Weather conditions associated with the passage of precipitation type transition regions over eastern Newfoundland

Abstract

The passage of a winter storm is accompanied by changes in many surface and near‐surface parameters including temperature, humidity, wind, pressure, precipitation rate and type, cloud base height, visibility and accretion. These parameters were measured in association with the passage of precipitation‐type transitions over Newfoundland during the Canadian Atlantic Storms Program II field experiment. Three simple summaries of the observed weather events were developed. These summaries depend on the observed large‐scale synoptic conditions, which include warm fronts, a cold front and a trough.     

On the air‐sea interaction in areas of thermal marine fronts in the Greenland Sea

Abstract

The effects of marine fronts on the local atmospheric surface layer and air‐sea interaction were studied. Several mesoscale fronts were crossed by a research vessel in the Greenland Sea. Air temperature, humidity and stability conditions, and the fluxes of momentum, as well as sensible and latent heat, were investigated. For relatively calm conditions, close air‐sea coupling was observed in the temperature whereas for stronger winds, the air temperature of the surface layer was not markedly modified by the front below. Changes in the moisture content in the frontal area were observed and, in one case, evaporation was observed on the warm water side and condensation on the cold water side of the front. Frontal differences in heating from the sea were assumed to affect the surface‐layer wind field.     

一次干冷锋过程的边界层风场结构和尺度分析

本文利用南京北郊164米气象塔实测资料对一次非降水弱冷锋过程的边界层风场结构一三维风速、横锋向水平散度、湍流通量和能量的时空分布，以及多尺度时空分布进行了计算分析。结果表明，在冷暖空气的过渡区（锋区）风场各参量具有明显的梯度，锋区前线的强上升气流与强冷锋相近，但锋区宽度较强冷锋宽得多，其时间尺度为30分钟，水平距离为35公里。锋面过境对风温场的影响时段为24小时，在这期间，出现阵风浪涌和多种中、小尺度（时间尺度为3－4小时、1－20分钟）的湍涡活动。     

Climatology of winter transition days for the contiguous USA, 1951�C2007

In middle and high latitudes, climate change could impact the frequency and characteristics of frontal passages. Although transitions between air masses are significant features of the general circulation that influence human activities and other surface processes, they are much more difficult to objectively identify than single variables like temperature or even extreme events like fires, droughts, and floods. The recently developed Spatial Synoptic Classification (SSC) provides a fairly objective means of identifying frontal passages. In this research, we determine the specific meteorological patterns represented by the SSC??s Transition category, a ??catch-all?? group that attempts to identify those days that cannot be characterized as a single, homogeneous air mass type. The result is a detailed transition climatology for the continental USA. We identify four subtypes of the Transition category based on intra-day sea level pressure change and dew point temperature change. Across the contiguous USA, most transition days are identified as cold fronts and warm fronts during the winter season. Among the two less common subtypes, transition days in which the dew point temperature and pressure both rise are more frequently observed across the western states, and days in which both variables fall are more frequently observed in coastal regions. The relative frequencies of wintertime warm and cold fronts have changed over the period 1951?C2007. Relative cold front frequency has significantly increased in the Northeast and Midwest regions, and warm front frequencies have declined in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Northwest regions. The overall shift toward cold fronts and away from warm fronts across the northern USA arises from a combination of an enhanced ridge over western North America and a northward shift of storm tracks throughout the mid-latitudes. These results are consistent with projections of climate change associated with elevated greenhouse gas concentrations.     

Buoy and satellite observations of mesoscale cellular convection during AMTEX 75

Buoy and satellite observations of mesoscale cellular convection (MCC) over the East China Sea in the vicinity of the Kuroshio current have been made during 14–18 February 1975, as a part of the Air Mass Transformation Experiment (AMTEX). Surface observations of solar radiation from spar buoys indicate the distinct passage of open and closed MCC that formed and continued for three consecutive days during an outbreak of cold polar air over the much warmer Kuroshio. A critical air-sea temperature of –5 °C for the occurrence of MCC has been substantiated. The time required for the passage of solar radiation peaks coupled with the buoy wind speed gave a computed closed cell diameter of 28 km, comparable to estimates from satellite photographs.The horizontal component of wind beneath the cloudy portion of a closed cell, due to convection, has been estimated as 0.6 m s^–1. This represents the speed at which air near the sea surface moves from the edge toward the center of a closed cell. Also, the temperature difference obtained near the sea surface between the relatively cold descending branch and the warm ascending branch is 0.2°C. Similarly, the specific humidity difference of the less moist descending air near the edge and the moist ascending air near cell center is 9% (0.4 g/kg). Some indications were also found in the variation of horizontal wind direction with the passage of closed cells, since wind variations at the edge of passing cells exceeded the mean sequential variability (10.6 ° compared to 9.4 °).Sensible heat flux calculations associated with closed MCC suggest that strong surface heating can be associated with closed cells, previously reported by Hubert (1966) to be a characteristic of only open cells.Finally, the results of this study should remove any disclaimers that MCC appear in satellite photography simply because of a resolution bias and that the consideration of all visible clouds actually present would remove any periodicity one might expect to see in surface observations.     

