Analysis and simulation of mesoscale convective systems accompanying heavy rainfall: The goyang case

We investigated a torrential rainfall case with a daily rainfall amount of 379 mm and a maximum hourly rain rate of 77.5 mm that took place on 12 July 2006 at Goyang in the middlewestern part of the Korean Peninsula. The heavy rainfall was responsible for flash flooding and was highly localized. High-resolution Doppler radar data from 5 radar sites located over central Korea were analyzed. Numerical simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were also performed to complement the high-resolution observations and to further investigate the thermodynamic structure and development of the convective system. The grid nudging method using the Global Final (FNL) Analyses data was applied to the coarse model domain (30 km) in order to provide a more realistic and desirable initial and boundary conditions for the nested model domains (10 km, 3.3 km). The mesoscale convective system (MCS) which caused flash flooding was initiated by the strong low level jet (LLJ) at the frontal region of high equivalent potential temperature (θ_e) near the west coast over the Yellow Sea. The ascending of the warm and moist air was induced dynamically by the LLJ. The convective cells were triggered by small thermal perturbations and abruptly developed by the warm θ_e inflow. Within the MCS, several convective cells responsible for the rainfall peak at Goyang simultaneously developed with neighboring cells and interacted with each other. Moist absolutely unstable layers (MAULs) were seen at the lower troposphere with the very moist environment adding the instability for the development of the MCS.     

Numerical simulations of heavy rainfall over central Korea on 21 September 2010 using the WRF model

On 21 September 2010, heavy rainfall with a local maximum of 259 mm d-1occurred near Seoul, South Korea. We examined the ability of the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model in reproducing this disastrous rainfall event and identified the role of two physical processes: planetary boundary layer(PBL) and microphysics(MPS) processes. The WRF model was forced by 6-hourly National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP) Final analysis(FNL) data for 36 hours form 1200 UTC 20 to 0000 UTC 22 September 2010. Twenty-five experiments were performed, consisting of five different PBL schemes—Yonsei University(YSU), Mellor-Yamada-Janjic(MYJ), Quasi Normal Scale Elimination(QNSE),Bougeault and Lacarrere(Bou Lac), and University of Washington(UW)—and five different MPS schemes—WRF SingleMoment 6-class(WSM6), Goddard, Thompson, Milbrandt 2-moments, and Morrison 2-moments. As expected, there was a specific combination of MPS and PBL schemes that showed good skill in forecasting the precipitation. However, there was no specific PBL or MPS scheme that outperformed the others in all aspects. The experiments with the UW PBL or Thompson MPS scheme showed a relatively small amount of precipitation. Analyses form the sensitivity experiments confirmed that the spatial distribution of the simulated precipitation was dominated by the PBL processes, whereas the MPS processes determined the amount of rainfall. It was also found that the temporal evolution of the precipitation was influenced more by the PBL processes than by the MPS processes.     

Simulation of the evolution of the latent heat processes in a mesoscale convective system accompanied by heavy rainfall over the Guangzhou region of South China

利用WRF模式对一次广州暴雨MCS系统的微物理潜热过程进行了云尺度的模拟研究,得到了MCS系统在不同发展阶段各项微物理过程潜热收支的三维结构,表明了MCS各个阶段潜热收支的主要微物理过程。     

