A case study of mesoscale convective band (MCB) development and evolution along a quasi-stationary front

This paper presents a case study of mesoscale convective band （MCB） development along a quasi-stationary front over the Seout metropolitan area.The MCB,which initiated on 1500 UTC 20 September 2010 and ended on 1400 UTC 21 September 2010,produced a total precipitation amount of 259.5 mm.The MCB development occurred during a period of tropopause folding in the upper level and moisture advection with a low-level jet.The analyses show that the evolution of the MCB can be classified into five periods：（1） the cell-forming period,when convection initiated; （2） the frontogenetic period,when the stationary front formed over the Korean peninsula; （3） the quasi-stationary period,when the convective band remained over Seoul for 3 h; （4） the mature period,when the cloud cover was largest and the precipitation rate was greater than 90 mm h-1; and （5） the dissipating period,when the MCB diminished and disappeared.The synoptic,thermodynamic,and dynamic analyses show that the MCB maintained its longevity by a tilted updraft,which headed towards a positive PV anomaly.Precipitation was concentrated under this area,where a tilted ascending southwesterly converged with a tilted ascending northeasterly,at the axis of cyclonic rotation.The formation of the convective cell was attributed in part by tropopause folding,which enhanced the cyclonic vorticity at the surface,and by the low-level convergence of warm moist air and upperlevel divergence.The southwesterly flow ascended in a region with high moisture content and strong relative vorticity that maintained the development of an MCB along the quasi-stationary front.     

Mesoscale Analysis of a Heavy Rainfall Event over Hong Kong During a Pre-rainy Season in South China

During the Heavy Rainfall Experiment in South China （HUAMEX） of 1998, a record heavy rainfall event occurred in the delta of the Pearl River during the 24 hours from 1200 UTC 8 June to 1200 UTC 9 June, 1998, and a 24-hour precipitation maximum of 574 mm was reported in Hong Kong. In this paper, some mesoscale characteristics of this heavy rainfall event are studied using data from satellites, Doppler radar, wind profilers, and automatic meteorological stations collected during HUAMEX. The following conclusions are drawn： （1） During this heavy rainfall event, there existed a favorable large-scale environment, that included a front with weak baroclinity in the heavy rain area and with an upward motion branch ahead of the front. （2） Unlike most extratropical or subtropical systems, the closed low in the geopotential height field does not exited. The obvious feature was that a southerly branch trough in the westerlies existed and Hong Kong was located ahead of the trough. （3） The rainfall areas were located in the warm sector ahead of the front, rather than in the frontal zone, which is one of the characteristics of heavy rainfalls during the pre-rainy season of South China. A southerly warm and moist current contributed to the heavy rainfall formation, including the transportation of rich water vapor and the creation of strong horizontal wind convergence. （4） The observations show that the heavy rainfall in Hong Kong was directly caused by a series of meso β systems rather than a mesoscale convective complex （MCC）. These meso β systems moved with the steering current in the lower-mid troposphere, their life cycles were 3-6 hours, and their horizontal sizes were 10-100 km. （5） The disturbances in the lower and mid troposphere, especially that in the planetary boundary layer （PBL） were very shallow. However, they are a possible trigger mechanism for the occurrence and development of the mesoscale convective systems and related heavy rainfalls. Finally, a conceptual model of the heav     

武汉地区少梅年一次局地强降水中尺度系统 特征的分析

2000年以来长江流域未见到很典型的梅雨暴雨,尽管如此,所谓"不典型"的区域性致洪暴雨仍时有发生,甚至造成严重洪涝。利用NCEP资料、常规和SCHeREX计划期间的6h一次的高空探测资料和大量的地面自动站资料、多普勒雷达、FY-2C卫星黑体温度资料及NOAA的CMORPH资料,分析了2009年6月29日00:00(协调世界时,下同)至30日00:00引发武汉严重洪涝的强降水。结果表明,尽管中高纬环流和槽脊系统有"错位"现象,但东亚地区鞍形场的存在有利于高原东侧中尺度低压(扰动)的发生发展。随着高原槽东移和西太平洋副热带高压突然西伸,在四川—重庆地区诱生出中尺度涡旋及明显的低空急流,同时上层冷干、下层暖湿空气叠置而形成较强的位势不稳定层结,在低层辐合场的触发下,使致洪暴雨得以发生。该年有较好的水汽输送条件,主要源地在南中国海。因此,即使在大尺度环流不是非常"典型"的情况下,一旦武汉地区存在有利的天气尺度和中尺度系统,且有足够的水汽供应,暴雨仍有可能发生。     

华南锋面与暖区暴雨个例对比分析

分析了1961～1999年亚洲热带近海海温与云南降水的关系.通过研究云南夏季降水对近海海温异常的响应,发现云南初夏的降水与亚洲热带近海海温有明显的负相关关系,这种降水减少海温正距平的情况在北印度洋西部和阿拉伯海表现比孟加拉湾和南海更显著,但是在盛夏相关关系不显著.同时发现云南西南部的夏季降水与前期盂加拉湾海温有显著的正相关,而与其它海域的海温相关不显著.滇东南的夏季降水只与前期南海的海温有显著的正相关.     

