西北太平洋热带气旋快速增强阶段的风速分布特征

利用联合台风预警中心的最优路径（best-track）资料,筛选出西北太平洋地区快速增强和非快速增强两类热带气旋样本。利用美国国家海洋与大气管理局（NOAA）的多平台热带气旋表面风分析资料,对比分析了两类样本的风速和涡度的分布特征。结果显示,快速增强的热带气旋样本通常结构更紧凑,最大风速较大,最大风速半径较小,台风内区的风速较大。在涡度上表现为快速增强热带气旋样本内区的涡度和涡度梯度较大。对两类样本进行t检验,结果显示两类样本内区的切向风差异明显,说明热带气旋的内区风速分布与其发展之间存在密切联系。其物理机制可能是:当存在较大的内区涡度梯度时,涡度隔离机制有利于对流单体向涡旋中心汇聚,此外较大的涡度意味着较大的惯性稳定度,有利于非绝热加热向热带气旋动能的转换,二者共同作用有利于热带气旋的快速发展。      

东风和西风切变环境下西北太平洋热带气旋快速增强特征的对比

利用1980-2009年美国联合台风警报中心(Joint Typhoon Warning Center,JTWC)整编的热带气旋(tropical cyclone,TC)最佳路径资料,定义西北太平洋TC 24 h强度变化达到总体样本96%累积概率的变化值,即35 kn作为TC快速增强的阈值。根据NCEP/NCAR资料将200~850 hPa之间 TC所处的环境纬向风切变(wind shear,WS)划分为东风切变(east wind shear,EWS)和西风切变(west wind shear,WWS)。对比了EWS和WWS环境下快速增强热带气旋(rapid intensification tropical cyclones,RITC)的统计和大尺度环境合成场特征,结果表明,近70%的TC快速增强发生在东风切变环境下。TC快速增强概率最高的月份在9月,初始强度区间为[65,75) kn。大的EWS下,850 hPa有来自南海地区的西南气流为RITC输送充沛水汽,500 hPa、200 hPa高压势力强但脊线位置偏北,RITC流出层温度低于-79 ℃,垂直结构上底层的辐合与高层的辐散也相对较强。大WWS下,850 hPa的水汽主要为来自西北太平洋的东南气流,500 hPa副热带高压断裂为几个分散的中心,200 hPa辐散相对较弱,RITC合成位置位于副热带高压西北侧的西风气流,流出层温度约-76 ℃。     

西北太平洋热带气旋快速加强过程中的水汽特征分析

利用NCEP的1°(纬度)×1°(经度)全球最终分析资料和JTWC(Joint Typhoon Warning Center)最佳路径资料,对2002~2011年西北太平洋热带气旋(TC)非减弱阶段快速加强(Rapid Intensification,RI)和缓慢加强及强度稳定(Non-RI)过程中,TC环境场及其内部各区域水汽分布和输送特征进行统计分析,揭示水汽因子对TC随后24 h强度变化的影响,为TC强度突变的趋势预报提供依据。结果表明:对流层低层900 h Pa层半径3~10纬距区域平均相对湿度(RH_3-10)能明显区分RI与Non-RI过程,说明西北太平洋TC强度变化对水汽的敏感高度较大西洋更接近洋面;RI初始时刻的RH_3-10显著大于Non-RI,而水平水汽通量(F_all)则弱于Non-RI,说明RI开始时刻TC环境表现为高水汽含量和较小的水汽输送,而随着RI过程TC内强对流发展对水汽的消耗,水汽含量明显减小故水汽通量则出现增强;RI和Non-RI过程水汽因子的分布和输送在TC内核区和外雨带差异明显,初始时刻RI过程净水汽获得区域大于Non-RI。相关性分析同样表明,适宜的相对湿度和水汽通量是非减弱阶段RI的有效潜势预报因子。     

