一次梅雨锋暴雨的中尺度对流系统及低层风场影响分析

本文利用常规气象观测资料,地面自动站加密观测资料和FY-2D、FY-2E卫星云图以及NCEP 1°×1°的FNL分析资料、EC 0.25°×0.25°的细网格模式数据等,对2015年6月15—18日梅雨锋暴雨过程的中尺度对流系统(MCS)活动特征、对流层低层风场对MCS发展的影响以及梅雨锋暴雨的垂直环流特征等进行了研究,结果表明:天气尺度梅雨锋上叠加的MCS的产生及向下游移动,以及其在安徽中部到江苏南部正涡度带作用下的发展增强,造成了江苏南部的局地强降水。强降水与中尺度低空急流核的位置吻合较好。在垂直方向上,高空急流入口区右侧与低空急流核左前方叠加,高低空急流耦合作用明显。在降水过程中,对流层低层具有较强的垂直风切变,有利于垂直涡度的增强和MCS的发展。对流层低层的垂直风切变也有利于不同源地的水汽在梅雨锋区汇集。梅雨锋北侧的干冷空气在对流层低(中)层以东北(西北)路径向锋区移动。南侧的暖湿气流沿西南路径移动、抬升,接近锋区后质点在上升过程中逐渐转向东移,在高空急流的抽吸作用下,快速向东流出,近地面层空气存在跨锋面环流。梅雨锋系统垂直方向上的次级环流是高层风场强烈辐散以及空气运动过程中质量补充和循环的结果。     

2003年江淮梅雨期一次特大暴雨的研究——中尺度对流和水汽条件分析

本文对2003年7月4日-5日江淮梅雨期间的一次特大暴雨过程进行了多尺度的详细分析.环流背景、中尺度对流云团和水汽条件分析表明,这次特大暴雨是在典型梅雨的有利环境背景形势下,由梅雨锋上的中尺度对流系统造成的,地面低压、低层切变线及西南低空急流与这次特大暴雨过程有着密切的关系.强降水中心与中尺度对流云团的关系十分密切,中β尺度云团的生成合并增强,和其中中γ降水系统的存在,导致了降水强度的局地性差异.江淮流域主要表现为经向水汽通量的辐合区,强水汽通量舌与低层高θse的舌区一致,暴雨过程中水汽的快速集中主要是通过风场散度项造成的,局地风场的辐合在水汽快速集中起主要作用.低层充沛的水汽则通过气旋性涡度柱中的强上升气流输送到对流层的中高层.     

一次梅雨锋暴雨发生发展机制的诊断与模拟

采用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、FY2E卫星资料和加密自动站资料,结合中尺度WRF模式对2013年苏皖地区的一次梅雨锋暴雨过程进行诊断与模拟。观测资料分析表明:在有利的环流背景和热动力条件下,此次暴雨发生在梅雨锋前暖区,雨带呈现"先带状后串波状"的分布特征,并随锋面南移。前期降水由地面中尺度辐合线触发,受两个相继发展的中α尺度的线状对流系统直接影响;后期降水受地面暖式切变线触发,有多个中β尺度对流系统沿切变线串状排列,并不断东移发展。模拟结果分析表明:降水过程中,大尺度非地转强迫作用也是强对流的触发机制之一。地面辐合线产生条带状的低层辐合区,从而产生条带状连续分布的上升运动,形成线状对流系统及带状降水。此外地面辐合线能够在暴雨区形成南北两个中尺度垂直次级环流,这是降水的增强机制。暖式切变线上的局部扰动在低层局部地区产生强辐合,由此沿切变线形成强上升弱下沉间隔分布的现象,局部强上升区使得对流系统于该处得到发展,并形成分散的强降水区。     

