A Case Study on the Triggering of Thermal Convective Precipitation

Thermal convective precipitation （TCP） often occurs over mainland China in summer when the area is dominated by the western Pacific subtropical high （WPSH）. It is well known that the WPSH often brings about large scale subsidence, then why could deep moist convection occur and where does the water vapor come from？ In this paper, a deep convective precipitation case that happened on 2 August 2003 is studied in order to address these two questions. First, the characteristics of the TCP event are analyzed using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission （TRMM） satellite data, automatic weather station observations, and the data from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction （NCEP）. Second, water vapor sources are identified through examining surface evaporation, water vapor advection, and water vapor flux divergence calculated by using a regionally averaged water vapor budget equation. Furthermore, using an Advanced Regional Eta-coordinate Model （AREM）, contributions of sensible and latent heat fluxes to the TCP are compared through four sensitivity experiments. The results show that in the regions controlled by the WPSH, surface temperature rises rapidly after sunrise. Upon receiving enough sensible heat, the air goes up and leads to convergence in the lower atmosphere. Then the water vapor assembled from the surroundings and the ground surface is transported to the upper levels, and a favorable environment for the TCP forms. A model data diagnosis indicates that about half of precipitable water comes from the convergence of horizontal fluxes of water vapor, and the other half from surface evaporation, while little is from advection. Additional sensitivity experiments prove that both sensible and latent heating are essential for the onset of the TCP. The sensible heat flux triggers thermodynamic ascending motion, and the latent heat flux provides water vapor, but the contribution to TCP from the latter is a little smaller than that from the former.     

梅雨期西太平洋副热带高压异常东退与东风带扰动关系的合成诊断分析

利用NCEP/NCAR日平均再分析资料,对梅雨期热带对流层上空东风带扰动影响西太平洋副热带高压短期东退的过程进行了合成诊断分析.结果表明:梅雨期西太平洋副热带高压(简称西太副高)的短期东退与低纬热带地区上宅东风带扰动存在着密切的联系,本文给出了在西太副高异常东退前后东风带扰动的结构及其演变特征,揭示了东风带扰动所对应的...     

Summer Asian-Pacific Oscillation and Its Relationship with Atmospheric Circulation and Monsoon Rainfall

Using the ERA-40 data and numerical simulations, this study investigated the teleconnection over the extratropical Asian-Pacific region and its relationship with the Asian monsoon rainfall and the climatological characteristics of tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific, and analyzed impacts of the Tibetan Plateau （TP） heating and Pacific sea surface temperature （SST） on the teleconnection. The Asian-Pacific oscillation （APO） is defined as a zonal seesaw of the tropospheric temperature in the midlatitudes of the Asian-Pacific region. When the troposphere is cooling in the midlatitudes of the Asian continent, it is warming in the midlatitudes of the central and eastern North Pacific; and vice versa. The APO also appears in the stratosphere, but with a reversed phase. Used as an index of the thermal contrast between Asia and the North Pacific, it provides a new way to explore interactions between the Asian and Pacific atmospheric circulations. The APO index exhibits the interannual and interdecadal variability. It shows a downward trend during 1958-2001, indicating a weakening of the thermal contrast, and shows a 5.5-yr oscillation period. The formation of the APO is associated with the zonal vertical circulation caused by a difference in the solar radiative heating between the Asian continent and the North Pacific. The numerical simulations further reveal that the summer TP heating enhances the local tropospheric temperature and upward motion, and then strengthens downward motion and decreases the tropospheric temperature over the central and eastern North Pacific. This leads to the formation of the APO. The Pacific decadal oscillation and El Nino/La Nina over the tropical eastern Pacific do not exert strong influences on the APO. When there is an anomaly in the summer APO, the South Asian high, the westerly jet over Eurasia, the tropical easterly jet over South Asia, and the subtropical high over the North Pacific change significantly, with anomalous Asian monsoon rainfall and tropical cyclon     

