Relationships between cut-off lows and the semiannual and southern oscillations

The characteristics of Southern Cut-off Lows (CoLs) are studied for the period 1979–2008. The systematic identification of CoLs is realized by applying an original automated scheme using mean daily geopotential height and air temperature at 500?hPa NCEP-DOE II Reanalysis data. From closed lows’ trajectories established from the Equator to the polar jet stream, extratropical lows are analyzed and the stage of cut-off is defined as a secluded low presenting a cold core. From 4,843 cases the general CoL features are presented and confirm several previous results such as the geographic distribution which shows that they are more frequent in the latitudinal band contained between 20°S and 45°S and in close proximity to the continents. On a seasonal time scale, CoLs are more numerous from late summer to autumn, with a maximum of frequency in March/April. In winter (June–July–August), they are fewer but deeper than during the rest of the year. In the median domain (~32.5°S), the annual cycle of the frequency is bimodal and present two peaks during transitional seasons. In this zone, the seasonal cycle varies in accordance with the Semiannual Oscillation. Thereby, when the meridional gradient of temperature/pressure is reinforced between mid and high latitudes, CoLs are more frequent in the median domain. Over the period 1979–2008, the annual CoLs’ frequency exhibits a positive trend of about 25%. This increase is associated with a widening of the latitudinal domain of occurrence equatorward as well as poleward. The trend is linked with an abrupt positive shift in the number of CoLs’ generation between 1998 and 1999. The geographical distribution of CoLs frequency varies significantly in accordance with El Ni?o Southern Oscillation with more CoL’s at lower (higher) latitudes during La Ni?a (El Ni?o) events, principally in the Southern Pacific.     

Regional droughts in southern South America

From a regional inventory of monthly droughts, which was evaluated in six regions of southern South America, the seasonal occurrence of the phenomenon and its persistence together with the duration of monthly and annual sequences, extreme events, and other statistical estimates of the proposed index have been studied. In a primary analysis, it is possible to observe that regions present different behaviors regarding the duration of dry sequences, with more persistence in the Argentinean continental region. Temporal behaviors of the annual indexes have also been analyzed, in the attempt to determine any aspects of the impact of global warming. Through this analysis, the presence of long favorable tendencies regarding precipitations or the inverse of droughts occurrence are confirmed for the eastern Andes Mountains in Argentina (ARG) with its five sub-regions (Northwest Argentina-NWA, Northeast Argentina-NEA, Humid Pampa-HP, West-Centre Provinces-WC and Patagonia-PAT, and the inverse over the central region of Chile (CHI). Other climatic great-scale changes are interdecadales variations and variances explained according to ENSO.     

Downscaling extreme month-long anomalies in southern South America

We investigate the performance of one stretched-grid atmospheric global model, five different regional climate models and a statistical downscaling technique in simulating 3 months (January 1971, November 1986, July 1996) characterized by anomalous climate conditions in the southern La Plata Basin. Models were driven by reanalysis (ERA-40). The analysis has emphasized on the simulation of the precipitation over land and has provided a quantification of the biases of and scatter between the different regional simulations. Most but not all dynamical models underpredict precipitation amounts in south eastern South America during the three periods. Results suggest that models have regime dependence, performing better for some conditions than others. The models’ ensemble and the statistical technique succeed in reproducing the overall observed frequency of daily precipitation for all periods. But most models tend to underestimate the frequency of dry days and overestimate the amount of light rainfall days. The number of events with strong or heavy precipitation tends to be under simulated by the models.     

A quasi-geostrophic diagnosis of the zonal flow associated with cut-off lows over South Africa and surrounding oceans

Climate Dynamics - The zonal flow associated with cut-off lows (COLs) comprises two jet streaks of different spatial extents. The smaller scale jet streak, located north of the COLs, forms as a...     