2005年6月华南特大连续性暴雨的环境条件和中尺度扰动分析

利用常规观测站、地面加密站资料、卫星红外云图TBB和NCEP再分析资料,对2005年6月19—24日发生在广东的特大连续性暴雨过程进行了分析。天气分析表明：高空南亚高压前部的强辐散场,500 hPa河套阻塞高压以及低层低涡切变线横卧在江淮一带、低空急流源源不断地向华南输送暖湿气流的这种大尺度环流形势和相应的大范围动力热力及水汽条件,决定了暴雨的多发时期和持续性;区域暴雨多发期内5次强降水的具体发生和间歇,则与暴雨区大气动力、热力及水汽条件的5个 α 中尺度时间变化与震荡密切联系并受其影响;暴雨区动力条件的α中尺度时间变化与特定的大尺度环流背景下高低空急流的演变有密切的关系。降水的中尺度特征分析表明：暴雨过程中5场暴雨的发展和间歇对应5个 α 中尺度系统的发展和减弱,暴雨是由19个 β 中尺度系统直接造成19个 β 中尺度大雨团形成。进一步分析表明：强降水主要发生在地面静止锋和锋前暖区的中尺度切变线（或中尺度辐合线）和中尺度涡旋或中尺度辐合中心附近,中尺度涡旋内的降水是由飑线上 γ 中尺度对流单体形成的“列车效应”产生的,而中尺度切变线附近的降水则是飑线的发展合并加强产生的。发生在冷式切变线附近的强降水移动速度较快,发生在暖式切变线附近的强降水移动缓慢,发生在辐合中心的强降水在原地发展达最强后随辐合中心转为切变线减弱或直接在原地减弱消失而结束。     

“10.7”安庆特大暴雨及中尺度低涡结构的数值模拟与分析

采用常规气象观测、地面加密降水资料、FY-2E卫星逐时T_BB资料以及WRFV3.3高分辨率模式输出资料,对2010年7月12—13日安庆罕见特大暴雨过程的中尺度对流系统的发生发展、结构特征及形成原因进行了综合分析。WRFV3.3中尺度非静力模式很好地模拟了此次切变线暴雨的雨带走向、几个暴雨中心的位置和强度,以及中尺度对流系统的整个发展过程。分析结果表明:此次特大暴雨是在高层200 hPa强大的南亚高压稳定少动,中层500 hPa的短波槽的生成、转向和发展与副高的维持,低层的700 hPa和850 hPa中尺度低涡、切变线以及地面梅雨锋扰动的共同作用下造成的;700 hPa低涡、切变线以及沿切变线相继生成和强烈发展的β中尺度对流系统是这次特大暴雨的直接制造者。细网格模拟结果揭示,安庆特大暴雨与850 hPa上的β中尺度对流系统(MβCS)的生成和强烈发展直接相关。该MβCS具有明显的动力—热力结构特征,显示:强上升运动与饱和气柱的耦合,强散度柱与强涡柱的耦合发展,强上升运动与位势不稳定的耦合发展,湿静力不稳定与湿对称不稳定共存。     

夏季江淮地区中尺度对流系统的统计特征分析

利用2007—2013年6—8月FY-2D逐小时相当黑体温度(TBB)资料,普查了夏季我国江淮地区的中尺度对流系统(MCS)个例。根据MCS的组织形式将其分为中尺度对流复合体(MCC)、持续拉伸状对流系统(PECS)、β尺度中尺度对流复合体(MβCCS)和β尺度持续拉伸状对流系统(MβECS),并对各组织形式MCS的统计特征做了对比分析。结果表明:夏季江淮地区带状MCS发生的频次明显高于圆状MCS,占62.2%;7月份MCS个例数最多,而6月份MCS成熟时平均面积最大;整个夏季,MCS成熟时平均最低云顶温度约为-76℃;MCS多形成于午后14—17时,成熟于17—19时,18—23时均为MCS易消散时段,具体到各类型,其日变化特征又有所差异;影响江淮地区的MCS多生成在陆地上,海上个例很少,有向东、东北和东南3个主要移向,共占73.1%,移动1~5个经纬距的MCS所占比例最大,为64.6%,MCS的移动距离与其生命史长度密切相关。     

“10.7”安庆特大暴雨及中尺度低涡结构的数值模拟与分析

采用常规气象观测、地面加密降水资料、FY-2E卫星逐时TBB资料以及WRFV3.3高分辨率模式输出资料,对2010年7月12-13日安庆罕见特大暴雨过程的中尺度对流系统的发生发展、结构特征及形成原因进行了综合分析.WRFV3.3中尺度非静力模式很好地模拟了此次切变线暴雨的雨带走向、几个暴雨中心的位置和强度,以及中尺度对...     

