A Study on the Mesoscale Convective Systems during the Summer Monsoon Onset over the South China Sea in 1998 Part Ⅰ: Analysis of Large-Scale Fields for Occurrence and Development of the Mesoscale Convective Systems

The summer monsoon onset over the northern South China Sea (SCS) in May 16-20, 1998 was characterized by the abrupt onset of mesoscale convective activities and rapid increase of precipitation. The possible mechanism for formation of the mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and related rain belts were revealed through discussing their forming physical conditions under the large-scale background: (1) The high pseudo-equivalent potential temperature and the convective instability in the lower troposphere, the low-level southwesterly confluence and the high-level divergence over South China and the northern SCS provided the favorable large-scale thermodynamic and dynamic conditions for development of MCSs. The southwesterly flow from the Bay of Bengal (BOB) interacted with that to the western flank of the subtropical high, which constituted the major moisture channels, thus bringing about deep wet layers and strong moisture convergence;(2) triggered by several cold troughs from high and mid latitudes, the convectively unstable energy was released and the convective activities over the northern SCS broke out abruptly;(3)analysis of retrieved precipitation based on the dual-Doppler radar during South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (SCSMEX) indicated that active convection influenced by the monsoon trough and corresponding wind shear line organized and formed continually some mesoscale convective rainbelts. During May 15-19,about 12 precipitation processes with 6-12-hour life span or more were observed;and (4) under the favorable synoptic conditions, establishment of the monsoon trough and shear line in the low levels, as well as production and development of mesoscale low vortex were all necessary conditions for the formation and maintenance of MCSs.     

南海夏季风爆发机制的数值实验研究

通过3个数值实验和对1998年及1996年南海夏季风爆发的对比分析以及多年资料统计研究发现,南海夏季风何时爆发与南海局部地区的海温高低和南海经度上南北海温差异的大小关系不密切,主要决定于南海及其周围大范围地区的环流形势。南海季风爆发前10天内,其环流特征是低层850hPa上,西太平洋副热带高压脊经菲律宾西伸控制南海,南亚至东南亚为宽广的低槽区所控制,高空200hPa上,南亚高压位于阿拉伯海至南海一带,中心位于孟加拉湾东侧和中南半岛西侧的低纬地区,广大北方为西风气流所控制。     

A Study on the Mesoscale Convective Systems during the Summer Monsoon Onset over the South China Sea in 1998Part I: Analysis of Large-Scale Fields for Occurrence and Development of the Mesoscale Convective Systems

1. Introduction China is located in the East Asian monsoon re- gion. Every year's weather and climate in this region is deeply affected by the monsoon activities. Es- pecially, during flooding season (May to September), the summer monsoon controls large-scale precipitation patterns, the movement of seasonal rain belt and oc- currence of drought/flood disasters. The Asian mon- soon can be divided into two systems (Tao and Chen, 1987). As a major component and its unique location, the South …     

2002年南海季风建立及其雨带变化的天气学研究

利用南海海 气通量观测试验资料结合NCEP ,GPCP以及GMS - 5云图资料 ,综合分析了 2 0 0 2年 5～ 6月南海西南季风建立过程及其雨带变化 ,确定 5月 14日西沙及北部海区西南季风爆发 ,5月 15日整个南海季风爆发 ,季风爆发时间属于正常年 ;季风爆发时风向、风速、云量、降水、湿度、辐射及海面温度等要素都发生突变。这种突变是由大气环流的突变造成的。季风爆发前后大气环流变化过程是 :80～ 90°E越赤道气流加强 ,同时印缅低压加深 ,孟加拉湾南北向气压梯度增大 ,而后东亚大陆上气旋发展东移 ,副热带高压东撤 ,孟加拉湾低压槽前的赤道西风突然加强越过中南半岛 ,南海北部首先出现强西南风 ,继而南海季风迅速地全面爆发。孟加拉湾西南风加强到南海季风爆发是一个连续的过程 ,大陆冷空气南下起了重要的作用。南海季风爆发时呈现单雨带型 ,而后由单雨带型转变为双雨带型 ,雨带受副热带高压和季风系统共同影响 ,并且随着副热带高压移动位置变化。     

Moisture transport over the Arabian Sea associated with summer rainfall over Pakistan in 1994 and 2002

