The Extra-Area Effect in 71 Cloud Seeding Operations during Winters of 2008–14 over Jiangxi Province,East China

Effects of weather modification operations on precipitation in target areas have been widely reported, but little is specifically known about the downwind (extra-area) effects in China. We estimated the extra-area effect of an operational winter (November-February) aircraft cloud-seeding project in northern Jiangxi Province in eastern China by using a revised historical target/control regression analysis method based on the precipitation data in winter. The results showed that the overall seasonal average rainfall at the downwind stations increased by 21.67%(p=0.0013). This enhancement effect was detected as far as 120 km away from the target area. Physical testing was used to compare the cloud characteristics before and after seeding on 29 November 2014. A posteriori analysis with respect to the characteristics of cloud units derived from operational weather radar data in Jiangxi was performed by tracking cloud units. Radar features in the target unit were enhanced relative to the control unit for more than two hours after the operational cloud seeding, which is indicative of the extra-area seeding effect. The findings could be used to help relieve water shortages in China.     

A Numerical Investigation on Microphysical Properties of Clouds and Precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau in Summer 2014

In order to improve our understanding of microphysical properties of clouds and precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), six cloud and precipitation processes with different intensities during the Third Tibetan Plateau Atmospheric Science Experiment (TIPEX-Ⅲ) from 3 July to 25 July 2014 in Naqu region of the TP are investigated by using the high-resolution mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The results show unique properties of summertime clouds and precipitation processes over the TP. The initiation process of clouds is closely associated with strong solar radiative heating in the daytime, and summertime clouds and precipitation show an obvious diurnal variation. Generally, convective clouds would transform into stratiform clouds with an obvious bright band and often produce strong rainfall in midnight. The maximum cloud top can reach more than 15 km above sea level and the velocity of updraft ranges from 10 to 40 m s-1. The simulations show high amount of supercooled water content primarily located between 0 and -20℃ layer in all the six cases. Ice crystals mainly form above the level of -20℃ and even appear above the level of -40℃ within strong convective clouds. Rainwater mostly appears below the melting layer, indicating that its formation mainly depends on the melting process of precipitable ice particles. Snow and graupel particles have the characteristics of high content and deep vertical distribution, showing that the ice phase process is very active in the development of clouds and precipitation. The conversion and formation of hydrometeors and precipitation over the plateau exhibit obvious characteristics. Surface precipitation is mainly formed by the melting of graupel particles. Although the warm cloud microphysical process has less direct contribution to the formation of surface precipitation, it is important for the formation of supercooled raindrops, which are essential for the formation of graupel embryos through heterogeneous freezing process. The growth of graupel particles mainly relies on the riming process with supercooled cloud water and aggregation of snow particles.     

SENSITIVITY OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING MODEL TO RADIATION SCHEMES IN CHINA

Results of one-year simulations using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model, with the use of different radiation schemes (RRTM, RRTMG, CAM, New Goddard and Goddard), are evaluated for China. The observations used in the model assessment include station data from the China Meteorological Administration, 14 flux field sites arranged in a coordinated observation network, and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data. Specifically, based on a Taylor diagram, the temperature differences between the radiation schemes are small, and the best annual mean spatial pattern and average value for China as a whole is produced by RRTMG. For the rainfall and net radiation annual mean simulation, the New Goddard and CAM schemes present better results than the RRTMG scheme. With respect to low cloud cover, all the schemes have similar reproduction without high cover on east of Tibet Plateau. Overall, the New Goddard and CAM schemes are suitable for longtime simulation without nesting and nudging options.     

