Numerical studies on cold fronts Part I: Gravity flows in a neutral and stratified atmosphere

Summary We have used a two dimensional version of a nonhydrostatic mesoscale model to simulate atmospheric gravity currents for different thermal stratification. The horizontal and vertical grid increments are chosen such, that the major features of a current like head and elevated nose are resolvable.When the density current propagates into a neutral stratified environment it was found, that frontspeed agrees well with an empirical formula. Also characteristic length scales like depth of the head or height of the following cold air body agree well with observations found in water tank experiments.When a stable atmosphere is adopted, the front moves faster and the generated gravity waves have a significant influence on the atmospheric variables ahead of the current. This results especially in a pressure increase before the front arrives, an effect, which was found in observations, too.Finally, it is shown, that an elevated inversion, embedded in a stable layer, intensifies the vertical velocities and therefore the mesoscale heat flux, which results in a stronger entrainment. For this case a remarkable decrease of front speed is simulated with time.With 7 Figures     

Boundary-layer effects on cold fronts at a coastline

The present note discusses one physical mechanism which may contribute to cold air channelling, manifest as a frontal bulge on a surface-analysis chart, in the coastal region of Victoria in southeast Australia. This involves the modification of boundary-layer air in both offshore (prefrontal) and onshore (postfrontal) flow, and the effect on cross-frontal thermal contrast. The problem is discussed in terms of a north-south-oriented cold front behaving as an atmospheric gravity current, propagating along an east-west-oriented coastline, in the presence of a prefrontal offshore stream.     

Atmospheric Disturbances that Generate Intermittent Turbulence in Nocturnal Boundary Layers

Using the unprecedented observational facilities deployed duringthe 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere-Surface Exchange Study (CASES-99),we found three distinct turbulent events on the night of 18October 1999. These events resulted from a density current,solitary wave, and internal gravity wave, respectively. Our studyfocuses on the turbulence intermittency generated by the solitarywave and internal gravity wave, and intermittent turbulenceepisodes associated with pressure change and wind direction shiftsadjacent to the ground. Both the solitary and internal gravitywaves propagated horizontally and downward. During the passage ofboth the solitary and internal gravity waves, local thermal andshear instabilities were generated as cold air was pushed abovewarm air and wind gusts reached to the ground. These thermal andshear instabilities triggered turbulent mixing events. Inaddition, strong vertical acceleration associated with thesolitary wave led to large non-hydrostatic pressure perturbationsthat were positively correlated with temperature. The directionaldifference between the propagation of the internal gravity waveand the ambient flow led to lateral rolls. These episodic studiesdemonstrate that non-local disturbances are responsible for localthermal and shear instabilities, leading to intermittentturbulence in nocturnal boundary layers. The origin of thesenon-local disturbances needs to be understood to improve mesoscalenumerical model performance.     

复杂山区上空垂直速度场和热力对流活动的理想数值模拟

利用英国气象局高分辨率的边界层数值模式BLASIUS,针对中国西北一个复杂山区进行了一系列的理想数值模拟,分析了在不同天气条件下山区上空的垂直速度场分布和对流特征以及地形对热力对流活动的影响,同时讨论了与地形有关的对流触发机制。模式结果表明,复杂山区的垂直运动在稳定层结和风速较大的情况下较易预测,而在中性层结下,山区上空的垂直运动分布随机性强。在Froude数小于0.5的条件下,气流往往被山峰阻塞而在迎风坡造成地形强迫和辐合性抬升,从而易在迎风坡触发深对流活动;在背风坡则由于迎风坡的绕流重新辐合而造成垂直运动。绕流的辐合是触发深对流活动的另一重要因子。在大风或Froude数较大的条件下,地形重力波容易在山地下游被激发。地形重力波与对流活动的相互影响在模式中清楚可见。在适当的条件下,重力波除了可以与对流活动相耦合从而使气团上升到更高的高度外,重力波的走向很可能会影响到深对流系统的传播路径。研究还发现稳定度对相邻两条对流线之间的距离长短也有影响。稳定度较小时,相邻两条对流线之间的平均宽度趋向变大而单个对流线的强度也相应变大。定量化的结论和理论升华值得进一步的数值模拟研究。     