In this study,we aimed to elucidate the critical role of moisture transport affecting monsoon activity in two contrasting summers over the Arabian Sea during the years 1994,a relatively wet year,and 2002,a relatively dry year.A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and comparisons of the moisture fields were conducted;we focused on the precipitation and evaporation as well as the moisture transport and its divergence or convergence in the atmosphere.Monthly mean reanalysis data were obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP-I and-II).A detailed evaluation of the moisture budgets over Pakistan during these two years was made by calculating the latent energy flux at the surface(E P) from the divergence of the total moisture transport.Our results confirm the moisture supply over the Arabian Sea to be the major source of rainfall in Pakistan and neighboring regions.In 1994,Pakistan received more rainfall compared to 2002 during the summer monsoon.Moisture flow deepens and strengthens over Arabian Sea during the peak summer monsoon months of July and August.Our analysis shows that vertically integrated moisture transport flux have a significant role in supplying moisture to the convective centers over Pakistan and neighboring regions from the divergent regions of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.Moreover,in 1994,a deeper vertically integrated moisture convergence progression occurred over Pakistan compared to that in 2002.Perhaps that deeper convergence resulted in a more intense moisture depression over Pakistan and also caused more rainfall in 1994 during the summer monsoon.Finally,from the water budget analysis,it has been surmised that the water budget was larger in 1994 than in 2002 during the summer monsoon.     

冬半年南支西风中Rossby波传播及其与南支槽形成的关系

利用1948—2005年的10月—次年5月NCEP/NCAR再分析资料对西风急流中Rossby波的传播及其与冬半年副热带南支西风槽形成的关系进行研究, 结果表明:冬半年亚洲副热带西风急流下方存在3个南支波动, 分别位于阿拉伯海、孟加拉湾和我国华南地区, 其中孟加拉湾南支槽变率最小, 是半永久性低压槽; 从北非、阿拉伯海到孟加拉湾的“-+-”遥相关波列表明南支槽与北非槽呈正相关, 与阿拉伯海槽呈反相关。在西风波动从北非东传到孟加拉湾的过程中, 往往会在阿拉伯海有所停顿, 这种由西向东的传播过程约20 d一次, 具有明显的低频振荡特征; 源自北非的定常Rossby波能量沿着急流波导传播到孟加拉湾, 可能是南支槽明显增幅的一个主要机制; 另外, 从青藏高原东西两侧南下的冷空气活动也是南支槽加深发展的一个重要因素。     

A Study on the Mesoscale Convective Systems during the Summer Monsoon Onset over the South China Sea in 1998 Part II: Effect of Mesoscale Convective Systems on Large-Scale Fields

1. Introduction The strong convective weather is developed under the favorable large-scale circulations, which demon- strated the large-scale weather system's controlling ef- fect on strong convections. Once the convection is formed, it will produce the feedback effect on the large-scale environmental conditions by transporting momentum, heat and moisture upward, and influence or change the environmental wind, humidity, tem- perature, atmospheric stratification fields and so on, thus forming t…     

A Study on the Mesoscale Convective Systems during the Summer Monsoon Onset over the South China Sea in 1998 Part Ⅱ: Effect of Mesoscale Convective Systems on Large-Scale Fields

The apparent heat sources and apparent moisture sinks, and large-scale wind, temperature as well as the surface pressure fields during the summer monsoon onset over the northern South China Sea (SCS) in 1998 were diagnosed. The results suggested that there was a kind of positive feedback mechanism between large-scale circulations and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Before the monsoon onset, the largescale background provided favorable synoptic and dynamic conditions for the summer monsoon onset and the formation of mesoscale convective activities, whereas after the summer monsoon onset, occurrence of the persistent and extensive mesoscale convective activities produced obvious feedback effect on large-scale circulations. Because of the release of latent heating produced by enhanced convective activities, the intense atmospheric heating appeared over the northern SCS, which resulted in: (1) the meridional temperature gradient over the SCS reversed from upper-level to low-level and then the large-scale circulations were changed seasonally;(2) correspondingly, the surface pressure over the northern SCS deepened continually and formed a broad monsoon trough and the obvious pressure-fall areas, thus making the subtropical high move out of the SCS eventually;(3) with the development of the low pressure circulations in the middle and low troposphere, the MCSs further enhanced and extended southward, which was conducive to the SCS monsoon onset and maintenance over the middle and southern SCS;and (4) the deepening of monsoon trough facilitated the monsoon flow and moisture transport on its southern side, thus the monsoon onset reaching peak period.     

