A generalized frontogenesis function and its application

With the definition of generalized potential temperature, a new generalized frontogenesis function, which is expressed as the Lagrangian change rate of the magnitude of the horizontal generalized potential temperature gradient, is derived. Such a frontogenesis function is more appropriate for a real moist atmosphere because it can reflect frontogenesis processes, in which the atmosphere in a frontal zone is typically characterized by neither completely dry nor uniform saturation. Furthermore, by derivation, the expression of generalized frontogenesis function includes both temperature and humidity gradients, which is different from and superior to the traditional frontogenesis function in moist processes, which also uses equivalent potential temperature. Diagnostic studies of real cases are performed and show that the generalized frontogenesis function in non- uniformly saturated moist atmosphere indeed provides a useful tool for frontogenesis, compared to using the traditional frontogenesis function. The new frontogenesis function can be used in situations involving either a strong temperature or moisture gradient and is closely correlated with precipitation.     

Diagnostic study on the structural characteristics of a typical mei-yu front system and its maintenance mechanism

In this paper, a typical mei-yu front process with heavy rainfall from June 12 to 15 in 1998 is analyzed. The results show that the mei-yu front is a front system which consists of an iso-θe dense area with strong horizontal gradient, a deep-convective cloud tower band, a passageway transporting warm and moist air flow from the summer monsoon surge in the mid and low levels to the south of the mei-yu front,and a migrating synoptic scale trough to the north of the mei-yu front, which transports cold and dry air southward in the mid and upper levels. The maintenance of the mei-yu front is realized by: (1) is a positive feedback between the moist physical process enhancing frontogenesis and the development of the strong convective system in front of the mei-yu front; (2) the sustaining system to the north of the mei-yu front which is a migrating synoptic scale trough transporting cold and dry air to the mei-yu front and positive vorticity to the mesoscale system in front of the mei-yu front.     

北京“7.21”暴雨过程中变形场引起的锋生与倾斜涡度发展诊断分析

从变形场驱动锋生及通过锋生引起倾斜涡度发展的角度对变形场在北京“7.21”暴雨发生、发展过程中的可能作用机制进行了初步探讨。诊断结果发现：北京地区降水产生时,变形向量与等位温线走向一致或有较小夹角,北京地区有较强的变形场局地锋生过程。锋生函数分析发现,变形项对引发暴雨的低层锋生有重要贡献。锋生能够引发大气动力、热力结构的调整,伴随大气锋生过程的高空急流加强和转竖使得北京地区处于高空急流入口区右侧的辐散区中,其带动低层空气辐合,有助于暴雨的加强维持。分析还发现,“7.21”暴雨过程中,垂直涡度存在爆发性发展,尤其是锋面降水阶段,而大气斜压度的增长趋势与垂直涡度增长趋势十分一致。分析全型涡度方程中与变形场有关的斜压度个别变化项发现,与变形场相关的垂直涡度驱动项异常正值区与垂直涡度爆发性增长区相对应,表明变形场在北京“7.21”暴雨过程中对垂直涡度发展有重要贡献。基于变形场沿其压缩轴方向气流汇合的特点,进一步分析了加入水汽作用的水汽通量变形场与暴雨发生、发展的关系。分析结果发现,低层水汽通量变形场的正值区与暴雨具有很强的相关,且水汽通量变形场包含两部分,一部分为比湿平流,其对未来暴雨区位置有很好的指示意义;一部分为变形场项,其对水汽通量变形场分布起主要贡献。     

