Hail Cloud Formation as a Result of the Merging of Convective Cells

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The results of long-term continuous radar observations of a multicellular hail system that developed over the central part of the North Caucasus June 7,...     

Numerical analysis of the propagation and amplification of tsunami waves on the northwest shelf of the Black Sea

We perform the numerical analysis of the process of propagation of long waves in the northwest part of the Black Sea and consider ten possible zones of the seismic generation of tsunamis. The numerical analysis is performed on a grid with steps of 500 m. It is shown that the location of the tsunami source significantly affects the distribution of the heights of waves along the coast. As a rule, the most intense waves are formed in the closest part of the coast. The earthquakes in the South-Coast seismic zone do not lead to the formation of tsunamis in the west part of the sea. Only strong earthquakes in the northwest part of the sea can be responsible for noticeable oscillations of the Black-Sea level. The period of tsunamis near Odessa is close to 1 h and depends on the magnitude of the earthquake. In the region of Sevastopol, this period is 2--3 times smaller. In the major part of the coastal points, the extreme elevations and lowerings of the sea level do not exceed (in modulus) the initial displacements of the sea surface at the source of tsunamis. An intensification of waves emitted from the zones of generation located in the deeper part of the investigated region was observed for some parts of the Romanian coast and the west coast of Crimea. As the magnitude of the earthquake increases, the intensification of waves near the coast becomes more pronounced.     

2020 年 6 月 1 日山东强雹暴过程双偏振雷达观测分析

利用济南S波段双偏振多普勒雷达探测数据,结合探空、地面气象站观测和实地冰雹调查资料,对2020年6月1日影响山东中西部的一次强雹暴过程进行分析。结果表明:1)此次雹暴过程受高空槽影响,于当日中午在河北邢台市初生,移入山东境内后持续降雹近5 h,其中17:00后雹暴明显加强,冰雹灾害严重。2)典型降雹时次具有明显的三体散射特征;1.5～5.5 km高度冰雹区对应的反射率因子(ZH)均大于65 dBZ,差分反射率因子(ZDR)介于-2.6～1.5 dB,相关系数介于0.80～0.96;大冰雹多集中在低层前侧入流的左侧和前侧。3)多个单体于17:00前后演变成超级单体风暴,具有明显的有界弱回波区和中气旋结构,ZDR柱可指示雹暴主上升气流区的位置。4)水凝物相态分类产品给出的冰雹分布反映了空中冰雹的分布和演变,可从冰雹色标面积大小、连续性程度预估冰雹强弱,根据低仰角的冰雹色标预判冰雹落区。     

Optimum multiparameter analysis of the water mass structure in the Atlantic Ocean thermocline

An analysis of the water mass structure of the Atlantic Ocean central layer is conducted by applying optimum multiparameter (OMP) analysis to an expansive historical data set. This inverse method utilises hydrographic property fields to determine the spreading and mixing of water masses in the permanent thermocline. An expanded form of OMP analysis is used, incorporating Redfield ratios and pseudo-age to correct for the non-conservative behaviour of oxygen and nutrients over large oceanic areas.Three water masses are considered to contribute to the central layer of the Atlantic Ocean. One of these is formed in each hemisphere of the Atlantic Ocean and the other advects around the southern tip of Africa from its formation region in the Indian Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is analysed on a fine three-dimensional grid so that at every grid point the relative contributions of each water mass and the pseudo-age are determined.The model is remarkably successful in verifying many accepted circulation features in the Atlantic Ocean, including the large-scale circulations of the subtropical gyres, the zonal flows of equatorial currents at the equator, and a cross-equatorial flow of the water masses formed in the southern hemisphere near the western boundary. The inter-hemisphere flow is so important that almost half of the thermocline waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico are supplied by the two water masses formed in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This provides support for an upper-layer replacement path for the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water. Further east, the sharp front at about 15°N between North and South Atlantic Central Waters is clearly discriminated throughout the thermocline. The central waters of the South Atlantic thermocline are found to be highly stratified, with central water formed in the Indian Ocean underlying the South Atlantic Central Water. At around 5°N a strong upwelling zone is identified in which the central water formed in the Indian Ocean penetrates towards the surface. The pseudo-age results allow pathways for the flow of water masses to be inferred, and clearly identify circulation features such as the subtropical gyres, the Equatorial Undercurrent, and the shadow zones in the eastern equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean. Water mass renewal in these shadow zones occurs on considerably longer time scales than for the well-ventilated subtropical gyres.     

