我国暴雨形成机理及预报方法研究进展

本文分别从华南前汛期暴雨、江淮流域梅雨锋暴雨、华北和东北暴雨以及暴雨预报方法等方面回顾了我国近年来在三大主要雨带的观测、数值模拟、动力机理及诊断分析和预报方法方面取得的进展,指出了华南前汛期暴雨、江淮梅雨锋暴雨及华北东北暴雨研究取得的新认识,认为华南前汛期暴雨的形成机理主要是发生在低空南风向北推进过程中,由海岸线及地形抬升而产生位势不稳定造成强上升运动,以及由于南风低空急流向北发展时产生急流前部的辐合而发生流线分叉使低层低涡发展,促进垂直运动加强或使正涡度集中促使垂直运动发展而造成暴雨;江淮暴雨生成机制主要与对称不稳定、涡度场变化及β中尺度对流线有关;而华北东北暴雨过程中的非均匀饱和引起的局部湿度集中特点较为明显,中高层干冷空气入侵引起的不稳定和动量下传及高空中尺度急流增强引发的高层局地辐散增强对暴雨发生有重要作用。目前,新型探测资料已经用到暴雨研究和预报中,具有自主知识产权的GRAPES-MESO和GRAPES-GFS系统已经实现业务化,并在集合数值预报方面取得显著进步,且动力因子暴雨预报方法在很多省市气象台得到推广应用。虽然暴雨机理研究和预报已经取得以上诸方面的长足进步,但是也还存在不少问题,需要加强基于观测的暴雨中尺度系统的理论研究、数值模式动力框架和物理过程描述的改进、资料同化理论技术的发展及人工智能技术如何用到大气科学的研究和业务应用等,以期在我国暴雨中尺度系统的三维精细结构、发生发展机理和预报理论和方法研究方面取得更大进步。

垂直运动研究进展及新型垂直运动方程

垂直运动在天气系统(尤其是中小尺度系统)发生发展过程中有极其重要的作用,本文回顾并小结了大气垂直运动方程的研究进展。在质量守恒前提下,垂直运动可由连续方程积分计算得到,这个算法需要准确计算散度,不容易实现。基于大气绝热假设的绝热法,由于与实际天气过程热力变化有较大差别,计算的垂直运动也不准确。垂直运动的诊断与天气系统尺度有关。大尺度系统以涡旋运动为主,满足准水平,不必要过多考虑浮力和风切作用。因此,出现了准地转条件的垂直运动方程,且在大尺度运动中应用较好。中尺度系统运动中,辐合辐散运动与旋转运动同等重要,垂直运动不能忽略,垂直运动方程在形式上要复杂一些,但其强迫项仍是由涵差的涡度平流及温度平流的拉普拉斯所构成,本质与大尺度系统中的ω方程没有太大差别。小尺度强风暴运动以辐合辐散为主,浮力及风切起着主导作用,其垂直运动方程要复杂得多。但是,由于任何小尺度强对流系统都是在大中尺度背景下发生的,所以背景场强迫的垂直运动仍然存在,完整的垂直运动应考虑不同天气尺度系统调整产生的垂直速度,应联立垂直运动方程组进行计算。本文提出的多效应的新型垂直运动方程,可以较为准确地实现强对流运动中的垂直速度的诊断。

近年来中尺度涡动力学研究进展

围绕国内外近年来中尺度涡的动力学研究进展,聚焦中尺度对流涡的涡度方程和热量方程,对中尺度对流涡的动力学进展进行了梳理总结,指出环境风切变、垂直运动、平流的动力辐合、风场变形、热力场变化及地形等对中尺度涡的涡度发展均有作用。此外,中尺度涡动力学的研究进展,还体现在能量方程和中尺度垂直运动方程的推导和诊断方面。强对流系统中,垂直运动的变化与不稳定能量及对流层中层水平运动的风速有关。

湿空气动热力学理论及应用研究进展

回顾了湿空气热动力学的研究进展,对未饱和湿大气、饱和湿大气及非均匀饱和湿大气的动热力方程、能量方程、连续方程等进行了梳理,指出饱和湿空气动量方程与非均匀饱和湿空气动量方程的最大区别在于对凝结过程的处理不同。饱和湿大气中,由于大气均是饱和的,由饱和造成的水凝物可处处出现,不能区分真正发生水汽凝结的区域。而非均匀饱和湿空气中,凝结发生与相对湿度的幂次方有关(即与凝结概率函数的分布有关),在相对湿度较小的区域不会出现水汽凝结,凝结区与非凝结区可自动区别,其描述的凝结过程与实际大气更接近。同时,总结了湿大气水汽凝结饱和非均匀分布的动热力物理量在高影响天气分析中的应用,最后讨论了未来推进湿空气动力学研究需重点考虑的一个内容。