The evolution of Indian summer monsoon in 1997 and 1983

Summary During most El-Ni?o events the Indian summer monsoon rainfall has been below normal. El-Ni?o that occurred during 1997 was one of the strongest in the 20th century, but did not have an adverse impact on the Indian summer monsoon rainfall in 1997. This is despite the fact that most parameters observed in May 1997 suggested that the Indian summer monsoon rainfall may be below normal. This intriguing feature of the 1997 Indian summer monsoon rainfall has been examined by studying the evolution of various parameters from May to August. The behavior of the 1997 monsoon is related to its evolution during June and July, with westward migration of cloudbands from West Pacific that increased convection over Bay of Bengal. We find that there exists a significant correlation between convective activity over Bay of Bengal and winds over the Arabian Sea with the latter lagging convection over Bay of Bengal by about three days. The convective activity over Bay of Bengal induces stronger winds over the Arabian Sea and this in turn enhances advection of moisture into the Indian landmass and leads to increased precipitable water and strength of the monsoon. Using a simple thermodynamic model we show that increased precipitable water during July leads to increased rainfall. A similar behavior has also been noticed during the 1983 monsoon, with precursors indicating a possible poor monsoon but subsequent events changed the course of the monsoon. Received May 21, 2001 Revised October 10, 2001     

Atmospheric Moisture Distribution and Transport over the Tibetan Plateau and the Impacts of the South Asian Summer Monsoon

In this study, by using the ECMWF ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2010, the spatial distribution and transport of total atmospheric moisture over the Tibetan Plateau（TP） are analyzed, together with the associated impacts of the South Asian summer monsoon（SASM）. Acting as a moisture sink in summer, the TP has a net moisture flux of 2.59× 107kg s 1during 1979–2010, with moisture supplies mainly from the southern boundary along the latitude belts over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The total atmospheric moisture over the TP exhibits significant diferences in both spatial distribution and transport between the monsoon active and break periods and between strong and weak monsoon years. Large positive（negative） moisture anomalies occur over the southwest edge of the TP and the Arabian Sea, mainly due to transport of easterly（westerly） anomalies during the monsoon active（break） period. For the whole TP region, the total moisture supply is more strengthened than the climatological mean during the monsoon active period, which is mainly contributed by the transport of moisture from the south edge of the TP. During the monsoon break period, however, the total moisture supply to the TP is slightly weakened. In addition, the TP moisture sink is also strengthened（weakened） in the strong（weak） monsoon years, mainly attributed by the moisture transport in the west-east directions. Our results suggest that the SASM has exerted great impacts on the total atmospheric moisture and its transport over the TP through adjusting the moisture spatial distribution.     

"06.7"郧西暴雨天气的成因分析

利用常规气象资料和卫星云图资料,采用天气学诊断方法,从大尺度环流背景、天气系统、物理量场、对流云团演变特征等方面,分析了2006年7月3～4日出现在湖北郧西的一次暴雨天气过程的成因。结果表明,此次暴雨是在副热带高压减弱东退形势下产生的;700 hPa和850 hPa的冷槽、切变线是此次强降水的主要影响系统,暴雨区位于700 hPa切变线右侧、850 hPa切变线附近;暴雨区上空存在明显正涡度柱,低层辐合与中高层辐散形成抽吸作用,为暴雨过程发生发展提供了动力条件;存在于孟加拉湾至我国西南地区的水汽通道为暴雨过程提供了必需的水汽;整个暴雨过程都伴随着中尺度对流云团的初生、发展、合并和减弱,降水主要由发展型对流云团造成。     

冬半年副热带西风南支槽结构和演变特征研究

南支槽是冬半年副热带南支西风气流在高原南侧孟加拉湾地区产生的半永久性低压槽, 本文从气候学角度探讨其结构和演变特征。结果表明: (1) 南支槽10月在孟加拉湾北部建立, 冬季 (11～2月) 加强, 春季 (3～5月) 活跃, 6月消失并转换为孟加拉湾槽; 10月南支槽建立表明北半球大气环流由夏季型转变成冬季型, 6月南支槽消失同时孟加拉湾槽建立是南亚夏季风爆发的重要标志之一。 (2) 南支槽在700 hPa表现明显, 其槽前干暖平流的输送有利于昆明准静止锋形成和维持, 槽后冷湿平流也与孟加拉湾冷涌关系密切。 (3) 冬季辐散环流下沉支抑制了南支槽前上升运动的发展, 这时低层辐合, 中层辐散, 南支槽前上升运动一般只伸展到对流层中层600 hPa左右。春季随着辐散环流减弱, 东亚急流入口区南侧辐散中心的出现使得垂直运动向上迅速伸展。 (4) 从气候平均看冬季水汽输送较弱, 上升运动浅薄, 无强对流活动, 南支槽前降水不明显, 雨区主要位于高原东南侧昆明准静止锋至华南一带。春季南支槽水汽输送增大, 同时副高外围暖湿水汽输送加强, 上升运动发展和对流增强, 南支槽造成的降水显著增加, 因此春季是南支槽最活跃的时期。     

Impact of Northwest Pacific anticyclone on the Indian summer monsoon region

Influence of northwest (NW) Pacific anticyclone on the Indian summer monsoon (ISM), particularly over the head Bay of Bengal and monsoon trough region, is investigated. Strong NW Pacific anticyclone during summer induces negative precipitation anomalies over the head Bay of Bengal and Gangetic Plain region. Westward extension of moisture divergence and dry moisture transport from NW Pacific associated with anticyclone (ridge) and local Hadley cell-induced subsidence are responsible for these negative precipitation anomalies. The impact is maximum when the anticyclone and Indian Ocean basin warming co-occur. This contributes significantly to year-to-year variability of ISM.     