Radar estimation of water content in cumulonimbus clouds

The method and results of radar researches of vertically and volumetric integrated water content in powerful cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds obtained for the first time are considered. It is established that in hailstorms of Northern Caucasus vertically integrated liquid (VIL) water content varies in limits from 8 up to 50 kg/m², in shower clouds—from 0.5 up to 12 kg/m², in Nimbostratus (Ns) clouds—it is usual less than 0.5 kg/m² and in clouds with a drizzle—less than 0.05 kg/m². The main water content of hailstorms in a stage of development is concentrated in their supercooled layer, in a maturity stage—in a layer from the ground up to height 8–10 km and in a stage of dissipation—in a ground layer. The ratio of VIL of the supercooled and warm parts of cloud allows estimating hail dangers of clouds and stage of their development. It is shown that the volume of hailstorms varies in limits from 10³ up to 5 × 10⁴ km³ and their volumetric integrated mass (VIM) of water content — from 10⁵ up to 6 × 10⁶ tons. The volume of hail localization seldom exceeds 5–25% from total cloud volume, but its contribution to VIM achieves 30–60%. Speed of precipitation formation in powerful hailstorms achieves 1 × 10⁴−5 × 10⁵ tons/min and the same order of value has speed of recession of VIM in their stage of dissipation.     

欧洲北海海域波高区间分布概率研究

为了研究欧洲北海海域的波高全区域概率分布情况,从而为海洋平台等海洋浮式结构物的选址和结构设计提供依据。首先基于Global Waves Statistics(GWS)提供的实测数据,确定典型计算工况的发生概率;同时考虑实测数据中极端波浪环境下的数据缺失导致大波高分布概率偏小的问题,利用三参数Weibull分布确定不同重现期下的极值风速,作为典型计算工况的补充。以不同风速、风向的定常风场为输入项,利用第三代海浪数值模型SWAN模型,对北海全区域波高进行数值模拟。将数值模拟的稳态形式依照各工况的发生概率进行归一化累加处理,认为其结果可以表征全区域的波高概率分布情况。以波高概率分布的计算结果为依据,分析北海海域波浪环境的统计学特征,发现有效波高为7 m以上的大波高频发区在北海北部区域有大范围分布;有效波高4～5 m为北海东北区域的多发海况,极端海况下的有效波高主要分布于7～14 m区间,在地形突变区域的波高发生显著变化。     

Detection of breaking waves using X-band pulse radar in the nearshore region

An X-band pulsed Doppler microwave radar has been used to determine the characteristics of breaking waves. Field experiments were conducted at the Shuang-Si estuary in the north of Taiwan in the winter of 2005. Analyses on maxima radar cross section and Doppler frequency shift are done to characterize wave breaking zones. Based on observations of breaking waves, the wave breaking zones are shown to be located at water depths of 1.8 to 2.2 m in the experimental site. In general, the results indicate that a radar system has the potential to delineate the spatial variation of breaking waves clearly and that this is sufficient to achieve a measurement operation for near-shore air-sea interaction events.     

辽宁东南部一次强降雪天气的成因分析

利用常规观测资料、NCEP再分析资料、多普勒雷达资料等对2015年2月25日辽宁东南部一次强降雪过程进行分析。结果表明:此次强降雪过程发生在低空切变线东侧暖湿区对应高空急流出口区左侧的辐散区内,有强的水汽辐合中心;地面偏南气流受山前地形抬升作用在强降水区形成风向辐合和850 hPa以下急流中心,是造成强降雪的主要原因之一;暴雪过程开始前6 h出现温度平流随高度减小的配置,假相当位温空间分布上锋区的形成,有利于不稳定层结的建立; 8～12 h前正涡度平流、中低层风向辐合带、近地面冷空气层的建立以及次级环流的形成加强了上升运动,对强降雪预报具有很好的指示作用;在降水相态是雨或雨夹雪时,雷达回波最大强度达到40～45 dBZ,而强降雪时回波强度为20～25 dBZ;当大连本站850 h Pa温度以及1 000 hPa与850 h Pa两层等压面之间的厚度处于雨雪转换临界值时,大连南部为雨或雨夹雪,北部为雪,此时出现强降雪,回波高度基本在6 km以下,最强回波25～35 dBZ维持在1 km以下,近地层为弱偏北风,与其上的西南风在边界层形成切变层,将暖湿气流抬升,为强降水提供动力条件。     