西北太平洋热带气旋迅速增强特征及其影响因子

选取西北太平洋上热带气旋(TC)24小时风速变化累积频率达95%所对应的15.4 m/s作为迅速增强(RI)的标准,研究了RI个例的基本特征以及TC自身特征因子与环境因子对RI的作用。结果表明,TC迅速增强过程的持续时间平均为33小时,最长可达78小时,并且TC经过迅速增强过程几乎都达到了台风级别以上,其中,一半以上达到了强台风级别以上。对比迅速增强(RI)和非迅速增强(non-RI)个例得到,RI个例相对于non-RI个例发生区域偏南偏东,两者的移动速度没有明显差异,但RI个例有较大向西移动分量并且前12小时增强较大;相对于non-RI个例,RI个例离最大潜在强度较远并且发生在较暖水区和55%～75%的低层相对湿度的条件下;RI个例发生在较小的垂直风切变和较弱的对流层上层东风气流情况下,由上层槽或冷低压引起的强迫弱于平均状况时RI较易发生。TC前12小时强度变化(DVMX)、海表面温度(SST)和垂直风切变(SHR)是影响迅速增强的主要因子,当DVMX≥6.3 m/s时RI发生的可能性最大,达到17.2%。当有若干个影响因子共同起作用时发生RI可能性显著增加,其中以较大的前12小时强度变化(DVMX≥6.3 m/s)、较高的海表面温度(SST≥29.4℃)、较弱的垂直风切变(SHR≤5.9 m/s)、较小的相对涡旋角动量通量辐合(REFC≤-1.6 m/(s.d))、偏东经度(LON≥138.2°E)和低纬度(LAT≤16.7°N)共同作用时,RI发生的可能性达到最大,可达66.7%。     

近30a登陆我国的西北太平洋热带气旋活动的时空变化特征

采用1979—2006年美国联合台风预警中心的热带气旋（tropical cyclone,TC）资料,对登陆我国的西北太平洋（Northwest Pacific,NWP）TC强度、路径、登陆地点的气候特征、年际变化及其演变趋势进行了统计分析。结果表明：登陆我国的TC以发源于西北太平洋的西侧以及南海中、北部为主,并且在NWP西南区生成的登陆我国的TC基本以西北移动路径为主,而在NWP西北侧和南海生成的登陆我国的TC多为打转或移动路径转向;登陆我国的TC不仅在强度上具有明显增强的变化规律,而且在登陆位置上存在向东北方向偏移的演变趋势,使得登陆厦门以北区域的TC数量具有增加的趋势,而登陆厦门以南的TC数量存在减少的趋势;登陆我国的NWP TC移动路径存在年代际的演变特征。     

1991年西北太平洋的热带气旋

本文分析了1991年西北太平洋地区热带气旋的发生情况、强度变化和路径特点。认为近海北上路径少和无登陆北上路径,登陆热带气旋少和登陆的时空分布相对集中,近海强度和速度多变以及近海异常路径偏多,是本年度西北太平洋热带气旋活动的主要特点。     

西北太平洋地区热带气旋闪电活动的气候学特征及其与气旋强度变化的关系

利用2005~2014年全球闪电定位网（WWLLN）资料和中国气象局提供的热带气旋（Tropical Cyclone,TC）位置和强度资料,分析了近10年西北太平洋地区228个TC中的闪电时空分布特征及其与气旋强度变化的关系。结果表明:TC闪电活动年际变化呈震荡分布,夏半年闪电活动比冬半年强,闪电频数日变化呈单峰分布,峰值出现在12:00（地方时,下同）,谷值出现在06:00。闪电密度呈三圈分布结构,内核区和外雨带区闪电密度较高,内雨带区最低;闪电密度空间不对称分布,最高值出现在TC南侧。TC强度改变时,内核区闪电密度随TC不同强度等级的分布与外雨带区不同。TC内核区闪电活动较外雨带区强,内核区和外雨带区的闪电密度最大值分别出现在TC快速增强和强度一般变化时;快速增强过程一般发生在中等强度的TC中,而快速减弱过程一般发生在强度较强的TC中。TC快速增强前后,内核区闪电活动变化比全部TC闪电和外雨带区明显,表明内核闪电活动较全部TC闪电和外雨带区闪电能更好的指示TC的快速增强。     

西北太平洋近赤道热带气旋生成的特征分析

1979—2012年西北太平洋存在70个形成于0°～5°N的低纬度地区的热带气旋(TC),占TC总量的8%,其中达到台风等级的个数占64%。而针对此类缺少一定科氏力作用而形成的罕见TC生成的研究相对较少。本文利用JTWC的TC最佳观测资料、ERA-Interim再分析资料,以及NOAA-OISST海温资料,以西北太平洋近赤道TC为研究对象,统计诊断了其年际、年代际、季节分布特征,分析了其大尺度环境背景场,重点探讨了近赤道TC生成的影响因子。研究结果表明,近赤道TC具有明显的年际与年代际变化,并且近赤道TC具有与西北太平洋总TC恰好相反的季节变化。近赤道TC生成的大尺度环境背景场是东北冬季风与其在近赤道地区偏转形成的西北风之间的气旋性环流。对流层低层的绝对涡度动力项与对流层中层的湿度热量项是近赤道TC生成的主要贡献因子,并且相对于5°～10°N生成的TC,近赤道TC对对流层低层的正涡度与对流层中层的湿度条件的要求更高。     

