2014 Vol. 20, No. 2
2014, 20(2): 93-102.
Abstract:
A South China Sea (SCS) local TC (SLT) is defined as a tropical cyclone (TC) that forms within the SCS region and can reach the grade of tropical storm (TS) or above. The statistical features of the SLTs from 1985 to 2007 are analyzed first. It is found that over the SCS about 68% of the TCs can develop into TSs. The SLT intensity is relatively weak and associated with its genesis latitude as well as its track. The SLT monthly number presents a seasonal variation with two peaks in May and July to September. Based on the daily heat flux data from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution_Objectively Analyzed air-sea Fluxes (WHOI_OAFlux) in the same period, the air-sea exchange during the process of generation and development of the SLT is studied. Results show that the heat fluxes released to the atmosphere increase significantly day by day before cyclogenesis. The ocean to the south to the TC center provides the main energy. Along with the development of SLT, the regions with large heat fluxes spread clockwise to the north of TC, which reflects the energy dispersion property of vortex Rossby waves in the periphery of the TC. Once the SLT forms the heat fluxes are not intensified as much. During the whole process, the net heat, latent heat and sensible heat flux display a similar evolution, while the latent heat flux makes a main contribution to the net heat flux. The maximum air-sea heat exchange always occurs at the left side of the TC moving direction, which may reflect the influence of the SCS summer monsoon on TC structure.ed response of the ocean to the atmospheric wind field.
A South China Sea (SCS) local TC (SLT) is defined as a tropical cyclone (TC) that forms within the SCS region and can reach the grade of tropical storm (TS) or above. The statistical features of the SLTs from 1985 to 2007 are analyzed first. It is found that over the SCS about 68% of the TCs can develop into TSs. The SLT intensity is relatively weak and associated with its genesis latitude as well as its track. The SLT monthly number presents a seasonal variation with two peaks in May and July to September. Based on the daily heat flux data from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution_Objectively Analyzed air-sea Fluxes (WHOI_OAFlux) in the same period, the air-sea exchange during the process of generation and development of the SLT is studied. Results show that the heat fluxes released to the atmosphere increase significantly day by day before cyclogenesis. The ocean to the south to the TC center provides the main energy. Along with the development of SLT, the regions with large heat fluxes spread clockwise to the north of TC, which reflects the energy dispersion property of vortex Rossby waves in the periphery of the TC. Once the SLT forms the heat fluxes are not intensified as much. During the whole process, the net heat, latent heat and sensible heat flux display a similar evolution, while the latent heat flux makes a main contribution to the net heat flux. The maximum air-sea heat exchange always occurs at the left side of the TC moving direction, which may reflect the influence of the SCS summer monsoon on TC structure.ed response of the ocean to the atmospheric wind field.
2014, 20(2): 103-111.
Abstract:
Based on an analysis of the relationship between the tropical cyclone genesis frequency and large-scale circulation anomaly in NCEP reanalysis, large-scale atmosphere circulation information forecast by the JAMSTEC SINTEX-F coupled model is used to build a statistical model to predict the cyclogenesis frequency over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific. The SINTEX-F coupled model has relatively good prediction skill for some circulation features associated with the cyclogenesis frequency including sea level pressure, wind vertical shear, Intertropical Convergence Zone and cross-equatorial air flows. Predictors derived from these large-scale circulations have good relationships with the cyclogenesis frequency over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific. A multivariate linear regression (MLR) model is further designed using these predictors. This model shows good prediction skill with the anomaly correlation coefficient reaching, based on the cross validation, 0.71 between the observed and predicted cyclogenesis frequency. However, it also shows relatively large prediction errors in extreme tropical cyclone years (1994 and 1998, for example).
Based on an analysis of the relationship between the tropical cyclone genesis frequency and large-scale circulation anomaly in NCEP reanalysis, large-scale atmosphere circulation information forecast by the JAMSTEC SINTEX-F coupled model is used to build a statistical model to predict the cyclogenesis frequency over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific. The SINTEX-F coupled model has relatively good prediction skill for some circulation features associated with the cyclogenesis frequency including sea level pressure, wind vertical shear, Intertropical Convergence Zone and cross-equatorial air flows. Predictors derived from these large-scale circulations have good relationships with the cyclogenesis frequency over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific. A multivariate linear regression (MLR) model is further designed using these predictors. This model shows good prediction skill with the anomaly correlation coefficient reaching, based on the cross validation, 0.71 between the observed and predicted cyclogenesis frequency. However, it also shows relatively large prediction errors in extreme tropical cyclone years (1994 and 1998, for example).