Spatial organization of decadal and bidecadal rainfall fluctuations in southern North America and southern South America

The spatial organization of decadal and bidecadal components (fluctuations) of annual rainfall is identified in this research for two regions: (1) southern South America, and (2) southern North America (conterminous USA, southeastern Canada and northern and central Mexico). Findings indicate that these decadal and bidecadal components have highly coherent wave-like spatial organization. Two types of organization of decadal and bidecadal components of annual rainfall were identified: a train of propagating fluctuations and quasi-standing fluctuations. For decadal components, such patterns alternate in time. A widespread change in the spatial organization of decadal component of annual rainfall took place simultaneously in both continents in 1932. The bidecadal component is organized as standing fluctuations in southern North America and as travelling fluctuations in southern South America, The spatial pattern of decadal fluctuations of annual rainfall has 12- and 13-year cycles, and the spatial pattern of bidecadal fluctuations has predominantly 21- and 22-year cycles.     

On the variability of seasonal temperature in southern South America

The aim of this paper is to investigate different aspects of the seasonal-to-interannual temperature variability in Eastern Patagonia, the southernmost area of South America, east of the Andes Cordillera. Homogenous regions of seasonal variability and the atmospheric circulation patterns associated with warm and cold conditions in each of them are described in this study. Relationships between temperature in Eastern Patagonia and that registered in other areas of southern South America are also addressed. Results show that the northern and southern areas of Eastern Patagonia have different temperature variability in summer and autumn whereas the temperature variability tends to be more homogeneous within the region during winter and spring. Warm (cold) conditions in the northern areas are associated with reinforced (weakened) westerlies in summer, winter and spring whereas northerly (southerly) advections of warm (cold) air toward the region produce such conditions in autumn. Temperature in the southern portion of Eastern Patagonia is affected by anticyclonic (cyclonic) anomalies that enhance (reduce) the incoming solar radiation and induce reinforced (weakened) westerlies promoting warm (cold) conditions in the region. Furthermore, cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomalies at subpolar latitudes hinder (favor) outbreaks of cold air increasing (decreasing) the temperature over areas of Eastern Patagonia. The circulation anomalies associated with warm (cold) conditions in Eastern Patagonia also promote cold (warm) conditions over areas of northern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil. Consequently, a dipole of temperature is detected in southern South America with centers of opposite sign over these regions.     

Application of the thermal front parameter to baroclinic zones around cut-off lows

Summary A number of cut-off processes are investigated, with the Alpine region in most cases lying at the margins of these upper lows. Our aim was to determine whether the thermal front parameter (TFP) can be used to objectively define the areas of bad weather from analysis charts and prognostic charts. An attempt is made to formulate two synoptic guidelines, for the eastern Alpine region, on front-sides and northern margins of upper lows, into objective synoptic rules.With 7 Figures     

Seasonal climatology of cut-off lows and associated precipitation patterns over Northeast China

Cut-off lows (COLs) are significantly associated with many convective events and anomalous regional climate in the Northeast China. By using 49-year NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, COL events are detected and tracked by an objective and automatic method based on synoptic concept model. Based on this dataset and daily rain-gauge records in Northeast China during 1979–2005, seasonal climatology of COLs and associated precipitation patterns over Northeast China are investigated. Most COLs have a short lifetime of less than a week and have a spatial size ranging from 500 to 1,000 km, with slight seasonal differences. Temporal variation of COL occurrence exhibits a seasonal cycle, with a peak in summer, and considerable interannual variability. The COLs tend to occur more frequently over the northern Northeast China Plain, and the center for maximum frequency shows a zonal oscillation, with an extension to continent in summer and a shift to western North Pacific coast in winter. Most COLs form to the east of Lake Baikal and decay over the western North Pacific coast. COLs are apt to move along east or southeast passages around the year, and tracks are relatively more complicated in warm seasons. About a quarter of annual mean precipitation over Northeast China is associated with COLs. Moreover, COL-associated precipitation contributes greatly to total precipitation in northern and northwestern parts of Northeast China, and the ratios of COL contribution are stronger during spring and autumn than in summer.     