Water-tank experiment on the thermal circulation induced by the bottom heating in an asymmetric valley

Water tank experiments were carried out to investigate the thermal convection due to the bottom heating in an asymmetrical valley under neutral and stably stratified approach flows with the Particle Image Velometry (PIV) visualization technique. In the neutral stratification approach flow, the ascending draft induced by bottom heating is mainly located in the center of the valley in calm ambient wind. However~with ambient wind flow, the thermal convection is shifted leeward, and the descending draft is located on the leeward side of the valley, while the ascending draft is located on the windward side. The descending draft is minorly turbulent and organized, while the ascending draft is highly turbulent. With the increase of the towing speed, the descending and ascending drafts induced by the mechanical elevation begin to play a more dominant role in the valley flow, while the role of the thermal convection in the valley airflow becomes limited. In the stable stratification approach flow, the thermal convection is limited by the stable stratification and no distinct circulation is formed in calm ambient wind. With ambient wind, agravity wave appears in the upper layer in the valley. With the increase of the ambient wind speed, a gravity wave plays an important role in the valley flow, and the location and intensity of the thermal convection are also modulated by the gravity internal waves. The thermal convection has difficulty penetrating the upper stable layer. Its exchange is limited between the air in the upper layer and that in the lower layer in the valley, and it is adverse to the diffusion of pollutants in the valley.     

2009年秋季冀中南暴雪过程的地形作用分析

2009年11月10-11日,河北中南部地区出现了回流暴雪天气,强降雪中心位于太行山喇叭口地形南侧迎风坡处。本文使用MM5数值试验结果分析中小尺度地形对于降雪的影响。结果表明：在喇叭口地形作用下北侧为下坡风,南侧为迎风坡,出现上升运动;由于向东开口的喇叭口地形对于气流有汇聚作用,整个喇叭口地形上空到800 hPa为地形辐合产生的上升运动。垂直剖面显示低层地形产生的上升运动冲破逆温层（或与逆温层内波动的上升支叠加）,与700 hPa以上的西风带低槽系统引起的上升支叠加,加强了垂直上升运动,且东北风遇山后呈现出两支气流,一支在山前堆积下沉,一支在山前冷空气堆前上升,且山前冷空气下沉支逐步形成环流圈,说明冷空气在山前堆积,气流在冷空气堆以东上升。这可能是降雪中心在平原而不在山坡的主要原因。     

盆地环流型及冷湖的形成和消散的数值研究

本文建立了一个三维原始方程数值模式，模拟三维盆地中的环流，重点讨论在热力强迫环流型的转变过程中能量场的动量场的配置情况及环流演变过程。模拟结果表明，夜间地面强烈的辐射冷却过程引起盆地各坡面冷迳流的发展，盆地中成为冷空气湖，逆温层结建立。日出后对流边界层从大气低层向上发展，逆温从底部随之消蚀，仅在上层存在了夜间逆温残余，即所谓稳定核，上坡风在对流边界层发展，而稳定核内仍维持夜间下坡风环流。     

Interaction of Orographic Disturbance with Front

1.IntroductionTheimportanceoforographiceffectsonfrontwasrecognizedintheearly20thcentury.Butforthecomplexityofthisproblem,theinvestigationoforographiceffectsonfrontfromdynamicalviewpointisnottakenuntilthe1980s.Bannon(1983)derivedanalyticalsolutionsforthequasi--geostrophicfrontforcedbyahorizontalwinddeformationfieldthatmovesoveratwo--dimensionalmountainridge.Thesolutionsshowthatasacoldfrontapproachestheridge,itweakens,relativetotheflat--bottomsolution,andthefrontstrengthensasitmovesdowntothelees…     

