NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF CLOUD MICROPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LANDFALL TYPHOON KROSA

In this study,the super typhoon KROSA(2007)was simulated using a mesoscale numerical model Global and Regional Assimilation and Prediction System(GRAPES)with a two-moment mixed-phase microphysics scheme.Local rainfall observations,radar and satellite data were also used to analyze the precipitation structure and microphysical features.It was shown that low-level jets and unstable temperature stratification provided this precipitation process with favorable weather condition.Heavy rainfall centers were located in the north and east part of KROSA with the maxima of 6-hourly total rainfall during the simulation more than 100 mm.The quantities of column solid water and column liquid water were generally equivalent,indicating the important role of ice phase in precipitation formation.Results of CloudSat showed that strong convection occurred in the eyewall around the cyclonic center.According to the simulation results,heavy precipitation in the northeast part of the typhoon was mainly triggered by convective clouds,accompanied by the strongest updraft under the melting level.In the southwest part of KROSA,precipitation intensity was rather homogeneous.The ascending center occurred in high-level cold clouds,favoring the formation and growth of ice particles.     

On the bulk parameterization of snow and its application to the quantitative studies of precipitation growth

Appropriate formulation of bulk parameterization of snow growth and evaporation based on observational characteristics of snow particles is presented. The parameterization is compared to that of S. A. Rutledge and P. V. Hobbs and to detailed treatment in which snow particles are assumed to grow or evaporate in each size bin separately. On the contrary to bulk parameterization of rain, snow diffusional growth or evaporation is accurately represented in the suggested bulk formulation, but growth by riming is overpredicted. Integrations of water budget equations in a one-dimensional updraft have shown that quantitative results, e.g., precipitation intensity, cloudwater content, supersaturation with respect to ice, depend on the parameterization scheme employed, which suggests that comparisons of field measurements with parameterized model outputs is usually not straightforward.     

The Importance of the Shape Parameter in a Bulk Parameterization Scheme to the Evolution of the Cloud Droplet Spectrum during Condensation

The shape parameter of the Gamma size distribution plays a key role in the evolution of the cloud droplet spectrum in the bulk parameterization schemes. However, due to the inaccurate specification of the shape parameter in the commonly used bulk double-moment schemes, the cloud droplet spectra cannot reasonably be described during the condensation process. Therefore, a newly-developed triple-parameter condensation scheme with the shape parameter diagnosed through the number concentration, cloud...     

Thermodynamics and Microphysical Characteristics of an Extreme Rainfall Event Under the Influence of a Low-level Jet over the South China Coast

In this paper, the data of Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), ERA5 reanalysis, sounding, wind profile radar, and dual-polarization radar are used to study an extreme rainfall event in the south China Coast on 11 to 12 May 2022 from the aspects of thermodynamics and microphysical characteristics under the influence of low-level jets (LLJs). Results show that: (1) The extreme rainfall event can be divided into two stages: the first stage (S1) from 0000 to 0600 LST on May 12 and the second stage (S2) from 0700 to 1700 LST on the same day. During S1, the rainfall is mainly caused by the upper-level shortwave trough and the boundary layer jet (BLJ), characterized by strong upward motion on the windward side of mountains. In S2, the combined influence of the BLJ and synoptic-system-related low-level jet (SLLJ) increases the vertical wind shear and vertical vorticity, strengthening the rainstorm. In combination with the effect of topography, a warm and humid southwest flow continuously transports water vapor to farther north, resulting in a significant increase in rainfall over the study area (on the terrain’s windward slope). From S1 to S2, the altitude of a divergence center in the upper air decreases obviously. (2) The rainfalls in the two stages are both associated with the mesoscale convergence line (MCL) on the surface, and the wind field from the mesoscale outflow boundary (MOB) in S1 is in the same direction as the environmental winds. Due to a small area of convergence that is left behind the MOB, convection moves eastward quickly and causes a short duration of heavy rainfall. In S2, the convergence along the MOB is enhanced, which strengthens the rainfall and leads to strong outflows, further enhancing the surface convergence near the MOB and forming a positive feedback mechanism. It results in a slow motion of convection and a long duration of heavy rainfall. (3) In terms of microphysics, the center of a strong echo in S1 is higher than in S2. The warm-rain process of the oceanic type characterizes both stages, but the convective intensity in S2 is significantly stronger than that in S1, featuring bigger drop sizes and lower concentrations. It is mainly due to the strengthening of LLJs, which makes small cloud droplets lift to melting levels, enhancing the ice phase process (riming process), producing large amounts of graupel particles and enhancing the melting and collision processes as they fall, resulting in the increase of liquid water content (LWC) and the formation of large raindrops near the surface.     