2014, 20(2): 112-120.
Abstract:
The paper compares the correlations between individual factors of the cyclogenesis and the number of TCs formed in the western North Pacific in July to September (NTWNP). It also compares the characteristics of zonal anomaly distribution of the factors in the primary TC source areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Results show that the vorticity factor has the closest correlation with NTWNP. In TC genesis conditions, this feature is relatively rich but not enough, which determines that it is the sensitivity factor of NTWNP’s annual variation. The paper also analyzes the source of annual variation of the vorticity factor in the key area of the western North Pacific as well as its advantage in showing NTWNP. Results show that the annual variation of the vorticity factor mentioned above is related to the annual variation of Southern Oscillation, Antarctica Oscillation and the geopotential height field of East Australia, which reflects the effect of two large-scale systems in the Southern Hemisphere and ENSO (El Niño–CSouthern Oscillation) on NTWNP. Since the area where the vorticity factor is significantly correlated with NTWNP is consistent with the area of dense TC genesis sources, the vorticity factor has an obvious advantage in showing annual variation of TCs. Those features are very significant for research on the influencing mechanism of NTWNP and simulation of climate models.
The paper compares the correlations between individual factors of the cyclogenesis and the number of TCs formed in the western North Pacific in July to September (NTWNP). It also compares the characteristics of zonal anomaly distribution of the factors in the primary TC source areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Results show that the vorticity factor has the closest correlation with NTWNP. In TC genesis conditions, this feature is relatively rich but not enough, which determines that it is the sensitivity factor of NTWNP’s annual variation. The paper also analyzes the source of annual variation of the vorticity factor in the key area of the western North Pacific as well as its advantage in showing NTWNP. Results show that the annual variation of the vorticity factor mentioned above is related to the annual variation of Southern Oscillation, Antarctica Oscillation and the geopotential height field of East Australia, which reflects the effect of two large-scale systems in the Southern Hemisphere and ENSO (El Niño–CSouthern Oscillation) on NTWNP. Since the area where the vorticity factor is significantly correlated with NTWNP is consistent with the area of dense TC genesis sources, the vorticity factor has an obvious advantage in showing annual variation of TCs. Those features are very significant for research on the influencing mechanism of NTWNP and simulation of climate models.
2014, 20(2): 121-134.
Abstract:
The regional climate model (RegCM3), developed by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics and nested in one-way mode within the latest version of Community Climate System Model from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is used to conduct a set of experiments to examine its capability of climate simulation for the past 50 years and to explore possible changes in extreme precipitation (EP) in the next 100 years under the A1B scenario. Compared with the observation from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia and CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation, RegCM3 reasonably reproduces the spatiotemporal distributions of precipitation and EP in eastern China. Based on the present-day analysis, this study examines the changes in monsoonal precipitation over eastern China in mid- and late-21st century relative to the reference period of 1970-1999. It is found that the precipitation will increase over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and areas to its north, and decrease over coastal areas to its south, especially in late-21st century. The various indices reflecting extreme events showed that the EP will enhance 10%-15% over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and areas to its north, and weaken over the areas to its south. The summer monsoon will strengthen and shift northwards under SERS A1B, bringing more water vapor and energy from the Indian Ocean and South China Sea for precipitation and eventually more precipitation over northern China.
The regional climate model (RegCM3), developed by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics and nested in one-way mode within the latest version of Community Climate System Model from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is used to conduct a set of experiments to examine its capability of climate simulation for the past 50 years and to explore possible changes in extreme precipitation (EP) in the next 100 years under the A1B scenario. Compared with the observation from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia and CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation, RegCM3 reasonably reproduces the spatiotemporal distributions of precipitation and EP in eastern China. Based on the present-day analysis, this study examines the changes in monsoonal precipitation over eastern China in mid- and late-21st century relative to the reference period of 1970-1999. It is found that the precipitation will increase over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and areas to its north, and decrease over coastal areas to its south, especially in late-21st century. The various indices reflecting extreme events showed that the EP will enhance 10%-15% over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and areas to its north, and weaken over the areas to its south. The summer monsoon will strengthen and shift northwards under SERS A1B, bringing more water vapor and energy from the Indian Ocean and South China Sea for precipitation and eventually more precipitation over northern China.
