2009 Vol. 15, No. 2
2009, (2): 121-129.
Abstract:
A generalized wave-activity density, which is defined as an absolute value of production of three-dimensional vorticity vector perturbation and gradient of general potential temperature perturbation, is introduced and its wave-activity law is derived in Cartesian coordinates. Constructed in an agoestrophic and nonhydrostatic dynamical framework, the generalized wave-activity law may be applicable to diagnose mesoscale weather systems leading to heavy rainfall. The generalized wave-activity density and wave-activity flux divergence were calculated with the objective analysis data to investigate the character of wave activity over heavy-rainfall regions. The primary dynamical processes responsible for disturbance associated with heavy rainfall were also analyzed. It was shown that the generalized wave-activity density was closely correlated to the observed 6-h accumulative rainfall. This indicated that the wave activity or disturbance was evident over the frontal and landfall-typhoon heavy-rainfall regions in middle and lower troposphere. For the landfall-typhoon rainband, the portion of generalized wave-activity flux divergence, denoting the interaction between the basic-state cyclonic circulation of landfall typhoon and mesoscale waves, was the primary dynamic process responsible for the evolution of generalized wave-activity density.
A generalized wave-activity density, which is defined as an absolute value of production of three-dimensional vorticity vector perturbation and gradient of general potential temperature perturbation, is introduced and its wave-activity law is derived in Cartesian coordinates. Constructed in an agoestrophic and nonhydrostatic dynamical framework, the generalized wave-activity law may be applicable to diagnose mesoscale weather systems leading to heavy rainfall. The generalized wave-activity density and wave-activity flux divergence were calculated with the objective analysis data to investigate the character of wave activity over heavy-rainfall regions. The primary dynamical processes responsible for disturbance associated with heavy rainfall were also analyzed. It was shown that the generalized wave-activity density was closely correlated to the observed 6-h accumulative rainfall. This indicated that the wave activity or disturbance was evident over the frontal and landfall-typhoon heavy-rainfall regions in middle and lower troposphere. For the landfall-typhoon rainband, the portion of generalized wave-activity flux divergence, denoting the interaction between the basic-state cyclonic circulation of landfall typhoon and mesoscale waves, was the primary dynamic process responsible for the evolution of generalized wave-activity density.
2009, (2): 130-147.
Abstract:
Based on best-track data and JRA-25 reanalysis, a climatology of western North Pacific extratropical transition (ET) of tropical cyclone (TC) is presented in this paper. It was found that 35% (318 out of 912) of all TCs underwent ET during 1979–C2008. The warm-season (June through September) ETs account for 64% of all ET events with the most occurrence in September. The area 120°E–C150°E and 20°N–C40°N is the most favorable region for ET onsets in western North Pacific. The TCs experiencing ET at latitudes 30°N–C40°N have the greatest intensity in contrast to those at other latitude bands. The distribution of ET onset locations shows obviously meridional migration in different seasons. A cyclone phase space (CPS) method was used to analyze the TC evolution during ET. Except for some cases of abnormal ET at relatively high latitudes, typical phase evolution paths―along which TC firstly showed thermal asymmetry and an upper-level cold core and then lost its low-level warm core―can be used to describe the main features of ET processes in western North Pacific. Some seasonal variations of ET evolution paths in CPS were also found at low latitudes south of 15°N, which suggests different ET onset mechanisms there. Further composite analysis concluded that warm-season ETs have generally two types of evolutions, but only one type in cold season (October through next May). The first type of warm-season ETs has less baroclinicity due to long distance between the TC and upper-level mid-latitude system. However, significant interactions between a mid-latitude upper-level trough and TC, which either approaches or is absorbed into the trough, and TC’s relations with downstream and upstream upper-level jets, are the fingerprints for both a second type of warm-season ETs and almost all the cold-season ETs. For each type of ETs, detailed structural characteristics as well as precipitation distribution are illustrated by latitude.
