METEOROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS DURING THE SECOND MEIYU EPISODE IN 1998

This article examined the meteorological features of the second Meiyu/Baiu episode(hereafterMeiyu Ⅱ)in 1998 and the results are summarized as follows:(1)The Meiyu Ⅱ period in 1998 hasbeen the longest and the most delayed ending one since 1885,which caused the great flood aroundthe Yangtze River Basin.The circulation situation in Meiyu Ⅱ is so typical that the averagegeopotential height and wind fields at 500 hPa and 850 hPa are very similar to monthly mean inJune.The abnormal circulation in Meiyu Ⅱ is associated with an adjusting of the Okhotsk high andshort period south-north oscillation of the subtropical high.(2)The heavy rainfall around theYangtze River during Meiyu Ⅱ period is closely related to a persistent shear line,a clear eastwardmoving vortex structure and a very strong jet flow at lower levels.It is very clear that the strongdivergence at higher levels and convergence at lower levels occurred in situ during Meiyu Ⅱ period.(3)It is very clear that the convective activity propagates eastward quickly with a period about 7days during Meiyu Ⅱ period.     

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE MEIYU FRONT SYSTEM*

A new subtropical front near the periphery of the West Pacific subtropical anticyclone is found,which is never revealed in previous studies.The coupling of the subtropical front and Meiyu front forms a Meiyu front system (MFS) and is the most direct synoptic system for the Meiyu precipitation along the Mid-lower Reaches of Yangtze River (MRYR) in China.In this paper.The detailed structural features and cloud features of the MFS in 1998 and 1999 are analyzed,which manifests that the MFS is an objective phenomenon over the period of Meiyu along MRYR and the Southwest Japan.Generally.the subtropical front is mainly located between 850 hPa and 500 hPa.The moist southwest monsoon is transported in the passageway between the Meiyu front and the subtropical front.The vertical motion ascends in the passageway and descends on both sides of the MFS,forming the MFS's secondary circulation.A lower TBB band indicated that obvious convective activities are also located in the passageway of MFS.The horizontal wind of MFS is vertically asymmetric.     

江淮流域梅雨环流结构特征及其演变分析

通过对比1954—2001年江淮流域各省入梅日与国家气候中心划定的入梅日，选取入梅一致年份进行合成，分析了入梅前后大尺度环流场的变化特征及梅雨期间的典型环流结构，并用多年平均的逐候资料追踪了典型环流结构的演变过程。研究发现：(1) 入梅后，低空急流向西伸展至长江以南地区，高空急流北抬，有利于江淮流域垂直运动的发展。中、低层高度差值场出现“印度-我国东海-日本岛以东洋面-北太平洋中部”的波列，其中印度半岛、江淮流域及东部沿海、北太平洋中部变化显著。入梅前、后，低层辐合中心均与雨带配合，经向风散度的变化在总散度中起主导作用；(2) 梅雨期典型环流结构在我国东部经向剖面图上，表现为“双脚型”涡度场和“鞍型”温湿场及高而窄的θse 密集带(锋面/锋区)，密集带与雨带对应。入梅前此典型结构已存在并与江南雨带相伴随，入梅后典型结构与雨带一致北推影响江淮。追踪其演变过程发现，梅雨期典型环流结构于3月底4月初开始建立，与东亚-西太平洋海陆温度热力差异的转向一致，可认为是东亚副热带季风开始的表现。     

INTERACTION BETWEEN TROPICAL CYCLONE AND MEIYU FRONT*

Generally speaking,the convection activities are inactive over western Pacific warm pool and tropical cyclone (TC) activity seldom occurs over the offshore of East Asia during the period of Meiyu rainfall.However,if a TC is active in this area,the Meiyu rainfall will often weaken or end up.Based on a statistical study with the data from 1980 to 1995,it is found that about 91% of 23 TC activities affected the intensity of Meiyu rainfall,and 50% of the end-up of Meiyu events were related to the active TCs and the change of subtropical high.The present paper simulates the effect of TC on Meiyu circulation by using MM4 model,and the results agree with the observations.From the point of view of vapor and energy transport,the landing of TC cuts not only the transport of the water vapor to Changjiang-Huaihe River basin from the Bay of Bengal but also the conversion of the mean flow energy to the Meiyu circulation because of the TC forcing to the zonal circulation.These two effects make the convection and perturbation existing in Meiyu region lack the supply of the vapor and energy for their maintenance and lead to the end of Meiyu rainfall.     