北京7.21暴雨低涡演变的湿位涡分析

通过诊断再分析资料和数值模拟结果,从中层湿位涡守恒和低层湿位涡变化的角度分别对北京7.21暴雨过程中中尺度低涡的演变进行分析。结果表明,暴雨前期,对流层中高层高湿位涡的冷空气扩散南下,冷空气到达华北地区上空时,在有利等熵面的引导下从稳定层结向不稳定层结快速下滑,产生了剧烈的正涡度个别变化,使得低涡得到发展加强。另一方面,等熵面上冷暖空气的剧烈交汇在增强雨势的同时,也使得对流层低层至中层产生明显的涡度制造。在不考虑稳定度影响时,低层的非绝热过程引起的湿位涡制造与低涡发展有着很好的正相关,二者在位置上和量级上都有很好的对应。进一步分析表明,非绝热加热的水平不均匀分布是引起湿位涡变化的主要原因。     

青藏高原上中尺度对流系统(MCSs)的个例分析及其比较

对1995年7月25—28日高原上连续数日出现MCSs的现象进行了红外云图特征及其演变、大尺度环境背景场和对流有效位能的分析。可以发现，所有这些MCSs有着相似的日变化演变过程；它们的初始对流在中午由于日射加热开始活跃，之后迅速发展，这些MCSs在后下午形成，在傍晚达到最强，之后逐渐减弱。其中26日MCS最为强大，它是在单一的强大的近于圆形的高原反气旋高压背景下受强的低层热力强迫和条件不稳定的驱动而发生的。这些发生条件都与高原本身的热力作用紧密相关，所以它的发生发展主要与高原特有的较为纯粹的热力因子相联系。28日MCS是另一个很强的MCS，它明显地受到中纬度西风槽的斜压区的影响，这二个很强的MCS有着不同的发展机制和显著不同的表现特征。     

一次华南暴雨过程的数值模拟———中尺度对流系统形成发展机制

2008年6月11-13日在华南地区出现了特大暴雨,这主要是由一系列中尺度对流系统(MCS)的相继生成,合并和强烈发展导致的.该研究利用新一代中尺度数值模式WRF对此次暴雨过程进行数值模拟,重点研究此次强降水过程中MCS发生、发展和演变过程及其相关物理机制.在MCS的生成过程中,由于西南涡的存在导致MCS始终处于正涡度环境中,正涡度导致的低层辐合与大气静力不稳定都是重要的MCS启动机制,这两者的共同作用有利于MCS的生成与加强.MCS形成后,在强垂直切变的环境中,倾斜抬升机制发生作用,更进一步加强了环境涡度,形成有利的正反馈过程,造成MCS迅速发展.这些加强的MCS和大尺度环境流场相互作用,造成了它们的合并.在MCS的分裂过程中,马氏力起着重要作用.     

Impact of 4DVAR assimilation of rainfall data on the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems in a mei-yu heavy rainfall event

The multi-scale weather systems associated with a mei-yu front and the corresponding heavy precipitation during a particular heavy rainfall event that occurred on 4 5 July 2003 in east China were successfully simulated through rainfall assimilation using the PSU/NCAR non-hydrostatic, mesoscale, numerical model （MM5） and its four-dimensional, variational, data assimilation （4DVAR） system. For this case, the improvement of the process via the 4DVAR rainfall assimilation into the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems is investigated. With the rainfall assimilation, the convection is triggered at the right location and time, and the evolution and spatial distribution of the mesoscale convective systems （MCSs） are also more correctly simulated. Through the interactions between MCSs and the weather systems at different scales, including the low-level jet and mei-yu front, the simulation of the entire mei-yu weather system is significantly improved, both during the data assimilation window and the subsequent 12-h period. The results suggest that the rainfall assimilation first provides positive impact at the convective scale and the influences are then propagated upscale to the meso- and sub-synoptic scales.
Through a set of sensitive experiments designed to evaluate the impact of different initial variables on the simulation of mei-yu heavy rainfall, it was found that the moisture field and meridional wind had the strongest effect during the convection initialization stage, however, after the convection was fully triggered, all of the variables at the initial condition seemed to have comparable importance.     