W波段和Ka波段云雷达探测回波对比分析

通过分析W波段和Ka波段云雷达同时探测回波的差异,验证了W波段云雷达初样机的探测性能。结果表明：1）W波段云雷达初样机工作稳定,两个波段雷达都可以探测云层、云的边界、云厚等宏观参数,也可以反映出云的精细结构及云内微物理参数的变化,回波强、速度小、谱宽大的冰晶云含有上升气流及较多过冷水。2）增强模式的W波段云雷达在近地面探测雾、霾的能力比Ka波段云雷达强;两部云雷达对云层较薄的云探测能力基本相当,对多层云、云层较厚、含水量较多的云及降水的探测,由于强衰减的作用,W波段雷达所测云厚度小、云顶低、回波强度小,并且非瑞利散射也会造成W波段雷达的回波强度降低。     

SENSITIVITY OF LANDFALLING TYPHOON STRUCTURE AND PRECIPITATION TO VARYING CLOUD MICROPHYSICAL PROCESSES

Typhoon KROSA in 2007 is simulated using GRAPES, a mesoscale numerical model, in which a two-parameter mixed-phase microphysics scheme is implanted. A series of numerical experiments are designed to test the sensitivity of landfalling typhoon structure and precipitation to varying cloud microphysics and latent heat release. It is found that typhoon track is sensitive to different microphysical processes and latent heat release. The cloud structures of simulated cyclones can be quite different with that of varying microphysical processes. Graupel particles play an important role in the formation of local heavy rainfall and the maintenance of spiral rainbands. Analysis reveals that the feedback of latent heat to dynamic fields can significantly change the content and distribution of cloud hydrometeors, thus having an impact on surface precipitation.     

Impact of Different Cloud Microphysics Parameterization Schemes on Typhoon Intensity and Structure

The impact of different cloud microphysics parameterization schemes on the intensity and structure of the Super-strong Typhoon Rammasun (1409) in 2014 is investigated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model version 3.4 with eight cloud microphysics parameterization schemes. Results indicate that the uncertainty of cloud microphysics schemes results in typhoon forecast uncertainties, which increase with forecast time. Typhoon forecast uncertainty primarily affects intensity predictions, with significant differences in predicted typhoon intensity using the various cloud microphysics schemes. Typhoon forecast uncertainty also affects the predicted typhoon structure. Greater typhoon intensity is accompanied by smaller vortex width, tighter vortex structure, stronger wind in the middle and lower troposphere, greater height of the strong wind region, smaller thickness of the eyewall and the outward extension of the eyewall, and a warmer warm core at upper levels of the eye. The differences among the various cloud microphysics schemes lead to the different amounts and distributions of water vapor and hydrometeors in clouds. Different hydrometeors have different vertical distributions. In the radial direction, the maxima for the various hydrometeors forecast by a single cloud microphysics scheme are collocated with each other and with the center of maximum precipitation. When the hydrometeor concentration is high and hydrometeors exist at lower altitudes, more precipitation often occurs. Both the vertical and horizontal winds are the strongest at the location of maximum precipitation. Results also indicate that typhoon intensities forecast by cloud microphysics schemes containing graupel processes are noticeably greater than those forecast by schemes without graupel processes. Among the eight cloud microphysics schemes investigated, typhoon intensity forecasts using the WRF Single-Moment 6-class and Thompson schemes are the most accurate.     