南海热带气旋的时空分布特征分析

本文统计了南海热带气旋的空间分布和时间演变特征。发现热带气旋年活动时数最长的区域位于海南岛东南方海面。台风、热带风暴和强热带风暴、热带低压的年平均活动时间分别约为9天、15天和26天。本文还用切比雪夫多项式展开的方法讨论了南海热带气旋时数场的特征,发现低阶切比雪夫系数具有一定的规律性。     

Climate variation and prediction of rapid intensification in tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific

Summary One of the greatest challenges in tropical weather forecasting is the rapid intensification (RI) of the tropical cyclone (TC), during which its one-minute maximum sustained wind speed increases at least 30 knots per 24 hours. Here we identify and elucidate the climatic conditions that are critical to the frequency and location of the RI on annual, intraseasonal, and interannual time scales. Whereas RI and formation share common environmental preferences, we found that the percentage of TCs with RI varies annually and from year to year. In August, only 30% of TC actually experiences RI, in contrast to the annual maximum of 47% in November. The proportion of RI in July–September is higher during El Ni?o years (53%) than the corresponding one in the La Ni?a years (37%). Three climate factors may contribute to the increase in the proportion of RI: the southward shift in the monthly or seasonal mean location of the TC formation, the increase in the low-level westerly meridional shear vorticity, and the decrease in northerly vertical shear. When the mean latitude of TC formation increases, the mixed-layer heat content decreases while TC’s inertial stability increases; both are more detrimental to the RI than to TC formation because the RI requires large amount of latent heat energy being extracted efficiently from the ocean mixed layer and requires accelerated low-level radial inflow that carries latent heat reaching the inner core region. We further demonstrate that the RI frequency in the Philippine Sea and South China Sea can be predicted 10 to 30 days in advance based on the convective anomalies in the equatorial western Pacific (5° S–5° N, 130°–150° E) on intraseasonal time scale. The Ni?o 3.4 SSTA in June is a potential predictor for the peak TC season (July–September) RI activity in the southeast quadrant of the western North Pacific (0–20° N, 140–180° E). The RI is an essential characteristic of category 4 and 5 hurricanes and super typhoons because all category 4 and 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic basin and 90% of the super typhoons in the western North Pacific experience at least one RI process in their life cycles. Over the past 40 years, the annual total of RI in the western North Pacific shows pronounced interdecadal variation but no significant trend. This result suggests that the number of supper typhoons has no upward trend in the past 40 years. Our results also suggest that when the mean latitude, where the tropical storms form, shifts southward (either seasonally or from year to year) the proportion of super typhoon or major hurricane will likely increase. This shift is determined by large scale circulation change rather than local SST effects. This idea differs from the current notion that increasing SST can lead to more frequent occurrence of category 4 or 5 hurricanes through local thermodynamics. Corresponding author’s address: Bin Wang, Department of Meteorology, University of Hawaii, 2525 Correa Rd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA (also visiting professor at the Ocean University of China)     

AIRS-observed warm core structures of tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific

Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) temperature profiles during the period 2003–2013 are used to examine the warm core structures and evolution characteristics associated with the formation and development of western North Pacific (WNP) tropical cyclones (TCs). The warm core with a steady 1.5-K warming in the layer of 500–300 hPa occurs 24 h prior to tropical storm formation. Apparent eye warming extends upward to upper troposphere and downward to near surface after tropical storm formation. TC intensity shows a robust positive correlation with the warm core strength and has a weaker but still significant positive correlation with the warm core height (the weaker correlation is primarily attributed to the scattered warm core heights of weak TCs). Future 24-h intensity change of TCs has little correlation with the warm core height while it has a significant negative correlation with the warm core strength. Weak to moderate warm core at 500–200 hPa may be a necessary but not sufficient initial condition for TC rapid intensification. AIRS-observed warm core structures, in combination with other environmental factors, have the potential to improve the prediction of tropical storm formation and rapid intensification of WNP TCs.     

Asymmetric distribution of convection in tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific Ocean

Forecasts of the intensity and quantitative precipitation of tropical cyclones(TCs) are generally inaccurate, because the strength and structure of a TC show a complicated spatiotemporal pattern and are affected by various factors. Among these, asymmetric convection plays an important role. This study investigates the asymmetric distribution of convection in TCs over the western North Pacific during the period 2005–2012, based on data obtained from the Feng Yun 2(FY2)geostationary satellite. The asymmetric distributions of the incidence, intensity and morphology of convections are analyzed.Results show that the PDFs of the convection occurrence curve to the azimuth are sinusoidal. The rear-left quadrant relative to TC motion shows the highest occurrence rate of convection, while the front-right quadrant has the lowest. In terms of intensity, weak convections are favored in the front-left of a TC at large distances, whereas strong convections are more likely to appear to the rear-right of a TC within a 300 km range. More than 70% of all MCSs examined here are elongated systems, and meso-β enlongated convective systems(MβECSs) are the most dominant type observed in the outer region of a TC. Smaller MCSs tend to be more concentrated near the center of a TC. While semi-circular MCSs [MβCCSs, MCCs(mesoscale convective complexes)] show a high incidence rate to the rear of a TC, elongated MCSs [MβECSs, PECSs(persistent elongated convective systems)] are more likely to appear in the rear-right quadrant of a TC within a range of 400 km.     

