Simulation of heavy precipitation over Santacruz, Mumbai on 26 July 2005, using Mesoscale model

Summary An attempt has been made to simulate the unprecedented heavy precipitation of 94.4 cm in a day over Santacruz, Mumbai during 0300 UTC 26 July to 0300 UTC 27 July 2005. Three experiments have been conducted using Advanced Regional Prediction System model developed by Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms of Oklahoma University, USA. In first experiment the model input at large domain size has been obtained using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data at 2.5° × 2.5° lat.–lon. resolution. In other two experiments model input at large as well as at small domain sizes, have been obtained from NCEP/NCAR FNL data of 1° × 1° lat.–lon. resolution. In all three experiments model’s horizontal resolution is 40 km and integration period is 30 hours from 0000 UTC 26 July 2005. Based on the temporal distribution of observed rainfall rates it is considered that the rainfall of 38.1 cm during 0900–1200 UTC on 26 July could be due to cloud burst phenomenon and 56.3 cm from 1200 UTC of 26 July to 0300 UTC of 27 July has been due to continuous regeneration of thunderstorm activity under influence of mesoscale cloud complex. It is found that model forecast of rainfall in first experiment was qualitatively as well as quantitatively very poor. Among other two, experiment with large domain size has predicted better rainfall values and location compared to the experiment with small domain size. The larger domain has produced rainfall of 41 cm as against observed rain rate of 56.3 cm. during 1200 UTC of 26 July to 0300 UTC of 27 July. Divergence, vorticity, vertical velocity and moisture parameters are examined in relation with the various stages of the event. The maximum values of convergence, vorticity and moisture fluxes precede the initial phase of mature stage, however vertical velocity follows the later phase of mature stage. Vorticity budget over the location of maximum rainfall, revealed the significant role of tilting term in maintenance and dissipation of the cloud complex responsible for the event. The model has simulated mixing ratios of ice, snow and hail up to height of 15 km which matches with the observations that clouds reaching up to 15 km were present at the time of event of heavy precipitation.     

Intense rainfall events over the west coast of India

Summary The west coast of the Indian peninsula receives very heavy rainfall during the summer Monsoon (June–September) season with average rainfall over some parts exceeding 250 cm. Heavy rainfall events with rainfall more than 15 cm day⁻¹ at one or more stations along the west coast of India occur frequently and cause considerable damage. A special observational programme, Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment, was carried out during the monsoon season of 2002 to study these events. The spatial and temporal distributions of intense rainfall events, presented here, were used for the planning of this observational campaign. The present study using daily rainfall data for summer monsoon season of 37 years (1951–1987) shows that the probability of getting intense rainfall is the maximum between 14° N–16° N and near 19° N. The probability of occurrence of these intense rainfall events is high from mid June to mid August, with a dip in early July. It has been believed for a long time that offshore troughs and vortices are responsible for these intense rainfall events. However, analysis of the characteristics of cloud systems associated with the intense rainfall events during 1985–1988 using very high resolution brightness temperature data from INSAT-IB satellite shows that the cloud systems during these events are characterized by large spatial scales and high cloud tops. Further study using daily satellite derived outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data over a longer period (1975–1998) shows that, most of these events (about 62%) are associated with systems organized on synoptic and larger scales. We find that most of the offshore convective systems responsible for intense rainfall along the west coast of India are linked to the atmospheric conditions over equatorial Indian Ocean.     

Estimation of Indian summer monsoon rainfall using Kalpana-1 VHRR data and its validation using rain gauge and GPCP data