SIMULATION OF HEAVY RAINFALL IN THE SUMMER OF 1998 OVER CHINA WITH REGIONAL CLIMATE MODEL*

The heavy rainfall in the summer of 1998 over China has been simulated with the NCC Regional Climate Model(RegCM_NCC).It was successful for RegCM_NCC to reproduce the location and seasonal shift of the seasonal rain belt in the summer of 1998 over China.The rainy season in the summer of 1998 over China can be divided into 7 episodes,including the pre-summer rainy season in South China.the Meiyu onset over the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin,short appearance of North China rain season and the retreat of seasonal rain belt,the second Meiyu season over the Yangtze River Valley,the rainy period over the Yellow and Huaihe River Valley and the seasonal retreat of rain belt over North China.The shortcoming of the RegCM_NCC is over-estimation of precipitation amounts.The regions with large latent heat flux,upper soil moisture and total runoff are located in the rainy area and move with the simulated rain belt during the different episodes.On the contrary,the regions with small sensible heat flux are located in the simulated rainy area and move with the simulated rain belt during the different episodes.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MOVEMENT OF THE MEIYU/BAIU RAIN BELT AND THE PERIODIC NORTHWESTWARD PROPAGATION OF THE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY FROM TROPICAL WEST PACIFIC*

In order to investigate the effect of the factors in tower latitudes on Meiyu/Baiu front,a diagnostic analysis for the two cases during June to July of 1985 and 1986 was examined.We found that (1) when the tropical convective activity moves westward to 10.5-15.5'N/140°E from east side of 10.5-15.5°N/160°E,the northward shifts of the Meiyu/Baiu rain belt occurs;(2)the main factor which results in the northward and southward shifts of Meiyu/Baiu rain belt is thought as the 8,18 and 30 day oscillations of the tropical convective activity around West Pacific.Meanwhile,the wave train propagating from Lake Baikal via Okhotsk Sea to the tropics could sometimes shift Baiu rain belt southward;(3) the onsets of Meiyu in China of both cases tend to take place just when the convective activity around lower latitudes moves westward through about 140°E with the 8,18 and 30 day oscillation periods firstly coming to June.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF ATMOSPHERIC HEATING AND ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION DURING ACTIVE PERIOD OF 500 hPa HIGH OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU IN SUMMER*

In correspondence with the establishment of the "upper high and lower high" pressure pattern due to the activities of 500 hPa high over the Tibetan Plateau in summer,a series of changes of the East Asia atmospheric circulation will take place.In this paper,the distributions of divergence and vertical velocity of 500 hPa high,the evolutions of atmospheric heat source,the variations of vorticity and zonal wind at 100 hPa level and vertical meridional cell over the Tibetan Plateau etc.are statistically analyzed.Thus,we can see that the ascending motion and the convective heating over the Tibetan Plateau,the South Asia high and the westerly jet on the north of the Plateau at 100 hPa level are weakned.The northern branch and the southern branch of the easterly jet on the south of the Plateau merge into a single whole and situate on the south of the former northern branch.In the meantime,thermodynamic land-sea discrepancy in South Asia and the convective heating over the Bay of Bengal is enhanced.It will play an important role in the maintenance of the easterly jet and the South Asia monsoon.     