Mean atmospheric circulation leading to generalized frosts in central southern South America

Summary The purpose of this study is to analyze the atmospheric circulation patterns associated to extreme frost episodes which affect the extensive region known as the Wet Pampas in the center-south of South America during the 1961–1990 period. The years with an extreme frequency of generalized frost are identified by selecting the cases beyond one standard deviation above and below the average of the corresponding period. Two groups were formed: one for the years with events above the average (+s) and the other with those below the average (−s). The years of generalized frosts were separated into the periods from May to September, June to August and individual months.From the comparison between the composite of the two groups (+s and −s), it was possible to determine that the anomaly fields are opposite in almost all the periods studied. In the seasonal composites of generalized frosts below average, the circulation field presented a barotropic structure with an anomalous cyclonic persistence over the south-west of South America and a weak subtropical jet over the continent. On the other hand, the structure and evolution of the systems that produce generalized frosts in extremely cold winters were analyzed by calculating the composites of the daily fields from these episodes. The results showed that the incursion of cold air in the lower levels begins with a migratory anticyclone moving from the south-east Pacific to the south of the continent and a deepening of an anomalous low pressure center over the south-east of the Argentine Atlantic coast. Both systems cause cold, dry air advection from the south, with a reduction in temperature over the center and eastern parts of the country. The development of a mid-latitude wave was observed at higher levels with a large-amplitude trough over South America extending to tropical latitudes and a progressive amplification from another trough located upstream in the Pacific Ocean.The analysis of the different periods confirmed the relationship between the intensification of the subtropical jet in South America and the higher frequency of generalized frosts. The intensification of the jet may be related to an amplification of the pressure gradient in the region due to the increase in Rossby wave activity.     

Calculation of stratosphere–troposphere exchange in East Asia cut-off lows:cases from the Lagrangian perspective

本文使用三维非绝热朗格朗日轨迹模式OFFLINE3,对春末夏初东亚地区的切断低压所主导的双向平流层-对流层交换(STE)进行定量计算。通过对10个东亚地区切断低压的识别、计算、分析,发现切断低压附近发生平流层向对流层质量通量(STT)与对流层向平流层质量通量(TST)量级相当,但是分布范围不同:STT出现在低压中心西南部,最大通量位置出现在低压中心东南,TST最大值出现在槽前,并且从低压中心向外STT与TST交替分布。从本文所取的切断低压个例而言,切断低压产生的STT质量通量量级为10-4 kg m-2 s-1,促成的STE的净输送方向为从平流层向对流层,量级为10-4 kg m-2 s-1,比全球平均STE质量通量大1–2个量级。     

The role of dynamic and diabatic processes in the generation of cut-off lows over Northwest Africa

Summary The present observational study addresses the role of dynamic and diabatic processes leading to the generation of four deep upper-level troughs/cut-offs, involved in two extreme precipitation episodes over West Africa during the cool season. The elongated potential vorticity (PV) streamers associated with the observed troughs form as a result of an equatorward transport of high-PV air downstream of a large ridge over the central North Atlantic. Strong deformation along the eastern side of the ridge leads to a thinning of the PV streamers. In some situations the tips of the streamers break up and form distinct and long-lived stationary cut-offs near West Africa, in particular if the presence of another PV ridge downstream allows a complete isolation from the midlatitude westerlies. In other situations a prior anticyclonic wave-breaking event over Europe leads to an advection of high-PV towards the Iberian Peninsula that merges with the streamer and impedes a complete cut-off. The observations presented here suggest that the rapid amplification of the PV ridges over the North Atlantic and thus the subsequent streamer formation are related to upstream latent heating through non-conservative diabatic reduction of upper-level PV and through the strong divergent outflow near the tropopause that support large negative isentropic PV advection. The intense latent heat release is promoted by cyclo- and frontogenesis, and the transport of warm, moist air by a low-level jet ahead of the surface cold front (often called a warm conveyor belt; WCB). Diabatic PV tendencies are highest where the WCB rises over the surface warm front to the northeast or east of the cyclone centre. In most cases the distinct heating occurs in connection with a strong upper-level jet and a rapid deepening of the involved surface cyclone. More quantitative dynamical and statistical studies of the suggested relation are needed to better understand the relative contributions of single factors to the large and synoptic scale evolution that leads to PV streamers/cut-offs near West Africa.     