In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate and validate the daily and monthly rainfall during the Indian summer monsoon seasons of 2008 and 2009 using INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) Multispectral Rainfall Algorithm (IMSRA) technique utilizing Kalpana-1 very high resolution radiometer (VHRR) measurements. In contrary to infrared (IR), microwave (MW) rain rates are based on measurements that sense precipitation in clouds and do not rely merely on cloud top temperature. Geostationary satellites provide broad coverage and frequent refresh measurements but microwave measurements are accurate but sparse. IMSRA technique is the combination of the infrared and microwave measurements which make use of the best features of both IR- and MW-based rainfall estimates. The development of this algorithm included two major steps: (a) classification of rain-bearing clouds using proper cloud classification scheme utilizing Kalpana-1 IR and water vapor (WV) brightness temperatures (Tb) and (b) collocation of Kalpana-1 IR brightness temperature with Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)-Precipitation Radar (PR) surface rain rate and establishment of a regression relation between them. In this paper, the capability of IMSRA as an operational algorithm has been tested for the two monsoon seasons 2008 and 2009. For this, IMSRA has been used to estimate daily and monthly rainfall and has been intercompared on daily and monthly scales with TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA)-3B42 V6 product and Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) rain product during these two monsoon years. The daily and monthly IMSRA rainfall has also been validated against ground-based observations from Automatic Weather Station (AWS) Rain Gauge and Buoy data. The algorithm proved to be in good correlation with AWS data over land up to 0.70 for daily rain estimates except orographic regions like North-East and South-West India and 0.72 for monthly rain estimates. The validation with Buoys gives the reasonable correlation of 0.49 for daily rain estimates and 0.66 for monthly rain estimates over Tropical Indian Ocean.     

Interpretation of recent temperature and precipitationtrends observed in Korea

Summary  The possibility of climate change in the Korean Peninsula has been examined in view of the general increase in greenhouse gases. Analyses include changes in annual temperature and precipitation. These analyses are supplemented with our observations regarding the apparent decrease of forest areas. It was found that there was a 0.96 °C (0.42 °C per decade) increase in annual mean temperature between 1974 and 1997. The increase in large cities was 1.5 °C but only 0.58 °C at rural and marine stations. The difference in the mean temperature between large cities and rural stations was small from 1974 to 1981. However, the difference increased from 1982 to 1997. In particular, the warming appears most significant in winter. Prior to 1982, the lowest temperatures were often −18 °C in central Korea, and since then the lowest temperatures have been only −12∼−14 °C. Recently, the minimum January temperature has increased at a rate of 1.5 °C per decade. It is estimated that the increase of1 °C in annual mean temperature corresponds to about a 250 km northward shift of the subtropical zone boundary. The analysis of data from 1906 to 1997 indicates a trend of increasing annual precipitation, an increase of 182 mm during the 92-year peirod, with large year-to-year variations. More than half of the annual mean amount, 1,274 mm, occurred from June to September. Meteorological data and satellite observations suggest that changes have occurred in the characteristics of the quasi-stationary fronts that produce summer rain. In recent years scattered local heavy showers usually occur with an inactive showery front, in comparison with the classical steady rain for more than three weeks. For instance, local heavy rainfall, on 6 August 1998 was in the range of 123–481 mm. The scattered convective storms resulted in flooding with a heavy toll of approx. 500 people. The northward shift of the inactive showery front over Korea, and of a convergence zone in central China, correlate with the increase in temperature. It has been suggested that the decrease in forest areas and the change in ground cover also contribute to the warming of the Korean Peninsula. Received March 16, 2000     

Rain rate estimation from a synergetic use of SSM/I, AVHRR and meso-scale numerical model data

Summary In this paper a retrieval technique for estimating rainfall rates is introduced. The novel feature of this technique is the combination of two satellite radiometers — the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and the Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) — with mesoscale weather prediction model data. This offers an adjustment of the model atmospheres to reality which is necessary for calculating brightness temperatures that can be compared with microwave satellite measurements.In sensitivity studies it was found that the estimation of precipitation is determined to a high degree by the particle size distribution of rain and snow, especially by the size distribution of solid hydrometeors. These studies also reveal the influence of the knowledge of the correct cloud coverage inside a SSM/I pixel and the importance of using a realistic temperature profile instead of using standard atmospheres.The retrieval technique is based on radiative transfer calculations using the model of Kummerow et al. (1989). The algorithm consists of two parts: First Guess (FG) brightness temperatures for the SSM/I frequencies are generated as a function of the cloud top height and the cloud coverage, derived from AVHRR data and predictions from a meso-scale model. The rainfall rate of different types of clouds containing raindrops, ice particles and coexisting ice and water hydrometeors is then calculated as a function of the cloud top height. As an example, a strong convective rain event over the western part of Europe and over the Alps is taken to evaluate the performance of this technique. Good agreement with radar data from the German Weather Service was achieved. Compared to statistical rainfall algorithms, the current algorithm shows a better performance of detecting rainfall areas.With 12 Figures     