Based on best-track data and JRA-25 reanalysis, a climatology of western North Pacific extratropical transition (ET) of tropical cyclone (TC) is presented in this paper. It was found that 35% (318 out of 912) of all TCs underwent ET during 1979–C2008. The warm-season (June through September) ETs account for 64% of all ET events with the most occurrence in September. The area 120°E–C150°E and 20°N–C40°N is the most favorable region for ET onsets in western North Pacific. The TCs experiencing ET at latitudes 30°N–C40°N have the greatest intensity in contrast to those at other latitude bands. The distribution of ET onset locations shows obviously meridional migration in different seasons. A cyclone phase space (CPS) method was used to analyze the TC evolution during ET. Except for some cases of abnormal ET at relatively high latitudes, typical phase evolution paths―along which TC firstly showed thermal asymmetry and an upper-level cold core and then lost its low-level warm core―can be used to describe the main features of ET processes in western North Pacific. Some seasonal variations of ET evolution paths in CPS were also found at low latitudes south of 15°N, which suggests different ET onset mechanisms there. Further composite analysis concluded that warm-season ETs have generally two types of evolutions, but only one type in cold season (October through next May). The first type of warm-season ETs has less baroclinicity due to long distance between the TC and upper-level mid-latitude system. However, significant interactions between a mid-latitude upper-level trough and TC, which either approaches or is absorbed into the trough, and TC’s relations with downstream and upstream upper-level jets, are the fingerprints for both a second type of warm-season ETs and almost all the cold-season ETs. For each type of ETs, detailed structural characteristics as well as precipitation distribution are illustrated by latitude.
2009, (2): 148-154.
Abstract:
A lag correlation analysis is conducted with a 21-day TOGA COARE cloud-resolving model simulation data to identify the phase relation between surface rainfall and convective available potential energy (CAPE) and associated physical processes. The analysis shows that the maximum negative lag correlations between the model domain mean CAPE and rainfall occurs around lag hour 6. The minimum mean CAPE lags mean and convective rainfall through the vapor condensation and depositions, water vapor convergence, and heat divergence whereas it lags stratiform rainfall via the transport of hydrometeor concentration from convective regions to raining stratiform regions, vapor condensation and depositions, water vapor storage, and heat divergence over raining stratiform regions.
A lag correlation analysis is conducted with a 21-day TOGA COARE cloud-resolving model simulation data to identify the phase relation between surface rainfall and convective available potential energy (CAPE) and associated physical processes. The analysis shows that the maximum negative lag correlations between the model domain mean CAPE and rainfall occurs around lag hour 6. The minimum mean CAPE lags mean and convective rainfall through the vapor condensation and depositions, water vapor convergence, and heat divergence whereas it lags stratiform rainfall via the transport of hydrometeor concentration from convective regions to raining stratiform regions, vapor condensation and depositions, water vapor storage, and heat divergence over raining stratiform regions.
2009, (2): 155-161.
Abstract:
Using the Advanced Research WRF (ARW WRF) model and the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) three-dimensional variational analysis (3DVAR) system, the impact of assimilating ATOVS (Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) radiance through the prototype Community Radiative Transfer Model (pCRTM) is evaluated on the forecasting of a heavy rainstorm occurring over the central Guangdong province in the southeast of China on 20-21 June 2005. A pair of comparison experiments (NODA and DA) for this case is conducted with multiple configurations, including nesting domains with 4-km and 12-km grid distances. The results showed that by changing the initial condition through data assimilation, a modified divergence and moisture field with the structure of dipoles has been added to the axis of the rainband with a southwest-northeast orientation. When more moisture carried by a southwesterly low level jet (LLJ) was converged into the northeast portion of the rainband around the observatory station of Longmen, the amplitude of moisture static energy (MSE) increased substantially at low levels much more than at middle levels, resulting in the enlarging of differences in MSE between 500 hPa and 850 hPa; the atmosphere became more unstable. Consequently, the convective rainfall increased in the northeast part of the province around the Longmen station, which was consistent with the observed distribution of rainfall.