2014, 20(2): 135-142.
Abstract:
Based on the daily precipitation data of 83 stations in Guangxi and the NCEP/NCAR monthly reanalysis data from 1979 through 2008, the characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution and variation of the rainstorm concentration degree (RCD) and the rainstorm concentration period (RCP) are analyzed by using the methods of Monte Carlo test etc. The results are shown as follows. The rainstorm events are concentrated in April-September, taking up about 90% of the yearly rainfall total, and the percentages of rainstorms in the annual total precipitation have an increasing tendency. RCD in the east of Guangxi is larger than that in the west. The RCP in the northeast and southwest of Guangxi is later than that in the other regions, and has the earliest onset in the northern mountainous regions of Baise and southeast Guangxi. The RCD exhibits an increasing tendency in the northwest and the coastal region while showing a decreasing tendency in the other regions. On a long-term basis, the RCP in the east and coastal region has a postponing trend but tends to be earlier in the other regions. The proposed mechanism is as follows: If the geopotential height in the south of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the West Pacific has a highly negative anomaly in winter, the western Pacific subtropical high will be strong in summer, which increases the RCD in Guangxi. If the geopotential height has a highly positive anomaly in winter, the subtropical high will have a significant periodic oscillation in summer, which decreases the RCD in Guangxi. The value of RCD is high (low) in the area of northern mountainous regions of Guangxi and Beihai in strong (weak) South China Sea summer monsoon years, while in the other areas, the value of RCD is low (high).
Based on the daily precipitation data of 83 stations in Guangxi and the NCEP/NCAR monthly reanalysis data from 1979 through 2008, the characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution and variation of the rainstorm concentration degree (RCD) and the rainstorm concentration period (RCP) are analyzed by using the methods of Monte Carlo test etc. The results are shown as follows. The rainstorm events are concentrated in April-September, taking up about 90% of the yearly rainfall total, and the percentages of rainstorms in the annual total precipitation have an increasing tendency. RCD in the east of Guangxi is larger than that in the west. The RCP in the northeast and southwest of Guangxi is later than that in the other regions, and has the earliest onset in the northern mountainous regions of Baise and southeast Guangxi. The RCD exhibits an increasing tendency in the northwest and the coastal region while showing a decreasing tendency in the other regions. On a long-term basis, the RCP in the east and coastal region has a postponing trend but tends to be earlier in the other regions. The proposed mechanism is as follows: If the geopotential height in the south of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the West Pacific has a highly negative anomaly in winter, the western Pacific subtropical high will be strong in summer, which increases the RCD in Guangxi. If the geopotential height has a highly positive anomaly in winter, the subtropical high will have a significant periodic oscillation in summer, which decreases the RCD in Guangxi. The value of RCD is high (low) in the area of northern mountainous regions of Guangxi and Beihai in strong (weak) South China Sea summer monsoon years, while in the other areas, the value of RCD is low (high).
2014, 20(2): 143-153.
Abstract:
The Climate Forecast Systems (CFS) datasets provided by National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), which cover the time from 1981 to 2008, can be used to forecast atmospheric circulation nine months ahead. Compared with the NCEP datasets, CFS datasets successfully simulate many major features of the Asian monsoon circulation systems and exhibit reasonably high skill in simulating and predicting ENSO events. Based on the CFS forecasting results, a downscaling method of Optimal Subset Regression (OSR) and mean generational function model of multiple variables are used to forecast seasonal precipitation in Guangdong. After statistical analysis tests, sea level pressure, wind and geopotential height field are made predictors. Although the results are unstable in some individual seasons, both the OSR and multivariate mean generational function model can provide good forecasting as operational tests score more than sixty points. CFS datasets are available and updated in real time, as compared with the NCEP dataset. The downscaling forecast method based on the CFS datasets can predict three seasons of seasonal precipitation in Guangdong, enriching traditional statistical methods. However, its forecasting stability needs to be improved.