A Numerical Study of Sea-Fog Formation over Cold Sea Surface Using a One-Dimensional Turbulence Model Coupled with the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

The formation mechanism of a cold sea-fog case observed over the Yellow Sea near the western coastal area of the Korean Peninsula is investigated using numerical simulation with a one-dimensional turbulence model coupled with a three-dimensional regional model. The simulation was carried out using both Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches; both approaches produced sea fog in a manner consistent with observation. For the selected cold sea-fog case, the model results suggested the following: as warm and moist air flows over a cold sea surface, the lower part of the air column is modified by the turbulent exchange of heat and moisture and the diurnal variation in radiation. The modified boundary-layer structure represents a typical stable thermally internal boundary layer. Within the stable thermally internal boundary layer, the air temperature is decreased by radiative cooling and turbulent heat exchange but the moisture loss due to the downward vapour flux in the lowest part of the air column is compensated by moisture advection and therefore the dewpoint temperature does not decrease as rapidly as does the air temperature. Eventually water vapour saturation is achieved and the cold sea fog forms in the thermal internal boundary layer.     

On the effect of a foehn on cold fronts in the vicinity of the Alps

The present note discusses physical mechanisms which may contribute to cold air channelling close to the Alps. This involves the modification of the prefrontal air by the warm foehn air and of the postfrontal air by blocking effects resulting in an increase in precipitation. Additionally the influence of a sloping surface in the vicinity of the orography is considered. The problems are discussed in term of a north-south-oriented cold front behaving as an atmospheric gravity current propagating along the east-west oriented Alps.     

东亚夏季副热带平原和高原地区切变线特征的对比研究

生成于东部平原地区的江淮切变线和西部青藏高原地区的高原切变线,都处在东亚副热带相同纬度带上。为深化对地形高度迥异的江淮切变线和高原切变线的认识与理解,基于ERA-interim再分析资料和合成分析方法,从切变线与暴雨关系、切变线三维结构特征、切变线附近风场与环流特征以及切变线结构演变中的热力机制等方面对二者进行对比研究。结果表明:（1）江淮切变线分为暖切变线、冷切变线、准静止切变线和低涡切变线4类,高原切变线分为高原横切变线和高原竖切变线2类。江淮切变线与高原切变线均与暴雨关系密切,夏季,有近70%的江淮切变线会产生暴雨,暖切变线暴雨对江淮地区切变线暴雨的雨量贡献最大,低涡切变线暴雨的降水强度最大但发生频率较低;近60%的高原横切变线给高原主体地区带来暴雨,超过55%的竖切变线造成高原东侧及其邻近地区暴雨。（2）江淮切变线与高原切变线均为边界层系统,特征层次分别位于850 hPa和500 hPa。时空尺度上,江淮冷切变线和高原横切变线水平尺度分别可达1000 km和2000 km,垂直伸展厚度分别可达5 km和2 km,生命期分别可达48 h和96 h;江淮切变线和高原横切变线在垂直方向上均有从低到高向北倾斜的特征。（3）江淮冷切变线与高原横切变线风场与环流特征存在差异,江淮冷切变线北侧为东北风,南侧为西南风;高原横切变线东、西两段风场有所不同,其西段类似于江淮冷切变线,东段在不同发展阶段风场有明显变化。（4）江淮冷切变线与高原横切变线的动力结构和热力结构存在差异。动力结构上,二者均位于正涡度带内,正涡度中心强度都在强盛阶段达到最大。热力结构上,江淮冷切变线附近低空锋区特征明显,其西段位于暖湿区内,东段位于干冷区内;高原横切变线南侧具有明显的高温、高湿特征,切变线北侧存在锋区结构。（5）切变线附近的大气非绝热加热与高原横切变线和江淮冷切变线演变关系密切,垂直非均匀加热作用是高原横切变线和江淮冷切变线发展增强最为重要的因子。二者热力结构有差异,减弱机制不同,干冷空气的侵入会导致高原横切变线强度减弱甚至消亡,江淮冷切变线的强度减弱则与南方暖湿空气的向北侵入有关。      