Evaluating the Impacts of Cloud Microphysical and Overlap Parameters on Simulated Clouds in Global Climate Models

The improvement of the accuracy of simulated cloud-related variables, such as the cloud fraction, in global climate models (GCMs) is still a challenging problem in climate modeling. In this study, the influence of cloud microphysics schemes (one-moment versus two-moment schemes) and cloud overlap methods (observation-based versus a fixed vertical decorrelation length) on the simulated cloud fraction was assessed in the BCC_AGCM2.0_CUACE/Aero. Compared with the fixed decorrelation length method, the observation-based approach produced a significantly improved cloud fraction both globally and for four representative regions. The utilization of a two-moment cloud microphysics scheme, on the other hand, notably improved the simulated cloud fraction compared with the one-moment scheme; specifically, the relative bias in the global mean total cloud fraction decreased by 42.9%–84.8%. Furthermore, the total cloud fraction bias decreased by 6.6% in the boreal winter (DJF) and 1.64% in the boreal summer (JJA). Cloud radiative forcing globally and in the four regions improved by 0.3%?1.2% and 0.2%?2.0%, respectively. Thus, our results showed that the interaction between clouds and climate through microphysical and radiation processes is a key contributor to simulation uncertainty.     

基于WRF模式的清江流域降雨-径流模拟研究

基于WRF模式,采用4层嵌套方案,选取3种积云参数化方案和7种微物理方案组成21种组合,对清江流域2016—2018年6—10月6次典型降雨事件进行数值预报,结合CMORPH卫星-地面自动站-雷达三源融合降水产品,采用TS评分和FSS评分,分析不同分辨率和云微物理方案的降雨预报效果;基于较优组合方案的WRF模式与WRF-Hydro水文模式耦合进行径流模拟,分析WRF模式在水文模拟中的应用效果。结果表明:3 km和1 km分辨率对降雨中心位置及强度预报的差别不大,对降雨落区都有较好的预报能力;在积云参数化方案中,KF方案和BMJ方案的降雨预报效果优于GF方案;在微物理方案中,WSM3、WSM5、WSM6、Thompson方案的预报结果与融合数据有较好的一致性;基于较优组合方案BMJ_WSM3,将WRF模式与WRF-Hydro模式耦合,耦合模式能较好地模拟洪水过程,径流模拟相关系数都在0.67以上,且NSE最高可达0.79。      

Contribution of the MODIS instrument to observations of deep convective storms and stratospheric moisture detection in GOES and MSG imagery

Past studies based on the NOAA/AVHRR and GOES I-M imager instruments have documented the link between certain storm top features referred to as the “cold-U/V” shape in the 10–12 μm IR band imagery and plumes of increased 3.7/3.9 μm band reflectivity. Later, similar features in the 3.7/3.9 μm band have been documented in the AVHRR/3 1.6 μm band imagery.The present work focuses on storm top observations utilizing the MODIS data. The MODIS instrument (available onboard NASA's EOS Terra and Aqua satellites) provides image data with significantly better geometrical resolution (in some of its bands) and broader range of spectral bands as compared to that from AVHRR/3 observations. One of the goals of this study is to evaluate the contribution of this new instrument to observations of convective storm tops. Besides the cloud top features linked to storm top microphysics and morphology, the paper also addresses the possibility of detection of lower stratospheric water vapor above cold convective storm tops. This issue is explored utilizing MODIS as well as GOES and MSG imagery.In addition, the paper discusses an alternative interpretation of the “cold-U/V” patterns at the top of intense storms by a mechanism of “plume masking” as suggested by some of the observations.