A comprehensive classification of anomalous circulation patterns responsible for persistent precipitation extremes in South China

Based on observational precipitation at 63 stations in South China and NCEP NCAR reanalysis data during 1951 2010,a cluster analysis is performed to classify large-scale circulation patterns responsible for persistent precipitation extremes(PPEs) that are independent of the influence of tropical cyclones(TCs).Conceptual schematics depicting configurations among planetary-scale systems at different levels are established for each type.The PPEs free from TCs account for 38.6%of total events,and they tend to occur during April August and October,with the highest frequency observed in June.Corresponding circulation patterns during June August can be mainly categorized into two types,i.e.,summer-Ⅰ type and summer-Ⅱtype.In summer-Ⅰ type,the South Asian high takes the form of a zonal-belt type.The axis of upstream westerly jets is northwest-oriented.At the middle level,the westerly jets at midlatitudes extend zonally.Along the southern edge of the westerly jet,synoptic eddies steer cold air to penetrate southward;the Bay of Bengal(BOB) trough is located to the north;a shallow trough resides over coastal areas of western South China;and an intensified western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH) extends westward.The anomalous moisture is mainly contributed by horizontal advection via southwesterlies around 20°N and southeasterlies from the southern flange of the WPSH.Moisture convergence maximizes in coastal regions of eastern South China,which is the very place recording extreme precipitation.In summer-Ⅱ type,the South Asian high behaves as a western-center type.The BOB trough is much deeper,accompanied by a cyclone to its north;and a lower-level trough appears in northwestern parts of South China.Different to summer-Ⅰ type,moisture transport via southwesterlies is mostly responsible for the anomalous moisture in this type.The moisture convergence zones cover Guangdong,Guangxi,and Hainan,matching well with the areas of flooding.It is these set combinations among different systems at different levels that trigger PPEs in South China.     

Vertical distributions of aerosol optical properties during haze and floating dust weather in Shanghai

A comparative study on the vertical distributions of aerosol optical properties during haze and floating dust weather in Shanghai was conducted based on the data obtained from a micro pulse lidar.There was a distinct difference in layer thickness and extinction coefficient under the two types of weather conditions.Aerosols were concentrated below 1 km and the aerosol extinction coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 1.50km^-1 on haze days.In contrast,aerosols with smaller extinction coefficients(0.20 0.35 km^-1) accumulated mainly from the surface to 2 km on floating dust days.The seasonal variations of extinction and aerosol optical depth（AOD） for both haze and floating dust cases were similar greatest in winter,smaller in spring,and smallest in autumn.More than 85%of the aerosols appeared in the atmosphere below 1 km during severe haze and floating dust weather.The diurnal variation of the extinction coefficient of haze exhibited a bimodal shape with two peaks in the morning or at noon,and at nightfall,respectively.The aerosol extinction coefficient gradually increased throughout the day during floating dust weather.Case studies showed that haze aerosols were generated from the surface and then lifted up,but floating dust aerosols were transported vertically from higher altitude to the surface.The AOD during floating dust weather was higher than that during haze.The boundary layer was more stable during haze than during floating dust weather.     

Operational climate prediction in the era of big data in China: Reviews and prospects

Big data has emerged as the next technological revolution in IT industry after cloud computing and the Internet of Things. With the development of climate observing systems, particularly satellite meteorological observation and high-resolution climate models, and the rapid growth in the volume of climate data, climate prediction is now entering the era of big data. The application of big data will provide new ideas and methods for the continuous development of climate prediction. The rapid integration, cloud storage, cloud computing, and full-sample analysis of massive climate data makes it possible to understand climate states and their evolution more objectively, thus predicting the future climate more accurately. This paper describes the application status of big data in operational climate prediction in China; it analyzes the key big data technologies, discusses the future development of climate prediction operations from the perspective of big data, speculates on the prospects for applying climatic big data in cloud computing and data assimilation, and puts forward the notion of big data-based super-ensemble climate prediction methods and computerbased deep learning climate prediction methods.     

FY-3微波成像仪10.6 GHz通道超分辨率图像重建

为改善风云三号 (FY-3) 微波成像仪10.6 GHz通道空间分辨率,提出利用超分辨率图像重建算法进行图像重建。分析并指出FY-3微波成像仪10.6 GHz通道具有过采样特征,具备重建得到高于瞬时视场图像的潜力;基于超分辨率图像重建理论,根据FY-3气象卫星轨道、姿态,微波成像仪性能参数以及工作模式等物理约束,建立微波成像仪的超分辨率成像模型,并推导计算出超分辨率成像模型参数;采用POCS算法重建得到10.6 GHz通道的超分辨率图像,采用目视比较分析、图像统计分析对重建图像进行质量评价:重建图像像元平均梯度提高26.5%,功率谱分量和提高5.7%,重建图像具有更高的空间分辨率;台风亮温分析应用显示了从重建图像可发现更微小的景物细节目标。采用超分辨率图像重建算法对FY-3微波成像仪10.6 GHz通道进行重建处理,结果有效且正确,可为数据用户提供更多可用的遥感数据,对微波遥感数据应用具有提升作用。     