2005年江西一次秋季暴雨天气过程诊断分析

利用天气图、T213物理量场以及相关实况资料,综合分析了2005年11月8—11日江西一次暴雨天气过程的主要天气系统和行星尺度环流背景。分析结果表明,副高异常偏强且位置适中,孟加拉湾低槽偏强,中高纬度“双阻”形势以及东北冷涡异常偏强,导致了这次超历史强度的连续暴雨过程;高空低槽、西南气流、低层切变、地面倒槽和静止锋是主要天气系统;暴雨区始终集中在急流以北风速辐合最大处和地面静止锋的北侧。通过对物理量的比较分析发现,此次过程的热力条件和水汽条件均低于汛期,但动力抬升条件则明显强于汛期。     

2007年7月12-15日河南省大暴雨天气诊断分析

利用常规观测资料和NCEP再分析资料,对2007年7月12-15日河南省黄淮之间的大暴雨过程进行了诊断分析,结果发现:这次暴雨是一次较为典型的西南低涡东北移影响河南省所造成的暴雨,500 hPa西风槽东移过程中,槽前携带的冷空气不断自西北方向侵入西南低涡中心,导致西南涡东移发展,移经河南省,在其移向的右前方和中心区产生了强降水;垂直上升运动区及流线辐合区与暴雨落区有较好的对应关系;这次暴雨水汽输送源地有两个,分别是孟加拉湾和东海海面;水汽辐合区与暴雨落区相对应;垂直螺旋度的演变对本次西南涡暴雨有较好预报指示意义。     

Favorable versus unfavorable synoptic backgrounds for indirect precipitation events ahead of tropical cyclones approaching the Korean Peninsula: A comparison of two cases

This study identifies favorable synoptic backgrounds for indirect precipitation events over the Korean Peninsula that occur well in advance of tropical cyclone (TC) landfall. Two TCs, i.e., Rammasun (2002) and Maemi (2003) that made landfall and produced heavy rainfall over the Peninsula are compared. Although both had a remarkably similar accumulated rainfall pattern over the peninsula, the temporal evolutions of hourly rainfall were different. Only Maemi had an indirect precipitation event in conjunction with a midlatitude trough to its north. The confluent flows at middle-to-upper levels were strengthened due to the increased pressure gradient between the midlatitude trough and the subtropical high, and the warm advection by the confluent flows also became stronger near the confluent zone. By contrast, Rammasun encountered the subtropical ridge while moving northward, which results in slow recurvature and reduction of the thermal gradient over the peninsula. The highly baroclinic synoptic backgrounds in the Maemi case lead to the midlevel frontogenesis. Budget analyses using the three-dimensional frontogenesis equation revealed that the horizontal deformation forcing had a primary role in generating the front. The front was associated with a thermally direct circulation that contributed to strong ascent and indirect precipitation over the peninsula well in advance of the landfall of Maemi. Moreover, the indirect precipitation could intensify due to the abundant low-level moisture supply to the frontal zone by the southerly wind on the east side of the TC.     

与强对流相联系的云系特征和天气背景

对2005—2011年造成高影响的一些强对流天气过程,按其云系特征和天气背景分为冷气团内部型、西风槽或冷涡云系尾部型、梅雨锋或切变线云系上嵌入型和高原东移高空槽云系型4种类型。冷气团内部型强对流发生在锋面或切变线云带后部的晴空区内,沿高空西北气流下滑的积云簇或向东南方向移动的短波槽是其发生的关键因子。西风槽或冷涡云系尾部型强对流发生于云带的尾部,云带后部干气流的反气旋式侵入是其主要特征。梅雨锋或切变线云系上嵌入型强对流出现在梅雨锋或切变线上,云带的北边界因常与高空急流相平行而比较清楚,强对流云团出现时云带北部的急流与高空的反气旋脊线距离较近。高原东移高空槽云系型强对流的关键影响系统是从青藏高原东部移出的短波槽云系,从水汽图像上可以看到其后部常有暗区或暗带相伴。     