"99·6"梅雨锋暴雨低涡切变线的数值模拟和分析

在天气分析的基础上,利用非静力中尺度模式MM5和四维资料同化逼进方法及双向三重嵌套网格技术,对1999年6月23～25日(简称"99·6")发生在长江中下游地区的梅雨锋暴雨过程进行了数值模拟.结果表明:模拟结果与观测结果的比较指出,高分辨数值模式MM5可以成功地模拟梅雨锋中尺度低涡切变线的发生和发展;模拟结果显示,在α中尺度低涡切变线发展过程中,低层强的西南急流和东北气流增强了低层的辐合;而高空的西风急流和东风急流则增强了高空的辐散;正是由于这种从高空到低空环流的配置,才促进了α中尺度低涡不断发展;模拟低涡切变线不同部位的垂直环流和物理量场表明,"99·6"梅雨锋低涡切变线的结构非常复杂:在梅雨锋的发展期,暖锋附近的垂直上升运动最强,低涡中心次之,冷锋附近最弱.模拟结果也表明,由于下垫面特征的不同,中国和日本的梅雨锋暖锋附近环流结构有较大的区别;模拟结果显示,在α中尺度低涡发展过程中,不断有扰动在低涡前部发展,激发并分裂出一系列的β中尺度系统,β中尺度系统运动剧烈,但由于其低层辐合强于中空辐散,所以当它远离母体时会很快衰减.     

一次梅雨锋特大暴雨中尺度气旋和MCS的分析

利用自动气象站、多普勒雷达、FY4A、ECMWF模式、NCEP再分析资料，对2020年7月17—19日特大暴雨过程进行分析。结果表明：特大暴雨出现在安徽大别山附近和庐江两地，是中尺度气旋扰动环境下准静止的中尺度对流系统（MCS）以及MCS中准静止的涡旋状单体所产生。特大暴雨在高能量、强不稳定背景下，由中部和东部的中尺度气旋传播所致。中尺度气旋传播过程中单体不断新生、合并增强且移动缓慢，配合急流、辐合、干侵入、垂直环流等因素对组织化的MCS发展演变起到相当作用。低层切变线南侧到华南的西南急流，将水汽输送到安徽并在此有强烈辐合；高空、低空和超低空都存在急流，高低空急流耦合加剧MCS的强烈发展；地面辐合线是前期MCS的触发机制，伴随干冷空气的入侵，加大了大气的斜压性和MCS的对流不稳定；梅雨锋南北两侧都有垂直环流圈，即对流与高空急流之间通过对流加热在高空急流入口处产生热成风调整，维持梅雨锋的发展演变，强的上升下沉运动促进MCS的加强和降水的连续发生；大别山地形抬升和上游狭管效应是两地特大暴雨诱因。     

一次非典型梅雨锋暴雨过程及其中尺度系统的数值模拟

利用常规观测资料\, 卫星观测的高时空分辨率TBB资料以及客观分析资料, 对2002年6月22~23日(“02.6”)一次非典型的梅雨锋暴雨过程进行了天气分析。在此基础上, 利用中尺度数值模式MM5对此次梅雨锋暴雨过程进行了数值模拟, 并分析了暴雨中尺度系统的结构特征。结果表明： （1）天气分析显示, “02.6”梅雨锋暴雨过程与α中尺度低涡的东移发展和对流层低层的两支低空急流的增强发展有关。对流层低层700 hPa为一个缓慢东移与南压的东北西南向冷式切变线, 暖式切变线不太明显, 这与通常的江淮切变线梅雨锋暴雨不同。对流层500 hPa的副热带高压非常强, 高层200 hPa对流层高层的反气旋环流非常强并与高空急流相伴, 南亚高压中心位于我国江南地区。（2）TBB资料分析表明, 此次暴雨过程产生与多个β中尺度系统合并发展成α中尺度系统以及此后从α中尺度系统中不断分裂出β中尺度系统发展演变密切相关; 强中尺度对流系统主要在中尺度低涡冷、 暖切变线的的南侧发生和发展, 并不是在中尺度低涡的冷暖切变线上发展。（3）垂直结构分析显示： 在中尺度系统开始发展阶段, 中尺度系统具有强的垂直于剖面的风分量切变、 低空急流核以及高空强辐散低空强辐合, 这有利于中尺度系统的发展; 当中尺度低涡发展到相对成熟的阶段, 其后部不断分裂出中小尺度系统, 对流层低层的θe具有明显暖心结构, 由于气块绝热上升冷却效应比对流潜热释放作用强, 导致在800~600 hPa层上 θe比环境的低, 加之在强上升运动的顶部两侧的下沉补偿气流也比较弱, 这不利于中尺度低涡的维持。     

