‘A Case Study on a Polar Cold Air Outbreak over Fram Strait using a Mesoscale Weather Prediction Model’

The mesoscale weather prediction model ’Lokal-Modell’ (LM) of the Deutscher Wetterdienst is applied to the situation of an Arctic cold air outbreak in the Fram Strait region in April 1998. Observations are available from a flight along 5⁰E carried out during the ARTIST campaign. Initial and time-dependent boundary data for the simulation are taken from a larger scale operational model system. Using the standard configuration of LM, the simulation reproduced the propagation of cold air and the characteristic structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) in fair agreement with the observations. However, a detailed comparison revealed three basic problems. Firstly, there is evidence that the available data on sea-ice conditions were insufficient approximations to the true state for several reasons. A modification of the sea-ice data towards observations revealed that parts of the discrepancies were due to the original sea-ice data. Secondly, a control run with the model in its standard configuration shows an insufficient warming of the ABL downstream of the ice edge due to underestimation of surface heat fluxes. A simple modification of the approach for the scalar roughness length resulted in the strongest benefit, while comparative studies showed only a slight sensitivity to different types of parametrisation of turbulent mixing or the inclusion of an additional moist convection parametrisation. Thirdly, in all the simulations the deepening of the convective ABL downstream of the ice edge is weaker than observed. This may be partly due to the thermal stratification above the ABL in the analysis data, which is more stable than observed; but it may also be a hint to the fact that processes near the inversion are insufficiently parametrised in mesoscale models with resolutions as used in LM. The simulated cloud layer in the convective ABL is similar to that observed with respect to condensate content, a sharply defined cloud top, a diffuse lower bound, and continuous light precipitation.     

An integrated decision method for prediction of tropical cyclone movement by using genetic algorithm

Typhoon disaster is one of the most influentialnatural disasters. The strong storm surge of Bangla-desh cyclone, which happened in November 1970,resulted in 300000 deaths. Asia and the western Pa-cific can be regarded as an area where is affected mostseverely by the disasters of tropical storms[1]. Themost important thing is to improve the accuracy oftyphoon tracks prediction internationally. Lande-sea,C.[2] pointed out that for a successful forecast oftropic cyclone (TC) tracks, it is not …     

A Case Study on the Effects of Heterogeneous Soil Moisture on Mesoscale Boundary-Layer Structure in the Southern Great Plains, U.S.A. Part II: Mesoscale Modelling

The importance of soil moisture inputs and improved model physics in the prediction of the daytime boundary-layer structure during the Southern Great Plains Hydrology Experiment 1997 (SGP97) is investigated using the non-hydrostatic fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU/NCAR) Mesoscale Model MM5. This is Part II of a two-part study examining the relationship of surface heterogeneity to observed boundary-layer structure. Part I focuses on observations and utilizes a simple model while Part II uses observations and MM5 modelling. Soil moisture inputs tested include a lookup table based on soil type and season, output from an offline land-surface model (LSM) forced by atmospheric observations, and high-resolution ( 800 m) airborne microwave remotely sensed data. Model physics improvements are investigated by comparing an LSM directly coupled with the MM5 to a simpler force-restore method at the surface. The scale of land surface heterogeneities is compared to the scale of their effects on boundary-layer structure.The use of more detailed soil moisture fields allowed the MM5 to better represent the large-scale (hundreds of km) and small-scale (tens of km) horizontal gradients in surface-layer weather and, to a lesser degree, the atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) height, which was evaluated against observations measured by differential absorption lidar (DIAL). The benefits of coupling an LSM to the MM5 were not readily evident in this summertime case, with the model having particular difficulty simulating the timing of maximum surface fluxes while underestimating the depth of the mixed layer.     

Characteristics of the Asymmetric Flow of Tropical Cyclone Shanshan (2006) During Its Turning and Intensification Period

In this paper,characteristics of the asymmetric flow of Tropical Cyclone (TC) Shanshan (2006) during its turning and intensification period over the oceanic area east of Taiwan are investigated,based o...     