Using the Advanced Research WRF (ARW WRF) model and the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) three-dimensional variational analysis (3DVAR) system, the impact of assimilating ATOVS (Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) radiance through the prototype Community Radiative Transfer Model (pCRTM) is evaluated on the forecasting of a heavy rainstorm occurring over the central Guangdong province in the southeast of China on 20-21 June 2005. A pair of comparison experiments (NODA and DA) for this case is conducted with multiple configurations, including nesting domains with 4-km and 12-km grid distances. The results showed that by changing the initial condition through data assimilation, a modified divergence and moisture field with the structure of dipoles has been added to the axis of the rainband with a southwest-northeast orientation. When more moisture carried by a southwesterly low level jet (LLJ) was converged into the northeast portion of the rainband around the observatory station of Longmen, the amplitude of moisture static energy (MSE) increased substantially at low levels much more than at middle levels, resulting in the enlarging of differences in MSE between 500 hPa and 850 hPa; the atmosphere became more unstable. Consequently, the convective rainfall increased in the northeast part of the province around the Longmen station, which was consistent with the observed distribution of rainfall.
2009, (2): 162-166.
Abstract:
This study presents a new way to identify the sensitive areas, which are determined by invoking the negative anomalies of moist potential vorticity (MPV) for typhoon adaptive observations. It is found that the areas of negative MPV are the symmetric instability areas and can be taken as sensitive areas for typhoon adaptive observations. Three typhoons in 2008, Nuri, Fung-wong, and Fengshen, were simulated with the help of MM5 model. It is shown that these typhoons are well simulated in the first 12 hours. Based on these investigations, the calculations of MPV are carried out sequentially. The result shows that the negative maxima of MPV are always around the typhoon eyes for all the cases, which means that the sensitive areas are also near them all the time.
This study presents a new way to identify the sensitive areas, which are determined by invoking the negative anomalies of moist potential vorticity (MPV) for typhoon adaptive observations. It is found that the areas of negative MPV are the symmetric instability areas and can be taken as sensitive areas for typhoon adaptive observations. Three typhoons in 2008, Nuri, Fung-wong, and Fengshen, were simulated with the help of MM5 model. It is shown that these typhoons are well simulated in the first 12 hours. Based on these investigations, the calculations of MPV are carried out sequentially. The result shows that the negative maxima of MPV are always around the typhoon eyes for all the cases, which means that the sensitive areas are also near them all the time.
2009, (2): 167-180.
Abstract:
The deformation parameter (DP), which is defined as the product of shear deformation and stretching deformation of moisture flux circulation, is introduced. The tendency equation of DP is derived in pressure coordinates. Furthermore, DP is used to diagnose the deformation character of moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis. The analysis showed that before Bilis landed, DP presented eight abnormal areas, which distributed alternately and closely encircled the low-pressure center. This indicated that the moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis rotated counterclockwise and stretched longitudinally and latitudinally to deform. After Bilis landed, DP weakened gradually and its regular pattern of horizontal distribution loosened. The shear and stretching deformations of moisture flux circulation surrounding Bilis weakened after the typhoon landed. The deformation of moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis mainly appeared in the middle-lower troposphere. There existed 1/2 phase difference between the shear and stretching deformations in the vertical-latitudinal cross section and a π/4 phase difference between them on the horizontal plane. As Bilis landed and further moved inland of China, the intensities of DP, shear and stretching deformations decreased, meanwhile their vertical and horizontal structures became irregular. The chief dynamic factors responsible for the deformation of moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis were the three terms associated with the three-dimensional advection transportation of DP, square difference between shear and stretching deformations coupling with Coriolis parameter, and horizontal gradient of geopotential height before Bilis landed. The last two dynamic factors impacted jointly on the deformation of moisture flux circulation after Bilis landed.