龙卷生成动力学初探

初步探讨了龙卷生成的动力学因素,其中包含垂直运动的产生、能量的集中和释放以及涡旋的发展。强对流中的强垂直运动取决于对流层中层水平运动的风速,对流层中层大风的出现是强对流发展的信号,也是一种预报指标。同时,大的垂直运动必造成大气中层及其以下的强辐合,因此中层以下的强辐合区也是一个预报积云发展的重要指标。在能量分析过程中最主要的是寻找能量辐合线。如果这条辐合线遇到了较大的垂直运动上升区,会使能量在这条辐合线的垂直运动最大上升区处得以释放,使积云系统进一步发展。在较平坦的地带如果辐合线及能量极值线上出现较大的浮力旋度,则会产生涡旋。这种涡旋又进一步引起速度的变化及垂直运动的形成,促进旋转区垂直运动的加强,形成极小范围的涡旋柱,即出现龙卷。

四川地形扰动对降水分布影响

引入一维加权平均的谱分析方法定量研究四川地形强迫对该区域降水分布的影响。结果表明:纬向地形和冬季降水谱峰锁相于同一波长(475.8 km),呈共振关系,地形与其他季节降水呈漂移关系,这与经向和纬向上环流变动有关,即冬季纬向环流占主导,纬向地形触发的大气波动对冬季降水策动作用大;夏季降水是各种不同尺度系统相互作用的结果,地形是重要因素之一。经向和纬向地形特征尺度分别为296.8 km和475.8 km,反映了地形强迫的中尺度特征,且纬向地形谱峰比经向大1个数量级,纬向强迫更明显。夏季降水谱峰比冬季大2个数量级,降水系统纬向特征尺度比冬季小约150 km,说明夏季在纬向地形强迫下,降水系统尺度减小的同时其强度大大增加,这在一定程度上可以解释中尺度对流性降水在夏季偏多。四川夏季最大降水位于雅安地区,其地形扰动比四川整体扰动更明显,故产生的降水也更大。夏季降水和经向地形锁相于同一波长(37.1 km),经向地形对雅安夏季强降水起关键作用。

青藏高原上空一次重力波过程的识别与天气影响分析

应用再分析资料、多套卫星反演资料和WRF中尺度数值模拟资料,识别了2005年1月10日青藏高原上空一次重力波过程,以及重力波对青藏高原西部降雪的影响。结果表明,此次重力波位于急流出口区的左方,以西南—东北走向覆盖青藏高原大部分地区。大尺度的冷暖平流相间分布和不断增强的非平衡流为重力波的形成提供了有利背景场。小波交叉谱分析显示垂直涡度与水平散度在对流层中层满足重力波的极化性质,在青藏高原西部的上升支对应有降雪过程发生。WRF可以较好地再现这一过程,并且能够模拟出再分析资料中无法分辨的中尺度重力波。数值模拟表明,青藏高原近地面强烈非绝热加热使得低层大气静力不稳定,在近地面暖区触发对流后引起高层凝结释放潜热,低层融化冷却,有利于激发重力波,并在其上升支产生固态凝结物,随后到来的冷气团提供了有利的水汽输送条件,大范围的弱抬升运动取代了原间隔进入降雪区的强对流上升支,使得固态凝结物得以落至地面,最终在青藏高原西部形成本次降雪过程。

A Generalized Frontogenesis Function and Its Application

With the definition of generalized potential temperature, a new generalized frontogenesis function, which is expressed as the Lagrangian change rate of the magnitude of the horizontal generalized potential temperature gradient, is derived. Such a frontogenesis function is more appropriate for a real moist atmosphere because it can reflect frontogenesis processes, in which the atmosphere in a frontal zone is typically characterized by neither completely dry nor uniform saturation. Furthermore, by derivation, the expression of generalized frontogenesis function includes both temperature and humidity gradients, which is different from and superior to the traditional frontogenesis function in moist processes, which also uses equivalent potential temperature. Diagnostic studies of real cases are performed and show that the generalized frontogenesis function in non- uniformly saturated moist atmosphere indeed provides a useful tool for frontogenesis, compared to using the traditional frontogenesis function. The new frontogenesis function can be used in situations involving either a strong temperature or moisture gradient and is closely correlated with precipitation.