Modulation of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis by Intraseasonal Oscillation of the ITCZ: A Statistical Analysis

The present study investigates modulation of western North Pacific(WNP) tropical cyclone(TC) genesis in relation to different phases of the intraseasonal oscillation(ISO) of ITCZ convection during May to October in the period 1979-2008.The phases of the ITCZ ISO were determined based on 30-80-day filtered OLR anomalies averaged over the region(5-20 N,120-150 E).The number of TCs during the active phases was nearly three times more than during the inactive phases.The active(inactive) phases of ISO were characterized by low-level cyclonic(anticyclonic) circulation anomalies,higher(lower) midlevel relative humidity anomalies,and larger(smaller) vertical gradient anomalies of relative vorticity associated with enhanced(weakened) ITCZ convection anomalies.During the active phases,TCs tended to form in the center of the ITCZ region.Barotropic conversion from the low-level mean flow is suggested to be the major energy source for TC formation.The energy conversion mainly depended on the zonal and meridional gradients of the zonal flow during the active phases.However,barotropic conversion weakened greatly during the inactive phases.The relationship between the meridional gradient of absolute vorticity and low-level zonal flow indicates that the sign of the absolute vorticity gradient tends to be reversed during the two phases,whereas the same sign between zonal flow and the absolute vorticity gradient is more easily satisfied in the active phases.Thus,the barotropic instability of low-level zonal flow might be an important mechanism for TC formation over the WNP during the active phases of ISO.     

2011年全球重大天气气候事件及其成因

2011年,全球气温偏高,为有观测记录以来的第十个暖年,是近60年来出现拉尼娜事件的年份中全球气温最高的一年。2011年,全球热带气旋活动较常年偏少。4月,一次拉尼娜事件结束,9月又一次拉尼娜事件生成。年初,低温、寒流席卷亚洲大部,暴风雪频繁袭击北美地区。西欧和中国东部出现严重春旱。夏季,非洲东部经历了20世纪80年代以来最严重的干旱,而东南亚、巴基斯坦和中南美洲洪涝灾害严重。全球极端偏暖事件主要出现在欧洲西部和西北部、南亚南部、东亚中西部、北美东南部等地;极端偏冷事件主要出现在东亚、澳大利亚、非洲南部和美国东北部和西部等地。而南美中东部、东南亚及中国东南部、日本、澳大利亚北部、非洲西部等地出现了极端强降水事件。研究发现,2010／2011年拉尼娜事件和台风活动是导致东南亚洪涝出现的重要原因,而巴基斯坦洪涝主要与印度洋正位相偶极型海温分布有关。     

热带气旋莫兰蒂(1010)强度的观测研究和增强条件的诊断分析

热带气旋莫兰蒂(1010)进入台湾海峡后显著加强。本文普查了历史上在台湾海峡与"莫兰蒂"有相似路径的热带气旋,其中几乎没有增强的热带气旋个例;总结了"莫兰蒂"在台湾海峡活动时的强度变化,指出在实时业务中国内外台风预报中心对于"莫兰蒂"强度的判定存在明显偏弱的现象。运用天气学和动力诊断方法,分析了"莫兰蒂"在台湾海峡活动时热带气旋发展的基本条件,结果发现:台湾海峡区域有较高的海表温度、丰富的中低层水汽净流入、强烈的低层辐合和高层辐散、低层涡度净流入,为"莫兰蒂"的发展提供了有利的动力和热力条件,弱的环境风垂直切变又使其强度增长没有受到大的抑制作用。研究结果可为热带气旋强度或强度变化预报提供有意义的参考。     