广东博贺近海海面的一次冷空气过程强风特征分析

利用广东博贺离海岸6 km的一个海上100 m铁塔观测到的梯度资料,采用特征量分析方法,研究强冷空气过程海洋近地层强风的微观特征。结果表明：冷锋过境时,近地层的气象要素有明显的响应：温度骤降、风速加大、气压上升,风向有明显的转变;风向标准差和风速标准差在冷锋前、冷锋过境和冷锋后都有明显不同;冷锋过境大风湍流度为0.08,阵风系数为1.19;此次冷锋过境强风在时间上表现为周期0.5～1 h的低频阵性;在空间上,60 m附近存在近地层的最大风层。     

An Objective Identification Method for Wintertime Cold Fronts in Eurasia

The present study identifies wintertime cold fronts in Eurasia from gridded datasets using a new objective two-step identification scheme. The simple and classic conception of a front is adopted, where a cold front is identified as the warm boundary of the frontal zone with a suitable horizontal temperature gradient and cold advection. We combine the traditional thermal front parameter with temperature advection to first identify the cold frontal zone, and then its eastern and southern boundaries are objectively plotted as a cold front in Eurasia. By comparing different cold front identification methods, the results from this two-step cold front identification method and subjective analysis are more consistent, and the positions of the cold front identified with our method are more reasonable. This objective technique is also applied to a nationwide cold wave event over China. Results show that the horizontal extent and movement of the cold front are in good agreement with the related circulation and the associated cold weather. The proposed method and results in this study may shed light on the rapid identification of cold fronts in operational weather analysis and facilitate further research on the long-term activity characteristics of continental cold fronts.     

The effect of spatial resolution on the simulation of upper-tropospheric frontogenesis using a sigma-coordinate primitive equation model

Summary The effects of varying horizontal and vertical grid resolution on the numerical simulation of upper-tropospheric frontal structures are examined using a, two-dimensional, dry, hydrostatic sigma-coordinate primitive equation model. These effects are illustrated with the results of 72 h model integrations in which frontogenesis is forced solely by confluence. Four different horizontal grid spacings, ranging from 100 km to 12.5 km, and four different vertical, grid resolutions, varying from 10 to 70 layers (90 mb to 13 mb), are considered.The intensity and integrity of the frontogenesis as a function of grid resolution are diagnosed in terms of time histories and spatial distributions of frontal parameters, such as the speed of the along-front jet, maxima of absolute vorticity and potential temperature gradient, and ageostrophic motions. The time histories show that, provided the vertical resolution is sufficient, increasing horizontal resolution leads to better-defined frontal structure due to the decrease in cross-frontal scale. They also indicate that for a given horizontal resolution there exists an optimal vertical resolution beyond which frontal parameters change only slightly. This optimal vertical resolution increases with increasing horizontal resolution, and apparently is related to the horizontal resolution through the slope of the frontal zone.The time histories for simulations combining low vertical resolution with high horizontal resolution exhibit substantial high-frequency variability. Cross sections show that this temporal variability appears to be manifested spatially in the form of gravity waves characterized by wavelengths on the order of 200 km and periods of 12 h, over the range of horizontal and vertical resolution that is considered. Although the source mechanism for these waves cannot be established definitively, it likely involves a grid-induced ageostrophic component of the along-front wind which disrupts thermal wind balance. This results thus demonstrates the potential risk of flawed frontal simulations, when incompatible combinations of horizontal and vertical resolution are used.With 7 Figures     

Meso-scale surface wind changes associated with the passage of cold fronts along the eastern side of the Southern Alps,New Zealand