The Forced Secondary Circulation of the Mei-yu Front

Using National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalysis data for the period 28 June to 12 July during 2001 to2013, the secondary circulation(SC) associated with the mei-yu front was quantitatively diagnosed by numerically solving a primitive version of the Sawyer-Eliassen equation. Results demonstrate that a direct SC exists near the mei-yu front zone during mid-summer and the synoptic-scale geostrophic deformations are the main factors determining SC structures. About94% of the sinking strength and 61% of the ascending strength in the SC are induced by the geostrophic deformations.Other terms, such as diabatic heating, ageostrophic dynamical forcing, and frictional forcing, mainly influence the fine flow pattern of the SC. The forced SC produces a frontogenesis area tilting to the north with altitude. Further diagnosis clarifies the positive feedback involving the geostrophic shear forcing and vorticity frontogenesis in the upper-level mei-yu front zone. Furthermore, statistical results indicate that all 34 deep convection cases that occurred in the warm region of the meiyu front over the period 2004-2013 experienced high-level frontogenesis associated with along-jet cold advection. The cyclonic shear forcing "moved" the monsoon SC's subsidence branch to the warm side of the mei-yu front and caused the subsidence branch to extend downwards to the lower troposphere, conducive to the initiation of deep convection in the warm region of the mei-yu front.     

梅雨锋的维持与其上扰动的发展特征

文章对一次江淮流域梅雨锋暴雨过程进行了研究，分析了低层风场结构对锋区维持的作用，通过计算变形向量，散度风以及相应的锋生函数，研究了它们各自对锋面的维持、扰动发展所起的作用。对低空急流的不稳定发展进行了分析，并研究了它与高层流场特殊的耦合关系对暴雨形成所起的动力作用。     

The Structure of a Typical Mei-yu Front Identified by the Equivalent Temperature

In mainland China, the summer monsoon rainy band is referred to as the mei-yu precipitation front, which extends northward from South China to the Yangtze River, Huaihe River, and Yellow River, depending on the season. This paper describes the structure of the mei-yu front associated with a persistent heavy rainfall event that occurred in the summer of 2007. The mei-yu front occurs when the subtropical oceanic warm, moist air mass and the extra tropical continental dry, cold air mass converge on the lee side of the Tibetan Plateau. The authors defined the equivalent temperature using two terms of dry-air temperature and the specific humidity and calculated its horizontal gradient to indicate the mei-yu front. The vertical structure of the mei-yu front and the moist thermal winds surrounding it were examined based on the equivalent temperature.     

Mesoscale Moist Adjoint Sensitivity Study of a Mei-yu Heavy Rainfall Event

The mesoscale moist adjoint sensitivities related to the initiation of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are evaluated for a mei-yu heavy rainfall event. The sensitivities were calculated on a realistic background gained from a four-dimensional variational data assimilation of precipitation experiment to make the sensitivity computation possible and reasonable within a strong moist convective event at the mesoscale. The results show that the computed sensitivities at the mesoscale were capable of capturing the factors affecting MCS initiation. The sensitivities to the initial temperature and moisture are enhanced greatly by diabatic processes, especially at lower levels, and these sensitivities are much larger than those stemming from the horizontal winds, which implies that initiation of MCSs is more sensitive to low-level temperature and moisture perturbations rather than the horizontal winds. Moreover, concentration of sensitivities at low levels reflects the characteristics of the mei-yu front. The results provide some hints about how to improve quantitative precipitation forecasts of mei-yu heavy rainfall, such as by conducting mesoscale targetted observations via the adjoint-based method to reduce the low-level errors in the initial temperature and moisture.     

梅雨锋动力锋生方程组及其应用

利用湿静力温度Tσ作为参数，导出梅雨锋锋生的方程组，并用该方程组计算了1991年江淮梅雨锋强降水的个例。结果表明:该方程组可分析梅雨锋的动力锋生；在梅雨锋中存在近似垂直分布的对称的横向次级环流，环流中干冷侧的横向穿锋环流可建立湿状态的稳定性；非地转变形项对梅雨锋锋生（消）起主导作用，同时次级环流的上升运动与锋生有正反馈关系。另外，梅雨锋中Tσ水平锋生对未来6小时降水具有一定的指示意义。     

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.     