Persistence and long-term memories of daily maximum and minimum temperatures in southern South America

The persistence and long-term memories in daily maximum and minimum temperature series during the instrumental period in southern South America were analysed. Here, we found a markedly seasonal pattern both for short- and long-term memories that can lead to enhanced predictability on intraseasonal timescales. In addition, well-defined spatial patterns of these properties were found in the region. Throughout the entire region, the strongest dependence was observed in autumn and early winter. In the Patagonia region only, the temperatures exhibited more memory during the spring. In general, these elements indicate that nonlinear interactions exist between the annual cycles of temperature and its anomalies. Knowledge of the spatiotemporal behaviour of these long-term memories can be used in the building of stochastic models that only use persistence. It is possible to propose two objective forecast models based on linear interactions associated with persistence and one that allows for the use of information from nonlinear interactions that are manifested in the form of forerunners.     

Low-frequency oscillations in climatic and hydrological variables in southern South America’s tropical-subtropical regions

Summary The existence of low-frequency variability in climatic-hydrological-oceanic variables may be useful for long-term forecasting and climate modelling. By using long time series this paper attempts to identify large-scale quasi-cycles in the precipitation regimes of Northern Argentina, moisture advection from the Atlantic Ocean and the streamflow of the Paraná River. This work also shows the presence of coherent waves with long periodicity between the three series. As the three variables are estimated over different time intervals, the presence of waves in each variable is studied separately, to show they respond to the same process. The three variables show significant interdecadal variability at low frequency (22–26 years), which might be related to the ENSO cycle modulation and to the intensification or weakening of the South American Low Level Jet (SALLJ) and South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ).     

Regional climate change experiments over southern South America. I: present climate

We present an analysis of a regional simulation of present-day climate (1981–1990) over southern South America. The regional model MM5 was nested within time-slice global atmospheric model experiments conducted by the HadAM3H model. We evaluate the capability of the model in simulating the observed climate with emphasis on low-level circulation patterns and surface variables, such as precipitation and surface air mean, maximum and minimum temperatures. The regional model performance was evaluated in terms of seasonal means, seasonal cycles, interannual variability and extreme events. Overall, the regional model is able to capture the main features of the observed mean surface climate over South America, its seasonal evolution and the regional detail due to topographic forcing. The observed regional patterns of surface air temperatures (mean, maxima and minima) are well reproduced. Biases are mostly within 3°C, temperature being overestimated over central Argentina and underestimated in mountainous regions during all seasons. Biases in northeastern Argentina and southeastern Brazil are positive during austral spring season and negative in other seasons. In general, maximum temperatures are better represented than minimum temperatures. Warm bias is larger during austral summer for maximum temperature and during austral winter for minimum temperature, mainly over central Argentina. The broad spatial pattern of precipitation and its seasonal evolution are well captured; however, the regional model overestimates the precipitation over the Andes region in all seasons and in southern Brazil during summer. Precipitation amounts are underestimated over the La Plata basin from fall to spring. Extremes of precipitation are better reproduced by the regional model compared with the driving model. Interannual variability is well reproduced too, but strongly regulated by boundary conditions, particularly during summer months. Overall, taking into account the quality of the simulation, we can conclude that the regional model is capable in reproducing the main regional patterns and seasonal cycle of surface variables. The present reference simulation constitutes the basis to examine the climate change simulations resulting from the A2 and B2 forcing scenarios which are being reported in a separate study.     

High-frequency patterns of the atmospheric circulation over the southern hemisphere and South America

Summary Daily 500-hPa geopotential height and 250-hPa meridional wind reanalyzed data obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction are used to document austral winter (May to September) and summer (November to March) high-frequency variability in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) midlatitudes for the 1990–1994 period. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) technique is used to determine the high-frequency patterns for these variables in selected areas. The high-frequency anomalous 500-hPa geopotential height patterns for two areas in the SH midlatitudes (the zonally global domain and the western hemisphere) and the high-frequency anomalous 250-hPa meridional wind patterns in the western hemisphere between 15° N and 70° S are discussed. The high-frequency winter and summer patterns for both variables feature a wavetrain structure in the SH midlatitudes which is related to synoptic-scale systems, such as cyclones and anticyclones associated with frontal zones. The dominant high-frequency patterns in the SH midlatitudes manifest in the eastern hemisphere while the secondary ones appear in the southeastern Pacific. Analysis of the western hemisphere data reveal that the wavetrain in the South American sector extends northeastward over the continent, thus affecting the regional weather conditions. An important result presented here concerns the preference of the intense synoptic systems in the eastern hemisphere and in the southeastern Pacific to occur in a sequential instead of an intermittent fashion. This result might have a potential for being used in weather monitoring.     