线性准地转模型中基本流和辐射冷却对感热加热强迫的副热带高压形态的影响

通过求取定常线性准地转位涡模式的数值解,研究了感热型垂直非均匀分布的冷、热源强迫所激发的副热带环流的结构特征,讨论了副热带背景风场和洋面辐射冷却对洋面副热带高压“三角形偏心”结构形成的重要作用。结果表明,基本流对感热加热强迫的副热带环流有重要影响,当基本流为常数时,感热加热强迫的气旋和反气旋主要集中在对流层中下层,且地面系统远强于中高层。当基本流为非常数时,其经向切变能改变气旋和反气旋中心的经向位置,使它移至0风速所在纬度附近;其垂直变化加强了中高层气旋和反气旋,中心位于对流层上层,与南亚高压的位置基本一致。研究结果还表明,在大洋东部洋面辐射冷却与副热带地区背景风场的共同作用下,形成了洋面副热带高压特有的“三角形偏心”结构。副热带高纬度的西风使感热强迫的洋面副热带高压东移,低纬度的东风使其西移,形成东北—西南走向的“平行四边形”结构,且中心位于大洋西部。大洋东部强洋面辐射冷却激发的洋面反气旋加强了大洋东部的副热带高压,使其中心东移至大洋东部,从而表现出东北—西南走向的“三角形偏心”结构。      

Joint Impacts of SSTA in Tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans on Variations of the WPSH

Using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and HadISST sea surface temperature (SST) data, the joint effects of the tropical Indian Ocean and Pacific on variations of area of the summertime western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) for period 1980–2016 are investigated. It is demonstrated that the central tropical Indian Ocean (CTI) and central equatorial Pacific (CEP) are two key oceanic regions that affect the summertime WPSH. During autumn and winter, warm SST anomalies (SSTAs) in CEP force the Walker circulation to change anomalously, resulting in divergence anomalies over the western Pacific and Maritime Continent (MC). Due to the Gill-type response, the abnormal anticyclonic circulation is generated over the western Pacific and South China Sea (SCS). In the subsequent spring, the warm SSTAs in CEP weaken, while the SST over CTI demonstrates a lagged response to Pacific SSTA. The warm CTISSTA and CEP-SSTA cooperate with the eastward propagation of cold Kelvin waves in the western Pacific, leading to the eastward shift of the abnormal divergence center that originally locates at the western Pacific and MC. The anticyclone forced by this divergence subsequently moves eastward, leading to the intensification of the negative vorticity there. Meanwhile, warm SSTA in CTI triggers eastward propagating Kelvin waves, which lead to easterly anomalies over the equatorial Indian Ocean and Indonesia, being favorable for maintenance and intensification of the anticyclone over the SCS and western Pacific. The monsoonal meridional–vertical circulation strengthens, which is favorable for the intensification of the WPSH. Using SSTA over the two key oceanic regions as predictors, a multiple regression model is successfully constructed for prediction of WPSH area. These results are useful for our better understanding the variation mechanisms of WPSH and better predicting summer climate in East Asia.     

Potential Vorticity Diagnostic Analysis on the Impact of the Easterlies Vortex on the Short-term Movement of the Subtropical Anticyclone over the Western Pacific in the Mei-yu Period

By employing NCEP-NCAR 1°×1° reanalysis datasets, the mechanism of the easterlies vortex(EV) affecting the short-term movement of the subtropical anticyclone over the western Pacific(WPSA) in the mei-yu period is examined using potential vorticity(PV) theory. The results show that when the EV and the westerlies vortex(WV) travel west/east to the same longitude of 120°E, the WPSA suddenly retreats. The EV and WV manifest as the downward transport of PV in the upper troposphere, and the variation of the corresponding high-value regions of PV significantly reflects the intensity changes of the EV and WV. The meridional propagation of PV causes the intensity change of the EV. The vertical movement on both sides of the EV is related to the position of the EV relative to the WPSA and the South Asian high(SAH). When the high PV in the easterlies and westerlies arrive at the same longitude in the meridional direction, the special circulation pattern will lower the position of PV isolines at the ridge line of the WPSA. Thus, the cyclonic circulation at the lower level will be strengthened, causing the abnormally eastward retreat of the WPSA. Analysis of the PV equation at the isentropic surface indicates that when the positive PV variation west of the EV intensifies, it connects with the positive PV variation east of the WV, forming a positive PV band and making the WPSA retreat abnormally. The horizontal advection of the PV has the greatest effect. The contribution of the vertical advection of PV and the vertical differential of heating is also positive, but the values are relatively small. The contribution of the residual was negative and it becomes smaller before and after the WPSA retreats.     