The role of the gravity-wave dispersion relation in HF radar measurements of the sea surface

Recent experimental and theoretical findings raise interesting questions about the applicability of the normal gravity-wave dispersion relation at wave frequencies that exceed the spectral peak frequency. The use of the dispersion relation in analysis of HF radar Doppler sea echo is examined in this paper. Drawing on the results of perturbation theory for wave-wave nonlinear interactions, we show that this relation, so essential to echo interpretation in terms of current and wave information, can be employed with no degradation in accuracy for current measurement when the dominant wave frequency is considerably less (by as much as 10) than the radar Bragg resonance frequency. This finding is supported by comparisons of currents measured by HF radar with "surface truth;" the first-order echo must only be identifiable in order to be used accurately. Wave-height directional spectral information can be extracted from the second-order echo at a given radar frequency up to the point (in wave height) where the perturbation solution employed in the inversion process fails; then a lower radar frequency must be used. On the other hand, most conventional wave measuring instruments should not use the dispersion relation for interpretation of data well beyond the spectral peak, because they do not observe wave height as a function of both space and time independently, as does HF radar.     

西北太平洋爆发性气旋的气候特征和卫星云图分析

通过对西北太平洋最近九年爆发性气旋的分析表明:气旋的爆发性发展主要发生在冬半年的海洋上,集中在日本东南海域,且有明显的季节性。加深率以1.1贝吉龙居多。其发展过程的云形特征可归为四类:南北逗点云系迭加类;气旋锢囚性发展类;斜压叶状云系类和东西云系迭加类。     

Prediction of Extreme Significant Wave Height from Daily Maxima

For prediction of the extreme significant wave height in the ocean areas where long term wave data are not available, the empirical method of extrapolating short term data (1-3 years) is used in design practice. In this paper two methods are proposed to predict extreme significant wave height based on short-term daily maxima. According to the da-a recorded by the Oceanographic Station of Liaodong Bay at the Bohai Sea, it is supposed that daily maximum wave heights are statistically independent. The data show that daily maximum wave heights obey log-normal distribution, and that the numbers of daily maxima vary from year to year, obeying binomial distribution. Based on these statistical characteristics, the binomial-log-normal compound extremum distribution is derived for prediction of extreme significant wave heights (50-100 years). For examination of its accuracy and validity, the prediction of extreme wave heights is based on 12 years' data at this station, and based on each 3 years' data respectively     

OSMAR-S型高频地波雷达在南海北部遥测海表面流的数据检验

为掌握OSMAR-S型高频地波雷达在南海北部遥测海表面流的误差分布情况,首先分析该型雷达测流的空间分布情况,发现在雷达连线中间区域存在盲区。将雷达测流数据与ADCP测流数据进行比对,中间区域流速误差小于其他区域。为得到更为全面的分析,对雷达测流数据进行潮流调和分析,计算得到潮流和余流,并分别与预报系统的潮流数据、气象站风场数据进行比对,在计算中采用快速Fourier变换进行数据滤波处理。结果显示在雷达电磁波覆盖的向外海一侧中间区域,特别是在与两雷达站夹角接近90°的区域,测流精度高于其他区域,并基于以上结论给出了雷达使用中的建议。     

Modeling of wind upwellings on the northwest shelf of the Black Sea near local features of the bottom topography