上海地区几类强降水雨滴谱特征分析

用Parsivel激光降水粒子谱仪资料对2013年上海地区4—10月份期间4种类型 (层状云、对流暖云主导型、对流冷云主导型和强台风影响下的混合暖云型) 降水过程的雨滴谱特征进行了分析。通过平均雨滴谱及其拟合特征、雨滴数密度与含水量分布、雨滴尺度与速度二维谱分布等对比分析发现:各类降水中, 雨滴谱的峰值结构与雨强大小有关, 其中直径介于0.187~1.312 mm的小雨滴均出现峰值且总数最多。各尺度雨滴数密度及其比例决定了其降水量贡献比, 在冷云强降水中的雨强贡献最大的雨滴尺度要显著大于其他3种类型。雨滴谱宽按大小排列依次为对流冷云主导型、混合暖云型、对流暖云主导型和层状云。最后综合运用雨滴谱、雷达、雨量站、闪电等观测资料对9月13日对流冷云主导型降水过程进行分析后发现:在雷暴的演变过程中, 雨滴谱特征与雷达反射率因子、垂直液态水含量、自动站雨强、闪电频次等要素均有较好的相关性。冷云产生的冰晶和冰雹融化后的大雨滴进入中低层的广谱小雨滴群, 并通过破碎分裂增加了大雨滴的形成概率, 尤其是捕捉碰并过程更加快了大雨滴的增长速度, 使雨强在短时间内迅速加强。雨滴谱中各档粒子数的演变, 揭示了降水强度的变化, 用雨滴谱资料可有效弥补现有雷达定量估测降水的偏差, 且在冷云中改善明显。     

Seasonal variation of the diurnal cycle of rainfall in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean

Summary The diurnal cycle of rainfall over the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean was studied for the period 23^rd October 2001 to 31^st October 2003 using hourly data from the Triton buoy positioned at 1.5° S and 90° E. An analysis of the active and weak spells of rainfall for different seasons revealed peaks in the late evening hours in Winter, Summer and Fall and in early morning hours (in Spring) in 2002. The active spell of rainfall peaked in the afternoon hours, during Winter, Spring and Summer in 2003, which agrees with the previous results of Janowiak et al. (1994). An analysis of rainfall events showed that Fall 2002 had a maximum number of rainfall events (90) and minimum (60) were observed in Spring 2003. Further it was found that the majority of rain events (>60%) were less than 3 hours in duration throughout the study period. The longer duration rainfall events (i.e. rain events greater than 6 hour duration) contributed significantly to Spring 2002 (20% of the total rainfall) and Winter 2003 (21% of the total rainfall). Harmonic analysis of the hourly rainfall data for different seasons revealed that diurnal harmonic explains more than 80% of the variance for all seasons. Furthermore, the diurnal harmonic has a maximum amplitude for all seasons except summer, where the semidiurnal and six hourly harmonics are significant.     

Towards combining GPM and MFG observations to monitor near real time heavy precipitation at fine scale over India and nearby oceanic regions

This is the first attempt to merge highly accurate precipitation estimates from Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) with gap free satellite observations from Meteosat to develop a regional rainfall monitoring algorithm to estimate heavy rainfall over India and nearby oceanic regions. Rainfall signature is derived from Meteosat observations and is co-located against rainfall from GPM to establish a relationship between rainfall and signature for various rainy seasons. This relationship can be used to monitor rainfall over India and nearby oceanic regions. Performance of this technique was tested by applying it to monitor heavy precipitation over India. It is reported that our algorithm is able to detect heavy rainfall. It is also reported that present algorithm overestimates rainfall areal spread as compared to rain gauge based rainfall product. This deficiency may arise from various factors including uncertainty caused by use of different sensors from different platforms (difference in viewing geometry from MFG and GPM), poor relationship between warm rain (light rain) and IR brightness temperature, and weak characterization of orographic rain from IR signature. We validated hourly rainfall estimated from the present approach with independent observations from GPM. We also validated daily rainfall from this approach with rain gauge based product from India Meteorological Department (IMD). Present technique shows a Correlation Coefficient (CC) of 0.76, a bias of −2.72 mm, a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 10.82 mm, Probability of Detection (POD) of 0.74, False Alarm Ratio (FAR) of 0.34 and a Skill score of 0.36 with daily rainfall from rain gauge based product of IMD at 0.25° resolution. However, FAR reduces to 0.24 for heavy rainfall events. Validation results with rain gauge observations reveal that present technique outperforms available satellite based rainfall estimates for monitoring heavy rainfall over Indian region.     