分层气流条件下地形降水的二维理想数值试验

利用WRF v3.5中尺度数值模式,在条件不稳定层结下,针对分层气流(基本气流风速和大气湿浮力频率呈二层均匀分布)过山时,地形对降水的影响进行了多组二维理想数值试验,以研究不同高度、尺度山脉和不同方向基本气流对降水形态和分布的影响。模拟结果表明,地形重力波触发对流是地形降水的主要机制之一,地形波的特征(波长、振幅)和传播均受到地形和基本气流的影响,其中,强基本气流流经高而陡峭的山脉时,更容易在其背风坡捕捉到重力波,地形降水呈现多种模态,反之亦然;当改变基本气流与山脉交角时,主要通过影响地形强迫抬升速度、基流对波动稳定性发展来进一步影响地形降水的强度和分布。     

IMPROVED FORECASTING OF COLD AIR OUTBREAKS OVER SOUTHERN CHINA THROUGH OROGRAPHIC GRAVITY WAVE DRAG PARAMETERIZATION

The parameterization of gravity wave drag induced by sub-grid scale orography(GWDO), which has been used in the regional model based on the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System for Tropical Mesoscale Model(GRAPES_TMM), is extended to include the effect of mountain flow blocking drag(MBD). The extended scheme is evaluated against non-GWDO parameterization, including a cold air outbreak over southern China and a monthly verification in February 2012. The experiment results show that the GWDO and MBD parameterization both improves the forecasting of the cold air outbreaks over southern China, as well as alleviations of system bias of GRAPES_TMM.(1) The extended scheme alleviates the strong southerly wind and high surface temperature simulation during the cold air outbreak, especially over northern Guangxi and Guangdong(NGG) province, where local high surface temperature simulation reduces nearly 5 degree.(2) The MBD parameterization improves southerly wind simulations over NGG, as well as surface temperature forecasts improvement over Guangxi, Guizhou province and southern Yunnan-Guizhou plateau(YUP), and low level southerly wind simulation improvement over intertidal zone over south China.(3) The formation of MBD is mainly in the mountain area(Wuyi, Daba mountain, east of YUP) and coastal area. The MBD over plateau, which is mainly formed at the west of 105°E, is stronger and thicker than that over Nanling mountain.(4) The improvement of GWDO and MBD parameterization is stable in model physics. MBD parameterization demonstrates more overall improvements in the forecasts than GWDO, and the larger of the model forecast error is, the greater improvements of MBD contribute to. Overall, the extended GWDO scheme successfully improves the simulations of meteorological elements forecasting during cold air outbreaks.     

“0812”关中盛夏突发性暴雨中尺度特征分析

基于WRF模式多普勒雷达同化预报、1 °×1 °的NCEP再分析资料、云图TBB和本地加密观测资料,对2014年8月12日关中地区突发性暴雨过程（“0812”暴雨）进行诊断分析。结果表明:同化C波段雷达资料能有效提升WRF对此次突发性暴雨的预报能力。受中高层北部冷空气侵入和低层冷式切变南压的影响,在“0812”暴雨期间,关中的北部和东部的地面切变辐合线附近先后出现了南北向和东西向的中β尺度重力波,波动持续约4 h、波长约60 km。当北部波动向南传播发展与东部波动合并之后,重力波快速消散,强降水结束。暴雨发生前,波动区的垂直上升速度、雨水含量中心强度和发展高度均迅速达到最大,陕北地区对流层中上部的正湿位涡显著向南下滑至关中上空,出现了有利于中尺度波动发展的湿位涡波列结构,暴雨中心近地层的正湿位涡和垂直梯度异常增大。200 hPa高空急流区南侧、关中西部垂直风切变显著增大及其东移南压为中尺度波动快速发展、传播提供了能量。500 hPa内蒙古中部天气尺度横槽发展东移、引导中低层偏北路冷空气南压,是突发性暴雨的直接影响系统。850 hPa的比湿突增为暴雨提供了热力、水汽条件。近地层显著东南风、不稳定扰动增大和地面切变线是暴雨的有利动力、触发条件;在地面切变线西端附近,3 h变压场出现显著中尺度波动特征。“0812”暴雨与典型盛夏暴雨差异明显:西太平洋副热带高压远离大陆、东南沿海无台风活动,关中低层出现西北路水汽输送,强降雨区周边700 hPa以上深厚位势稳定层结、近地层不稳定层结垂直叠置有利于重力波动发展传播,中尺度对流云团高度低,雷达强降水回波主要位于低层西北风和东北风之间的冷式切变区。      