A Simulation Study of a Heavy Rainfall Process over the Yangtze River Valley Using the Two-Way Nesting Approach

In this study,the major features of a heavy rainfall event in the Yangtze River region on 3-7 June 2011 and its event-related large-scale circulation and predictability were studied.Both observational analysis and model simulation were used,the latter being based on the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model forced by NCEP Global Forecast System(GFS) datasets.It was found that,during 3-5 June,the western Pacific subtropical high apparently extended to the west and was much stronger,and the Indian summer monsoon trough was slightly weaker than in normal years.The east-west oriented shear line over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was favorable for the transportation and convergence of water vapor,and the precipitation band was located slightly to the south of the shear line.During 6-7 June,the western Pacific subtropical high retreated eastward,while the trough over the Okhotsk Sea deepened.The low vortex in Northeast China intensified,bringing much more cold air to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River,and the shear line over this area moved slightly southward.The convection band moved southward and became weaker,so the rainfall during 6-7 June weakened and was located slightly to the south of the previous precipitation band.Many of the observed features,including background circulation and the distribution and amount of precipitation,were reproduced reasonably by the WRF,suggesting a feasibility of this model for forecasting extreme weather events in the Yangtze River region.     

台风倒槽影响下邯郸大暴雨过程分析

从天气系统背景、FY-2C卫星产品、水汽通量分布特征和大气稳定度特征等方面,分析了受台风低压倒槽与东移锋面云系的共同影响,于2005年7月21日夜间到23日邯郸市出现的大范围的暴雨天气,结果发现:500hPa槽前中尺度切变线是直接影响产生暴雨的重要系统;地形作用使迎风坡降水增强;中尺度对流云团和雨团关系密切,暴雨中心位于OLR和TBB低值区下面;西部山区的暴雨区水汽主要来源于南海、东海,东部平原大暴雨水汽主要来源于南海;暴雨区上空低层为对流不稳定,高层为对称不稳定。     

A diagnostic study of heavy rainfall in karachi due to merging of a mesoscale low and a diffused tropical depression during South Asian summer monsoon

This paper presents the results of a diagnostic study of a typical case of very heavy rainfall during the South Asian summer monsoon when a mesoscale low in a desert climate merged with a diffused tropical depression. The former low was located over Pakistan‘s desert region and the latter depression originated over the Bay of Bengal. Surface and NCEP reanalysis data supported by satellite and radar images were incorporated in the diagnosis. The relationship between the heavy precipitation process and large-scale circulations such as monsoon trough, subtropical high, westerly jet, low level jet and water vapor transport were investigated to further understand the mechanism of this peculiar interaction. It was found that: (1) the mesoscale low developed as a result of cold air advection aloft from northern latitudes and strong convection over the region of humidity convergence on 24 July 2003 over the lndian Rajistan area. (2) On the same day, a low that formed over the Bay of Bengal was transformed into a monsoon depression and moved westward to the mesoscale low which existed over southwest India and the adjoining southeastern parts of Pakistan. (3) Initially, the mesoscale low received moisture supply from both the Bay of Bengal as well as the Arabian Sea, whereas the Bay of Bengal maintained the continuous supply of moisture to the monsoon depression. (4) After the depression crossed central India, the Bay‘s moisture supply was cut off and the Arabian Sea became the only source of moisture to both the closely located systems. On 27 July, both of the systems merged together and the merger resulted in a heavy downpour in the Karachi metropolitan and in its surroundings. (5) With the intensification as well as the southeastward extensionof the subtropical high and the shift of the monsoon trough axis from southwest-west to northeast-east,the monsoon depression moved southwestward. In this situation, there existed a very favourable condition for a merger of the two systems in the presence of cross-latitude influence. (6) A number of convective cloud clusters were developed and organized in the mesoscale low. Probably, interactions existed among the multi-scale systems.     

鲁西北连续两次强降水过程对比分析

利用各种观测资料和NCEP/NCAR 1×1°再分析资料,对2012年7月30日夜间和31日夜间鲁西北连续两天强降雨天气进行诊断和对比分析。结果表明:强降水产生在西风槽前和副热带高压边缘的偏南暖湿气流中,西风槽稳定少动,台风在东南沿海北上,副高加强北抬,为鲁西北连续两天的强降水提供了天气尺度背景。925hPa及以下的低层,来自于渤海的偏东气流和来自于华东沿海的东南气流同时向鲁西北强降水区输送水汽,低层比湿大,CAPE和K指数较高。第1次强降水产生在偏南气流的暖区中,降水强度大,维持时间短。第2次强降水期间,低层有冷空气锲入,把暖湿气流抬升,前期为对流性降水,中后期转为稳定性降水,降水强度小,维持时间较长。850hPa及以下倒槽式切变线和中尺度低涡环流是造成强降水的中尺度影响系统,近地面层来自于渤海的东北气流与来自于东南沿海的东南暖湿气流形成中尺度涡旋,产生气旋式辐合上升,触发对流不稳定能量释放。对流云团在鲁西北形成长形的中尺度对流系统(MCS),稳定少动,有明显的列车效应和后向传播特征。强降水具有较强的日变化,夜间发展增强,白天减弱。     