西南低涡对流云团及其降水的一些特征

基于FY-2C静止卫星红外和水汽通道资料,简单分析了发生在四川盆地的西南低涡暴雨云团生消过程,给出了一些有意义的云团生命特征。同时,结合相应的地面自动站降水资料,详细分析了卫星红外和水汽通道云顶亮温与对流云团降水之间的关系特征,结果表明:对于一完整对流降水过程,1小时内最低水汽亮温和水汽亮温增量能很好地描述地面1小时累计降水特征。然而,用静止卫星红外或水汽通道亮温来表征的云团降水特征是非常复杂的。尽管具有相同的最低云顶红外或水汽亮温,但对不同的对流过程其总体降水量级趋势不一样。而且,对于同一对流过程的不同发展阶段,即使出现云顶红外或水汽亮温一样,但其地面降水特征也是不一致的。甚至是对于同一时刻具有相同最低红外或最低水汽亮温特征的云,其降水落区与量级都不尽相同。正是这些复杂的降水特征,使得西南低涡对流云团的降水估算具有很大的难度。      

Recent trends in observed temperature and precipitation extremes in the Yangtze River basin,China

Summary The present study is an analysis of the observed extreme temperature and precipitation trends over Yangtze from 1960 to 2002 on the basis of the daily data from 108 meteorological stations. The intention is to identify whether or not the frequency or intensity of extreme events has increased with climate warming over Yangtze River basin in the last 40 years. Both the Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test and simple linear regression were utilized to detect monotonic trends in annual and seasonal extremes. Trend tests reveal that the annual and seasonal mean maximum and minimum temperature trend is characterized by a positive trend and that the strongest trend is found in the winter mean minimum in the Yangtze. However, the observed significant trend on the upper Yangtze reaches is less than that found on the middle and lower Yangtze reaches and for the mean maximum is much less than that of the mean minimum. From the basin-wide point of view, significant increasing trends are observed in 1-day extreme temperature in summer and winter minimum, but there is no significant trend for 1-day maximum temperature. Moreover, the number of cold days ≤0 °C and ≤10 °C shows significant decrease, while the number of hot days (daily value ≥35 °C) shows only a minor decrease. The upward trends found in the winter minimum temperature in both the mean and the extreme value provide evidence of the warming-up of winter and of the weakening of temperature extremes in the Yangtze in last few decades. The monsoon climate implies that precipitation amount peaks in summer as does the occurrence of heavy rainfall events. While the trend test has revealed a significant trend in summer rainfall, no statistically significant change was observed in heavy rain intensity. The 1-day, 3-day and 7-day extremes show only a minor increase from a basin-wide point of view. However, a significant positive trend was found for the number of rainstorm days (daily rainfall ≥50 mm). The increase of rainstorm frequency, rather than intensity, on the middle and lower reaches contributes most to the positive trend in summer precipitation in the Yangtze.     

On the use of a cloud modification factor for solar UV (290–385 nm) spectral range

Summary  Knowledge of ultraviolet radiation is necessary in different applications, in the absence of measurements, this radiometric flux must be estimated from available parameters. To compute this flux under all sky conditions one must consider the influence of clouds. Clouds are the largest modulators of the solar radiative flux reaching the Earth’s surface. The amount and type of cloud cover prevailing at a given time and location largely determines the amount and type of solar radiation received at the Earth’s surface. This cloud radiative effect is different for the different solar spectral bands. In this work, we analyse the cloud radiative effect over ultraviolet radiation (290–385 nm). This could be done by defining a cloud modification Factor. We have developed such cloud modification Factor considering two different types of clouds. The efficiency of the cloud radiative effect scheme has been tested in combination with a cloudless sky empirical model using independent data sets. The performance of the model has been tested in relation to its predictive capability of global ultraviolet radiation. For this purpose, data recorded at two radiometric stations are used. The first one is located at the University of Almería, a seashore location (36.83° N, 2.41° W, 20 m a.m.s.l.), while the second one is located at Granada (37.18° N, 3.58° W, 660 m a.m.s.l.), an inland location. The database includes hourly values of the relevant variables that cover the years 1993–94 in Almería and 1994–95 in Granada. Cloud cover information provided by the Spanish Meteorological Service has been include to compute the clouds radiative effect. After our study, it appears that the combination of an appropriate cloudless sky model with the cloud modification Factor scheme provides estimates of ultraviolet radiation with mean bias deviation of about 5% that is close to experimental errors. Comparisons with similar formulations of the cloud radiative effect over the whole solar spectrum provides evidence for the spectral dependency of the cloud radiative effect. Received November 15, 1999 Revised September 11, 2000     