The Climate Forecast Systems (CFS) datasets provided by National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), which cover the time from 1981 to 2008, can be used to forecast atmospheric circulation nine months ahead. Compared with the NCEP datasets, CFS datasets successfully simulate many major features of the Asian monsoon circulation systems and exhibit reasonably high skill in simulating and predicting ENSO events. Based on the CFS forecasting results, a downscaling method of Optimal Subset Regression (OSR) and mean generational function model of multiple variables are used to forecast seasonal precipitation in Guangdong. After statistical analysis tests, sea level pressure, wind and geopotential height field are made predictors. Although the results are unstable in some individual seasons, both the OSR and multivariate mean generational function model can provide good forecasting as operational tests score more than sixty points. CFS datasets are available and updated in real time, as compared with the NCEP dataset. The downscaling forecast method based on the CFS datasets can predict three seasons of seasonal precipitation in Guangdong, enriching traditional statistical methods. However, its forecasting stability needs to be improved.
2014, 20(2): 154-162.
Abstract:
Based on the daily rainfall datasets from 740 stations in China from 1954 to 2005 and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the relationship between the north-south anti-phase distribution (APD) of rainfall during Meiyu periods and the Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation (QBWO) in the atmosphere was analyzed. Diagnostic results are as follows: (1) there was significant north-south oscillation of Meiyu rainfall during the 16 years from 1954 to 2005. Since the 1990s, the APD enhanced significantly and showed 2- and 4-6-year period. In the region with more rainfall, the QBWO was always more active. (2) The APD of Meiyu and north-south movements of precipitation in eastern China belong to the same phase. (3) The 10-25 day filtered water vapor flux could spread to the area north of 30°N in 1991. The divergence of the water vapor flux which propagated from middle- and higher- latitudes to the of Yangtze-Huaihe River Basins (YHRB) was significant in 1991, but the latitudes that the water vapor flux could reach were further southward and there was no southward propagation of divergence in 1993. (4) The locations of Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) and 10-25 day anti-cyclone, which modulated WPSH’s advancement in and out of the South China Sea, were relatively northward in 1991. Furthermore, the vertical circulation showed north-south deviation between 1991 and 1993, just as other elements of the circulation did.
Based on the daily rainfall datasets from 740 stations in China from 1954 to 2005 and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the relationship between the north-south anti-phase distribution (APD) of rainfall during Meiyu periods and the Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation (QBWO) in the atmosphere was analyzed. Diagnostic results are as follows: (1) there was significant north-south oscillation of Meiyu rainfall during the 16 years from 1954 to 2005. Since the 1990s, the APD enhanced significantly and showed 2- and 4-6-year period. In the region with more rainfall, the QBWO was always more active. (2) The APD of Meiyu and north-south movements of precipitation in eastern China belong to the same phase. (3) The 10-25 day filtered water vapor flux could spread to the area north of 30°N in 1991. The divergence of the water vapor flux which propagated from middle- and higher- latitudes to the of Yangtze-Huaihe River Basins (YHRB) was significant in 1991, but the latitudes that the water vapor flux could reach were further southward and there was no southward propagation of divergence in 1993. (4) The locations of Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) and 10-25 day anti-cyclone, which modulated WPSH’s advancement in and out of the South China Sea, were relatively northward in 1991. Furthermore, the vertical circulation showed north-south deviation between 1991 and 1993, just as other elements of the circulation did.
2014, 20(2): 163-172.
Abstract:
NCEP/NCAR data are utilized to analyze an extreme flood year (1998) and an extreme dry year (2006) in the Sichuan-Chongqing region (SCR) and the results are as follows. The positive divergence of South Asia High (SAH) is stronger in the flood year; the position of the ridge line of SAH is southward compared with the annual average; Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) extends westward and its ridge line is southward. In the drought year, the positive divergence of SAH is weaker, its ridge line is northward, and the position of WPSH is also northward. As shown in the dynamics, in drought (flood) years, negative (positive) vorticity advection in the upper atmosphere can cause the atmosphere to ascend (descend), and anomalous circulation of SAH displays divergence (convergence), and anomalous circulation of the lower atmosphere shows convergence (divergence). Thermal structure of the atmosphere shows that there is warm (cold) temperature advection in the lower atmosphere, and the vertical distribution of diabetic heating causes SAH’s local circulation to display convergence (divergence) and affects vertical motion of the lower atmosphere circulation eventually. To some extent, the two extreme years in the SCR is closely related to the vertical motion of atmosphere circulation and the variation of such vertical motion is caused by differences of interactions between SAH and lower atmosphere circulations.