A Diagnostic Study of the Asymmetric Distribution of Rainfall during the Landfall of Typhoon Haitang(2005)

The precipitation during landfall of typhoon Haitang （2005） showed asymmetric structures （left side/right side of the track）. Analysis of Weather Research and Forecasting model simulation data showed that rainfall on the right side was more than 15 times stronger than on the left side. The causes were analyzed by focusing on comparing the water vapor flux, stability and upward motion between the two sides. The major results were as follows： （1） Relative humidity on both sides was over 80%, whereas the convergence of water vapor flux in the lower troposphere was about 10 times larger on the right side than on the left side. （2） Both sides featured conditional symmetric instability [MPV （moist potential vorticity） 〈0], but the right side was more unstable than the left side. （3） Strong （weak） upward motion occurred throughout the troposphere on the right （left） side. The Q vector diagnosis suggested that large-scale and mesoscale forcing accounted for the difference in vertical velocity. Orographic lift and surface friction forced the development of the asymmetric precipitation pattern. On the right side, strong upward motion from the forcing of different scale weather systems and topography caused a substantial release of unstable energy and the transportation of water vapor from the lower to the upper troposphere, which produced torrential rainfall. However, the above conditions on the left side were all much weaker, which led to weaker rainfall. This may have been the cause of the asymmetric distribution of rainfall during the landfall of typhoon Haitang.

Investigation of the Mei-yu Front Using a New Deformation Frontogenesis Function

A new frontogenesis function is developed and analyzed on the basis of a local change rate of the absolute horizontal gradient of the resultant deformation. Different from the traditional frontogenesis function, the newly defined deformation frontogenesis is derived from the viewpoint of dynamics rather than thermodynamics. Thus, it is more intuitive for the study of frontogenesis because the compaction of isolines of both temperature and moisture can be directly induced by the change of a flow field. This new frontogenesis function is particularly useful for studying the mei-yu front in China because mei-yu rainbands typically consist of a much stronger moisture gradient than temperature gradient, and involve large deformation flow. An analysis of real mei-yu frontal rainfall events indicates that the deformation frontogenesis function works remarkably well, producing a clearer mei-yu front than the traditional frontogenesis function based on a measure of the potential temperature gradient. More importantly, the deformation frontogenesis shows close correlation with the subsequent（6 h later） precipitation pattern and covers the rainband well, bearing significance for the prognosis or even prediction of future precipitation.

Mesoscale Dynamics and Its Application in Torrential Rainfall Systems in China

Progress over the past decade in understanding moisture-driven dynamics and torrential rain storms in China is reviewed in this paper. First, advances in incorporating moisture effects more realistically into theory are described, including the development of a new parameter, generalized moist potential vorticity（GMPV） and an improved moist ageostrophic Q vector（Qum）. Advances in vorticity dynamics are also described, including the adoption of a ＂parcel dynamic＂ approach to investigate the development of the vertical vorticity of an air parcel; a novel theory of slantwise vorticity development, proposed because vorticity develops easily near steep isentropic surfaces; and the development of the convective vorticity vector（CVV）as an effective new tool. The significant progress in both frontal dynamics and wave dynamics is also summarized, including the geostrophic adjustment of initial unbalanced flow and the dual role of boundary layer friction in frontogenesis, as well as the interaction between topography and fronts, which indicate that topographic perturbations alter both frontogenesis and frontal structure. For atmospheric vortices, mixed wave/vortex dynamics has been extended to explain the propagation of spiral rainbands and the development of dynamical instability in tropical cyclones. Finally, we review wave and basic flow interaction in torrential rainfall, for which it was necessary to extend existing theory from large-scale flows to mesoscale fields, enriching our knowledge of mesoscale atmospheric dynamics.

Eddy Kinetic Energy Study of the Snowstorm over Southern China in January 2008

The energetics of the third stage of a snowstorm over China was analyzed using ECWMF data.The analysis of the energy budget for the Middle East trough and the western Pacific trough that developed toward China on 25-28 January 2008 showed the advection of the geopotential by the ageostrophic wind to be both a crucial source and the primary sink of the eddy kinetic energy centers associated with the troughs.The magnitudes of the energy conversion terms,interaction kinetic energy conversion and baroclinic conversion,were too small to explain the development of the energy centers and the jet streaks.The energy centers gained energy at their entrance regions via the convergence of the ageostrophic geopotential fluxes,and then lost energy at their exit regions by the same fluxes.At the entrance regions,the fluxes converged,increasing the geopotential gradient,which generated a stronger geostrophic wind and higher kinetic energy,resulting in an ascending motion in this area.When the troughs moved to China,the ascending motion caused by the convergence of the fluxes at entrance region intensified the snowstorms over central and southern China.