“10.7”安庆特大暴雨及中尺度低涡结构的数值模拟与分析

采用常规气象观测、地面加密降水资料、FY-2E卫星逐时T_BB资料以及WRFV3.3高分辨率模式输出资料,对2010年7月12—13日安庆罕见特大暴雨过程的中尺度对流系统的发生发展、结构特征及形成原因进行了综合分析。WRFV3.3中尺度非静力模式很好地模拟了此次切变线暴雨的雨带走向、几个暴雨中心的位置和强度,以及中尺度对流系统的整个发展过程。分析结果表明:此次特大暴雨是在高层200 hPa强大的南亚高压稳定少动,中层500 hPa的短波槽的生成、转向和发展与副高的维持,低层的700 hPa和850 hPa中尺度低涡、切变线以及地面梅雨锋扰动的共同作用下造成的;700 hPa低涡、切变线以及沿切变线相继生成和强烈发展的β中尺度对流系统是这次特大暴雨的直接制造者。细网格模拟结果揭示,安庆特大暴雨与850 hPa上的β中尺度对流系统(MβCS)的生成和强烈发展直接相关。该MβCS具有明显的动力—热力结构特征,显示:强上升运动与饱和气柱的耦合,强散度柱与强涡柱的耦合发展,强上升运动与位势不稳定的耦合发展,湿静力不稳定与湿对称不稳定共存。     

梅雨锋上三类暴雨特征的数值模拟比较研究

中国暴雨的地域性、时间性特征明显,尤其是暴雨多发区--长江流域,沿江不同地段暴雨成因各异.为综合研究长江不同地域暴雨特征和形成规律,利用我国新一代暴雨数值模式AREM对梅雨锋东端(116°E以东)初生气旋类暴雨、β中尺度深对流类暴雨和梅雨锋西端"北槽南涡"类暴雨的典型个例进行了数值模拟.通过诊断分析和比较研究,初步揭示了三类暴雨在结构和形成机制等方面的主要差异.结果表明:(1)梅雨锋上生成并发展的α中尺度气旋是造成梅雨锋东端初生气旋类暴雨的系统.强盛时,系统的垂直上升运动伸展不高,正涡度柱、辐合层以及最大加热和增湿均位于中低层.(2)β中尺度深对流类暴雨发生时梅雨锋区的南北温差很小.在低空辐合风场作用下,强位势不稳定能量的释放导致了β中尺度深对流系统的发生与发展.强盛时,系统的正涡度柱和上升运动柱贯穿对流层,深厚的辐合层达到了中层,最大加热出现在中高层.(3)"北槽南涡"类暴雨是在青藏高原大地形作用下高低空系统有利配置的结果."北槽南涡"的天气系统配置有利于低层辐合的加强和位势不稳定能量的释放,使低层涡旋向中高层强烈发展.强盛时,系统的正涡度柱贯穿对流层,积云对流发展强烈,最强上升运动和最大加热层都位于中层.     

一次江淮切变线暴雨过程的数值模拟与诊断分析

采用非静力中尺度模式WRFV3.3对2010年7月12-13日一次江淮切变线暴雨过程进行数值模拟,分析了暴雨形成的大尺度环流条件、中尺度气旋演变,并对涡旋与变形场的相互作用指数VDI与降水之间的关系进行了探讨。结果表明：本次暴雨为典型的切变线降水过程,是在高层200 hPa稳定少动,强大的南亚高压,中层500 hPa东移短波槽、西太平洋副热带高压维持的背景下,由低层700 hPa和850 hPa切变线上中尺度低涡以及地面梅雨锋扰动的共同作用下造成的。WRFV3.3较好地模拟了本次暴雨过程的雨带和暴雨中心。中尺度气旋发生于长江中下游呈东北-西南走向的切变线上,暴雨发生于700 hPa切变线南侧、低空急流轴的左侧,急流轴上的大风速中心与1 h雨强有较好的对应关系。中尺度涡旋与大风速中心之间存在着相互作用,风速增强,涡旋增强。VDI指数对降水中心和强度有较好的指示性,有助于在实际预报业务中对降水中心和强度做出正确判断。     

一次江淮切变线暴雨过程的数值模拟与诊断分析

采用非静力中尺度模式WRFV3.3对2010年7月12-13日一次江淮切变线暴雨过程进行数值模拟,分析了暴雨形成的大尺度环流条件、中尺度气旋演变,并对涡旋与变形场的相互作用指数VDI与降水之间的关系进行了探讨。结果表明：本次暴雨过程为典型的切变线降水过程,是在高层200 hPa强大的南亚高压稳定少动,中层500hPa短波槽生成东移、西太平洋副热带高压维持的背景下,由低层700 hPa和850 hPa切变线上中尺度低涡以及地面梅雨锋扰动的共同作用造成的。WRFV3.3较好地模拟了本次暴雨过程的雨带和暴雨中心。中尺度气旋发生于长江中下游呈东北-西南走向的切变线上,暴雨发生于700 hPa切变线南侧、低空急流轴的左侧,急流轴上的大风速中心与1 h雨强有较好的对应关系。中尺度涡旋与大风速中心之间存在着明显的相关性,风速增强,涡旋增强。VDI指数对降水中心和强度有较好的指示性,有助于在实际预报业务中对降水中心和强度做出正确判断。     