The deformation parameter (DP), which is defined as the product of shear deformation and stretching deformation of moisture flux circulation, is introduced. The tendency equation of DP is derived in pressure coordinates. Furthermore, DP is used to diagnose the deformation character of moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis. The analysis showed that before Bilis landed, DP presented eight abnormal areas, which distributed alternately and closely encircled the low-pressure center. This indicated that the moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis rotated counterclockwise and stretched longitudinally and latitudinally to deform. After Bilis landed, DP weakened gradually and its regular pattern of horizontal distribution loosened. The shear and stretching deformations of moisture flux circulation surrounding Bilis weakened after the typhoon landed. The deformation of moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis mainly appeared in the middle-lower troposphere. There existed 1/2 phase difference between the shear and stretching deformations in the vertical-latitudinal cross section and a π/4 phase difference between them on the horizontal plane. As Bilis landed and further moved inland of China, the intensities of DP, shear and stretching deformations decreased, meanwhile their vertical and horizontal structures became irregular. The chief dynamic factors responsible for the deformation of moisture flux circulation in the periphery of Bilis were the three terms associated with the three-dimensional advection transportation of DP, square difference between shear and stretching deformations coupling with Coriolis parameter, and horizontal gradient of geopotential height before Bilis landed. The last two dynamic factors impacted jointly on the deformation of moisture flux circulation after Bilis landed.
2009, (2): 181-191.
Abstract:
The detailed surface rainfall processes associated with landfalling typhoon Kaemi(2006) are investigated based on hourly data from a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model simulation. The model is integrated for 6 days with imposed large-scale vertical velocity, zonal wind, horizontal temperature and vapor advection from National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) / Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) data. The simulation data are validated with observations in terms of surface rain rate. The Root-Mean-Squared (RMS) difference in surface rain rate between the simulation and the gauge observations is 0.660 mm h-1, which is smaller than the standard deviations of both the simulated rain rate (0.753 mm h-1) and the observed rain rate (0.833 mm h-1). The simulation data are then used to study the physical causes associated with the detailed surface rainfall processes during the landfall. The results show that time averaged and model domain-mean Ps mainly comes from large-scale convergence (QWVF) and local vapor loss (positive QWVT). Large underestimation (about 15%) of Ps will occur if QWVT and QCM (cloud source/sink) are not considered as contributors to Ps. QWVF accounts for the variation of Ps during most of the integration time, while it is not always a contributor to Ps. Sometimes surface rainfall could occur when divergence is dominant with local vapor loss to be a contributor to Ps. Surface rainfall is a result of multi-timescale interactions. QWVE possesses the longest time scale and the lowest frequency of variation with time and may exert impact on Ps on longer time scales. QWVF possesses the second longest time scale and lowest frequency and can explain most of the variation of Ps. QWVT and QCM possess shorter time scales and higher frequencies, which can explain more detailed variations in Ps. Partitioning analysis shows that stratiform rainfall is dominant from the morning of 26 July till the late night of 27 July. After that, convective rainfall dominates till about 1000 LST 28 July. Before 28 July, the variations of QWVT in rainfall-free regions contribute less to that of the domain-mean QWVT while after that they contribute much, which is consistent to the corresponding variations in their fractional coverage. The variations of QWVF in rainfall regions are the main contributors to that of the domain-mean QWVF, then the main contributors to the surface rain rate before the afternoon of 28 July.