New Evidence for Improving Omega Estimation by Explicitly Considering Horizontal Divergence

It is well known that the quasi-geostrophic （QG） omega equation with only two contributors respectively associated with vorticity advection （VA） and temperature advection is derived for midlatitude synoptic-scale systems only.Based on reliable reanalysis data,new evidence revealed by cyclonic and anticyclonic cases indicates that forecasters might sometimes experience problems by paying too much attention to the 500-hPa VA when estimating vertical motions not only in subtropical systems but also in systems meeting all the assumptions of the QG omega equation.Our investigations also showed that explicitly considering the vertical profiles of horizontal divergence could allow for better interpretation of vertical motions and weather in these real cases,suggesting that this equation might not be sufficient due to the presence of only two horizontaldivergence-related （HDR） mechanisms and the absence of other HDR mechanisms,e.g.,frictional force,mountain barriers,diabatic/adiabatic processes,and acceleration/deceleration of air flows.

Meteorological impacts on evapotranspiration in different climatic zones of Pakistan

Arid regions are highly vulnerable and sensitive to drought. The crops cultivated in arid zones are at high risk due to the high evapotranspiration and water demands. This study analyzed the changes in seasonal and annual evapotranspiration（ET） during 1951–2016 at 50 meteorological stations located in the extremely arid, arid, and semi-arid zones of Pakistan using the Penman Monteith（PM） method. The results show that ET is highly sensitive and positively correlated to temperature, solar radiation, and wind speed whereas vapor pressure is negatively correlated to ET. The study also identifies the relationship of ET with the meteorological parameters in different climatic zones of Pakistan. The significant trend analysis of precipitation and temperature（maximum and minimum） are conducted at 95% confidence level to determine the behaviors of these parameters in the extremely arid, arid, and semi-arid zones. The mean annual precipitation and annual mean maximum temperature significantly increased by 0.828 mm/a and 0.014℃/a in the arid and extremely arid zones, respectively. The annual mean minimum temperature increased by 0.017℃/a in the extremely arid zone and 0.019℃/a in the arid zone, whereas a significant decrease of 0.007℃/a was observed in the semi-arid zone. This study provides probabilistic future scenarios that would be helpful for policy-makers, agriculturists to plan effective irrigation measures towards the sustainable development in Pakistan.

A-B Hybrid Equation Method of Nonlinear Bifurcation in Wave-Flow Interaction

In this paper,A-B hybrid equation method is given.This method is different not only from high truncated spectral method,but also from amplitude evolution method.Dynamic problem in the baroclinic atmosphere may be transferred into complex Lorenz system by means of the method.Therefore,this method is an effective tool for studying nonlinear bifurcation in wave-flow interaction.Meanwhile,it is of advantage to use this method,because it can overcome a lot of difficulties existing in high truncated spectral method and amplitude evolution method.

Proof of the Monotonicity of Grid Size and Its Application in Grid-Size Selection for Mesoscale Models

Terrain characteristics can be accurately represented in spectrum space. Terrain spectra can quantitatively reflect the effect of topographic dynamic forcing on the atmosphere. In wavelength space, topographic spectral energy decreases with decreasing wavelength, in spite of several departures. This relationship is approximated by an exponential function. A power law relationship between the terrain height spectra and wavelength is fitted by the least-squares method, and the fitting slope is associated with grid-size selection for mesoscale models. The monotonicity of grid size is investigated, and it is strictly proved that grid size increases with increasing fitting exponent, indicating that the universal grid size is determined by the minimum fitting exponent. An example of landslide-prone areas in western Sichuan is given, and the universal grid spacing of 4.1 km is shown to be a requirement to resolve 90% of terrain height variance for mesoscale models, without resorting to the parameterization of subgrid-scale terrain variance. Comparison among results of different simulations shows that the simulations estimate the observed precipitation well when using a resolution of 4.1 km or finer. Although the main flow patterns are similar, finer grids produce more complex patterns that show divergence zones, convergence zones and vortices. Horizontal grid size significantly affects the vertical structure of the convective boundary layer. Stronger vertical wind components are simulated for finer grid resolutions. In particular, noticeable sinking airflows over mountains are captured for those model configurations.