Sea Level Pressure Departures in the Mediterranean and their Relationship with Monthly Rainfall Conditions in Israel

Summary Monthly rainfall conditions in Israel were determined, using data from 12 stations, during 30 years (1961–90). The definition of a month to be dry, normal or wet, was done using standardized rainfall totals. Pressure departures for each of the three rainfall categories for each month of the rainy season, were calculated and mapped. Correlation between rainfall totals at each of the 12 stations and monthly mean sea level pressure at 72 grid points in the area delimited by the 20° W and 50° E meridians and the 20° N and 60° N parallels, was performed. For each month, 12 correlation maps were prepared (one of each station). Similar maps were averaged together to form coherent rainfall regions. At the beginning of the rainy season (October) the rainfall in Israel is sporadic and spotty without a distinctable coherent region. At the end of the rainy season (April) the rainfall is more widespread, forming a large coherent region covering most of the country. Dry rainfall conditions in Israel, were found to be characterized by positive pressure departures in the eastern Mediterranean and over Israel and/or by easterly or southerly circulation over the eastern Mediterranean. Wet rainfall conditions in Israel, were found to be characterized by negative pressure departures in the eastern Mediterranean and over Israel and/or by westerly or northerly circulation over the eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, in many cases dry conditions in Israel, were associated with below normal pressure conditions over central or western Europe, while wet conditions in Israel, with above normal conditions over the same region, thus, reflecting the so-called Mediterranean Oscillation. Finally, normal rainfall conditions are characterized by very slight to negligible pressure departures over the entire Mediterranean and Europe. Received November 18, 1997 Revised March 3, 1998     

Monitoring of Mesoscale Precipitation Systems in the Alps and the Northern Alpine Foreland by Radar and Rain Gauges

Summary.  Mesoscale convective precipitation systems in the Alpine region are studied by analyzing radar and rain gauge data. The data from weather radars in Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland are combined into a composite. Availability of radar data restricts the study mainly to the northern part of the Alpine region. Mesoscale convective systems (MCS) occur often in this region and are comparable to large systems observed in the USA. Seven precipitation events lasting one to six days from the years 1992–1996 are examined in detail. They all moved west to east and showed no diurnal preference in formation or dissipation. They reach sizes of 2 − 6 · 10⁴ km². MCS with leading-line trailing-stratiform structure tended to be larger and more intense. A 25-year set of rain gauge data indicates that a giant MCS (covering more than 4 · 10⁴ km² with more than 30 mm/day) occurs every 6 years in the northern Alpine region. MCS occur more frequently in the southern Alpine region. Received February 25, 1999/Revised June 29, 1999     

Evolution of the relationship between near global and Atlantic SST modes and the rainy season in West Africa: statistical analyses and sensitivity experiments

 Monthly sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) at near-global scale (60 °N–40 °S) and May to October rainfall amounts in West Africa (16 °N–5 °N; 16 °W–16 °E) are first used to investigate the seasonal and interannual evolutions of their relationship. It is shown that West African rainfall variability is associated with two types of oceanic changes: (1) a large-scale evolution involving the two largest SSTA leading eigenmodes (16% of the total variance with stronger loadings in the equatorial and southern oceans) related to the long-term (multiannual) component of rainfall variability mainly expressed in the Sudan–Sahel region; and (2) a regional and seasonally coupled evolution of the meridional thermal gradient in the tropical Atlantic due to the linear combination of the two largest SSTA modes in the Atlantic (11% with strong inverse loadings over the northern and southern tropics) which is associated with the interannual and quasi-decadal components of regional rainfall in West Africa. Linear regression and discriminant analyses provide evidence that the main July–September rainfall anomalies in Sudan–Sahel can be detected with rather good skills using the leading (April–June) or synchronous (July–September) values of the four main oceanic modes. In particular, the driest conditions over Sahel, more marked since the beginning of the 1970s, are specifically linked to the warm phases of the two global modes and to cold/warm anomalies in the northern/southern tropical Atlantic. Idealized but realistic SSTA patterns, obtained from some basic linear combinations of the four main oceanic modes appear sufficient to generate quickly (from mid-July to the end of August) significant West African rainfall anomalies in model experiments, consistent with the statistical results. The recent negative impact on West African rainfall exerted by the global oceanic forcing is primarily due to the generation of subsidence anomalies in the mid-troposphere over West Africa. When an idealized north to south SSTA gradient is added in the tropical Atlantic, strong north to south height gradients in the middle levels appear. These limit the northward excursion of the rainbelt in West Africa: the Sahelian area experiences drier conditions due to the additive effect (subsidence anomalies+latitudinal blocking) while over the Guinea regions wet conditions do not significantly increase, since the subsidence anomalies and the blocking effect act here in opposite ways. Received: 26 June 1997 / Accepted: 3 October 1997     

