Extreme Cold Events in North America and Eurasia in November-December 2022: A Potential Vorticity Gradient Perspective

From 17 November to 27 December 2022, extremely cold snowstorms frequently swept across North America and Eurasia. Diagnostic analysis reveals that these extreme cold events were closely related to the establishment of blocking circulations. Alaska Blocking(AB) and subsequent Ural Blocking(UB) episodes are linked to the phase transition of the North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO) and represent the main atmospheric regimes in the Northern Hemisphere. The downstream dispersion and propagation of Rossby wave packets from Alaska to East Asia provide a large-scale connection between AB and UB episodes. Based on the nonlinear multi-scale interaction(NMI) model, we found that the meridional potential vorticity gradient(PVy) in November and December of 2022 was anomalously weak in the mid-high latitudes from North America to Eurasia and provided a favorable background for the prolonged maintenance of UB and AB events and the generation of associated severe extreme snowstorms. However, the difference in the UB in terms of its persistence,location, and strength between November and December is related to the positive(negative) NAO in November(December). During the La Ni?a winter of 2022, the UB and AB events are related to the downward propagation of stratospheric anomalies, in addition to contributions by La Ni?a and low Arctic sea ice concentrations as they pertain to reducing PVyin mid-latitudes.

Potential Vorticity Structure and Inversion of the Cyclogenesis Over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River Valleys

In this paper, the potential vorticity structure and inversion of the cyclogenesis over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys during 21 23 June 2003 are investigated with a potential vorticity （PV） framework. The cyclogenesis is manifested by a lower-tropospheric PV anomaly over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys at early stages mainly due to latent heat release, which greatly affects the evolution of the associated lower-tropospheric geopotential height and wind fields as demonstrated by piecewise PV inversion. At later stages, an upper-tropospheric PV anomaly develops, resulting in the growth of ridges over the cyclone in both the upstream and downstream, which provide a favorable background field for the low-level cyclone development. But the effect of a surface thermal anomaly always impedes the development of the cyclone to different extents during this cyclogenesis. It is further demonstrated that the position and the strength of the PV anomaly are closely related to the low-level cyclone development, and the lower-tropospheric PV anomaly seems to constitute the most significant feature, for instance, contributing about 60% to the low-level jet （LLJ）.

On the Significance and Use of the Generalized Moist Potential Vorticity Equation

In this paper,the continuity and thermodynamic equations including moisture forcings were derived.Using these two equations and the basic momentum equation of local Cartesian coordinates,the budget equation of generalized moist potential vorticity(GMPV) was derived.The GMPV equation is a good generalization of the Ertel potential vorticity(PV) and moist potential vorticity(MPV) equations.The GMPV equation is conserved under adiabatic,frictionless,barotropic,or saturated atmospheric conditions,and it is closely associated with the horizontal frontogenesis and stability of the real atmosphere.A real case study indicates that term diabatic heating could be a useful diagnostic tool for heavy rainfall events.

Impacts of Cloud-Induced Mass Forcing on the Development of Moist Potential Vorticity Anomaly During Torrential Rains

The impacts of cloud-induced mass forcing on the development of the moist potential vorticity (MPV) anomaly associated with torrential rains are investigated by using NCEP/NCAR 1? × 1? data. The MPV tendency equation with the cloud-induced mass forcing is derived, and applied to the torrential rain event over the Changjiang River-Huaihe River Valleys during 26–30 June 1999. The result shows that positive anomalies are located mainly between 850 hPa and 500 hPa, while the maximum MPV, maximum positive tendency of the MPV, and maximum surface rainfall are nearly collocated. The cloud-induced mass forcing contributes to the positive tendency of the moist potential vorticity anomaly. The results indicate that the MPV may be used to track the propagation of rain systems for operational applications.

Study on Moist Potential Vorticity and Symmetric Instabilityduring a Heavy Rain Event Occurred inthe Jiang-Huai Valleys

In the light of the theory on moist potential vorticity (MPV) investigation was undertaken of the 700 hPa vertical (horizontal) component MP1 (MPV2) for the heavy rain event occurring in July 5–6, 1991. Results show that the distribution features of the two components were closely related to the development of a mesoscale cyclone as a rainstorm-causing weather system in the lower troposphere in such a way that the ambient atmosphere of which MPV1 > 0 and MPV2 < 0 with |MPV1| ≥ |MPV2| favored the genesis of conditional symmetric instability (CSI) and that, as indicated by calculations, a CSI sector was really existent in the lower troposphere during the heavy rain happening and contributed greatly to its development.