The Effect of the Subtropical Jet on the Rainfall over Southern China in January 2008

ABSTRACT The third precipitation episode of China＇s great snowstorms of 2008 was analyzed using station observations and ECMWF six-hourly data. The variation of the shape of the upper-level subtropical jet played an important role in the rainfall over south- ern China. With the eastward movement of the trough, the jet shape changed from two straight jets to a tilting jet over China and then it moved southward. With these variations, the south-north movement of ascending flow and precipitation area over southern China occurred.

Reinvestigation of potential deformation during a heavy rainfall event in North China

In this study,the physical meaning and generation mechanism of potential deformation(PD)are reinvestigated.A main trait of PD is that it contains deformation,which is an important factor to precipitation but not well applied in precipitation diagnosis.This paper shows PD shares similar features to deformation,but contains much more physical information than deformation.It can be understood as a type of deformation of a thermodynamic-coupled vector(u*,v*).For convenient application,squared PD(SPD)is used instead for analysis.By deriving the tendency equation of SPD,it is found that whether SPD is produced or reduced in the atmosphere is associated with the angle between the dilatation axes of PD and geostrophic PD.When the angle is less thanπ2,SPD is generated.The diagnostic results during a heavy rainfall event in North China on 20 July 2016 show that the process of rapid increase in precipitation can be well revealed by SPD.The distribution of SPD becomes more organized and concentrated with increasing precipitation intensity.A diagnostic analysis of the SPD tendency equation shows that concentrated SPD is associated with the generation of SPD in the boundary layer followed by upward transport of the SPD.The concentration of SPD indicates a confluence of precipitation-favorable factors—namely,vertical wind shear and moist baroclinity,which can enhance vertical motions and thus cause an increase in precipitation.These diagnostic results further verify PD as a useful physical parameter for heavy precipitation diagnosis.

A comparative study of the atmospheric circulations associated with rainy-season floods between the Yangtze and Huaihe River Basins

Here we present the results from the composite analyses of the atmospheric circulations and physical quantity fields associated with rainy-season for the selected floods cases over the Yangtze and Huaihe River basins for the 21 years(1990–2010),using the daily rain gauge measurements taken in the 756 stations throughout China and the NCEP/reanalysis data for the rainyseasons(June–July)from 1990 to 2010.The major differences in the atmospheric circulations and physical quantity fields between the Yangtze and Huaihe River basins are as follows:for flooding years of the Yangtze River Basin,the South Asia high center is located further east than normal,the blocking high over the Urals and the Sea of Okhotsk maintains,and the Meiyu front is situated near 30°N whereas for flooding years of the Huaihe River Basin,the South Asia high center is further west than normal,the atmospheric circulations over the mid and high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere are of meridional distribution,and the Meiyu front is situated near 33°N.In addition,there are distinct differences in water vapor sources and associated transports between the Yangtze and Huaihe River basins.The water vapor is transported by southwesterly flows from the Bay of Bengal and monsoon flows over the South China Sea for flooding years of the Yangtze River Basin whereas by southeast monsoons from the eastern and southern seas off China and monsoon flows over the South China Sea for flooding years of the Huaihe River Basin.

The derivation of moist baroclinic Ertel-Rossby invariant in fast manifold and its application to typhoons

Potential vorticity(PV)has been widely applied as a tracer because of its property of conservation in frictionless,dry adiabatic flow.However,PV itself is more effective in describing the slow-manifold flow at large scale.Therefore,we wish to find a materially conserved invariant other than PV to diagnose severe weather such as growing and mature tropical cyclones,whose velocity and dynamic pressure vary rapidly and locally.Starting from the absolute motion equation after elimination of the pressure gradient term by introducing moist entropy and moist enthalpy,the baroclinic Ertel-Rossby invariant(ERI)in moist flow is derived by the Weber transformation.Furthermore,the material conservation property of moist ERI is proven.Besides the traditional moist potential vorticity(MPV)term,the invariant includes the moisture factor that is excluded in dry ERI and the term related to gradients of pressure,kinetic energy and potential energy that reflects the"fast-manifold"property.Therefore,it is more complete to describe the fast motions off the slow manifold for severe weather than is the MPV term.The moist ERI is then applied to diagnose a triple-typhoon system,and is compared with MPV and dry ERI.Contrastive analysis shows that moist ERI is a better tool to diagnose the movements and intensity variations of several coexisting typhoons.The moist ERI can signify the movement and development of a multi-typhoon system.It has wide application prospects for a real moist atmosphere.