NCEP/NCAR data are utilized to analyze an extreme flood year (1998) and an extreme dry year (2006) in the Sichuan-Chongqing region (SCR) and the results are as follows. The positive divergence of South Asia High (SAH) is stronger in the flood year; the position of the ridge line of SAH is southward compared with the annual average; Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) extends westward and its ridge line is southward. In the drought year, the positive divergence of SAH is weaker, its ridge line is northward, and the position of WPSH is also northward. As shown in the dynamics, in drought (flood) years, negative (positive) vorticity advection in the upper atmosphere can cause the atmosphere to ascend (descend), and anomalous circulation of SAH displays divergence (convergence), and anomalous circulation of the lower atmosphere shows convergence (divergence). Thermal structure of the atmosphere shows that there is warm (cold) temperature advection in the lower atmosphere, and the vertical distribution of diabetic heating causes SAH’s local circulation to display convergence (divergence) and affects vertical motion of the lower atmosphere circulation eventually. To some extent, the two extreme years in the SCR is closely related to the vertical motion of atmosphere circulation and the variation of such vertical motion is caused by differences of interactions between SAH and lower atmosphere circulations.
2014, 20(2): 173-180.
Abstract:
Based on multiple datasets, correlation and composite analyses, and case studies, this paper investigated possible influences of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) mode on the eastward propagation of intraseasonal oscillation in the tropical atmosphere. The results showed that (1) the 30-60 day outgoing longwave radiation anomalies in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the 30-60 day 850-hPa zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean were significantly correlated with the IOD index; (2) during positive IOD years, the anomalously cold water in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the 850-hPa anomalous easterlies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean might act as barriers to the continuously eastward propagation of the intraseasonal convection, which interrupts the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) propagation in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and western Pacific; and (3) during negative IOD years, the anomalously warm water in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the low-level westerly anomalies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean favor the eastward movement of MJO.
Based on multiple datasets, correlation and composite analyses, and case studies, this paper investigated possible influences of the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) mode on the eastward propagation of intraseasonal oscillation in the tropical atmosphere. The results showed that (1) the 30-60 day outgoing longwave radiation anomalies in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the 30-60 day 850-hPa zonal wind anomalies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean were significantly correlated with the IOD index; (2) during positive IOD years, the anomalously cold water in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the 850-hPa anomalous easterlies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean might act as barriers to the continuously eastward propagation of the intraseasonal convection, which interrupts the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) propagation in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean and western Pacific; and (3) during negative IOD years, the anomalously warm water in the southeastern Indian Ocean and the low-level westerly anomalies over the equatorial central Indian Ocean favor the eastward movement of MJO.
2014, 20(2): 181-192.
Abstract:
In this study, we attempted to improve the nowcasting of GRAPES model by adjusting the model initial field through modifying the cloud water, rain water and vapor as well as revising vapor-following rain water. The results show that the model nowcasting is improved when only the cloud water and rain water are adjusted or all of the cloud water, rain water and vapor are adjusted in the initial field. The forecasting of the former (latter) approach during 0-3 (0-6) hours is significantly improved. Furthermore, for the forecast for 0-3 hours, the latter approach is better than the former. Compared with the forecasting results for which the vapor of the model initial field is adjusted by the background vapor with those by the revised vapor, the nowcasting of the revised vapor is much better than that of background vapor. Analysis of the reasons indicated that when the vapor is adjusted in the model initial field, especially when the saturated vapor is considered, the forecasting of the vapor field is significantly affected. The changed vapor field influences the circulation, which in turn improves the model forecasting of radar reflectivity and rainfall.
In this study, we attempted to improve the nowcasting of GRAPES model by adjusting the model initial field through modifying the cloud water, rain water and vapor as well as revising vapor-following rain water. The results show that the model nowcasting is improved when only the cloud water and rain water are adjusted or all of the cloud water, rain water and vapor are adjusted in the initial field. The forecasting of the former (latter) approach during 0-3 (0-6) hours is significantly improved. Furthermore, for the forecast for 0-3 hours, the latter approach is better than the former. Compared with the forecasting results for which the vapor of the model initial field is adjusted by the background vapor with those by the revised vapor, the nowcasting of the revised vapor is much better than that of background vapor. Analysis of the reasons indicated that when the vapor is adjusted in the model initial field, especially when the saturated vapor is considered, the forecasting of the vapor field is significantly affected. The changed vapor field influences the circulation, which in turn improves the model forecasting of radar reflectivity and rainfall.
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