TRMM测雨雷达和微波成像仪对两个中尺度特大暴雨降水结构的观测分析研究

文中利用TRMM卫星的测雨雷达和微波成像仪探测结果,研究了1998年7月20日21时(世界时)和1999年6月9日21时发生在武汉地区附近和皖南地区的两个中尺度强降水系统的水平结构和垂直结构,以及TMI微波亮温对降水强弱和分布的响应。研究结果表明:这两个中尺度强降水系统中对流降水所占面积比层云降水面积小,但对流降水具有很强的降水率,它对总降水量的贡献超过了层云降水。降水水平结构表明,两个中尺度强降水系统由多个强雨团或雨带组成,它们均属于对流性降水;降水垂直结构分析表明,强对流降水的雨顶高度可达15km,强对流降水主体中存在垂直方向和水平方向非均匀降水率分布区,层云降水有清晰的亮度带,层云降水的上方存在多层云系结构。降水廓线分布表明:对流降水廓线与层云降水廓线有明显的区别,并且降水廓线清晰地反映了降水微物理过程的垂直分布。整个中尺度强降水系统中对流降水与层云降水的区别还反映在标准化的总降水率随高度的分布。微波信号分析表明:TMI85 GHz极化修正亮温,19.4与37.0,19.4与85.5,37.0与85.5 GHz的垂直极化亮温差均能较好地指示陆面附近的降水分布。     

Temperature variability over the Indian Ocean and its relationship with Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Summary The present study examines the long term trend in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South India Ocean in the context of global warming for the period 1901–2002 and for a subset period 1971–2002. An attempt has also been made to identify the relationship between SST variations over three different ocean areas, and All-India and homogeneous region summer monsoon rainfall variability, including the role of El-Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Annual sea surface temperatures of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South India Ocean show a significant warming trend of 0.7 °C, 0.6 °C and 0.5 °C per hundred years, respectively, and a relatively accelerated warming of 0.16 °C, 0.14 °C and 0.14 °C per decade during the 1971–2002 period. There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between SSTs over the Arabian Sea from the preceding November to the current February, and Indian monsoon rainfall during the period 1901–2002. The correlation coefficient increases from October and peaks in December, decreasing from February to September. This significant relationship is also found in the recent period 1971–2002, whereas, during 1901–70, the relationship is not significant. On the seasonal scale, Arabian Sea winter SSTs are positively and significantly correlated with Indian monsoon rainfall, while spring SSTs have no significant positive relationship. Nino3 spring SSTs have a negative significant relationship with Indian monsoon rainfall and it is postulated that there is a combined effect of Nino3 and Arabian Sea SSTs on Indian monsoon. If the Nino3 SST effect is removed, the spring SSTs over the Arabian Sea also have a significant relationship with monsoon rainfall. Similarly, the Bay of Bengal and Equatorial South Indian Ocean spring SSTs are significantly and positively correlated with Indian monsoon rainfall after removing the Nino3 effect, and correlation values are more pronounced than for the Arabian Sea. Authors’ address: Dr. D. R. Kothawale, A. A. Munot, H. P. Borgaonkar, Climatology and Hydrometeorology divisions, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune 411008, India.     