青藏高原云团东传过程及其中中尺度对流系统的统计特征

利用逐小时风云卫星TBB资料、逐小时中国自动站与CMORPH降水产品融合数据以及国家级地面观测站24小时累积降水量,统计分析2010～2016年夏季,伴随下游地区（104°E以东）降水的青藏高原云团东传过程以及东传过程中镶嵌于云团中的中尺度对流系统（Mesoscale Convective System,简称MCS）特征。结果表明,共出现120次伴随下游降水的高原云团东传过程,6月出现最频繁,但持续时间较长的过程多出现在7月。云团向东传播的主要三条路径是平直东传、沿长江折向东传和复合东传。其中路径二——沿长江折向东传中的过程是高影响过程,因为过程次数较多（46次）,过程平均持续时间较长（62小时）,在下游地区引发的降水日数和暴雨日数最多。属于东传过程的MCS在7月形成最多,集中分布在青藏高原东坡、云贵高原东部、长江沿岸及其以南地区。高原MCS影响长江中下游地区降水主要是通过向东传播的形式实现,因为即使生命史更长的中α尺度对流系统（Meso-α Convective System,简称MαCS）也鲜少直接移动至110°E以东地区。不同区域的中α尺度持续性拉长形对流系统（Permanent Elongated Convective System,简称PECS）的日变化特征显示,东传过程MCS更容易在夜间从高原东坡向东传播至下游地区。在三条路径中,路径二中的东传过程MCS数量最多、在下游地区发展最旺盛并与降水日数和覆盖范围存在更好的对应关系。     

基于多源卫星数据的云底高度反演算法在中国近海的应用研究

本文利用直减率反演云底高度的计算方法,联合星载主、被动探测资料开展了中国东海、南海上空暖云云底高度反演研究,同时对暖云的分布特征进行了统计。结果表明受大气层结稳定程度影响,夜间的反演效果优于白天。两种资料的云顶高度较一致时,反演效果好,该方法具有可行性。     

94/220 GHz星载雷达双波长比对非球形冰晶云参数敏感性分析

利用不同形状冰晶的散射特性,获得了非球形冰晶云的94/220 GHz测云雷达双波长比,探讨了非球形冰晶云的双波长比与云内微物理参数的关系,分析了衰减前后的星载雷达反射率因子及双波长比的垂直廓线。结果表明:（1）双波长比可以反映小到0.1 mm中值尺度的冰粒子,对粒子总数、谱的形状参数不敏感,对粒子大小、形状、云衰减较敏感。（2）雷达灵敏度一定时,星载雷达可测云厚与雷达波长、冰含水量（IWC）的垂直分布、云厚及衰减有关;没有进行衰减订正时,双波长比和衰减有关,冰含水量越大,波长越短,衰减越大,双波长比最大值与可探测云厚有关。两部雷达可探测冰含水量为0.001—0.1 g/m3、厚2 km的冰云;当云厚5 km、冰含水量垂直分布在0.001—0.2 g/m3时,云厚的94%基本可以被220 GHz云雷达探测到。（3）如果两部雷达气象方程中用水的介电因子,测量回波强度应进行介电因子的订正后再计算双波长比。      

中尺度降水集合预报随机参数扰动方法敏感性试验

中尺度降水模式预报具有很大的不确定性,为更好地描述与模式降水预报密切相关的物理过程关键参数的不确定性,基于中国气象局GRAPES（Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System）中尺度区域集合预报模式,从对模式降水预报不确定性有较大影响的积云对流、云微物理、边界层及近地面层等4个参数化方案中选取了18个关键参数,设计了一种随机参数扰动方案（Stochastically Perturbed Parameterization,SPP）,并通过2015年6—7月总计10 d的随机扰动集合预报试验,对比分析了SPP方案对不同物理过程参数扰动敏感性、随机场时、空尺度敏感性、能量变化特征及其集合预报效果。结果显示,对所选择的任一物理过程参数化方案增加SPP扰动后,降水及等压面要素的概率预报技巧优于无SPP扰动的预报,而扰动积云对流和边界层过程中的参数较扰动云微物理过程中的参数影响更显著,且同时扰动积云对流、云微物理、边界层及近地面层参数化方案中的18个参数的集合预报效果优于扰动任何单一物理过程中的部分参数,表明SPP方案能够有效地提高中尺度降水概率预报技巧;从能量变化特征可知,不同物理过程的参数扰动对动能、内能和总能量的影响层次和特征有所不同,但总体而言,扰动前后各项能量基本相同;随机场时、空尺度敏感性试验发现,SPP扰动随机场时间、空间相关尺度对集合预报效果有明显影响,当扰动随机场选用12 h抗相关时间及截断波数20时,集合预报结果最优。上述结果表明,SPP随机参数扰动方案不仅能够有效提高集合概率预报效果,还能够提高集合降水概率预报技巧,具有良好的业务应用与发展前景。      