热带印度洋MJO活动异常对四川盆地降水的影响

利用四川省132个气象观测站降水资料和NOAA的逐日向外长波辐射(OLR)资料,分析了主汛期热带东印度洋MJO活动异常年低频对流传播的显著差异,及其影响四川盆地主汛期降水的物理过程。探讨了热带东印度洋MJO活跃年低频振荡向四川盆地传播的路径和源头,以及孟加拉湾西南季风系统、东亚副热带季风系统的低频振荡分别对四川盆地主汛期低频对流活动的影响。结果表明:热带印度洋的低频对流激发了孟加拉湾西南季风ISO进入活跃期,并在西南气流的引导下继续向四川盆地传播;低频对流先从热带印度洋东传至菲律宾群岛南部的热带洋面,并向东亚副热带地区北传,激发了东亚副热带季风ISO的活跃加强,进而向四川盆地西传。热带印度洋MJO活动异常对四川盆地降水的调制,正是通过两支季风系统(孟加拉湾夏季风和东亚副热带夏季风)的共同作用,影响了四川盆地主汛期异常的对流活动以及降水的多寡。      

孟加拉湾热源对亚洲夏季风环流系统的影响

利用 1951—2000年NCEP/NCAR再分析逐日及月平均资料和我国 160个测站 1951—2000年月降水量资料,计算了夏季大气热源气候分布,分析了夏季孟加拉湾地区热源年际异常及亚洲季风环流系统的响应,以及夏季孟加拉湾地区热源与中国夏季降水的年际关系。结果表明:夏季亚洲季风区最强的热源中心位于孟加拉湾东北部一带。当孟加拉湾热源异常强 (弱 )时,南亚高压偏西 (东 ),西太平洋副热带高压位置偏东(西);印度夏季风偏强 (弱),东亚热带季风偏弱 (强 )。孟加拉湾热源异常对南亚高压、南亚季风、副热带高压的影响显著,对东亚热带季风的影响不显著。夏季孟加拉湾热源与同期长江以南、华南东部部分地区降水呈明显负相关,而与西南到华南西部地区降水呈明显正相关。     

Role of unusual moisture transport across Equatorial Indian Ocean on the extreme rainfall event during Kerala flood 2018

Southwestern Indian state, Kerala experienced extreme devastating statewide flood event of the century during 2018 monsoon season. In this study, an attempt has been made to bring out the salient dynamical factors contributed to the Kerala flood. There were 3 active spells over Kerala during 2018 Monsoon season. All the three spells were accustomed with the intrinsic factors of low frequency components of the active spells such as strength of monsoon Low Level Jet (LLJ), Monsoon depressions in the Bay of Bengal, favorable Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) phases and Western Pacific systems. Though all the common ingredients remain same, the third spell is distinct with the less evaporation flux over Western and Central Arabian Sea and unusual moisture transport from maritime continent through South Equatorial Indian ocean (SEIO) towards the Kerala coast across Equator. Strong meridional pressure gradient force created by the combined effect of high pressure anomaly oriented Northwest-Southeast direction across tropical Indian ocean and anomalous low pressure along monsoon trough might have contributed to this unusual moisture transport across SEIO originating from west of Australia. The anomalous high pressure in South Indian ocean was greatly influenced by the position of the Mascarene high. Subtropical Indian ocean dipole (SIOD) also exhibits an influential role by altering tropical Southern Indian ocean dynamics in favor of the unusual moisture transport. The position of the monsoon depression and presence of typhoons in Western Pacific might have aided to this moisture transport. However, the normal moisture transport from Central Arabian sea towards Kerala coast by virtue of the strong LLJ along with additional moisture transport directly from South of maritime continent through SEIO across the Equator towards Kerala coast might have played a dominant role in the historical flood event over entire Kerala state.     