Sensitivity of Cyclone Tracks to the Initial Moisture Distribution:A Moist Potential Vorticity Perspective

In this study, the characteristics of moist potential vorticity （MPV） in the vicinity of a surface cyclone center and their physical processes axe investigated. A prognostic equation of surface absolute vorticity is then used to examine the relationship between the cyclone tracks and negative MPV （NMPV） using numerical simulations of the life cycle of an extratropical cyclone. It is shown that the MPV approach developed herein, i.e., by tracing the peak NMPV, can be used to help trace surface cyclones during their development and mature stages. Sensitivity experiments are conducted to investigate the impact of different initial moisture fields on the effectiveness of the MPV approach. It is found that the lifetime of NMPV depends mainly on the initial moisture field, the magnitude of condensational heating, and the advection of NMPV. When NMPV moves into a saturated environment at or near a cyclone center, it can trace better the evolution of the surface cyclone due to the conservative property of MPV. It is also shown that the NMPV generation is closely associated with the coupling of large potential temperature and moisture gradients as a result of frontogenesis processes. Analyses indicate that condensation, confluence and tilting play important but different roles in determining the NMPV generation. NMPV is generated mainly through the changes in the strength of baroclinicity and in the direction of the moisture gradient due to moist and/or dry air mass intrusion into the baroclinic zone.

Idealized Numerical Simulation Study of the Potential Vorticity Banners over a Mesoscale Mountain: Dry Adiabatic Process

Topography-induced potential vorticity （PV） banners over a mesoscale topography （Dabie Mountain, hereafter DM） in eastern China, under an idealized dry adiabatic flow, are studied with a mesoscale numerical model, ARPS. PV banners generate over the leeside of the DM with a maximal intensity of ～1.5 PVU, and extend more than 100 km downstream, while the width varies from several to tens of kilometers, which contrasts with the half-width of the peaks along the ridge of the DM. Wave breaking occurs near the leeside surface of the DM, and leads to a strong PV generation. Combining with the PV generation, due to the friction and the flow splitting upstream, the PV is advected downstream, and then forms the PV banners over the DM. The PV banners are sensitive to the model resolution, Coriolis force, friction, subgrid turbulent mixing, stratification, the upstream wind speed and wind direction. The negative PV banners have a more compact connection with the low level turbulent kinetic energy. The PV banners are built up by the baroclinic and barotropic components. The barotropic-associated PV can identify the distribution of the PV banners, while the baroclinic one only has important contributions on the flanks and on the leeside near the topography. PV fluxes are diagnosed to investigate the influence of friction on the PV banners. Similar patterns are found between the total PV flux and the advective PV flux, except near the surface and inside the dipole of the PV banners, where the nonadvective PV flux associated with the friction has a net negative contribution.

Synoptic-scale potential vorticity intrusion over northeastern China during winter and its influence on surface air temperature

A regional potential vorticity(PV)intrusion(PVI)(RPVI)index,defined as the sum of the numbers of grids containing PVI within a certain area for each day,is used to reflect the day-to-day PVI variability over northeastern China during winter from 1979 to 2016.The synoptic-scale PVI variations and resultant surface air temperature(SAT)anomalies are identified by comparing the high and low RPVI index cases.In high(low)RPVI cases,significantly strong positive(negative)PV anomalies are found in the stratospheric midlatitudes,which intrude downward mostly within 90°–110°E into the upper troposphere to reach around 300 hPa and extend eastward to the east of 120°E,forcing an anomalous cyclonic(anticyclonic)circulation in the middle and lower troposphere over East Asia,with the anomalous northerlies(southerlies)of the forced lower-tropospheric cyclone(anticyclone)leading to significant negative(positive)SAT anomalies of less(greater)than-0.9°C(0.9°C),especially over northeastern China.In the stratosphere,the positive(negative)midlatitude PV anomalies over northern China are actually associated with a weakening(strengthening)of the polar vortex over the Eurasian continent for the high(low)RPVI cases,resulting mostly from positive(negative)barotropic vorticity anomalies associated with static stability due to the meridional shear of anomalous zonal winds on the southern side of the anomalous Eurasian anticyclone(cyclone).

Structure of the Potential Vorticity of an Explosive Cyclone over the Eastern Asian Region in Late November 2013

An explosive extratropical cyclone(EC)over the Eastern Asian region that caused two shipwrecks is analyzed using ERA-Interim reanalysis data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.Analyses of the evolution of the EC reveal that the positive potential vorticity(PV)at the upper-tropospheric level displays a hook-shaped structure during the mature period of the cyclone.The PV distribution forms a vertically coherent PV structure called a PV tower.The vertical distribution of the PV can induce and strengthen cyclonic circulation from the lower-to upper-levels of troposphere,which is an important deepening mechanism of explosive cyclone.The PV tower occurs approximately ten hours prior to the development of surface occlusion in the cyclone.The evolution of surface fronts closely follows the development of the horizontal upper-tropospheric PV.This tandem development is largely attributed to the ability of the positive upper-tropospheric PV and the PV tower to induce cyclonic circulation simultaneously.The kinematic wrap-up process of cyclonic circulation also accelerates the formation of warm occlusion.A conceptual model of the distributions of positive PV and potential temperature combining the perspectives of dynamic tropopause folding,PV tower,and atmospheric stability,including westward tilting and baroclinicity,is proposed.This model can illustrate the explosive deepening mechanism of ECs.The regions of convective instability and rainfall determined by this model are consistent with those identified from the actual observation.