恩施“6·24”暴雨中尺度系统特征分析

利用常规观测资料、自动区域站雨量、卫星TBB资料、雷达资料,对恩施州2016年6月24—25日发生的一次大范围暴雨过程进行分析。结果表明:本次强降水,具有典型的两槽一脊"单阻型"梅雨环流特征,在有利的大尺度环流背景下,在高空槽、低层低涡切变、西南急流、地面中尺度辐合线等中尺度天气系统的共同影响、相互作用下,形成了此次大范围强降水。此次暴雨空间上分布不均,局地性强,表现为明显的中尺度对流性特征,雷达回波图上降水性质表现为混合型降水,暴雨的直接影响系统是中β尺度对流系统,且中β尺度对流系统在多个中尺度对流云团合并后加强,时间尺度约为5 h。此次暴雨过程是在上干冷下暖湿强的大气层结不稳定条件下,梅雨锋、边界层辐合线和地形槽的触发作用将前期积累的能量释放产生的强对流天气,同时,副高外围西南气流将南海和西太平洋的水汽向恩施输送,为暴雨的发生提供了有利的条件。     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VARIATION IN HORIZONTAL VORTICITY AND HEAVY RAIN DURING THE PROCESS OF MCC TURNING INTO BANDED MCSS

Using real-time data and the WRF mesoscale model,a heavy rain event in the process of Mesoscale Convective Complex(MCC) turning into banded Mesoscale Convective Systems(MCSs) during 18-19 June 2010 is simulated and analyzed in this paper.The results indicated that the formation and maintenance of a southwest vortex and shear line at 850 h Pa was the mesoscale system that affected the production of this heavy rain.The low-vortex heavy rain mainly happened in the development stage of MCC,and the circular MCC turned into banded MCSs in the late stage with mainly shear line precipitation.In the vicinity of rainfall area,the intense horizontal vorticity due to the vertical shear of u and v caused the rotation,and in correspondence,the ascending branch of the vertical circulation triggered the formation of heavy rain.The different distributions of u and v in the vertical direction produced varying vertical circulations.The horizontal vorticity near the low-vortex and shear line had obvious differences which led to varying reasons for heavy rain formation.The low-vortex heavy rain was mainly caused by the vertical shear of v,and the shear line rainfall formed owing to the vertical shear of both u and v.In this process,the vertical shear of v constituted the EW-trending rain band along the shear line,and the latitudinal non-uniformity of the vertical shear in u caused the vertical motion,which was closely related to the generation and development of MCSs at the shear line and the formation of multiple rain clusters.There was also a similar difference in the positively-tilting term(conversion from horizontal vorticity to vertical positive vorticity) near the rainfall center between the low-vortex and the shear line.The conversion in the low vortex was mainly determined by бv/бp0,while that of the shear line by бu/бp0.The scale of the conversion from the horizontal vorticity to vertical vorticity was relatively small,and it was easily ignored in the averaged state.The twisting term was mainly conducive to the reinforcement of precipitation,whereas its contribution to the development of southwest vortex and shear line was relatively small.     

Study on a Mesoscale Convective Vortex Causing Heavy Rainfall during the Mei-yu Season in 2003

The strong heavy rainfall on 3-5 July 2003 causing the severe flooding in Huaihe River basin (HRB), China is studied. It is noted that there are sometimes mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) in East Asia during the mei-yu season. Simulation results from the ARPS (Advanced Regional Prediction) data analysis system (ADAS) and WRF model were used to study the development of the mesoscale convective system (MCS) and mesoscale convective vortex (MCV). It is confirmed that the MCV formed during the development of a...     

