall with water vapor convergence and local atmospheric drying and hydrometeor gain/divergence(~30%) in all experiments.When SST increases from 27°C to 29°C,the contribution from water vapor convergence decreases.The increase of SST reduces the contribution of the rainfall with water vapor convergence primarily through the decreased contribution of the rainfall with local atmospheric drying and hydrometeor gain/divergence and the rainfall with local atmospheric moistening and hydrometeor loss/convergence.The inclusion of diurnal variation of SST with the diurnal difference of 1°C decreases the rainfall contribution from water vapor convergence primarily through the decreased contribution of the rainfall with local atmospheric moistening and hydrometeor loss/convergence.The contribution of the rainfall from water vapor convergence is barely changed as the diurnal difference of SST increases from 1°C to 2°C.     

Water Cycle and Microphysical Processes Associated with a Mesoscale Convective Vortex System in the Dabie Mountain Area

The water vapor budget and the cloud microphysical processes associated with a heavy rainfall system in the Dabie Mountain area in June 2008 were analyzed using mesoscale reanalysis data(grid resolution 0.03 × 0.03,22 vertical layers,1-h intervals),generated by amalgamating the local analysis and prediction system(LAPS).The contribution of each term in the water vapor budget formula to precipitation was evaluated.The characteristics of water vapor budget and water substances in various phase states were evaluated and their differences in heavy and weak rainfall areas were compared.The precipitation calculated from the total water vapor budget accounted for 77% of actual precipitation;surface evaporation is another important source of water vapor.Water vapor within the domain of interest mainly came from the lower level along the southern boundary and the lower-middle level along the western boundary.This altitude difference for water vapor flux was caused by different weather systems.The decrease of local water vapor in the middle-lower layer in the troposphere during the system development stage also contributed to precipitation.The strength and the layer thickness of water vapor convergence and the content of various water substances in the heavy rainfall areas were obviously larger than in the weak rainfall areas.The peak values of lower-level water vapor convergence,local water vapor income,and the concentration of cloud ice all preceded the heaviest surface rainfall by a few hours.     

THE INTERBASIN TRANSPORT OF ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE EVALUATED FROM NCEP/NCAR REANALYSIS DATA

With the objective of providing a relatively accurate and complete diagram,the global scaleinterbasin transport of atmospheric moisture on the basis of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for theperiod 1980 to 1994 is evaluated.The results show that the net zonal vapor flux for the Pacific,theAtlantic and the Indian Oceans is 0.25 Sv,—0.68 Sv and —0.29 Sv respectively.The markingdifferences in the zonal moisture budget among individual basins are speculated as the reason thatdominates the differences in the salinity between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.Though currentevaluation on the net zonal moisture flux for the Atlantic basin is generally in qualitative agreementwith the previous estimate,quantitative discrepancy is found to exist.According to current statistics,the tropical easterlies carry water vapor of 0.43 Sv from the Atlantic basin across Central Americainto the Pacific,and the northern westerlies allow water vapor of 0.25 Sv to escape from the Pacific.Quantitative analyses also reveal that the seasonal variation of net zonal vapor flux for the Pacific andthe Indian Oceans is stronger than that for the Atlantic,which may be favorable for the maintenanceof high salinity feature of the Atlantic Ocean.     

Transport of Water Vapor over North China during the Drought Period in Summer of 1980

The features of water vapor transport, such as temporal evolution, vertical structure and spatial pattern, over North China during the prolonged drought in the summer of 1980 have been analyzed through computation of water vapor flux based on the once daily ECMWF grid-point data at 12GMT. The results indicate that it is unlikely that the characteristics of the atmospheric mass divergence, ascending motion and stratification stability in North China were completely opposite to those in the Yangtze River Valley, where the heavy flood occurred in the summer of 1980. It is major differences that the strong ascending motion and significant water vapor convergence overlap fairly well each other in the vertical levels in the Yangtze River Valley, while the maximum ascending motion is accompanied by water vapor divergence or weak water vapor convergence in North China. This vertical structure in North China results in insufficient water vapor supply and, therefore, little condensation and precipitation in the m     

我国近30年龙卷风研究进展

从3方面总结了龙卷风研究成果:①研究概况,最初的龙卷风灾后调查到开展天气气候特征分析至近年来开展龙卷风本体结构、产生机制的探讨,获得了丰硕成果;②研究方法提高,从事实调查到利用统计方法,从利用台站常规观测资料到运用卫星、多普勒雷达、风廓线仪等非常规资料开展分析,近年数值模式WRF、ARPS等也被用来研究龙卷风,研究的方法手段不断得到改进;③龙卷风研究、预报面临的困难和未来展望。     