一次α中尺度低涡暴雨的数值模拟

用WRF模式对2007年4月21—22日的一次中α低涡暴雨过程进行了高分辨率模拟,结果表明:(1)该低涡的产生与湖北西部的地形条件有一定的联系,低压倒槽系统为其提供了必要的环流背景,反演自FY-2 C卫星的TBB资料较好地反映了该中α低涡的整个活动过程。(2)对低涡发展最强阶段的动力和热力结构分析表明,低涡右侧为较强的上升运动,而其左侧则为下沉运动,在中低层冷空气上部有南侧暖湿空气上爬造成的次级上升运动;低涡左侧存在较明显的湿斜压锋区,后部则有明显的干冷气切入;南风风量对总体水汽输送的贡献要大于西风风量。(3)WRF模式中NOAH和热扩散陆面方案的对比分析表明,NOAH方案更加有利于低涡中心的发展,因此能够产生较热扩散方案更强的中心区降水,但是这种增强作用主要分布在低涡区附近,其他地区差别不大。     

The fog front of 25 May 1989 — A gravity flow?

Summary During the field experiment FRONTEX 1989 a shallow cold front with a fog field behind its leading edge was observed over the North Sea. The fog field was about 70 km wide, 160 m deep at the front side and 400 m deep at the rear side and was capped by a strong frontal inversion. With increasing height of the inversion the fog broke up into cumulus clouds. The horizontal temperature gradient was largest at 500 m with 9 K/100 km. The observed segment of the front was situated near the col of a geostrophic deformation field with vanishing cross-front wind but non-vanishing cross-front confluence. The front moved at a rate of 5 m/s. It exhibits characteristics of a gravity current which propagates into a stably stratified environment.The physical processes leading to the observed frontal structure and motion are elucidated by experiments with a two-dimensional numerical model. The charateristics of the observed front can be reproduced if both, geostrophic forcing and boundary-layer processes, such as air-sea temperature difference, moisture content and cloud radiational cooling are taken into account. The development of the front under altered conditions is studied by the comparison of different simulations. The reason for the movement of the front is discussed refering to the mechanisms of geostrophic forcing and the forcing by surface friction. The analysis of the forces acting on the cold air mass shows that the Coriolis force is important at some distance behind the frontal head, but has little effect on the processes at the frontal head.With 13 Figures     

Impact of a sea breeze on the boundary-layer dynamics and the atmospheric stratification in a coastal area of the North Sea

In-situ sodar and lidar measurements were coupled with numerical simulations for studying a sea-breeze event in a flat coastal area of the North Sea. The study’s aims included the recognition of the dynamics of a sea-breeze structure, and its effects on the lower troposphere stratification and the three-dimensional (3D) pollutant distribution. A sea breeze was observed with ground-based remote sensing instruments and analysed by means of numerical simulations using the 3D non-hydrostatic atmospheric model Meso-NH. The vertical structure of the lower troposphere was experimentally determined from the lidar and sodar measurements, while numerical simulations focused on the propagation of the sea breeze inland. The sea-breeze front, the headwind, the thermal internal boundary layer, the gravity current and the sea-breeze circulation were observed and analysed. The development of a late stratification was also observed by the lidar and simulated by the model, suggesting the formation of a stable multilayered structure. The transport of passive tracers inside the sea breeze and their redistribution above the gravity current was simulated too. Numerical modelling showed that local pollutants may travel backward to the sea above the gravity current at relatively low speed due to the shearing between the landward gravity current and the seaward synoptic wind. Such dynamic conditions may enhance an accumulation of pollutants above coastal industrial areas.     