The Thermodynamic and Dynamical Features of Double Front Structures During 21-31 July 1998 in China

1. IntroductionDuring June and July, from the mid-lower reachesof the Yangtze River basin in China to southern Japan,a precipitation zone with intensive torrential rain ap-pears and lasts for two to three weeks. This phe-nomenon is called the "mei-yu" in …     

Meso-beta scale numerical simulations of terrain drag-induced along-stream circulations Part I: Midtropospheric frontogenesis

Summary The problem of along-stream ageostrophic frontogenesis is studied by employing a numerical model at meso-alpha and meso-beta scales in simulations of the downstream circulations over the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Three-dimensional real data simulations at these two scales of motion are used to diagnose the transition from semigeostrophic cross-stream frontogenesis accompanying a propagating baroclinic upper-level jet streak to midtropospheric along-stream ageostrophic frontogenesis. This along-stream ageostrophic frontogenesis results from the perturbation of the jet streak by the Rocky Mountain range. The case study represents an example of internal wave dynamics which are forced by the drag of the Rocky Mountains on a strong jet streak in the presence of a low-level inversion.The simulation results indicate that, unlike semi-geostrophic frontogenesis, a front (which is alligned perpendicular to the axis of the jet stream) may form when significant adiabatic heating occurs within a stratified shear flow over horizontal length scales shorter than the Rossby radius of deformation. The mechanism responsible for the frontogenesis is the growth of the divergent along-stream wind velocity component which becomes coupled to the front's along-stream pressure gradient force. This nonlinear interaction produces hydrostatic mesoscale frontogenesis as follows: 1) vertical wind shear in the along-stream plane strengthens resulting in the increasingly nonuniform vertical variation of horizontal temperature advection as the ageostrophic wind component grows in magnitude downstream of the meso-scale terrain-induced adiabatic heating, 2) increasing along-stream differential vertical motions (i.e., along-stream thermally indirect circulation with warm air sinking to the west and cold air rising to the east) tilt the vertical gradient of isentropes into the horizontal as the vertical temperature gradient increases due to the previous process in proximity to horizontal gradients in the along-stream component of the ageostrophic wind, 3) as tilting motions act to increase the along-stream horizontal temperature gradient, the along-stream confluence acts to nonuniformly increase the along-stream frontal temperature gradient which increases the along-stream pressure gradient force resulting in further accelerations, ageostrophy, and frontal steepening as part of a scale contraction process.The evolution of the aforementioned processes results in the three-dimensional hydrostatic frontogenesis accompanying the overturning of isentropic surfaces. These adjustments act to turn air parcels to the right of the southwesterly geostrophic wind vector at successively lower atmospheric levels as the scale contraction continues. This simulated along-stream front is verified from diagnostic analysis of the profiler-derived temperature and wind fields.With 17 Figures     

Four-dimensional variational data assimilation experiments for a heavy rain case during the 2002 IOP in China

A heavy rainfall event along the mei-yu front during 22-23 June 2002 was chosen for this study. To assess the impact of the routine and additional IOP (intensive observation period) radiosonde observations on the mesoscale heavy rainfall forecast, a series of four-dimensional variational (4DVAR) data assimilation and model simulation experiments was conducted using nonhydrostatic mesoscale model MM5 and the MM5 4DVAR system. The effects of the intensive observations in the different areas on the heavy rainfall forecast were also investigated. The results showed that improvement of the forecast skill for mesoscale heavy rainfall intensity was possible from the assimilation of the IOP radiosonde observations. However,the impact of the IOP observations on the forecast of the rainfall pattern was not significant. Initial conditions obtained through the 4DVAR experiments with a 12-h assimilation window were capable of improving the 24-h forecast. The simulated results after the assimilation showed that it would be best to perform the intensive radiosonde observations in the upstream of the rainfall area and in the moisture passageway area at the same time. Initial conditions created by the 4DVAR led to the low-level moisture convergence over the rainfall area, enhanced frontogenesis and upward motion within the mei-yu front,and intensified middle- and high-level unstable stratification in front of the mei-yu front. Consequently,the heavy rainfall forecast was improved.     