GRAPES全球奇异向量方法改进及试验分析

基于总能量模的奇异向量扰动常用于构造集合预报的初始条件。以建立GRAPES（Global and Regional Assimilation PrEdiction System）全球集合预报系统为目的,基于前期研发的GRAPES全球模式奇异向量方法,在GRAPES全球切线性模式和伴随模式2.0版的框架下,开展了引入线性化边界层方案来改善奇异向量结构,并提高奇异向量计算效率的研究。通过连续试验,从奇异向量的扰动能量结构、扰动能量谱及扰动空间分布等方面,综合分析改进GRAPES全球奇异向量的结构及演变特征。试验结果表明,改进后的GRAPES奇异向量方法有效抑制了之前扰动能量在近地面层不合理的快速增长,同时,奇异向量最优扰动的结构更客观地体现了中高纬度区域大气初始条件中的斜压不稳定扰动及其演变,如在初始时刻奇异向量扰动能量主要位于对流层中层,并呈现出随高度向西倾斜的大气斜压特征;经过线性化演变,扰动能量向较大水平尺度转移,并在垂直结构上表现出向对流层高层上传及向对流层低层下传的特征等。针对GRAPES奇异向量迭代求解中伴随模式计算耗时为主的情况,改进伴随模式中广义共轭余差方案的调用方式,并采用大内存存储法来提高其计算效率,进而将奇异向量总计算时间缩短了25%。总之,改进后的GRAPES奇异向量方法,可应用于构建面向业务应用的GRAPES全球集合预报系统。      

利用FY-2F快速扫描资料分析对流初生阶段的云顶物理量特征

基于FY-2F静止气象卫星提供的2015年5—9月的高分辨率数据,通过温度阈值法识别出深、浅对流后,分析和比较了深、浅对流在对流初生(convective initiation,CI)至发展阶段中云顶高度、云顶快速降温率(cloud top cooling rate,CTC)以及多通道差值等云顶物理量特征的变化异同。结果表明:深、浅对流在CI阶段的云顶物理量特征具有相似变化特征,即云顶高度均在短时间内快速上升,CTC值均先减小后增大;深、浅对流差异表现为深(浅)对流云顶上升高度能(不能)超越水汽层高度;深对流CTC最低值较浅对流CTC最低值更低。基于CI阶段深、浅对流的CTC最低值的差异,通过个例验证,表明利用深、浅对流CTC最低值的差异,可以在识别出CI的基础,判断出CI是否发展成为深对流,从而能提前做出预警。     

一次冰雹天气过程的云系发展演变及云物理特征研究

利用中尺度数值模式WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting)的数值模拟,结合NECP/FNL再分析资料、地面、探空、多普勒雷达基数据和卫星产品等观测资料,综合分析了2014年3月30日发生在贵州省西南部的一次冰雹天气过程。研究了有利于冰雹发生的环流特征和环境条件,分析了冰雹云系的发展演变特征、云微物理结构特征,初步分析了冰雹形成的云物理机制。结果表明:此次冰雹天气是典型的低压辐合线型降雹类型,地面降雹位置位于700 hPa切变线和近地面辐合线附近及南侧;发生此次冰雹过程的对流云系经历了对流云系的初生阶段、合并加强阶段、成熟降雹阶段和东移阶段。贵州地区上空对流云系的微物理结构具有混合相云特征,高层为冰晶、雪,中层为云水、霰,低层为雨水、冰雹。霰和云水是形成雨水和冰雹的主要来源,霰撞冻过冷云水和霰的自动转化是冰雹形成的主要微物理机制。