The detailed surface rainfall processes associated with landfalling typhoon Kaemi(2006) are investigated based on hourly data from a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model simulation. The model is integrated for 6 days with imposed large-scale vertical velocity, zonal wind, horizontal temperature and vapor advection from National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) / Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) data. The simulation data are validated with observations in terms of surface rain rate. The Root-Mean-Squared (RMS) difference in surface rain rate between the simulation and the gauge observations is 0.660 mm h-1, which is smaller than the standard deviations of both the simulated rain rate (0.753 mm h-1) and the observed rain rate (0.833 mm h-1). The simulation data are then used to study the physical causes associated with the detailed surface rainfall processes during the landfall. The results show that time averaged and model domain-mean Ps mainly comes from large-scale convergence (QWVF) and local vapor loss (positive QWVT). Large underestimation (about 15%) of Ps will occur if QWVT and QCM (cloud source/sink) are not considered as contributors to Ps. QWVF accounts for the variation of Ps during most of the integration time, while it is not always a contributor to Ps. Sometimes surface rainfall could occur when divergence is dominant with local vapor loss to be a contributor to Ps. Surface rainfall is a result of multi-timescale interactions. QWVE possesses the longest time scale and the lowest frequency of variation with time and may exert impact on Ps on longer time scales. QWVF possesses the second longest time scale and lowest frequency and can explain most of the variation of Ps. QWVT and QCM possess shorter time scales and higher frequencies, which can explain more detailed variations in Ps. Partitioning analysis shows that stratiform rainfall is dominant from the morning of 26 July till the late night of 27 July. After that, convective rainfall dominates till about 1000 LST 28 July. Before 28 July, the variations of QWVT in rainfall-free regions contribute less to that of the domain-mean QWVT while after that they contribute much, which is consistent to the corresponding variations in their fractional coverage. The variations of QWVF in rainfall regions are the main contributors to that of the domain-mean QWVF, then the main contributors to the surface rain rate before the afternoon of 28 July.
2009, (2): 192-203.
Abstract:
Using real analysis data of 1°×1° resolution of the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR), the nondivergent wind component and irrotational wind component obtained by the harmonic-cosine(H-C) method, and the wind structure of Typhoon Fung-Wong (coded 0808 in China) in 2008 was analyzed. The results indicated that the irrotational component was advantageous over the total wind in reflecting both the changes in convergent height and the asymmetrical convergence of Fung-Wong. In Fung-Wong, the nondivergent component was larger than the irrotational component, but the latter was much more variable than the former, which was obtained only from the wind partition method. Further analyses on the irrotational component demonstrated that the location of the convergent center at lower levels was almost the same as the divergent center during the development of Fung-Wong, and its convergent level was high in its life cycle, with the most highest up to 400 hPa when it became stronger. After the typhoon landed in the provinces of Taiwan and Fujian, respectively, its convergent center at lower levels was slowly detached from the divergent center at high levels and the convergent height was also depressed from high levels to lower levels. Gradually, this weakened the intensity of Fung-Wong. This kind of weakening was slow and Fung-Wong maintained its circulation for a long time over land because of its very thick convergent height. Analyses on wind partitioning provided one possible explanation to why Fung-Wong stayed for a long time after it landed. Furthermore, the asymmetric vertical ascending motion was induced by the asymmetric convergence at lower levels. In general, when typhoons (such as Fung-Wong) land, the rainfall region coincides with that of the convergence region (indicated by the irrotational component at lower layers). This means that the possible rainfall regions may be diagnosed from the convergent area of the irrotational component. For an observational experiment on typhoons, the convergent region may be considered as a key observational region.