河西走廊农业区春季气溶胶光学特性

为研究干旱农业区农耕季节气溶胶的基本光学特性,2014年4月利用地面气溶胶移动集成系统在甘肃武威黄羊镇农场开展气溶胶综合观测试验。结果表明,河西走廊黄羊镇农场PM2.5和PM1.0的散射系数以及PM2.5的吸收系数分别为98.2±38.3、74.6±29和8.8±6.3 Mm-1,均小于中东部地区观测值。气溶胶单次散射反照率为0.90±0.03,PM2.5和PM1.0的Angstrom指数分别为1.31±0.29和2.10±0.24。散射系数和吸收系数的日变化具有明显的双峰特征,单次散射反照率在散射系数出现峰值的时间段出现谷值。黄羊镇农场受人为气溶胶影响较大,西、西南和东南方向来的气溶胶散射系数和吸收系数值较大,西北方向传输过来的气溶胶主要是农业生产活动产生的。     

武汉市气候变暖与极端天气事件变化的归因分析

根据武汉市1951—2007年间年平均、最高、最低气温与8类年极端天气日数的序列,计算分析其变化趋势及年平均气温与极端天气日数的相关性,引入格兰杰因果性检验法,探讨气候变暖与极端天气事件之间的因果关系。结果发现:(1)近57年来武汉市年平均最低气温增幅为0.45℃/10a,明显高于年平均最高气温0.19℃/10a的增幅,可见气候变暖主要是由夜间气温升高所致;(2)高温和闷热天气事件为增多趋势,其中闷热天气事件最明显,达到2.8 d/10a,而年雷暴、降雪、低温、大风、雾日则均为下降趋势,雷暴、雾和低温事件降幅明显,每10年减少3.0 d、4.0 d和2.1 d。大风和降雪事件,每10年减少1.8 d和1.5 d。暴雨事件波动幅度较小。(3)年平均气温与当年及超前、滞后1～2年的极端天气事件具有高相关性;(4)格兰杰因果性检验结果发现,气候变暖是闷热天气增多和降雪事件减少的原因,同时亦是大风和低温减少的结果。这种因果关系的存在对极端天气事件预测和预估有重要的价值。     

2006年中国气候概况

2006年,全国年平均气温较常年偏高1.09℃,为1951年以来最暖的一年;与此同时,全国平均年降水量较常年略偏少。2006年,我国气象灾害频发,各类气象灾害中,热带气旋所造成的直接经济损失和死亡失踪人数最多,干旱造成的受灾人口和农作物受灾面积最多。总的来看,2006年我国气象灾害造成的经济损失为1999年以来最重。     

Current activities in aerobiology in Japan

A brief review of the research activities of Japanese scientists in aerobiology, which is one of the interdisciplinary sciences closely related to atmospheric turbulence and diffusion as well as to biology, is presented in order to make contacts with interested scientists in other countries.     

Meteorology in watershed research in Alberta

A preliminary investigation of monthly rainfall patterns analysed from 24‐hour computer forecasts of precipitation was performed. These patterns are compared with the observed precipitation and long‐term normal patterns. Recommendations are made to incorporate the method into a verification program for the computer product.     

城市气象研究进展

中国数十年来在城市气象研究这一新兴学科领域开展了大量研究并获得了多方面的丰硕成果。文中从城市气象观测网与观测试验、城市气象多尺度模式、城市气象与大气环境相互影响、城市化对天气气候的影响等4个方面论述了城市气象的主要研究进展:中国各大城市已建立或正在完善具有多平台、多变量、多尺度、多重链接、多功能等特点的城市气象综合观测网;北京、南京、上海等地开展了大型城市气象观测科学试验,被世界气象组织列入研究示范项目;成功开展了风洞实验、缩尺度外场实验研究;建立了多尺度城市气象和空气质量预报数值模式,并应用于业务;在城市热岛效应、城市对降水影响、城市气象与城市规划、城市化对区域气候及空气质量的影响、城市气象与大气环境相互作用等研究领域取得长足进展。最后指出,未来需要重点从新观测技术及观测资料同化应用、城市系统模式研究、城市化对天气气候的影响机理、城市化对大气环境和人体健康的影响、城市水文气象气候与环境综合服务等方面开展科学研究与应用,为中国城市化、生态文明建设、防灾减灾和应对气候变化等国家需求提供科技支撑。      

夏季全国降水EOF展开与黑龙江省降水的关系

用EOF对全国160个站夏季降水展开，取前5个特征向量进行分析，发现全国主要有4种雨型分布，依次呈“＋－＋”、“＋－”、“－＋－”、“－“型。与黑龙江省降为第1种，即东北区及黄河下游多雨，江浪少雨， 长江中下游流域多雨；夏末雨带南退至长江以南，华南多雨，而中国中部为广大的少雨区。