Passive microwave and infrared structure of mesoscale convective systems

Summary The precipitation structure of mature Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) is examined in both the midlatitudes and the tropics using SSM/I microwave measurements, geostationary satellite observations, and ground-based radar observations. Discussion includes qualitative comparisons between midlatitude and tropical MCS cases, with particular emphasis on the delineation of convective and stratiform regions and the characterization of microwave polarization difference temperatures in the MCSs. Implications are given regarding the importance of the vertical precipitation structure on top of the atmosphere (TOA) microwave temperatures and for rain retrieval algorithms using measurements from space.Some of the principle findings include the ability of passive microwave brightness temperature measurements to distinguish stratiform and convective regions of MCSs for both tropical and midlatitude cases and over land and ocean backgrounds. Convective regions typically had low differences between the vertical and horizontal brightness temperatures while the stratiform regions have larger differences, and these differences are likely related to the spatial microphysical variations in the upper levels of the precipitation region. Several cases were found in midlatitudes and one case in the tropics where the lowest infrared (IR) brightness temperatures were displaced into the anvil region and were not colocated with the coldest microwave temperatures. Life cycle dependence of the displacement is suggested, but the SSM/I measurements with a maximum of twice daily coverage over the same location were inadequate to answer this question.With 10 Figures     

江淮流域一种中间尺度暴雨系统的研究

通过一次江淮流域暴雨天气过程的分析,发现在对流层低层存在一种中间尺度扰动。它形成于对流层低层的冷锋锋区上,其流场的气旋性环流特征和结构在600—900米高度上最明显。它是产生江淮流域暴雨的主要天气系统之一。6小时雨量可达15—35毫米,一次扰动过程的总降水量约100—120毫米,水汽辐合主要集中在900米—700毫巴层。扰动的时间尺度为1—2天,计算结果表明,这类扰动的发生、发展与对流层低层锋区斜压性的位能释放有较好的关系。     

Synoptic controls of outer mesoscale convective systems with high impact rainfall in western north pacific tropical cyclones

The generality of our conceptual model of Outer Mesoscale Convective System (OMCS) formation in western North Pacific Tropical Cyclones (TCs) that was based on a case study of Typhoon Fengshen (2008) is examined with a data base of 80 OMCSs during 1999-2009. Formations of 41 “Intersection type (Itype)” OMCSs are similar to our conceptual model in that the key feature is an elongated moisture band in the northerly TC circulation that interacts with the southwest monsoon flow. Two subtypes of these I-type OMCSs are defined based on different formation locations relative to the TC center, and relative to the monsoon flow, that lead to either outward or more cyclonic propagation of the OMCSs. Twenty-five “Upstream type (U-type)” OMCSs form in a similar moisture band, but upstream of the intersection of the outer TC circulation with the monsoon flow. Another 12 “Monsoon type (Mtype)” OMCSs are different from our conceptual model as the formation locations are within the monsoon flow south to the confluence region of TC northerly circulation with the monsoon flow. In all of these OMCSs, the monsoon flow is an important contributor to their climatology and synoptic environment. Expanded conceptual models of where the threat of heavy rainfall associated with the four types of OMCSs may be expected are provided based on different OMCS formation locations relative to the TC center and different propagation vectors in a storm-relative coordinate system.     