Summary The movement of cold fronts along the eastern side of the Southern Alps has been studied in detail during the Southerly Change Experiment (SOUCHEX). An enhanced network of surface wind monitoring stations was established in the Canterbury region of the South Island to allow detailed study of meso-scale wind fields during the passage of fronts. Fivesoutherly changes occurred during the experiment, one of which failed to produce a clear wind change over much of the area. The often erratic movement of these fronts along the eastern side of the mountains is illustrated by isochrone maps of the onset of the wind change. Other general characteristics of these events include their shallowness (1000–1500 m deep) and in most cases their abrupt onset. Detailed analysis of anemograph data collected during SOUCHEX indicates great variability in the surface wind field associated with passage of the fronts. Maps of the meso-scale wind field plotted for the first southerly change of the 14 January 1988 illustrate the complexity of the wind changes experienced over the eastern South Island in particular. The arrival of the cold fronts at individual sites provided features of air mass interaction which appear to relate to time of day, and regional and local site factors. Variations, in wind, temperature and relative humidity provide clear examples of both single and double air mass changes. However, nocturnal changes seem to be less distinct due to lower ambient temperatures and increased boundary layer stability.With 9 Figures     

切变线冷区和暖区暴雨落区分析

利用常规、自动气象站、NCEP/NCAR再分析资料（1°×1°,逐6h）和WRF模式逐小时资料,对2010年6月30日—7月2日山东省暴雨过程的落区进行了分析.结果表明：本次暴雨过程具有暖区暴雨和冷区暴雨两种特征.暖区暴雨强度强、范围广、落区集中,位于925 hPa经向切变线右侧或者低涡的东南象限“人”字型切变线内、暖温度脊后部、地面低压前部南风区内;冷区暴雨区强度弱、范围小、落区分散,位于925 hPa经向切变线左侧、冷温度槽前、地面低压后部北风区内.冷区和暖区暴雨均位于大气可降水量大于70 kg/m^2的区域、低空急流顶端的左侧.低空急流与强降水同时开始或者低空急流提前1h开始,降水强度最大时段出现在850 hPa风速跃增后1～3h.只有冷区暴雨时,冷空气较弱,冷锋伸展高度较低,暴雨区位于冷锋后部θse锋区前沿、θse暖脊脊线顶点、强上升运动中心.冷区与暖区暴雨共存时,冷暖空气势力均比只有冷区暴雨时强,冷锋伸展高度较高,冷区与暖区暴雨均位于强上升运动中心南侧1个纬距内风速辐合处.只有暖区暴雨时,冷空气较强,冷锋伸展高度较高,暴雨区位于冷锋前1个纬距内、θse暖脊脊线与地面交点、上升运动中心.低层向北倾斜锋区的南北跨度与中层向南倾斜锋区的南北跨度的差值大小,直接影响上升运动的强度和暴雨区的分布.     

Enhanced cold front propagation due to turbulent mixing

Summary The influence of turbulent friction on the propagation of cold fronts is investigated by numerical simulations using a two-dimensional mesoscale model. We compare the frictional effect with the effects of large-scale shear forcing and energy conversion at the earth's surface and discuss the synergic effect of all three mentioned processes. There is no pure superposition of these effects indicating that nonlinear interaction plays a role. In addition it is possible to show that—depending on the along-front jet—friction does not necessarily slow down the front but can also accelerate it. The direction of the along-front jet within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is crucial for that question.With 12 Figures     

地形上空边界层流中低层锋面结构的理论研究Ⅱ:暖锋、均匀地转流

利用一个有地形、边界层摩擦作用、简化的二层浅水锋面模型,在理论上研究了地形上空边界层流动中地面暖锋的结构及环流分布特征问题。暖锋的坡度主要取决于其暖域地转流、锋面移速,它随锋面移速增大而减小,这与冷锋特征相反。地形对暖锋坡度的影响作用较小。与无地形作用时相比,静止性暖锋冷域中,位于锋面界面附近的闭合正环流系,当暖锋位于地形上游,其伸展范围增大;当暖锋位于迎风坡时,其伸展范围缩小,中心位置上抬;锋面移至背风坡时,其伸展范围重新增大。对于冷域中远离地面暖锋的另一支正环流系来说,当暖锋位于地形上游或迎风坡时,它可被地形完全阻塞于背风侧,地形高度越高,地形阻塞作用越大。在暖锋锋区附近主要存在三支垂直上升运动带：（a）由于边界层摩擦辐合作用,导致在地面暖锋后缘暖区中形成一支水平尺度较小、强度较大的垂直运动带,它随着暖锋移速增大而减弱。该垂直运动带,当暖锋位于地形迎风侧,强度增加;暖锋位于地形背风侧,其强度减弱。（b）在锋区暖域沿锋面存在均匀的上升运动,（c）在冷域远离地面暖锋处,存在一支水平范围较宽,其中心位于边界层顶部附近的垂直运动带,当暖锋位于迎风坡时,这支垂直运动带可被地形阻塞于地形背风侧。     