利用锋生函数对2008年年初昆明准静止锋生消过程的诊断分析

利用ERA-Interim 0.125°×0.125°高分辨率逐6小时再分析数据,选取昆明准静止锋2008年1~2月长时间维持过程诊断分析了锋生函数及其各分项在锋面生消过程中的作用与贡献,并结合2016年1月20~27日锋面增强西进过程和1979年1月14~20日锋面减弱东退过程进行了比较分析。结果表明:（1）非绝热加热项对锋面生消作用较小,但存在显著的日变化。在辐射作用下,非绝热加热项日间表现为锋消,夜间为锋生。（2）西移冷气团在被高原大地形抬升过程中存在局地地形迫使冷气团下沉的情况,并导致垂直运动倾斜项表现为锋生。由于地形固定不变,局地锋生形成次级锋生带。次级锋生带与昆明准静止锋的形成、维持和东西摆动有密切的联系。（3）辐合辐散项和水平形变项是锋生函数变化的主要贡献项,其中水平形变项中的切变变形作用以锋生为主,而伸缩变形项在纬向产生锋生,在经向产生锋消。     

一次冬季锋面暴风雪天气过程的斜压边界层特征的观测分析

对STORM-FESTIOP17一次冬季锋面暴风雪天气过程的斜压边界层结构演变及特征进行了分析。发现：暖湿空气沿锋面抬升凝结成云，产生降水过程中释放的大量潜热显著增加锋两侧的水平温度差异，产生锋生。与锋生相伴，在锋前产生低空急流和高空急流。当锋生至最强时，锋两侧温差可达20K，锋前低空急流开始减弱，锋后低空急流增强，锋后冷平流开始主导锋两侧的环流系统。该冷平流削弱锋两侧的温度水平梯度，产生锋消作用。对这次锋面斜压对流边界层的湍流特征分析表明：在边界层之上切应力wv明显增大；湍能收支分析表明在边界层之上的风切变产生项很强，即大尺度天气系统有利于斜压对流边界层的发展，边界层内各量充分混合。这次冬季锋面暴风雪天气过程，冷锋前的低空南风急流从墨西哥湾携带来的充足水汽及锋区边界层大气的强斜压性是其产生的关键因子：冷锋过后，大尺度高空急流的作用更有利于对流边界层的充分发展。     

Heavy rainfall caused by interactions between monsoon depression and middle-latitude systems in Australia: a case study

The heavy rainfall caused by interactions between the monsoon depression and the middle-latitude systems in Australia has been investigated in this paper. For a better understanding of the Australian monsoon depression (AMD) and its synoptic-scale interaction with the middle-latitude systems, some key meteorological parameters have been calculated, including the vorticity budget, moisture budget, temperature advection, frontogenesis function and potential vorticity. The results show that interaction between the lower and mid-latitude systems does exist leading to the merging of the extratropical low with frontal systems and the AMD, meanwhile both the low-level cold air from the mid-latitude and the warm moist air that was lifted by the front were very favorable for the formation and the intensification of heavy rainfall, which was quite different from the rainfall caused by the AMD alone. Second, the obvious temperature advection and gradient were detected, so the baroclinicity was favorable to the intensification of the front, as well as to the development of the upper-level jet. Next, isentropic analysis revealed that the south-west cold-flow sank and met the warm flow coming from the northern part of Australia, thereby forming the obvious baroclinic zone in the lower troposphere. A high-PV anomaly area located in the upper level of the troposphere, which overlaid the low-level frontogenesis zone, also existed. The upper-level PV maximum extended downwards forming a vertical PV column when the extratropical low intensified. Furthermore, the AMD is a warm-cored vortex located in middle and upper troposphere with a deep and thick moisture layer, and there were some differences in the vorticity and moisture budgets of the two different stages. Finally, based on the above-mentioned analysis, a conceptual model describing the interactions between the lower and middle-latitude systems in the southern hemisphere was proposed.     

变性台风“麦德姆”(1410)环流中的锋生现象及其对降水的影响

利用中国气象局热带气旋年鉴、FY-2D（0.1°×0.1°）云顶亮温、逐时自动气象站降雨量、常规观测资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,运用锋生函数对台风“麦德姆”（Matmo,1410）影响辽东半岛和山东半岛期间的降水特征进行了诊断分析。结果表明：1）Matmo影响辽东半岛和山东半岛期间,其低压环流与西风带高空槽相互作用,在其西侧和东北侧分别有冷锋和暖锋锋生,两条锋带均向东移。强锋生区首先在低层生成,随后尽管高空锋区向下延伸,但并未与低层冷锋重合,低层冷锋锋生强度减弱。2）山东半岛和辽东半岛的降水均发生在台风低压环流的锋生过程中,但山东半岛的降水明显多于辽东半岛。这与锋生强度密切相关,辽东半岛的锋生强度和垂直运动较山东半岛明显偏弱。3）强降水与台风环流内冷、暖平流活动密切相关,冷暖平流交汇之处对强降水有较好的示踪作用。山东半岛始终处于冷暖平流交汇处,其西侧斜压不稳定加强,上升运动发展,强降水出现在冷锋带上暖平流区内;而辽东半岛由冷平流转为暖平流时,对流运动向其东北方向发展,强降水位于辽东半岛东北部。     