西北太平洋热带气旋气候变化的若干研究进展

简要回顾了近年来国内外在西北太平洋热带气旋活动的季节、年际和年代际变化方面的研究,涉及到热带低频振荡、厄尔尼诺—南方涛动(EI Ni(n)o-Southern oscillation,ENSO)、印度洋海盆增暖、准两年振荡(quasi-biennial oscillation,QBO)等对西北太平洋热带气旋活动气候变化的影响,以及ENSO与热带气旋活动年际相关的年代际变化,展望了该领域的研究前景,并提出当前此研究领域中一些亟需研究的科学问题.     

2006年7—9月西北太平洋热带气旋季节活动的数值模拟

利用NCEP（National Centers for Environmental Prediction）提供的1°×1°的FNL（final）资料和中尺度WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting）模式,研究了热带气旋（tropical cyclone,简记TC）动力季节预报的可能性,通过在27km的粗网格中运用张弛逼近（Nudging）技术,对2006年7-9月西北太平洋TC活动进行了92d的连续数值积分。与观测结果比较表明,WRF模式不仅较好地模拟了MJO（Madden-Julian oscillation）和准双周振荡的活动情况,而且模拟的TC频数、移动路径和强度都与实际观测结果比较接近。在嵌套的9km网格中,不仅模拟出眼墙、暖心等TC结构的主要特征和TC的西行盛行路径及登陆活动情况,而且所模拟的生成过程包括早期研究中提出的TC生成过程中的两次快速发展的过程。模拟的TC初始涡旋主要出现在季风槽中,伴随准双周振荡活动,它的第一次发展在初始涡旋中心形成强烈的对流区;经过一段时间的减弱后,在有利的大尺度形势下,涡旋中心湿水汽层迅速增厚,导致气旋的第二次强烈发展。     

Statistical characteristics and mechanistic analysis of suddenly reversed tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific Ocean

Based on best track data of tropical cyclones(TCs) from the Japan Meteorological Agency, the characteristics of suddenly reversed TCs(SRTCs), which have turning angles usually approaching 180°, are statistically analyzed from 1949 to 2011 over the western North Pacific Ocean. The typical large-scale circulation patterns of SRTCs are investigated using reanalysis data and dynamical composite analysis. Results show that turnings mainly occur in low latitudes between 10°N and 20°N,and mainly west of 135°E. The majority of SRTCs reach their peak intensity at, or slightly before, the turning time and subsequently decrease at some variable rate. Specifically, SRTCs are divided into four types, each containing two groups(i.e.eight groups in total) in terms of the moving-direction changes. The moving speed of all SRTC types except the south–north type decreases to its lowest during the 24 h, corresponding to a significant reduction in the primary steering components.According to the analysis of the 13 typical flow patterns found in this study, we suggest that sudden track changes are caused by the reversal steering flow. The original balance of the background flow patterns are broken up by new systems, e.g. binary TCs or dispersion-induced anticyclones. Additionally, sudden track changes are often due to double ridge variations of the subtropical high or weakened/strengthened high pressure in the east and west, respectively.     

南海与西北太平洋地区夏季热带气旋潜在生成指数的改进

现阶段使用的热带气旋潜在生成指数(Genesis Potential Index,GPI)在气候场的空间分布上能很好地拟合热带气旋的生成情况,但在热带气旋的年际变化拟合上效果很差。本研究考虑了相对涡度在热带气旋年际变化拟合上的重要作用,并以此为出发点,尝试改善GPI在西北太平洋地区的拟合效果。基于对1979—2011年美国联合飓风警报中心提供的热带气旋最佳路径数据和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料数据集的研究,将之前GPI中的绝对涡度项替换为修正过的相对涡度项。科氏力项仍然保留;将南海(100°～120°E,5°～25°N)与西北太平洋地区(120°～180°E,5°～40°N)热带气旋生成的差异性也纳入了考量,并在这两个区域分别构建GPI公式,改善了对热带气旋生成的气候分布模拟。除此之外,较之已存的GPI指数,改进后的GPI还很大程度提高了GPI对热带气旋生成年际变化的拟合效果,特别是对弱热带气旋年际变化的拟合效果有了显著提升。