1617号鲇鱼台风登陆后引发不同性质暴雨的成因对比分析

2016年9月28日1617号台风"鲇鱼"登陆后由台风本体环流和外围环流引发了不同性质的暴雨,这是本次秋季登陆台风暴雨预报的难点。利用常规气象观测资料以及NCEP的1°×1°再分析资料等,对不同性质暴雨的成因进行了诊断对比分析。结果表明:浙江东南部对流性降水和江西南部稳定性降水的大气层结结构具有明显的差异。中高纬度低槽距离台风较远,冷空气主要从低层入侵台风西北侧,破坏台风低层的暖心结构。台风外围中层干冷空气随东南风向浙江东南部输送,并叠加在低层暖湿气流之上,形成上冷下暖的不稳定层结,同时在对流层上层有干冷空气下沉至台风环流中下层(干侵入),导致浙江文成附近出现了局地特大暴雨。江西南部由于低层被湿冷空气占据,层结较为稳定,降水发展平缓。低空东南急流为台风外围环流暴雨提供了充足的水汽,浙江东南部地形对降水起到了增幅作用。不稳定层结及中层冷空气的输送对对流性暴雨的激发作用可以为登陆台风降水性质和强度预报提供参考依据。     

Simulating the Moderating effect of a Lake on Downwind Temperatures

A steady-state, two-dimensional numerical model is used to simulate air temperatures and humidity downwind of a lake at night. Thermal effects of the lake were modelled for the case of moderate and low surface winds under the cold-air advective conditions that occur following the passage of a cold front. Surface temperatures were found to be in good agreement with observations. A comparison of model results with thermal imagery indicated the model successfully predicts the downwind distance for which thermal effects due to the lake are significant.     

地形上空边界层流中低层锋面结构的理论研究 I：冷锋、均匀地转流

文中利用一个包含地形、边界层摩擦作用的二层锋面简化模型 ,讨论了地形、边界层对冷锋锋面结构、环流的动力学影响作用问题。冷锋的倾斜主要与冷锋暖区的地转流分布、锋面移动速度、锋面与地形的相对位置有关。当冷锋位于迎风坡时 ,其坡度减小 ,位于背风坡时 ,其坡度增大。在静止冷锋存在两类不同的环流系 ,即位于大气低层、地面锋附近的反时针环流系和远离地面锋的顺时针环流系。静止冷锋位于背风坡 ,其冷域中的这支闭合环流增强 ,范围增大 ,而位于冷锋界面上的环流转向点沿锋面上移 ,暖域中沿锋面的暖空气运动范围变大。当静止冷锋位于迎风坡时 ,结果相反。冷锋移动较慢时 ,其冷域远离地面锋的这支顺时针环流主体可被地形完全阻塞在迎风坡。当静止冷锋移离地形时 ,由于地形作用可在锋面暖域、地形下游形成一个背风槽。地形对锋区的垂直运动影响主要通过地形与边界层共同作用 ,改变锋区流场辐合辐散的分布及地形强迫抬升两条途径实现。由于边界层摩擦的辐合作用 ,在地面冷锋的前缘可形成一支范围较窄、强度较大的上升运动带 ,当冷锋位于迎风坡时 ,其强度增强 ,当冷锋位于背风坡时 ,其强度减弱。当冷锋位于背风坡时 ,在暖区沿锋面上升的暖空气运动范围增大 ,可以出现沿锋面相间隔的多个上升区