Using real analysis data of 1°×1° resolution of the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR), the nondivergent wind component and irrotational wind component obtained by the harmonic-cosine(H-C) method, and the wind structure of Typhoon Fung-Wong (coded 0808 in China) in 2008 was analyzed. The results indicated that the irrotational component was advantageous over the total wind in reflecting both the changes in convergent height and the asymmetrical convergence of Fung-Wong. In Fung-Wong, the nondivergent component was larger than the irrotational component, but the latter was much more variable than the former, which was obtained only from the wind partition method. Further analyses on the irrotational component demonstrated that the location of the convergent center at lower levels was almost the same as the divergent center during the development of Fung-Wong, and its convergent level was high in its life cycle, with the most highest up to 400 hPa when it became stronger. After the typhoon landed in the provinces of Taiwan and Fujian, respectively, its convergent center at lower levels was slowly detached from the divergent center at high levels and the convergent height was also depressed from high levels to lower levels. Gradually, this weakened the intensity of Fung-Wong. This kind of weakening was slow and Fung-Wong maintained its circulation for a long time over land because of its very thick convergent height. Analyses on wind partitioning provided one possible explanation to why Fung-Wong stayed for a long time after it landed. Furthermore, the asymmetric vertical ascending motion was induced by the asymmetric convergence at lower levels. In general, when typhoons (such as Fung-Wong) land, the rainfall region coincides with that of the convergence region (indicated by the irrotational component at lower layers). This means that the possible rainfall regions may be diagnosed from the convergent area of the irrotational component. For an observational experiment on typhoons, the convergent region may be considered as a key observational region.
2009, (2): 204-209.
Abstract:
This paper tests the impacts of cloud-induced mass forcing on the moist potential vorticity (MPV) anomaly associated with torrential rains caused by Typhoon No.9914 (Dan) by using fine model simulation data outputted by the Fifth-Generation NCAR / Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5). The diagnostic results show that the positive MPV anomaly region, which is obtained by integrating the MPV from 600 hPa to 300 hPa in the vertical, roughly coincides with the precipitation at their synchronous stages either in position or in the distribution pattern, and the maximum positive MPV area of Dan is located mainly between 600 hPa and 300 hPa, which is much higher than torrential rain cases. Further analyses also showed that the value of positive MPV anomaly increased or decreased with the development of Dan, and the positive MPV anomaly may also be served as a tracer to indicate the evolution of tropical cyclone intensity.
This paper tests the impacts of cloud-induced mass forcing on the moist potential vorticity (MPV) anomaly associated with torrential rains caused by Typhoon No.9914 (Dan) by using fine model simulation data outputted by the Fifth-Generation NCAR / Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5). The diagnostic results show that the positive MPV anomaly region, which is obtained by integrating the MPV from 600 hPa to 300 hPa in the vertical, roughly coincides with the precipitation at their synchronous stages either in position or in the distribution pattern, and the maximum positive MPV area of Dan is located mainly between 600 hPa and 300 hPa, which is much higher than torrential rain cases. Further analyses also showed that the value of positive MPV anomaly increased or decreased with the development of Dan, and the positive MPV anomaly may also be served as a tracer to indicate the evolution of tropical cyclone intensity.
2009, (2): 210-216.
Abstract:
Based on the primitive equations in polar coordinates, supposing that parcel velocity in tropical cyclones is in linear variation and that the distribution of surface pressure agrees with the Fujita formula, a set of equations are derived, which describe the impact of perturbations of central pressure, position of tropical cyclones, direction and velocity of movement of tropical cyclones on the wind field. It is proved that the second order approximation of the kinetic energy of tropical cyclones can be described by the equations under linear approximation. Typhoon Wipha (2007) is selected to verify the above interpretation method, and the results show that the interpretation method of the wind field could give very good results before the landfall of tropical cyclones, while making no apparent improvement after the landfall. The dynamical interpretation method in this paper is applicable to improving the forecasts of the wind field of tropical cyclones close to the coast.
Based on the primitive equations in polar coordinates, supposing that parcel velocity in tropical cyclones is in linear variation and that the distribution of surface pressure agrees with the Fujita formula, a set of equations are derived, which describe the impact of perturbations of central pressure, position of tropical cyclones, direction and velocity of movement of tropical cyclones on the wind field. It is proved that the second order approximation of the kinetic energy of tropical cyclones can be described by the equations under linear approximation. Typhoon Wipha (2007) is selected to verify the above interpretation method, and the results show that the interpretation method of the wind field could give very good results before the landfall of tropical cyclones, while making no apparent improvement after the landfall. The dynamical interpretation method in this paper is applicable to improving the forecasts of the wind field of tropical cyclones close to the coast.
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