Case studies of frontal passages in a mountain valley with direct access to the bavarian pre-Alpine region results from the German Front Experiment 1987

Summary The orographic impact on cold fronts is investigated in the Loisach River Valley area by means of two events obtained during the German Front Experiment 1987. The discussion is focussed on the frontal passages in the Garmisch area traced from continuous recordings of three meteorological/ air-chemical stations at different heights, viz: valley floor (735m), wank peak station (1780m) and Zugspitze station (2964m); the analysis also includes some aerological data (pibal ascents at Farchant near Garmisch) and sensitive pressure data from temporary stations in the Bavarian foreland, respectively.In the case of the west-east (or parallel to the mountains) moving front A (October 8, 1987), with prefrontal foehn, the following features were observed: i) formation of large (up to 7hPa/100 km up-valley directed pressure gradients after the frontal passage in the foreland, ii) intrusion of cold air from the foreland into the valley (lasting for several hours, filling the whole valley and even traceable at crest height), iii) destruction of upper level foehn current during the intrusion-phase, iv) retardation of the front (progressing rapidly in the foreland but being retarded by the mountains located to the west). In the case of the high-reaching, southward (or perpendicular to the mountains) moving D-front (December 18/19, 1987), such striking orographic modifications were not observed. In that case the mountains located to the west obviously did not act as noticeable barrier and, therefore, the flow around and over the mountains prevented the for ation of large pressure gradients between the foreland and the valley (and an intrusion into the valley).In both events it was confirmed that trace gas measurements provide a very promising tool to localize atmospheric flows indirectly.With 14 Figures     

Spectral Characteristics and Multi-Scale Structure of the Boundary-Layer Wind Field During Cold Front Passages Over East China

In this paper, data obtained from a 164 m and a195 m meteorological tower in the northern suburb ofNanjing have been used to estimate and analyzetime-space distributions for velocity spectra andscales of multi-scaling turbulence during thepassages of two cold fronts. Results show that anon-precipitating weak cold front and aprecipitating cold front were clearly revealed bytheir wind field structures. The frontal passageinfluenced all meteorological variables over aperiod of 18–24 hours for the former, and a longerperiod of 44–56 hours for the latter. During these periods there occurred gust surges and eddymotions of various meso- and micro-scales with periodsof 3–4 hours and 1–20 minutes respectively. In the inertialsubrange Kolmogorov's -2/3 power law for thevelocity spectrum is partly distorted and theturbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer is not isotropic.     

Subseasonal coupling between subsurface subtropical front and overlying atmosphere in North pacific in winter

At least two main oceanic fronts (the subarctic and subtropical fronts) exist in the North Pacific. Especially in the subtropical frontal zone (STFZ), the sea subsurface temperature gradient is significantly larger than that of the surface layer in winter. Subseasonal interaction between the subsurface subtropical front and overlaying atmosphere is revealed by using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of oceanic temperature gradient. The first EOF mode mainly corresponds to the atmosphere-to-ocean influences. With the enhanced westerly wind, a cold sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) appears and then passes down to affect the subsurface ocean. However, the second EOF mode indicates the ocean-to-atmosphere forcing. For the second mode, cold oceanic temperature anomaly generates in the subsurface layer and passes up, which makes the SST gradient increasing. Due to the increasing atmospheric baroclinicity, the enhanced westerly wind leads to more heat fluxes from the ocean to the atmosphere, which results in a colder SSTA and a larger SST gradient in the STFZ. Therefore, a positive ocean-atmosphere feedback begins to maintain in the mid-latitude in winter.     