副热带高压研究进展及展望

介绍了国家自然科学基金委员会九五重点项目"副热带高压形成和变异的机理"的研究成果.该项目的研究纠正了对副热带高压成因的若干传统认识,揭示了副热带高压脊线年际变化的新事实,发展了脊线这一东西风交界面的动力模型,建立了"全型涡度方程"、"热力适应"理论及"两级热力适应"模式,并通过模拟和资料诊断研究了各副热带高压单体的形成机制及其季节和年际变化,在西太平洋副热带高压变化的规律和机制的研究中得到了新的认识.     

印度洋海温异常对西北太平洋台风的影响及机制研究

基于近40 a NCEP/NCAR再分析月平均高度场、风场、涡度场、垂直速度场以及NOAA重构的海面温度（sea surface temperature,SST）资料和美国联合台风预警中心（Joint Typhoon Warning Center, JTWC）热带气旋最佳路径资料,利用合成分析方法,研究了前期春季及同期夏季印度洋海面温度同夏季西北太平洋台风活动的关系。结果表明：1）前期春季印度洋海温异常（sea surface temperature anoma1y,SSTA）尤其是关键区位于赤道偏北印度洋和西南印度洋地区对西北太平洋台风活动具有显著的影响,春季印度洋海温异常偏暖年,后期夏季,110°～180°E的经向垂直环流表现为异常下沉气流,对应风场的低层低频风辐散、高层辐合的形势,这种环流形势使得低层水汽无法向上输送,对流层中层水汽异常偏少,纬向风垂直切变偏大,从而夏季西北太平洋台风频数偏少、强度偏弱,而异常偏冷年份则正好相反。2）春季印度洋异常暖年,西北太平洋副热带高压加强、西伸;而春季印度洋异常冷年,后期夏季西北太平洋副热带高压减弱、东退,这可能是引起夏季西北太平洋台风变化的另一原因。     

两类El Niño型对西北太平洋季风槽及热带气旋生成的可能影响

通过对1948~2015年不同El Ni?o事件下西北太平洋季风槽变化和热带气旋(tropical cyclone,TC)生成进行分析,初步探讨了不同El Ni?o型事件对季风槽及其对TC的可能影响。分析结果表明,较东太平洋增暖(eastern Pacific warming,EPW)年,中太平洋增暖(central Pacific warming,CPW)年季风槽偏弱,位置相对偏西、偏北。在CPW年,中(西和东)太平洋海温增暖(降低)引起了从中到西太平洋热带地区的西风异常和中太平洋地区上升运动及对流活动加强,使得季风槽加强东伸,同时西太平洋副高偏弱、偏北,季风槽向北推进;而在EPW年,赤道东(西)太平洋海温增暖(降低)使得赤道地区西风异常显著加强东扩,异常Walker环流的上升支东移至东太平洋,季风活动加强,副高偏强、偏南,这使得季风槽较CPW年相比更强、更偏东。利于TC生成的大尺度环境因子随季风槽强度和位置的变化而发生改变,在CPW年,低层气旋性涡度、高层辐散、高的中层相对湿度以及低垂直风切变区随着季风槽向北移动;而在EPW年,这些因子随季风槽向南、向东偏移。这些大尺度环境因子的变化使得西北太平洋TC生成的位置在CPW年比EPW年更加偏北、偏西。     