梅雨期高层流场对低层急流及中尺度系统影响的数值试验

用中尺度模式对一次江淮流域暴雨过程进行了数值试验，并研究了对流层高层青藏高压东侧偏北大风的强弱与低层流场及中尺度系统发生及至降水过程的影响。试验不仅较成功地模拟了本次暴雨过程及相应的系统，而且揭示出较强的高空偏北大风将引起对低空急流的加强。而更为重要的是低层切变线的出现以及其上中尺度涡旋的发生。上下风场所构成的垂直反环流圈大大有利于对流的发展，特别是在切变线地区的上升支，带有明显的中尺度特征。     

Numerical simulation of the sudden rainstorm associated with the remnants of Typhoon Meranti (2010)

The Advanced Research Weather Forecasting (ARW) model was used to simulate the sudden heavy rainstorm associated with the remnants of Typhoon Meranti in September 2010. The results showed that the heavy rainfall was produced when the remnant clouds redeveloped suddenly, and the redevelopment was caused by rapid growth of micro/mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). As cold air intruded into the warm remnant clouds, the atmosphere became convectively unstable and frontogenesis happened due to strong wind shear between weak northerly flow and strong southwesterly flow in the lower levels. Under frontogenesis-forcing and warm-air advection stimulation in updrafts, vertical convection developed intensely inside the remnant clouds, with MCSs forming and maturing along the front. The genesis and development of MCSs was due to the great progress vertical vorticity made. The moist isentropic surface became slantwise as atmospheric baroclinity intensified when cold air intruded, which reduced the convective instability of the air.Meanwhile, vertical wind shear increased because the north cold air caused the wind direction to turn from south to north with height. In accordance with slantwise vorticity development (SVD), vertical vorticity would develop vigorously and contribute greatly to MCSs. Buoyancy, the pressure gradient, and the lifting of cold air were collectively the source of kinetic energy for rainfall. The low-level southwesterly jet from the western margin of the Western Pacific Subtropical High transported water and heat to remnant clouds. Energy bursts and continuous water vapor transportation played a major role in producing intense rainfall in a very short period of time.     

Initiation and Evolution of Long-Lived Eastward-Propagating Mesoscale Convective Systems over the Second-Step Terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley

Based on the previous statistical analysis of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)over the second-step terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley,eight representative long-lived eastward-propagating MCSs are selected for model-based sensitivity testing to investigate the initiation and evolution of these types of MCSs as well as their impact on downstream areas.We subject each MCS to a semi-idealized(CNTL)simulation and a sensitivity(NOLH)simulation that neglects condensational heating in the formation region.The CNTL experiment reveals convection forms in the region downstream of a shortwave trough typified by persistent southwesterly winds in the low-to midtroposphere.Upon merging with other convective systems,moist convection develops into an MCS,which propagates eastward under the influence of mid-tropospheric westerlies,and moves out of the second-step terrain.The MCS then merges with pre-existing local convection over the plains;the merged convection reinforces the cyclonic wind perturbation into a mesoscale vortex at 850 hPa.While this vortex moves eastward to regions with local vortex at 850 hPa,another vortex at 925 hPa is also intensified.Finally,the vortices at 850 and 925 hPa merge together and develop into a mesoscale convective vortex(MCV).In contrast,MCSs fail to form and move eastward in the NOLH experiment.In the absence of eastward-propagating MCSs,moist convection and mesoscale vortices still appear in the plains,but the vortex strength and precipitation intensity are significantly weakened.It is suggested the eastward-propagating MCSs over the second-step terrain significantly impact the development and enhancement of moist convection and vortices in the downstream areas.     

梅雨锋结构的数值模拟

利用1999年6月下旬持续性梅雨锋降水过程的全程四维同化模拟结果,深入分析梅雨锋结构的时空不均匀变化特征及其与低涡降水强度的密切关系。结果表明,梅雨锋呈现明显的中层锋和边界层锋两段锋的特征,中层梅雨锋区对降水的影响比边界层锋更为关键,中层锋的加强、锋坡增大趋于垂直、锋区垂直环流的加强和与高空急流锋区的上下贯通,有利于梅雨锋降水的加强,强降水并不出现于中层锋区最强的时段,而是发生于大范围锋区强度达峰值之后约16—24 h。中低层总变形加强与梅雨锋的加强有密切关系。组成低空急流的中低层u,v分量呈现不同的分布和演变特征,强南风中心位于900—800 hPa,呈明显的低空急流状特征,贴近暴雨区还可能出现较小尺度的急流;而强西风中心出现于中层锋前700—500 hPa,表现为高空强西风区沿锋区上界的向下延伸;低空南风急流通常与总变形同时加强。强锋段的锋前饱和高湿高能气柱、锋前中低层急流状南风区和中层西风均匀大值区等要素场呈现高度组织化的特征。梅雨锋的低层特性,如辐合、锋区强度、总变形和南风分量及降水强度等要素呈现显著的中尺度扰动特征,有明显的日变化且受长江中下游中尺度地形影响,扰动特征有随时间上传的趋势。     