三种温湿参数下昆明准静止锋锋面位置及锋生函数诊断的对比分析

针对2008年1~2月昆明准静止锋天气过程,讨论了位温、相当位温和广义位温三个温湿参数及其对应的锋生函数,对比分析结果表明:（1）广义位温因其湿度因子权重过大,不适用于分析以温度梯度定义的昆明准静止锋锋面位置和强度;（2）理想状态下的干大气位温和饱和大气相当位温仅与气压和温度有关,均能较好地反映大气温度场特征,适用于昆明准静止锋的分析,比较而言相当位温对温度锋区的描述更为显著;（3）用位温或相当位温计算锋生函数所得结果直接表达了因温度场变化导致的锋面生消状况,而用广义位温计算锋生函数所得结果同时包含温度锋生（消）和湿度锋生（消）两种情况,不能简洁地判断昆明准静止锋锋面生消状况。     

Mesoscale predictability of mei-yu heavy rainfall

Recently reported results indicate that small amplitude and small scale initial errors grow rapidly and subsequently contaminate short-term deterministic mesoscale forecasts. This rapid error growth is dependent on not only moist convection but also the flow regime. In this study, the mesoscale predictability and error growth of mei-yu heavy rainfall is investigated by simulating a particular precipitation event along the mei-yu front on 4-6 July 2003 in eastern China. Due to the multi-scale character of th...     

冷锋雨带中湿物理过程与非绝热锋生的相互作用

利用包含冰相微物理过程参数化方案的三维非静力中尺度／云模式（ARPS）模拟了与冷锋有关的冷锋雨带（NCFR）结构，着重分析了锋面云系发展演变的主要特征。模拟结果表明，锋面云系是由位于锋面前沿处的锋面次级环流的上升运动激发的；锋面强度与冷锋云（雨）带中的潜热释放之间的正反馈引起的持续非绝热锋生是锋面以及冷锋雨带得以长时间维持的主要物理机制。进一步分析表明，锋区两侧位温梯度的增加是与沿着冷锋表面的倾斜上升运动引起的云水及水汽的再分布密切相关的，即在冷气团中由云水蒸发发冷却形成冷池，而在暖气团中由水汽凝结以及雨滴冻结等形成暖池，这种冷／暖池在冷／暖气团上的叠加是引起非绝热锋生的关键。     

The Relationship of Land-Ocean Thermal Anomaly Difference with Mei-yu and South China Sea Summer Monsoon

Based on the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for the period of 1948--2004 and the monthly rainfall data at 160 stations in China from 1951 to 2004, the relationships among the land-ocean temperature anomaly difference in the mid-lower troposphere in spring (April--May), the mei-yu rainfall in the Yangtze River-Huaihe River basin, and the activities of the South China Sea summer monsoon (SCSSM) are analyzed by using correlation and composite analyses. Results show that a significant positive correlation exists between mei-yu rainfall and air temperature in the middle latitudes above the western Pacific, while a significant negative correlation is located to the southwest of the Baikal Lake. When the land-ocean thermal anomaly difference is stronger in spring, the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) will be weaker and retreat eastward in summer (June--July), and the SCSSM will be stronger and advance further north, resulting in deficient moisture along the mei-yu front and below-normal precipitation in the mid and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and vice versa for the weaker difference case. The effects and relative importance of the land and ocean anomalous heating on monsoon variability is also compared. It is found that the land and ocean thermal anomalies are both closely related to the summer circulation and mei-yu rainfall and SCSSM intensity, whereas the land heating anomaly is more important than ocean heating in changing the land-ocean thermal contrast and hence the summer monsoon intensity.