海陆分布对海气相互作用的调控和副热带高压的形成

首先回顾了近年来关于副热带高压形成和变异研究的若干动力学进展,阐明夏季副热带“四叶型”LOS-ECOD加热分布型的内涵。在此基础上研究海陆分布对海气相互作用的调控,揭示了“四叶型”加热形成的物理基础,并进一步阐明“四叶型”加热拼图及其与副热带高压形成和变异的联系。 文章还回顾了关于副热带高压中短期变异的动力研究的最新进展。给出了影响中国江淮流域持续性降水的副热带高压三维结构的空间分布型;指出东西风带扰动的传播和高／低纬扰动的正压发展是影响副热带高压变异和中国夏季降水的一种可能机制,最后证明青藏高原夏季的强加热能激发纬向非对称不稳定发展,产生南亚高压的东／西部型双模态及准双周振荡。还证明初夏低纬的强对流降水／台风也能激发纬向非对称不稳定发展,影响西太平洋副热带高压异常和中国淮河流域的持续性降水。     

热带大气季节内振荡与2008年初中国南方雪灾的关系

利用热带大气季节内振荡(MJO)指数、向外长波辐射(OLR)资料和NCEP/NCAR全球逐日再分析资料以及中国南方地区降水资料,应用合成分析等探讨了MJO与2008年初南方雪灾的关系,进而从MJO角度研究雪灾过程成因。结果表明：雪灾过程中,MJO存在明显的东传现象,即由西太平洋向东传送至印度洋附近。伴随着MJO的向东传播,中国南方降水强度及集中区也在随之变化,MJO在一定程度上对雪灾过程有调制作用。通过对OLR的分析,表明2008年初中国南方4次异常降水(雪)过程受到了MJO两次东传的影响,第一次导致西太平洋副热带高压持续偏强,第二次导致南支槽活跃;副热带高压西侧偏南风带来的暖湿气流,以及南支槽带来的印度洋和孟加拉湾的暖湿气流不断向中国输送,为中国南方强降水过程提供了水汽条件。     

Condensation heating of the Asian summer monsoon and the subtropical anticyclone in the Eastern Hemisphere

The effects of condensation heating on the formation of the subtropical anticyclone in the Eastern Hemisphere (EH) are studied by means of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. The complete vorticity equation is employed for the analysis. It is found that, due to the vertical gradient of strong condensation heating, the distribution of cyclone and anticyclone in the upper troposphere is out of phase with that in the middle and lower troposphere. This is confirmed by a series of numerical experiments. The horizontal gradient of the condensation heating also affects the configuration of the subtropical anticyclone. It is concluded that condensation heating is a key factor for the formation and location of the summer subtropical anticyclone in the EH. The latent heating released by the Asian monsoon rainfall contributes to the formation of the 200 hPa South Asian anticyclone on the western side of the heating center and the 500 hPa western Pacific subtropical anticyclone on the eastern side of the center. Such configurations are modified to some extent by surface sensible heating and orography. The circulation in mid-latitudes is also affected by the latent heating in the subtropical area through the propagation of Rossby waves. Received: 10 September 1999 / Accepted: 5 June 2000     

Applications of an AMSR-E RFI Detection and Correction Algorithm in 1-DVAR over Land

Land retrievals using passive microwave radiometers are sensitive to small fluctuations in land brightness temperatures. As such, the radio-frequency interference （RFI） signals emanating from man-made microwave radiation transmitters can result in large errors in land retrievals. RFI in C-and X-band channels can con-taminate remotely sensed measurements, as experienced with the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer （AMSR-E） and the WindSat sensor. In this work, applications of an RFI detection and correction algorithm in retrieving a comprehensive suite of geophysical parameters from AMSR-E measurements using the one-dimensional variational retrieval （1-DVAR） method are described. The results indicate that the values of retrieved parameters, such as land skin temperature （LST）, over these areas contaminated by RFI are much higher than those from the global data assimilation system （GDAS） products. The results also indicate that the differences between new retrievals and GDAS products are decreased evidently through taking into account the RFI correction algorithm. In addition, the convergence metric （χ2） of 1-DVAR is found to be a new method for identifying regions where land retrievals are affected by RFI. For example, in those regions with much stronger RFI, such as Europe and Japan, χ2 of 1-DVAR is so large that convergence cannot be reached and retrieval results may not be reliable or cannot be obtained. Furthermore,χ2 also decreases with the RFI-corrected algorithm for those regions with moderate or weak RFI. The results of RFI detected byχ2 are almost consistent with those identified by the spectral difference method.     