2010年8月8-10日辽东半岛暴雨过程的中尺度特征分析

利用自动气象站资料、卫星资料、GTS1型数字式探空仪资料和常规气象观测资料及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,对辽东半岛地区2010年8月8-10日3次暴雨过程进行了诊断分析,研究了该地区暴雨发生的天气尺度背景、中尺度对流系统发展过程及其发展的中尺度环境和触发机制。结果表明:(1)副热带高压位置偏北且稳定为此次强降水提供了有利的大尺度背景,切变线上生成的β或γ中尺度雨团发展的中尺度对流复合体是造成强降水的直接系统。(2)辽东半岛地区与低空急流水汽输送通道相连,并形成水汽辐合中心,有利于该地区强降水的产生。(3)暴雨发生前暴雨区域对流层低层的增温增湿、对流性不稳定层结及抬升凝结高度和对流自由高度的明显降低,是导致暴雨的重要条件。(4)切变线附近对流层低层的强正涡度中心和中高层的强正散度中心的耦合有利于上升运动的维持和水汽的向上抬升,促使中尺度对流系统生成,并沿切变线向东北方向移动和迅速发展,产生暴雨。强降水出现在切变线前方低空急流上的风速脉动区。     

“0811”暴雨过程中MCC与一般暴雨云团的对比分析

利用T639 1°×1°分析场、FY-2红外云图、红外辐射亮温(TBB)、闪电定位和气柱水汽总量等资料,对2010年8月11日发生在山西南部暴雨过程(即"0811"暴雨过程)中的中尺度对流复合体(MCC)和其北部的一般暴雨云团进行了对比分析,结果表明,(1)山西北部暴雨带主要由6个β中尺度对流云团生成、发展及合并造成;山西南部区域性暴雨则由MCC的生成、发展、东移所引发。(2)山西北部的暴雨云团在850hPa暖切变线南部生成和发展,并在地面切变线附近合并;山西南部的MCC由3个β中尺度对流云团发生、发展及合并形成,该对流云团在700hPa次天气尺度切变线上触发生成;MCC发展、成熟阶段,α中尺度云团沿925hPa暖切变线东移;减弱阶段,随西太平洋副热带高压的南退而南压。(3)在西太平洋副热带高压西进北抬的背景下,同一次暴雨过程中,MCC发生在5 880gpm边缘弱的斜压环境中,高层则出现在高压北侧的反气旋环流中;一般暴雨云团发生在5 840gpm边缘较强的斜压环境中,高层则出现在急流入口区的右侧。(4)MCC作为大型的中尺度对流系统,不但对低层高温高湿能量的需求比一般暴雨云团更多,而且在垂直方向上,要求湿层、高能舌及暖温结构更深厚。(5)山西南部MCC影响区和5 880gpm线边缘为负地闪覆盖区,正地闪主要出现在其北部一般暴雨云团影响区和5 840gpm线附近。与MCC相比,一般暴雨云团影响下,局地闪电开始及闪电峰值的出现较降水的开始及降水峰值的出现有更多的提前量。(6)山西北部暴雨云团出现在气柱水汽总量梯度的大值区及水汽锋上;山西南部MCC则出现在水汽锋南侧气柱水汽总量的大值区。气柱水汽总量对"0811"暴雨过程有36h的提前量,对暴雨的落区有很好的指示意义。     

一种对资源不稳定性敏感的EASY-backfill算法

利用合成技术对1995—2006年冬季（11月—次年2月）生成在西北太平洋上的34个热带气旋（tropicalcyclone,TC）个例进行分析,研究冬季西北太平洋TC生成的大尺度环流特征及其生成机制,结果表明：冬季TC生成的大尺度环流特征型为东风波西传型;北半球冬季对流层低层出现的跨赤道气旋对是冬季北半球TC形成的重要特征;太平洋中部赤道混合Rossby重力波西北传,与强对流中心重合,性质转为＂热带低压型扰动＂,为冬季热带气旋生成提供扰动源。对合成TC初始场的涡动扰动动能的收支分析表明,涡动有效位能和正压不稳定转换为TC形成提供了能量,这两种能量分别与积云对流加热和水平不均匀气流有关。正压不稳定能量转换为动能主要位于对流层中下层,而扰动有效位能的转换主要位于对流层中上层。低层热带东风波动从平均气流中获得正压不稳定能量,并与强积云对流耦合,热力和动力共同作用下形成TC。