2008年初我国南方冻雨雪天气环流及垂直结构分析

利用美国国家环境预报中心NCEP 1971\_2000年1月及2008年1月的再分析值高度、 温度和风的气候平均场, 以及国家气象中心要素库中的2008年1月8日～2月6日08：00～08：00 24 h降水和冻雨实况等实测资料, 对2008年初我国南方的持续冰冻过程的异常成因做了分析。结果表明, 在稳定的高空环流形势下, 来自极地的冷空气和来自南支槽前暖湿气流及东海、 南海的偏东气流交绥于我国大陆东南部, 加之稳定的滇黔静止锋、 华南静止锋和近地面冷高压前东北冷平流, 多因素综合导致了这场罕见持续冰冻天气; 冻雨出现在冷暖空气交界的锋区附近, 偏在能量锋区低值一侧。对流层中低层为西南暖湿气流, 强逆温层是冻雨天气突出的垂直特征, 贵州西部以没有融化层的“单层结构”为主, 贵州中部“单层结构”和“二层结构”均存在; 湖南省西部冻雨垂直结构表现为“单层结构”和“二层结构”, 以“二层结构”居多, 东南部郴州的冻雨垂直结构主要为“三层结构”和“二层结构”。逆温层之下湿度很大, 逆温层之上湿度迅速减小, 干\, 暖空气有利于稳定层结, 抑制低层湿空气向上扩散, 对南方阴雨天气和冻雨天气的维持起了不可忽视的作用。     

Interaction of Orographic Disturbance with Front

1.IntroductionTheimportanceoforographiceffectsonfrontwasrecognizedintheearly20thcentury.Butforthecomplexityofthisproblem,theinvestigationoforographiceffectsonfrontfromdynamicalviewpointisnottakenuntilthe1980s.Bannon(1983)derivedanalyticalsolutionsforthequasi--geostrophicfrontforcedbyahorizontalwinddeformationfieldthatmovesoveratwo--dimensionalmountainridge.Thesolutionsshowthatasacoldfrontapproachestheridge,itweakens,relativetotheflat--bottomsolution,andthefrontstrengthensasitmovesdowntothelees…     

Frontal substructures within the planetary boundary layer

A two-dimensional mesoscale model, extended by a TKE closure for the subgrid-scale terms and coupled with a soil model, is used to investigate the role of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) for the development and the substructures of two different types of cold fronts. The effects of turbulent friction, large-scale (geostrophic) forcing and the diurnal variation of the terms of the surface energy balance (SEB) equation on the frontal development are studied by 10 different model runs. The ageostrophic cross-frontal circulation in the lowest two kilometres of a cold front results from friction as well as from large-scale forcing. The first one dominates the PBL processes and causes a special boundary-layer structure, which becomes apparent through the existence of seven characteristic zones defined for the x-z cross sections of potential temperature. The arrangement of these characteristic zones depends on the sense of rotation of the frictionally induced part of the ageostrophic circulation and hence on the direction of the along-front jet within the boundary layer. The daytime increase of the terms of the SEB equation for a midlatitude midsummer case leads to a strong enhancement of the frictionally induced cross-frontal circulation. The arrangement of the seven characteristic zones, however, is approximately conserved.     

Gust Front Statistical Characteristics and Automatic Identification Algorithm for CINRAD

Gust front is a kind of meso-and micro-scale weather phenomenon that often causes serious ground wind and wind shear. This paper presents an automatic gust front identification algorithm. Totally 879 radar volume-scan samples selected from 21 gust front weather processes that occurred in China between 2009 and 2012 are examined and analyzed. Gust front echo statistical features in reflectivity, velocity, and spectrum width fields are obtained. Based on these features, an algorithm is designed to recognize gust fronts and generate output products and quantitative indices. Then, 315 samples are used to verify the algorithm and 3 typical cases are analyzed. Major conclusions include： 1） for narrow band echoes intensity is between 5 and 30 dBZ, widths are between 2 and 10 km, maximum heights are less than 4 km （89.33%are lower than 3 km）, and the lengths are between 50 and 200 km. The narrow-band echo is higher than its surrounding echo. 2） Gust fronts present a convergence line or a wind shear in the velocity field;the frontal wind speed gradually decreases when the distance increases radially outward. Spectral widths of gust fronts are large, with 87.09% exceeding 4 m s-1 . 3） Using 315 gust front volume-scan samples to test the algorithm reveals that the algorithm is highly stable and has successfully recognized 277 samples. The algorithm also works for small-scale or weak gust fronts. 4） Radar data quality has certain impact on the algorithm.