Subseasonal Zonal Oscillation of the Western Pacific Subtropical High during Early Summer

This study examines the features and dynamical processes of subseasonal zonal oscillation of the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) during early summer, by performing a multivariate empirical orthogonal function (MVEOF) analysis on daily winds and a diagnosis on potential vorticity (PV) at 500 hPa for the period 1979–2016. The first MV-EOF mode is characterized by an anticyclonic anomaly occupying southeastern China to subtropical western North Pacific regions. It has a period of 10–25 days and represents zonal shift of the WPSH. When the WPSH stretches more westward, the South Asian high (SAH) extends more eastward. Above-normal precipitation is observed over the Yangtze–Huaihe River (YHR) basin. Suppressed convection with anomalous descending motion is located over the subtropical western North Pacific. The relative zonal movement of the SAH and the WPSH helps to establish an anomalous local vertical circulation of ascending motion with upper-level divergence over the YHR basin and descending motion with upper-level convergence over the subtropical western Pacific. The above local vertical circulation provides a dynamic condition for persistent rainfall over the YHR basin. An enhanced southwest flow over the WPSH’s western edge transports more moisture to eastern China, providing a necessary water vapor condition for the persistent rainfall over the YHR basin. A potential vorticity diagnosis reveals that anomalous diabatic heating is a main source for PV generation. The anomalous cooling over the subtropical western Pacific produces a local negative PV center at 500 hPa. The anomalous heating over the YHR basin generates a local positive PV center. The above south–north dipolar structure of PV anomaly along with the climatological southerly flow leads to northward advection of negative PV. These two processes are conducive to the WPSH’s westward extension. The vertical advection process is unfavorable to the westward extension but contributes to the eastward retreat of the WPSH.     

STUDY ON THE QUASI-FOUR YEAR OSCILLATION OF AIR-SEA INTERACTION

Complex Singular Value Decomposition(CSVD)analysis technique was applied to study theQuasi Four year Oscillation(QFO)of air sea interaction and its coupled pattern evolution duringdifferent phases.Results show that:(1)CSVD method can better reveal phase relation betweentwo physical fields:(2)Not only northerly anomalies from Northern Hemisphere but alsosoutherly anomalies from Southern Hemisphere contribute to EI Nino.They converge in westernequatorial Pacific,leading to outburst of strong equatorial westerly anomalies,and result in strongEl Nino event onset:(3)An abnormal subtropical anticyclone circulation appears overnorthwestern Pacific while El Nino developing.It favors transitions from the warm SST(EINino)to the cold SST(La Nina),just as the tropical westerly anomalies produced by abnormalcyclone during a decaying La Nina.which encourage the development of El Nino:(4)Thewesterly anomalies in equatorial Pacific are mainly induced by eastward abnormal subtropicalcyclone pairs,which are located in north and south Pacific respectively,and are not the eastwardwesterly anomalies from equatorial Indian Ocean.     

STUDY ON THE QUASI-FOUR YEAR OSCILLATION OF AIR-SEA INTERACTION*

Complex Singular Value Decomposition(CSVD)analysis technique was applied to study the Quasi Four year Oscillation(QFO)of air sea interaction and its coupled pattern evolution during different phases.Results show that:(1)CSVD method can better reveal phase relation between two physical fields:(2)Not only northerly anomalies from Northern Hemisphere but also southerly anomalies from Southern Hemisphere contribute to EI Nino.They converge in western equatorial Pacific,leading to outburst of strong equatorial westerly anomalies,and result in strong El Nino event onset:(3)An abnormal subtropical anticyclone circulation appears over northwestern Pacific while El Nino developing.It favors transitions from the warm SST(EINino)to the cold SST(La Nina),just as the tropical westerly anomalies produced by abnormal cyclone during a decaying La Nina.which encourage the development of El Nino:(4)The westerly anomalies in equatorial Pacific are mainly induced by eastward abnormal subtropical cyclone pairs,which are located in north and south Pacific respectively,and are not the eastward westerly anomalies from equatorial Indian Ocean.     