Interannual Influences of the Surface Potential Vorticity Forcing over the Tibetan Plateau on East Asian Summer Rainfall

The influences of interannual surface potential vorticity forcing over the Tibetan Plateau(TP)on East Asian summer rainfall(EASR)and upper-level circulation are explored in this study.The results show that the interannual EASR and associated circulations are closely related to the surface potential vorticity negative uniform leading mode(PVNUM)over the TP.When the PVNUM is in the positive phase,more rainfall occurs in the Yangtze River valley,South Korea,Japan,and part of northern China,less rainfall occurs in southern China,and vice versa.A possible mechanism by which PVNUM affects EASR is proposed.Unstable air induced by the positive phase of PVNUM could stimulate significant upward motion and a lower-level anomalous cyclone over the TP.As a result,a dipole heating mode with anomalous cooling over the southwestern TP and anomalous heating over the southeastern TP is generated.Sensitivity experiment results regarding this dipole heating mode indicate that anomalous cooling over the southwestern TP leads to local and northeastern Asian negative height anomalies,while anomalous heating over the southeastern TP leads to local positive height anomalies.These results greatly resemble the realistic circulation pattern associated with EASR.Further analysis indicates that the anomalous water vapor transport associated with this anomalous circulation pattern is responsible for the anomalous EASR.Consequently,changes in surface potential vorticity forcing over the TP can induce changes in EASR.

Tracking Surface Cyclones with Moist Potential Vorticity

Surface cyclone tracks are investigated in the context of moist potential vorticity (MPV). A prognostic equation of surface absolute vorticity is derived which provides a basis for using negative MPV (NMPV) in the troposphere as an alternative approach to track surface cyclones. An observed case study of explosive lee cyclogenesis is performed to test the e?ectiveness of the MPV approach. It is shown that when a surface cyclone signal is absent due to the blocking of the Rocky Mountains, the surface cyclone can be well identi?ed by tracing the peak NMPV.

Potential vorticity analysis of quasi-biweekly rainfall events over the Yangtze Basin in summer 2014

A series of heavy rainfall events occurred over the Yangtze River Valley(YRV)in summer 2014,which were modulated by the 10-20-day quasi-biweekly oscillation(QBWO).Thus,the strongest QBWO cycle for the period 10-24 July was used as a representative case to reveal the dynamical mechanism for the QBWO of the YRV rainfall from the potential vorticity(PV)perspective and based on MERRA-2 reanalysis data.The quasi-biweekly YRV rainfall was found to depend closely on the QBWO of the upper-tropospheric South Asian high(SAH),with the SAH configuration modified by the southward-intruding midlatitude high PV stream along with southwestward-advected high PV,altering the divergent condition over the YRV.Quantitative diagnoses for the anomalous vertical motion demonstrated that,in the wet phase of the QBWO cycle,the upper-tropospheric southward-intruding high PV stream acted as a positive PV advection,while negative PV advection was generated due to the lower-tropospheric southerlies,thereby forming a positive vertical gradient of horizontal PV advection to induce evident isentropic-displacement ascending motion.On the other hand,the southward-intruding high PV stream extended downward to the middle troposphere,causing the isentropic surfaces to become more sloping,thus producing a strong isentropic-gliding ascending component.Subsequently,the stronger diabatic heating-related ascending motion was induced to generate positive rainfall anomalies over the YRV.The opposite situation arose in the dry phase,with weak descending motion in magnitude.

AN EAST ASIAN SUBTROPICAL SUMMER MONSOON INDEX DEFINED BY MOIST POTENTIAL VORTICITY

Based on consideration of both thermodynamic and kinetic features of the subtropical summer monsoon in East Asia,a new index is defined by the moist potential vorticity (MPV) for this monsoon.Variation features of the subtropical summer monsoon over 60 years are analyzed using National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (USA) data from 1948 to 2007.Results show that the new index can well reflect the seasonal,interannual,and interdecadal variations of the East Asian subtropical summer monsoon.Correlation analysis of the new index and precipitation data from 160 stations in China shows that in high-index years,the summer monsoon is strong,and more rain falls in eastern North China,southwestern China,and along the coast of South China and less rain falls in the Yangtze-Huaihe R.basin.In low-index years,the opposite occurs.Lastly,the new index is compared with four established monsoon indices.The new index is found to have an advantage in representing summer rainfall in the Yangtze-Huaihe R.basin.