Mesoscale Convective System over the Yellow Sea – A Numerical Case Study

Summary  A mesoscale convective system (MCS) case that developed over the Yellow Sea (12–13 July 1993) is studied by using a 23-level, 30 km-mesh Penn State/NCAR mesoscale model MM5. This MCS was generated in northern China, south of the Changma front, in a convectively unstable environment, under the influence of a short-wave trough accompanied by a marked cold vortex aloft. The model with all model physics (refereed to as CNTL) captured the major features of this MCS. A mesoscale low-level jet (mLLJ), with a horizontal scale of a few hundred km, developed within the MCS. Available wind data support the realism of this mLLJ. This mLLJ not only transports convectively unstable air directly toward the MCS but is also responsible for a strong low-level convergence in the MCS. At 200 hPa, an anticyclonic northwesterly flow with a relatively high wind speed core on the east of MCS was simulated. This relatively high-speed flow can be regarded as a mesoscale upper level jet (mULJ), acted as an upper outflow over the MCS. Low-level convergence on the left-front of the mLLJ and upper divergence in the right-rear of the mULJ creates a strong upward motion (≅ 40 cm s⁻¹) in the MCS. Heavy precipitation up to 45 mm between 1800–2100 UTC was observed after this MCS landed on the southern Korean Peninsula. The CNTL run captured this heavy rainfall event. A maximum rainfall of 50 mm 3 h⁻¹ was simulated. In another experiment, with surface sensible and moisture fluxes withheld (NOSF), the 3-h simulated rainfall was decreased to 30 mm. Less latent heat released in the NOSF led to a weaker MCS and mLLJ. The concurrent surface fluxes sustained a high low-level moisture field over the Yellow Sea, which helped the development of the MCS and enhanced its precipitation in this case. Received January 8, 1999     

Numerical study of 1998 late summer flood in East Asia

The Purdue Regional Model (PRM) is applied to study the evolution of regional climate and weather systems during the heavy precipitation over Korea and China between 30 July and 18 August 1998. The results show that heavy rainfall along the Mei-yu and Changma front was due to the combination of: (1) an anomalous 850 hPa subtropical high, (2) a stronger baroclinicity around 40°N over eastern Asia and a low pressure located to the north of the front, and (3) an excessive evaporation from abnormal wet, warm land. The precipitation ended by 18 August when the subtropical high had retreated and the low pressure in Mongolia moved away from Asia continent. The model reproduced in great detail the observed baroclinic waves to the north, subtropical high and low-level jet to the south, and the front with heavy precipitation extending from southern China, and the Korean peninsula to Japan. High correlations are found for mass, momentum, and moisture fields between model simulation and the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) reanalysis for the 20-day means.     

Observation and Numerical Simulations with Radar and Surface Data Assimilation for Heavy Rainfall over Central Korea

This study investigated the impact of multiple-Doppler radar data and surface data assimilation on forecasts of heavy rainfall over the central Korean Peninsula;the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF) model and its three-dimensional variational data assimilation system(3DVAR) were used for this purpose. During data assimilation,the WRF 3DVAR cycling mode with incremental analysis updates(IAU) was used. A maximum rainfall of 335.0 mm occurred during a 12-h period from 2100 UTC 11 July 2006 to 0900 UTC 12 July 2006.Doppler radar data showed that the heavy rainfall was due to the back-building formation of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs).New convective cells were continuously formed in the upstream region,which was characterized by a strong southwesterly low-level jet(LLJ).The LLJ also facilitated strong convergence due to horizontal wind shear,which resulted in maintenance of the storms.The assimilation of both multiple-Doppler radar and surface data improved the accuracy of precipitation forecasts and had a more positive impact on quantitative forecasting(QPF) than the assimilation of either radar data or surface data only.The back-building characteristic was successfully forecasted when the multiple-Doppler radar data and surface data were assimilated.In data assimilation experiments,the radar data helped forecast the development of convective storms responsible for heavy rainfall,and the surface data contributed to the occurrence of intensified low-level winds.The surface data played a significant role in enhancing the thermal gradient and modulating the planetary boundary layer of the model,which resulted in favorable conditions for convection.     