Numerical simulation of a cut-off low over southern Australia

Summary Cut-off low pressure systems over southern Australia are synoptic scale low pressure systems which have a closed circulation at the surface and a deep trough at the 500 hPa level. They usually develop from a deep trough in the westerlies, and often are companied by a Southern Ocean cold front. It is one of the most significant types of weather systems over southern Australia. Moderate or heavy rainfall is often associated with cut-off lows. Few studies so far have been conducted on them. In terms of prediction, the most interesting aspects are the position and intensity of the cut-off low pressure systems, the rainfall amount and distribution and sharp winds, when they are present. In this paper, a numerical model developed at the University of New South Wales, HIRES (HIgh RESolution model), is employed to simulate the cut-off low of August 31 to September 2, 1997. The modeling results are encouraging, showing that HIRES can forecast very well the location and intensity of the cut-off low system and its associated precipitation. The impact of an improved, explicit physics scheme on the simulation is also examined. The explicit scheme further improves the rainfall prediction. Received August 7, 1999 Revised October 23, 1999     

Teleconnection patterns and Rossby wave propagation associated to generalized frosts over southern South America

Based on previous observational studies of the mean atmospheric circulation leading to generalized frosts (GF) in central Southern South America, it is possible to establish a hypothesis that specific large scale patterns are associated to the frequency of occurrence of these events through the propagation of Rossby waves remotely excited. This hypothesis is tested here through a teleconnection analysis for austral winters which present an extreme frequency of occurrence of GF in southeastern South America, particularly over the Wet Pampa area in Argentina. Rossby wave propagation regions are identified for two basic states given by the composition of winters with maximum and minimum frequency of GF occurrence, during the 1961–1990 period. The stationary wavenumber K _s indicates the regions where the Rossby wave propagation is permitted and those where it will be inhibited (K _s = 0), highlighting the importance of the jets as waveguides. Nevertheless, differences exist between both basic states analyzed. These differences indicate that the locations for wave generation and its later evolution are conditioned by the basic state. Results are validated through a baroclinic model, which simulates the Rossby wave patterns responsible for the teleconnection. Numerical experiments confirm that the principal wave activity takes place inside the subtropical and polar jets. In particular, for the basic state with maximum frequency of GF occurrence, the wave trains propagating inside the subtropical and polar waveguides merge just before entering the continent, as shown by the observations prior to the occurrence of GF events. This configuration favors the development of an intense south wind anomaly with large meridional extension which results in the intensification of anticyclonic circulation in southern South America. A conceptual model is presented to summarise all these results.     

Climate change in terms of modes of atmospheric variability and circulation regimes over southern South America

The simulated low-frequency variability patterns of the atmospheric circulation, ranging from interannual to interdecadal timescales, are studied in an area encompassing southern South America. The experiment is a transient simulation performed with the IPSL CCM2 coupled global model, in which the greenhouse forcing is continuously increasing. The main modes of low-frequency variability are found to remain stationary throughout the simulation, suggesting they depend more on the internal dynamics of the atmospheric flow than on its external forcing. Inspection of the circulation regimes that represent the more recurrent patterns at interannual and interdecadal timescales showed that climate change manifests itself as a change in regime population, suggesting that the negative phase of the Antarctic Oscillation-like pattern becomes more frequented in a climate change scenario. Changes of regime occurrence are superimposed to a positive trend whose spatial pattern is reminiscent of the structure of the Antarctic Oscillation-mode of variability. Moreover, it resembles the spatial patterns of those regimes that show a significant change in population. The change in regime frequencies of the circulation patterns of low-frequency variability are in opposite phase with respect to the trend, thus, the behaviour of these patterns of variability, superimposed to a changing mean state, modulates the climate change signal. The analysis of the high frequencies, in terms of recurrent patterns representing intraseasonal and synoptic-scale of variability, shows no significant changes in regime characteristics, concerning both spatial and temporal behaviour.