长江中下游梅汛期强降水过程非均匀特征

根据长江中下游地区205站1960—2004年的逐日降水量和梅雨期的特征参数,计算并分析了长江中下游地区梅汛期暴雨降水过程降水量、集中度和集中期的时空非均匀特征。结果表明:长江中下游梅汛暴雨降水量、暴雨日数显著增加,而集中度和集中期无明显变化;暴雨降水量和暴雨降水集中程度在时空上的叠加是造成长江中下游地区大旱大涝趋势加重的重要原因之一。     

A NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF WIND FIELDS AT UPPER LEVELS IN THE MEIYU PERIOD ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW LEVEL JET AND MESOSCALE SYSTEMS*

Using a mesoscale model,a numerical study on a heavy rainfall case occurring in the Changjiang-Huaihe River Basin is made in this paper.The influence of the intensity of northeasterly wind in front of the Qinghai-Xizang high at upper level on the low level wind field and development of mesoscale systems as well as heavy rainfall is investigated.The model well reproduced the heavy rainfall process and the weather systems associated.And it indicates that the strong northeasterly flow around the high at upper troposphere will bring about not only the strengthening of low level southeasterly wind,but also the appearance of shear-line and mesoscale vortex at low level.The coupling of northerly wind at upper level and southerly wind at lower level constructs a vertical indirect circulation which is most favourable for the development of convective motions.Its ascending branch in the shear-line area is very strong and shows a pronounced mesoscale characteristic.     

THE PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE PRECIPITATION CHEMISTRY AT THE CHINESE GREAT WALL STATION, ANTARCTICA IN 1998*

This paper reports the analysis results (including pH,conductivity and ion concentrations) of the precipitation samples collected at the Chinese Great Wall Station,Antarctica (62°13'S, 58°58'W,ASL10.0 m) in 1998.The average pH value and conductivity were 5.62 and 85.16 μS/cm,respectively.The pH value and conductivity of precipitation were higher during autumn, but lower during other seasons.The major ions in the precipitation were Cl^- and Na⁺,followed by SO₄^2-,Mg²⁺,Ca²⁺,K⁺,NO₃^-,NH₄⁺ with the lower concentrations in order.The positive correlation significantly existing between the major ions,except NO₃^- and NH₄⁺,indicated that those major ions might come from same sources.The fact that the relative abundances of ions in precipitation were very close to that of seawater of Antarctic Ocean indicated that marine aerosol was the dominant source of the ions of precipitation.However,there were yet other sources which may contribute to Ca²⁺ ion in the precipitation.The precipitation at the area was characterized by marine type chemically.     

A CASE STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A PRECEDING LA NINA EVENT AND EAST ASIAN SUMMER ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION*

This study examined the relationship between mature phase of the cold event in 1999 and the East Asian summer atmosphere circulation in 2000.The cold event reaches its mature phase in the autumn and winter of 1999,which is the strongest La Nina episode in recent 11 years.There is a clear anomalous pattern of the atmosphere circulation around East Asia in the summer of 2000, i.e.the negative anomaly centers around the Cherski Mountains and 20°N,170°E at 500 hPa,the main body of the subtropical high keeps in further northern position than usual and the negative anomaly of precipitation located in southern central China.This pattern is thought as the response to the preceding strong cold event in autumn of 1999.It is also identified that the response of the East Asian atmosphere circulation in summer of 2000 to the strong La Nina event in 1999 belongs to the top rank in recent 43 years.On the other hand,the inactive blocking anticyclone around East Asia in summer of 2000 is associated with the positive SST anomaly and the 850 hPa temperature anomaly around the Bering Sea simultaneously.Nevertheless,although the impact on the summer atmosphere circulation around East Asia from La Nina events could not rank with that from E1 Nino,the impact could not be neglected especially in a strong La Nina case.     

CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NET RADIATION IN THE EARTH-ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM OVER CHINA*

Investigated are effects of the total cloudiness and other factors on earth-atmosphere net radiation(EANR) and analyzed is its relation to other components and ground surface net radiation in the context of ERBE and ISCCP.Evidence suggests that planetary scale albedo and earth-atmosphere short wave absorption radiation have maximum effect on the net radiation under study,with the influence of cloud and latitude displayed predominantly through the two factors;OLR has relatively weak effect;the earth-atmosphere net radiation is well correlated with surface net radiation.Analysis is also performed of the geographic distribution of the earth-atmosphere net radiation throughout China,and the annual curve of the net radiation on a local basis is marked by high(low) value in summer(winter) with the impact of factors.including total cloudiness responsible largely for the shift of the months with maximum.     

LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATION AND MECHANISM OF VERTICAL CIRCULATION OF EASTERN ASIAN MONSOON*

Analysis is performed of low-frequency oscillation (LFO) and its relation to monsoon by means of ECMWF numerical prediction data in the period 1 June to 30 September 1984,indicating that remarkable local LFO exists in the vertical meridional and equatorial zonal circulations.And preliminary discussion is made of the origin of the LFO of the East-Asian summer monsoon meridional circulation in the LFO of the mid and upper troposphere vertical motion around 30°S.The LFOs in the meridional circulations of both hemispheres are linked together by the LFO of the meridional circulation.Finally the possible relation between the tropical monsoon LFO and Meiyu (plum rain).     

THE INTERLINKAGE OF LARGE-SCALE SYSTEMS BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW LATITUDES RELATED TO PROPAGATION OF THE PLANETARY WAVE AROUND EAST ASIA IN SUMMER*

This study has reviewed recent studies about impact of the Rossby wave propagation on the weather of East Asia.Then,we have focused on the northward progression of the subtropical high affected by the propagations and their interaction.The following results are obtained:(1) The two kinds of meridional Rossby wave propagations often affect the East Asian weather in summer,which propagate in two conflicting directions(northwest-southeastward and southwest-northeast-ward).This is considered as the interaction of the large-scale systems between high and low latitudes with wave propagation,especially to the circulation systems around East Asia.(2) The northward progression of the subtropical high is largely restrained,aecompanied by the southward shift of the convective activity in middle latitudes,under the strong and persistent Rossby wave propagation from high to low latitudes.And the opposite role could be found in the Rossby wave propagation from low to high latitudes.     

NATURE OF PRECIPITATION AND ACTIVITY OF CUMULUS CONVECTION DURING THE 1991 MEIYU SEASON OF CHANGJIANG-HUAIHE RIVER BASIN*

Seasonal variability regarding the nature of precipitation and the activity of cumulus convection during the 1991 Meiyu season of Changjiang-Huaihe River Basin(Jianghuai)has been investigated by calculating apparent heat source/apparent moisture sink and analyzing TBB(cloud-top blackody radiation temperature)data.It is found that three periods of strong ascending motion during the Meiyu season lead to three episodes of heavy rain,and the latent heat due to the precipitation is of the sole heat source of the atmosphere.The nature of precipitation shows distinct seasonal variability,from frontal precipitation of the first episode to the extremely strong convective precipitation of the third episode.TBB field of East Asia may well reflect not only the intensity of convection and rainfall,but also the movement of rain belt and convection belt.In the whole Meiyu season.convection belt mainly stays in Jianghuai.but may shift within the domain of East Asia.Its locating in Jianghuai or not determines the maintenance or break of Meiyu.In the third episode,the narrow convection belt over Jianghuai is mainly caused by southwest monsoon which takes moist and convective atmosphere from tropical ocean.     

DYNAMIC STUDY ON INFLUENCE OF INERTIAL GRAVITY WAVES INDUCED BY UNBALANCED FLOW ON MEIYU FRONT HEAVY RAIN*

The Meiyu front heavy rain process in 1-3 June 2000 is numerically simulated in this paper, and results are then analyzed to show the effects of geostrophic balance collapse,unbalanced flow occurrence,low level jet (LLJ) development,and gravity waves genesis and propagation on the rainstorm.Analyses indicate that the sudden northwest movement of subtropical high may destruct the local geostrophic balance,leading to an increase in the local pressure gradient and the occurrence of ageostrophic flow,and meanwhile the adjustment of circulation starts to build a new balance.During the process,an LLJ and gravity waves appear correspondingly.The dispersion of unbalanced energy through the divergence/convergence of the geostrophic departure winds, promotes the propagation of strong wind cores along the LLJ,and the dispersion direction is influenced by the steering flow and the moisture concentration area.The development of LLJ is one of important conditions,which induces the heavy rain especially in the left front part of the jet where the convergence and shear of winds occur.It is also found that the genesis of disturbance, meso-vortex,and meso-convective system provides a favorable condition for the rainstorm.The above results are clearly illustrated by the high spatial and temporal resolution simulation data from a mesoscale numerical model.     