We discuss the results of numerical experiments aimed at the investigation of the process of formation of the three-dimensional structure of the zones of upwelling on the northwest shelf of the Black Sea depending on the direction of the wind. We perform the detailed analysis of three zones (I, II, and III) with fairly well pronounced inhomogeneities of the bottom topography. Zone I is located in the north part of the shelf and, in this region, we observe a narrow depression to the southwest of the Tendrovskaya Spit. In zone II located in the near-Danube zone, we observe a height reaching the sea surface (Zmeinyi Island). Zone III is located in the east part of the shelf and corresponds to a sharp drop of depths with specific curvature of the coastal line of the Kalamitskii Bay and Gerakleiskii Peninsula. The performed analysis enables us to conclude that, in the vicinity of the local features of the bottom topography and coastal line (such as underwater heights, depressions, and capes), we observe the appearance of the zones of upwelling of waters, especially pronounced in the deep-water layers of the sea. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 3, pp. 68–80, May–June, 2008.     

便携式高频地波雷达台湾海峡浪高观测

As an important equipment for sea state remote sensing, high frequency surface wave radar(HFSWR) has received more and more attention. The conventional method for wave height inversion is based on the ratio of the integration of the second-order spectral continuum to that of the first-order region, where the strong external noise and the incorrect delineation of the first- and second-order Doppler spectral regions due to spectral aliasing are two major sources of errors in the wave height. To account for these factors, two more indices are introduced to the wave height estimation, i.e., the ratio of the maximum power of the second-order continuum to that of the Bragg spectral region(RSCB) and the ratio of the power of the second harmonic peak to that of the Bragg peak(RSHB). Both indices also have a strong correlation with the underlying wave height. On the basis of all these indices an empirical model is proposed to estimate the wave height. This method has been used in a three-months long experiment of the ocean state measuring and analyzing radar, type S(OSMAR-S), which is a portable HFSWR with compact cross-loop/monopole receive antennas developed by Wuhan University since 2006. During the experiment in the Taiwan Strait, the significant wave height varied from 0 to 5 m. The significant wave heights estimated by the OSMAR-S correlate well with the data provided by the Oceanweather Inc. for comparison, with a correlation coefficient of 0.74 and a root mean square error(RMSE) of 0.77 m. The proposed method has made an effective improvement to the wave height estimation and thus a further step toward operational use of the OSMAR-S in the wave height extraction.     

Studies of the deep structure in transition zones from oceans to continents

Studies of the deep structure of the earth’s crust, lithosphere, and asthenosphere (tectonosphere) of transition zones from continents to oceans is one of the urgent issues of present-day geology and geophysics. The most important information on the deep structure of such zones is provided by seismic and seismological methods. Meanwhile, a comparison between gravity data and results of seismic studies showed that the gravity anomalies observed in the marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean cannot be explained solely by changes in the thickness and composition of the earth’s crust. In order to estimate the internal structure of the Pacific type of transition zones, the authors performed an analysis of the anomalous gravity field and the field of geoid heights in the Indonesian region, which also included calculations of the values of the gravity field and geoid heights in different reductions (Bouguer, Glenny, and isostatic), their transformations, and compilation of density models of the tectonosphere of the transition zone of this region compatible with the geological and geophysical data available. As a result of these studies, we performed zonation of the Indonesian region with respect to the gravity field and defined particular features of the areas distinguished. Based on the analysis performed, we inferred the existence of differences in the structure of individual zones both in the upper layers of the tectonosphere and in deeper layers. Detailed characteristics of the anomalous gravity fields typical of the objects distinguished are presented.     

南海西南海域的内波和细结构

根据１９９０年初夏南海西南部水域的两个连续站ＣＴＤ和多层海流计资料及５０多个大面站ＣＴＤ资料的分析研究得到一些关于此海域的内波和细结构的特性。它包括等温、盐、密度面起伏的特性，盐度双跃层和逆盐层等长存性细结构、温度Ｃｏｘ数的概率密度函数及流速频谱的特性，Ｃｏｘ数和温度脉动垂向波数谱的一般品性及其随水层和地域的变化规律等诸方面。     

Laboratory study of the nonlinear transformation of irregular waves over a mild slope