Impact of 4DVAR Assimilation of Rainfall Data on the Simulation of Mesoscale Precipitation Systems in a Mei-yu Heavy Rainfall Event

The multi-scale weather systems associated with a mei-yu front and the corresponding heavy precipitation during a particular heavy rainfall event that occurred on 4 5 July 2003 in east China were successfully simulated through rainfall assimilation using the PSU/NCAR non-hydrostatic, mesoscale, numerical model （MM5） and its four-dimensional, variational, data assimilation （4DVAR） system. For this case, the improvement of the process via the 4DVAR rainfall assimilation into the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems is investigated. With the rainfall assimilation, the convection is triggered at the right location and time, and the evolution and spatial distribution of the mesoscale convective systems （MCSs） are also more correctly simulated. Through the interactions between MCSs and the weather systems at different scales, including the low-level jet and mei-yu front, the simulation of the entire mei-yu weather system is significantly improved, both during the data assimilation window and the subsequent 12-h period. The results suggest that the rainfall assimilation first provides positive impact at the convective scale and the influences are then propagated upscale to the meso- and sub-synoptic scales.
Through a set of sensitive experiments designed to evaluate the impact of different initial variables on the simulation of mei-yu heavy rainfall, it was found that the moisture field and meridional wind had the strongest effect during the convection initialization stage, however, after the convection was fully triggered, all of the variables at the initial condition seemed to have comparable importance.     

Mesoscale Moist Adjoint Sensitivity Study of a Mei-yu Heavy Rainfall Event

The mesoscale moist adjoint sensitivities related to the initiation of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are evaluated for a mei-yu heavy rainfall event. The sensitivities were calculated on a realistic background gained from a four-dimensional variational data assimilation of precipitation experiment to make the sensitivity computation possible and reasonable within a strong moist convective event at the mesoscale. The results show that the computed sensitivities at the mesoscale were capable of capturing the factors affecting MCS initiation. The sensitivities to the initial temperature and moisture are enhanced greatly by diabatic processes, especially at lower levels, and these sensitivities are much larger than those stemming from the horizontal winds, which implies that initiation of MCSs is more sensitive to low-level temperature and moisture perturbations rather than the horizontal winds. Moreover, concentration of sensitivities at low levels reflects the characteristics of the mei-yu front. The results provide some hints about how to improve quantitative precipitation forecasts of mei-yu heavy rainfall, such as by conducting mesoscale targetted observations via the adjoint-based method to reduce the low-level errors in the initial temperature and moisture.     

The Evolution of a Meso-β-Scale Convective Vortex in the Dabie Mountain Area

The evolution of a mesoscale convective system (MCS) that caused strong precipitation in the northern area of Dabie Mountain during 21-22 June 2008 is analyzed, along with the evolution of the associated meso-β-scale convective vortex (MCV). The mesoscale reanalysis data generated by the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) at a 3-km horizontal resolution and a 1-h time resolution during the South China Heavy Rainfall Experiment (SCHeREX) were utilized. The results show that two processes played key roles in the enhancement of convective instability. First, the mesoscale low-level jet strengthened and shifted eastward, leading to the convergence of warm-wet airflow and increasing convective instability at middle and low levels. Second, the warm-wet airflow interacted with the cold airflow from the north, causing increased vertical vorticity in the vicinity of steeply sloping moist isentropic surfaces. The combined action of these two processes caused the MCS to shift progressively eastward. Condensation associated with the MCS released latent heat and formed a layer of large diabatic heating in the middle troposphere, increasing the potential vorticity below this layer. This increase in potential vorticity created favorable conditions for the development of a low-level vortex circulation. The vertical motion associated with this low-level vortex further promoted the development of convection, creating a positive feedback between the deep convection and the low-level vortex circulation. This feedback mechanism not only promoted the maturation of the MCS, but also played the primary role in the evolution of the MCV. The MCV formed and developed due to the enhancement of the positive feedback that accompanied the coming together of the center of the vortex and the center of the convection. The positive feedback peaked and the MCV matured when these two centers converged. The positive feedback weakened and the MCV began to decay as the two centers separated and diverged.