季风低压对台风生成影响的观测分析

选取2007年和2009年发生的4个季风低压个例, 利用FNL资料和CMORPH卫星反演的降水资料, 采用多尺度环流分析法, 对西北太平洋季风环流的多尺度特征进行了分析, 研究季风低压对台风生成的可能影响。分析发现:季风低压生成于季风槽中, 其天气尺度波列的气旋性环流中。虽然以季风槽为特点的低频环流为台风生成提供大尺度气候条件, 但是季风低压通过进一步提供较大的正相对涡度, 可以有效减小Rossby变形半径, 促进热带低压中中尺度对流系统的相互作用和合并, 有利于台风的生成。     

Analysis of a Beijing Heavy Snowfall Related to an Inverted Trough in November 2009

This paper studies a heavy snowfall in Beijing that took place on 1 November 2009. The date of the snowfall was about one month earlier than the average. The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data, conventional data, and Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data are utilized to explore the reasons for the snowfall and the influencing systems. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) It is revealed from the average geopotential height and average temperature fields at 500 hPa that the large scale circulation in November 2009 was favorable to snowfall. The cold-dry air from West Siberia and the warm-moist air from the Bay of Bengal converged in North China. In addition, it was found from the average moisture flux field at 700 hPa that the main water vapor source was in the Bay of Bengal. (2) Not only the "return current", as usually accepted, but also the inverted trough on the current had an important contribution to the snowfall. The inverted trough could produce the obvious upward motion that is an important environmental condition of snowfalls. (3) More attention should be paid to mesoscale systems such as mesolows during the cold season because of their importance, though they do not occur as frequently as in the warm season. It should be pointed out that AWS data are very useful in mesoscale system analysis during both warm and cold seasons.     

Air-Sea Interaction over the Indian Ocean During the Two Contrasting Monsoon Years 1987 and 1988 Studied with Satellite Data

Summary The air-sea interaction processes over the tropical Indian Ocean region are studied using sea surface temperature data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer sensor onboard the NOAA series of satellites. The columnar water-vapour content, low-level atmospheric humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and back radiation from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager on board the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program are all examined for two contrasting monsoon years, namely 1987 (deficit rainfall) and 1988 (excess rainfall). From these parameters the longwave radiative net flux at the sea surface and the ocean-air moisture flux are derived for further analysis of the air-sea interaction in the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the south China Sea and the southern Indian Ocean. An analysis of ten-day and monthly mean evaporation rates over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal shows that the evaporation was higher in these areas during the low rainfall year (1987) indicating little or no influence of this parameter on the ensuing monsoon activity over the Indian subcontinent. On the other hand, the evaporation in the southern Indian Ocean was higher during July and September 1988 when compared with the same months of 1987. The evaporation rate over the south Indian Ocean and the low-level cross-equatorial moisture flux seem to play a major role on the ensuing monsoon activity over India while the evaporation over the Arabian Sea is less important. Since we have only analysed one deficit/ excess monsoon cycle the results presented here are of preliminary nature. Received November 5, 1997 Revised March 20, 1998     

Assessment of Data Assimilation Approaches for the Simulation of a Monsoon Depression Over the Indian Monsoon Region

A low pressure system that formed on 21 September 2006 over eastern India/Bay of Bengal intensified into a monsoon depression resulting in copious rainfall over north-eastern and central parts of India. Four numerical experiments are performed to examine the performance of assimilation schemes in simulating this monsoon depression using the Fifth Generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). Forecasts from a base simulation (with no data assimilation), a four-dimensional data assimilation (FDDA) system, a simple surface data assimilation (SDA) system coupled with FDDA, and a flux-adjusting SDA system (FASDAS) coupled with FDDA are compared with each other and with observations. The model is initialized with Global Forecast System (GFS) forecast fields starting from 19 September 2006, with assimilation being done for the first 24 hours using conventional observations, sounding and surface data of temperature and moisture from Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder satellite and surface wind data over the ocean from QuikSCAT. Forecasts are then made from these assimilated states. In general, results indicate that the FASDAS forecast provides more realistic prognostic fields as compared to the other three forecasts. When compared with other forecasts, results indicate that the FASDAS forecast yielded lower root-mean-square (r.m.s.) errors for the pressure field and improved simulations of surface/near-surface temperature, moisture, sensible and latent heat fluxes, and potential vorticity. Heat and moisture budget analyses to assess the simulation of convection revealed that the two forecasts with the surface data assimilation (SDA and FASDAS) are superior to the base and FDDA forecasts. An important conclusion is that, even though monsoon depressions are large synoptic systems, mesoscale features including rainfall are affected by surface processes. Enhanced representation of land-surface processes provides a significant improvement in the model performance even under active monsoon conditions where the synoptic forcings are expected to be dominant.