新疆西部一次大暴雨形成机理的数值模拟初步分析

2016年7月31日至8月1日新疆西部发生了一次罕见的大暴雨过程,利用常规观测资料、FY-2G卫星TBB（Black-Body Temperature）资料和NCEP/NCAR（1°×1°）再分析资料,在天气尺度环流背景和中尺度系统分析的基础上,利用WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting）模式对此次大暴雨过程进行了高分辨率数值模拟,利用模拟资料对大暴雨的形成进行了分析。结果表明:此次暴雨发生在稳定维持的"两脊一槽"环流形势下,巴尔喀什湖低槽、高空偏西急流、低空偏东急流和近地面辐合线是造成此次大暴雨过程的主要天气系统。中尺度云团沿近地面的辐合线在天山迎风坡附近不断生成,云团生成后,在向东北方向移动过程中,经过伊犁地区上空时,受天山地形抬升影响不断发展增强,造成伊犁地区出现持续性较强降水。天山迎风坡附近持续较长时间的辐合线是造成此次新疆西部大暴雨的直接中尺度系统,其生成与低层风场辐合、低空急流和地形均有关系。低层辐合引发的垂直运动在地形迎风坡附近加强,风场辐合及地形抬升共同导致强垂直运动发展并维持,类似于"列车效应",不断生成的尺度更小的对流系统沿着辐合线持续移过新疆西部的伊犁地区,是该次暴雨持续的重要原因。     

The Relationship Between some Large-scale Atmospheric Parameters and Rainfall over Southeast Asia: A Comparison with Features over India

Summary Monthly rainfall data for 135 stations for periods varying from 25 to 125 years are utilised to investigate the rainfall climatology over the southeast Asian monsoon regime. Monthly rainfall patterns for the regions north of equator show that maximum rainfall along the west coasts occurs during the summer monsoon period, while the maximum along the east coasts is observed during the northeast monsoon period. Over the Indonesian region (south of the equator) maximum rainfall is observed west of 125 °E during northern winter and east of 125 °E during northern summer. The spatial relationships of the seasonal rainfall (June to September) with the large scale parameters – the Subtropical Ridge (STR) position over the Indian and the west Pacific regions, the Darwin Pressure Tendency (DPT) and the Northern Hemisphere Surface Temperature (NHST) – reveal that within the Asian monsoon regime, not only are there any regions which are in-phase with Indian monsoon rainfall, but there are also regions which are out-of-phase. The spatial patterns of correlation coefficients with all the parameters are similar, with in-phase relationships occurring over the Indian region, some inland regions of Thailand, central parts of Brunei and the Indonesian region lying between 120° to 140 °E. However, northwest Philippines and some southern parts of Kampuchea and Vietnam show an out-of-phase relationship. Even the first Empirical Orthogonal Function of seasonal rainfall shows similar spatial configuration, suggesting that the spatial correlation patterns depict the most dominant mode of interannual rainfall variability. The influence of STR and DPT (NHST) penetrates (does not penetrate) upto the equatorial regions. Possible dynamic causes leading to the observed correlation structure are also discussed. Received October 10, 1996 Revised February 25, 1997     

Anatomy of the synoptic conditions occurring over southern Greece during the second half of the 20th century. Part I. Winter and summer

Summary ?In this study a methodology for grouping seasonal circulation types occurring over an area is introduced. This procedure combines the surface air mass characteristics affecting the area with the synoptic conditions prevailing over it. Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis are used to derive the circulation types, based on surface meteorological data and surface pressure grid data. The methods are applied to Athens, Greece, using data over the period 1954–1999 for winter (December, January, February) and summer (June, July, August) seasons. The daily circulation types are analyzed at surface level and their temporal evolution is examined via transition matrices. 315 grid points are used covering the area between 25° N to 60° N and 10° W to 40° E. This analysis derives 8 circulation types for the winter and 4 for the summer. A reduction in cyclonic activity and an increase in anticyclonic activity in the Central Mediterranean are detected in the late 1980s and early 1990s during the winter period. During summer the etesian winds and the local flows are dominant over Athens. Received February 20, 2002; accepted January 9, 2003 Published online May 26, 2003     

应用双光谱云图判识梅雨锋云系降水等级

用１９９１年梅雨期间的部分ＧＭＳ红外，可见光数字云图及同时的地面实测降水资料，从分析各等级降水云的二维频数分布着后，探求降水强度与红外，可见光亮度值之间的关系，最终实现用红外，可见光双光谱阈值法判识大暴雨，暴雨，大雨，中小雨４个等级的降水云。