中国区域高空三种气温、湿度资料交叉对比

本文对比分析了2011—2013年中国区域L波段探空气温、湿度廓线,COSMIC掩星气温、湿度廓线和ERA-Interim再分析资料的气温、湿度廓线之间的差异。对比显示,从时间变化来看,三者之间有很好的正线性相关关系。除10 hPa以上的少数层次外,三种气温资料之间互相吻合较好,彼此偏差范围在±0.4℃之间,偏差标准差在1~2℃,对流层中高层,L波段探空气温受太阳辐射影响较大,气温偏高,与COSMIC相比,L波段探空偏高最高可达到0.64℃。而对于相对湿度,三种数据存在明显差异。对流层中低层到对流层顶L波段探空存在不同程度的偏干,且有较明显的昼夜、季节和区域差异:白天、春夏季和南方潮湿气候区域偏干更明显。一般来说,在对流层顶附近区域,L波段探空相对湿度偏干较明显,200 hPa附近及以上L波段探空相对湿度转为偏湿。在对流层顶以下,L波段探空与COSMIC掩星、ERA-Interim再分析相对湿度具有明显的正相关,对流层顶以上表现为负相关。     

西南地区夏季大气水汽含量及其与南亚高压关系

利用欧洲中期天气预报中心 (ECMWF) 提供的ERA-interim高分辨率资料,借助经验正交函数 (EOF) 分解、距平合成和相关分析等方法,讨论1979—2014年我国西南地区夏季大气水汽含量的时空变化特征及其与南亚高压的关系。研究结果表明:我国西南地区夏季大气水汽含量空间分布形态主要有全区一致型、南北振荡型和东西振荡型。全区一致型 (EOF1) 能够反映西南地区夏季水汽含量的主要特征,西南地区夏季大气水汽含量具有明显的年际变化特征;西南地区夏季大气水汽含量与南亚高压强度指数、面积指数及东伸指数均存在非常显著的正相关关系;南亚高压的异常偏强,有利于南海地区水汽向西南地区输送,且在西南地区气流由低层向高层的上升运动显著增强,引起西南地区大气水汽含量的异常偏多。     

高建筑对周围建筑雷击保护距离的模拟

在已有先导连接参数化方案的基础上,选取近地面层为研究区域,保持方案中其他基本参量不变,通过改变闪电的空间形态,在同一建筑分布的背景下进行多次闪电模拟。研究多个建筑之间的屏蔽作用以及建筑雷击保护距离与建筑相关特征参数之间的关系,结果表明:高建筑对矮建筑具有屏蔽作用,并存在一个临界保护距离,当高、矮建筑高度分别为190 m和165 m,宽度均为20 m时,建筑之间的距离在12 m以内,矮建筑受高建筑完全保护不遭受雷击;建筑之间的距离超过12 m,矮建筑遭雷击次数明显增多。     

华南暖区暴雨研究进展

华南前汛期暴雨预报一直是我国大气科学界的一个研究热点,特别是发生在锋前的暖区暴雨,由于其天气尺度斜压性强迫不明显,环境大气水汽含量丰富,热动力不稳定性强,边界层触发机制复杂,以及特殊的地形和海陆热力差异的外强迫作用,导致暴雨突发性强,地域性特征显著,也是困扰预报业务人员的难点问题。目前我国预报业务中使用的全球数值预报模式对暖区暴雨的预报能力十分有限,高分辨率中尺度数值模式的预报效果也不尽人意。该文回顾了近40年华南前汛期暴雨大部分研究成果,针对华南暖区暴雨的提出及典型背景场、暖区暴雨与低空急流的关系、暖区中尺度对流系统的形成及传播、暖区暴雨触发机制等独特的天气动力学特征进行了系统梳理与分析,并依据前人研究成果及中央气象台预报实践经验,总结提炼了3类华南暖区暴雨类型——边界层辐合线型、偏南风风速辐合型,以及强西南急流型的天气系统配置及触发因子。最后提出针对华南暖区暴雨需要进一步研究的科学问题。     

承德市2015年2月20-21日强降雪成因分析

利用常规观测资料、卫星云图和NECP (1?? 1?)逐6h再分析资料,对承德市2015年2月20～21日强降雪过程环流形势和物理量场进行了分析。结果表明：在此次强降雪过程中,中、低层的西风槽、切变线和地面上东移加强的蒙古气旋构成了有利天气形势,在这些系统的共同作用下不断有干冷空气侵入承德地区与低层西南暖湿气流交汇,持续的西南暖湿气流对此次强降雪的形成和维持至关重要。相对湿度、水汽通量、垂直速度、涡度及垂直螺旋度的分布和演变很好的反映出了此次强降雪过程中物理量场特点：相对湿度和水汽通量的分布说明强降雪区上空湿度较大且有充足的水汽供应,水汽通量的增大与降雪的增强相一致,水汽通量大值中心与强降雪有很好对应关系。强降雪区上空伴有较强上升运动;降雪区上空均为正涡度时最有利于上升运动和降雪;降雪区上空垂直螺旋度均为正或呈"上负下正"的垂直结构均有利于降雪,低层正垂直螺旋度对强降雪变化有很好的指示意义。