ANALYSIS OF CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CHARACTERISTICS IN MESOSCALE STORM IN BELIING AREA*

The research indicates that there is a positive correlation between the negative CG flash rate and the area of radar echo with its reflectivity being equal to or greater than 30 dBz in the mesoscale convective system in Beijing area.A maximum of the positive CG flash rate exists at both the initial and the dissipating stages.The CG flashes are usually located near but not within the high reflectivity center.The negative flashes are associated with.the positions of the updraft region,and with the regions of wind convergence and wind shear.Generally,the negative CG flashes are concentrative and the positive ones are dispersive.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF SEASONAL VARIATION OF RAINFALL OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU DURING SUMMER 1998 AND ITS IMPACT ON EAST ASIAN WEATHER*

The seasonal variation of rainy season over the Tibetan Plateau in summer 1998 is analyzed by using daily observational rainfall data for Lhasa from 1955 to 1996,and rainfall data at 70 stations from January to August of 1998 over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and adjacent regions,as well as TBB data from May to August of 1998.The onset date of rainy season for Lhasa is climatologically 6 June.Among the analyzed years,the earliest onset date is 6 May,while the latest may delay to 2 July.The obvious inter-decadal variation can be found in the series of onset date.The onset date of summer 1998 over middle TP (onset date of Lhasa) is 24 June,which is relatively later than the normal case.The onset for rainy season of 1998 started over southeast and northeast parts of TP and then propagated westward and northward.The convection over east and west parts of TP shows that there is a quasi 12-15 day oscillation.In June,the convection over middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River is formed by the westward propagation of convection over subtropical western Pacific.while in July.it is formed by the eastward propagation of convection over TP.Besides,it is also found that there exists good negative and obvious advance and lag correlation between the convection over the middle and western TP and that over the subtropical western Pacific and southern China.Therefore it can be inferred that a feedback zonal circulation with a quasi two-three week oscillation exists between the ascending region of TP and descending region of subtropical western Pacific,i.e.the convection over TP may affect the subtropical high over western Pacific and vice versa.     

IMPROVEMENT ON COMPUTING THE HORIZONTAL PRESSURE GRADIENT FORCE IN THE REGCM2*

The technique on computing the horizontal pressure gradient force(PGF)in RegCM2 is improved with the error subtraction method.Moreover,the regional climate in June of 1991 in China is simulated by employing the RegCM2.Comparison with other schemes for computing the PGF shows that the error subtraction method can effectively reduce the error of the PGF,improve the simulation of winds and alleviate the spurious precipitation in steep topographic areas.Furthermore,the simulation of precipitation in other areas is in better accordance with the observation.     

EFFECTS OF THE SEA-ICE ALONG THE NORTH PACIFIC ON SUMMER RAINFALL IN CHINA*

By using statistic method,the effects of the abnormal sea-ice along the North Pacific on both summer rainfall and temperature in China and the corresponding distribution of atmospheric circulation during the period from late winter to early spring are explored in this article.The analysis indicates that the percentage of the sea-ice area along the North Pacific is the biggest during February-April,so is the distribution of the standard variance.Thus,the period of February-April is the natural winter of the sea-ice along the North Pacific.A quasi-four-year oscillation exists in the sea-ice-area-index during this period.The abnormal sea-ice area has significant effects on both summer rainfall and temperature of China.At the 500 hPa geopotential height field corresponding to the years with large values of seaice areas,the polar vortex in May is obviously stretched to east and south.The subtropical high over West Pacific strengthens enormously and extends northwards,and the Mongolian trough deepens.The deepening maintains till June and July.The summer meridional cell over the East Asia increases,with the southerly being able to reach high latitudes.As a result,the rainfall increases over the areas north of the Yangtze River and decreases over the areas south of the Yangtze River obviously in China.In the temperature field,it is shown that the temperature is lower over most areas in northern China.and higher in southern China.There are opposite situations in the years when sea-ice index is small.