台风"莫拉克"路径诊断分析和模拟

利用客观分析资料和数值模拟方法分析了0908号台风"莫拉克"穿越台湾岛前后在路径上出现的北翘、西折现象以及进入台湾海峡后移动异常缓慢的原因.结果表明:①台风靠近台湾岛后西太平洋副高减弱东撤,引导气流明显减弱,台风减速;台风进入台湾海峡后,北侧高压带的断裂和随后的重新连接加强是其路径偏北转向和移动缓慢的主因.②"莫拉克"...     

2007年淮河强降水时期低频环流特征

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料以及中国气象台站降水资料,研究了2007年夏季淮河流域强降水的低频振荡及其环流特征。结果表明,2007年夏季淮河流域强降水低频振荡的主要周期是10 25天。淮河流域降水强弱与对应低频周期存在联系,降水主要发生在低频周期的正位相时期,而在负位相时期结束或明显减弱。降水的低频变化一方面与副热带高压和南亚高压的低频变化有关,另一方面还受到中高纬度冷空气低频变化的影响。在低频周期的峰值位相,对流层高层出现的低频反气旋使南亚高压偏东,脊线偏北,并有利于西太平洋副热带高压向更西、更北的方向发展,整个对流层垂直方向上有低频的上升运动。中高纬地区出现大片正位势涡度,冷空气的低频活动显著偏强,南下侵入到中国淮河流域的冷空气较多,形成有利于淮河流域强降水的环流场。相反,在低频周期的谷值位相,对流层高层出现的低频气旋使南亚高压偏西,脊线偏南,不利于西太平洋副热带高压向更西、更北的方向发展,整个对流层垂直方向上有低频的下沉运动。高纬度冷空气的低频活动偏弱,南下侵入到中国淮河流域的冷空气也较少,最终形成不利于淮河流域强降水的环流场。     

Progress in the study on the formation of the summertime subtropical anticyclone

The studies in China on the formation of the summertime subtropical anticyclone on the climate timescale are reviewed. New insights in resent studies are introduced. It is stressed that either in the free atmosphere or in the planetary boundary, the descending arm of the Hadley cell cannot be considered as a mechanism for the formation of the subtropical anticyclone. Then the theories of thermal adaptation of the atmosphere to external thermal forcing and the potential vorticity forcing are developed to understand the formation of the subtropical anticyclone in the three-dimensional domain. Numerical experiments are designed to verify these theories. Results show that in the boreal summer, the formation of the strong South Asian High in the upper troposphere and the subtropical anticyclone over the western Pacific in the middle and lower troposphere is, to a great extent, due to the convective latent heating associated with the Asian monsoon, but affected by orography and the surface sensible heating over the continents.On the other hand, the formation of the subtropical anticyclone at the surface over the northern Pacific and in the upper troposphere over North America is mainly due to the strong surface sensible heating over North America, but affected by radiation cooling over the eastern North Pacific. Moreover, in the real atmosphere such individual thermal forcing is well organized. By considering the different diabatic heating in synthesis, a quadruple heating pattern is found over each subtropical continent and its adjacent oceans in summer. A distinct circulation pattern accompanies this heating pattern. The global summer subtropical heating and circulation may be viewed as “mosaics” of such quadruplet heating and circulationpatterns respectively. At last, some important issues for further research in understanding and predicting the variations of the subtropical anticyclone are raised.     

西北太平洋台风活动的年代际变化与大尺度环流因子的关系

用多项式拟合和统计分析的方法对1960～2005年西北太平洋台风年频数资料进行分析表明：台风活动存在明显的年代际变化，46a间台风活动存在两个高频期和两个低频期，高低频期台风频数的差异主要集中在7～10月（称为台风活跃季），利用台风活跃季的NCEP／NOAA资料对影响台风年代际变化的大尺度环流因子进行分析，结果表明：与低频期相比，在台风生成的高频期出现了较高的海表温度、较低的海平面气压、较大的高层散度和低层相对涡度、较小的垂直风切变，而且500hPa风场利于台风的生成和向西北太平洋移动。西太平洋副热带高压偏北，100hPa南亚高压偏弱。西北太平洋海盆的总降水量的年代际变化与台风的年代际变化关系不明显。