This paper considers the nonlinear transformation of irregular waves propagating over a mild slope （1：40）. Two cases of irregular waves, which are mechanically generated based on JONSWAP spectra, are used for this purpose. The results indicate that the wave heights obey the Rayleigh distribution at the offshore location; however, in the shoaling region, the heights of the largest waves are underestimated by the theoretical distributions. In the surf zone, the wave heights can be approximated by the composite Weibull distribution. In addition, the nonlinear phase coupling within the irregular waves is investigated by the wavelet-based bicoherence. The bicoherence spectra reflect that the number of frequency modes participating in the phase coupling increases with the decreasing water depth, as does the degree of phase coupling. After the incipient breaking, even though the degree of phase coupling decreases, a great number of higher harmonic wave modes are also involved in nonlinear interactions. Moreover, the summed bicoherence indicates that the frequency mode related to the strongest local nonlinear interactions shifts to higher harmonics with the decreasing water depth.     

Laboratory Study of the Nonlinear Transformation of Irregular Waves over A Mild Slope

This paper considers the nonlinear transformation of irregular waves propagating over a mild slope (1?40). Two cases of irregular waves, which are mechanically generated based on JONSWAP spectra, are used for this purpose. The results indicate that the wave heights obey the Rayleigh distribution at the offshore location; however, in the shoaling region, the heights of the largest waves are underestimated by the theoretical distributions. In the surf zone, the wave heights can be approximated by the composite Weibull distribution. In addition, the nonlinear phase coupling within the irregular waves is investigated by the wavelet-based bicoherence. The bicoherence spectra reflect that the number of frequency modes participating in the phase coupling increases with the decreasing water depth, as does the degree of phase coupling. After the incipient breaking, even though the degree of phase coupling decreases, a great number of higher harmonic wave modes are also involved in nonlinear interactions. Moreover, the summed bicoherence indicates that the frequency mode related to the strongest local nonlinear interactions shifts to higher harmonics with the decreasing water depth.     

Morphodynamics of a bar-trough surf zone

A field study was made of the distinguishing morphodynamic processes operating in a surf zone which perennially exhibits accentuated bar-trough topography (the “longshore-bar-trough” and “rhytmic-bar-and-beach” states as described by Wright and Short, 1984). Characteristic features of the morphology include a shallow bar with a steep shoreward face, a deep trough, and a steep beach face. This morphology, which is favored by moderate breaker heights and small tidal ranges, strongly controls the coupled suite of hydrodynamic processes. In contrast to fully dissipative surf zones, the bar-trough surf zone is not at all saturated and oscillations at incident wave frequency remain dominant from the break point to the subaerial beach. The degree of incident wave groupiness does not change appreciably across the surf zone. Infragravity standing waves which, in dissipative surf zones, dominate the inshore energy, remain energetically secondary and occur at higher frequencies in the bar trough surf zone. Analyses of the field data combined with numerical simulations of leaky mode and edge wave nodal—antinodal positions over observed surf-zone profiles, indicate that the frequencies which prevail are favored by the resonant condition of antinodes over the bar and nodes in the trough. Standing waves which would have nodes over the bar are suppressed. Sediment resuspension in the surf zone appears to be largely attributable to the incident waves which are the main source of bed shear stress. In addition, the extra near-bottom eddy viscosity provided by the reformed, non-breaking waves traversing the trough significantly affects the vertical velocity profile of the longshore current. Whereas the bar is highly mobile in terms of onshore—offshore migration rates, the beach face and inner regions of the trough are remarkably stable over time.     

CODAR wave measurements from a North Sea semisubmersible

CODAR, a high-frequency (HF) compact radar system, was operated continuously over several weeks aboard the semisubmersible oil platform Treasure Saga for the purpose of wave-height directional measurement and comparison. During North Sea winter storm conditions, the system operated at two different frequencies, depending on the sea state. Wave data are extracted from the second-order backscatter Doppler spectrum produced by nonlinearities in the hydrodynamic wave/wave and electromagnetic wave/scatter interactions. Because the floating oil rig itself moves in response to long waves, a technique has been developed and successfully demonstrated to eliminate to second order the resulting phase-modulation contamination of the echo, using separate accelerometer measurement of the platform's lateral motions. CODAR wave height, mean direction, and period are compared with data from a Norwegian directional wave buoy; in storm seas with wave heights that exceeded 9 m, the two height measurements agreed to within 20 cm RMS, and the mean direction to better than 15° RMS