线状中尺度对流系统的多普勒雷达统计特征分析

利用济南CINRAD/SA新一代多普勒天气雷达资料,统计分析了2004—2015年约15万km2区域内发生的148个线状中尺度对流系统（linear mesoscale convective systems,简称LMCSs）的多普勒雷达回波特征。主要分析了LMCSs的年和月分布、典型尺度、典型回波强度的统计特征以及初始回波出现时间、位置、LMCSs持续时间、演变过程回波合并特征、移动速度和方向、发展后期回波演变特征、组织类型等。LMCSs存在明显的年际变化,不同年份之间有很大的差别,而每年的6月和7月是LMCSs的高发期;80%的LMCSs是大于50 km的中-β尺度,20%属于中-α尺度,成熟期97.3% LMCSs的最大回波强度在55～70 dBz间;10—22时之间易开始形成LMCSs,14—16时是峰值,凌晨不易形成LMCSs,而LMCSs持续时间在2～18 h之间,6～8 h是峰值;一半的LMCSs在演变过程出现回波合并,合并过程可以分为与孤立对流单体合并、与对流回波群合并和与对流回波带合并三类;地形对LMCSs的触发有重要影响,太行山脉、鲁中山区的北麓和西麓容易触发形成LMCSs。这些研究为认识LMCSs发生、演变、减弱各阶段的特征,进一步提高对LMCSs的实时监测、短时预警水平提供了基础。     

青藏高原东部暴雨的中尺度有效位能收支分析

针对2018年7月10-11日青藏高原东部一次暴雨过程,利用模式模拟资料分析了有效位能分布特征,成因及其对降水发展演变的影响.结果表明,有效位能主要分布在对流层低层4km以下和高层8-14km,高层有效位能和降水有更好的对应性西北冷平流和降水粒子下落的蒸发作用是低层有效位能高值中心的主要成因,而降水过程释放潜热带来的热...     

一次陕西关中强暴雨环境条件及中尺度系统分析

综合利用T213再分析资料和高时空分辨率观测资料包括地面区域逐时加密观测资料,对2007年8月8—9日陕西关中特大暴雨过程的环境条件和中尺度系统进行了分析。天气学分析表明:500 h Pa西太平洋副热带高压和青藏高原高压形成的高压坝在陕西中部断裂形成东北—西南向切变线、250 h Pa西风急流入口区右侧发散场和700 h Pa东西向切变线相互配合是特大暴雨形成的有利环境条件;低层风向快速变化使关中暴雨区低空水汽经历了减小—突然增加—快速减小的过程,关中周围水汽通过偏东气流输送至暴雨区为暴雨的发生提供了水汽和位势不稳定条件,而水汽的快速变化又形成关中暴雨的突发性和历时短而强的特征;高空反气旋涡度的发展形成强烈的"抽吸作用"、双圈垂直次级环流和强垂直上升运动及其两侧的弱下沉运动形成的不对称结构是暴雨形成的动力机制。强降水的中尺度特征分析显示:强暴雨是由一个中α尺度对流系统(MαCS)的发生发展产生的,MαCS又是由2个中β尺度对流系统(MβCS)合并发展而成,其内部对流单体的发展合并和独立加强形成岐山、礼泉和高陵3个大暴雨中心,这些对流单体的发展是由地面中尺度辐合系统产生的,强降水的强弱与地面中尺度辐合系统的强弱有很好的对应关系,地面中尺度辐合系统的形成和加强可能是强降水的触发机制和增幅原因之一。     

The effects of mesoscale convective cells on the surface wind field over the ocean

Near-surface wind velocities were measured on an array of anchored spar buoys in the East China Sea in February 1975 as a part of the Japanese AMTEX '75 (Air Mass Transformation Experiment), a subprogram of GARP. These data were used to determine the effects of atmospheric convection associated with mesoscale convective cells (MCC) on near-surface winds over the ocean. When MCC were present, a peak occurred in the near-surface wind spectrum in the so-called spectral gap.