初夏昆明罕见大暴雨分析

１９８６年６月６－７日，云南昆明出现了１９５１年以来一次最大暴雨。天气学与诊断分析表明，初夏云南可产生单点局地大暴雨，量级与盛夏、秋季相当。５００ｈＰａ干冷槽东移，７００ｈＰａ双涡吸引旋转西移，地面弱冷空气诱发静止锋锋生，强垂直风切变，昆明上空出现正反环流圈是该次过程的主要特征，与低纬度原地区区域性大－暴雨特征不同。     

2013年影响湖南的两次相似路径台风暴雨对比分析

应用多种常规观测资料、加密自动气象站资料和NCEP 1°×1°再分析资料,对2013年影响湖南的两次相似路径台风暴雨过程进行了对比分析。研究表明：“尤特”台风暴雨直接由台风环流引起,具有锋前暖区降水的特点;而“天兔”台风暴雨由台风低压倒槽与西风带天气系统相互作用引起的,其降水属于典型的锋面降水。“尤特”由东风带进入西风带,其与副高相对位置的变化是导致其登陆后路径北翘的主要原因。“尤特”低压环流与南海季风相互作用,充沛的水汽输送对台风低压环流的长时间维持以及湘东南暴雨的形成和发展起到了重要的组织和促进作用。而“天兔”登陆后南海季风位置偏南,不利于“天兔”的长时间维持以及向暴雨区的水汽输送。低层暖式切变线附近强辐合与高层强辐散耦合、低层强正涡度与高层负涡度的耦合为“尤特”台风暴雨的发生发展提供了动力条件。由中低层冷空气入侵导致的锋生强迫和高低空急流耦合形成的次级环流,加强了“天兔”低压倒槽内冷暖气流的辐合,是触发倒槽内中尺度对流发展和暴雨产生的重要动力机制。     

热带气旋远距离暴雨过程的诊断分析

利用天气实况和NCEP再分析资料，对2004年8月26—28日山东大暴雨过程进行了客观分析。结果表明，0418号热带气旋在福建沿海登陆后，其北伸倒槽与西风带弱冷空气结合造成了本次大暴雨过程，具有明显的中低纬系统相互作用特征。伴随登陆热带气旋生成的低空东南急流为暴雨输送了丰富的热量和水汽，成为联系中低纬度系统的纽带。西风带弱冷空气侵入台风北伸倒槽后，在黄淮之间有明显的暖锋锋生特征，是触发倒槽区域中尺度对流发展和暴雨产生的重要动力机制。暴雨与高能舌区具有很好的对应关系，总能量分布对热带气旋远距离暴雨的落区具有很好的指示作用。     

2008年河南黄淮地区暴雨过程个例分析

利用常规气象资料和NCEP资料对2008年7月22日河南黄淮地区的暴雨过程进行了分析.结果表明:这次过程是在500 hPa槽前西南气流引导下,高低空急流耦合区内西南涡沿切变线移出,弱冷空气侵入暖倒槽触发不稳定能量释放造成的.垂直螺旋度计算结果显示:中低层正垂直螺旋度中心与降水落区有很好的对应关系,大暴雨中心位于正垂直螺旋度中心附近.湿位涡演变分析发现,这次过程有"干侵入"发生,暴雨区中低层对流不稳定和对称不稳定共存,有利于降水增幅.水汽条件分析表明:这次过程的水汽源地在孟加拉湾和南海,主要是低层和近地层的水汽辐合.     

大连地区暖锋暴雨个例成因与雷达回波特征

利用常规观测资料、自动站资料和多普勒雷达资料等,对2009年7月14日大连暴雨局部大暴雨过程进行详细分析。结果表明：这是一次暖锋大暴雨过程,高空河套槽北抬和北支槽尾段相叠加,中低层在渤海北部到大连地区形成涡旋环流,700 hPa气旋式较大曲率处在地面暖锋上空,大连地区位于地面气旋顶部即暖锋顶部,造成强降水的产生。强湿区,配合暖锋前低层辐合中心、高层辐散中心,为暖锋大暴雨天气提供水汽和动力条件。从雷达回波分析可以看出,暖锋前部45dBz的β中尺度反射率及速度场上“单牛眼”特征,是造成此次暴雨过程及短时暴雨的直接原因。VWP资料分析表明,低层东南急流与高层西南急流形成切变层的高度以及两支急流的强度变化,与暖锋对应并决定降水的强弱。