Symmetry analysis and explicit solutions of the (3+1)-dimensional baroclinic potential vorticity equation

This paper investigates an important high-dimensional model in the atmospheric and oceanic dynamics-（3＋1）- dimensional nonlinear baroclinic potential vorticity equation by the classical Lie group method. Its symmetry algebra, symmetry group and group-invariant solutions are analysed. Otherwise, some exact explicit solutions are obtained from the corresponding （2＋1）-dimensional equation, the inviscid barotropic nondivergent vorticy equation. To show the properties and characters of these solutions, some plots as well as their possible physical meanings of the atmospheric circulation are given out.

A comparison study of atmospheric circulations and potential vorticity anomaly between the two rapid-intensified typhoons

For two rapid-intensification typhoons-Mujigae(2015)and Vicente(2012)-the atmospheric circulation conditions and potential vorticity(PV)anomaly are compared.Although similar in their rapid-intensification(RI)rate,their atmospheric circulation conditions differ considerably,with the absence or presence of an upper-tropospheric inverted trough(IT)being their main difference.The IT provides useful clues for the onset of RI,by estimating the interaction between the environmental upper-tropospheric IT and the typhoon based on eddy momentum flux convergence calculation.The trough–typhoon interaction is examined by comparing the PV transport process for the two cases.An isolated positive PV column develops vertically near Mujigae’s onset of RI,which is not influenced by synoptic-scale PV advection.However,for Vicente,another source-advection from a high-latitude PV reservoir along the upper-tropospheric IT-joins the built-up high-PV anomaly in favor of RI.

Moist Potential Vorticity Vector for Diagnosis of Heavy Rainfall Events in Tanzania

In this paper, we modify the convective vorticity vector (CVV) defined as a cross product of absolute vorticity and gradient of equivalent potential temperature to moist potential vorticity vector (MPVV) defined as a cross product of absolute vorticity () and the gradient of the moist-air entropy potential temperature (). The patterns of (MPVV) are compared with the patterns of heavy rainfall events that occurred over different regions in Tanzania on 20th to 22nd December, 2011 and on 5th to 8th May, 2015. Moreover, the article aimed at assessing the relative contributions of the magnitude, horizontal and vertical components of (MPVV) detecting on the observed patterns of rainfall events. Dynamic and thermodynamic variables: wind speed, temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity from numerical output generated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model running at Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) were used to compute MPVV. It is found that MPVV provide accurate tracking of locations received heavy rainfall, suggesting its potential use as a dynamic tracer for heavy rainfall events in Tanzania. Finally it is found that the first and second components of MPVV contribute almost equally in tracing locations received heavy rainfall events. The magnitude of MPVV described the locations received heavy rainfall events better than the components.

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.

Symmetry Analysis of Barotropic Potential Vorticity Equation

Recently F. Huang [Commun. Theor. Phys. 42 （2004） 903] and X. Tang and P.K. Shukla [Commun. Theor. Phys. 49 （2008） 229] investigated symmetry properties of the barotropic potential vorticity equation without forcing and dissipation on the beta-plane. This equation is governed by two dimensionless parameters, F and β, representing the ratio of the characteristic length scale to the Rossby radius of deformation and the variation of earth＇ angular rotation, respectively. In the present paper it is shown that in the case F ≠ 0 there exists a well-defined point transformation to set β = 0. The classification of one- and two-dimensional Lie subalgebras of the Lie symmetry algebra of the potential vorticity equation is given for the parameter combination F ≠ 0 and β = 0. Based upon this classification, distinct classes of group-invariant solutions are obtained and extended to the case β ≠0.

Upper-tropospheric potential vorticity anomaly before the rapid intensification of Typhoon Mujigae(2015)and its response to reduced SST

As the strongest typhoon in 2015,the rapid intensification(RI)process of Typhoon Mujigae is simulated at the cloud-resolving scale by utilizing the Weather Research and Forecasting model,coupled with observed sea surface temperature(SST)and reduced SST as the control and sensitivity experiments,respectively.The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of uppertropospheric potential vorticity(PV)and its response to SST changes are analyzed simultaneously.The results show a significant upper-tropospheric PV anomaly 6 h before RI,which indicates the approaching RI of Typhoon Mujigae.Deep convection overlies the strong signals of upper-tropospheric PV anomalies.More insight into the PV budget analysis verifies that the diabatic heating effect and vertical advection terms associated with deep convection dominate the upper-tropospheric PV anomaly,inferring that deep convection plays a crucial role in the upper-tropospheric PV anomaly.As SST decreases,diabatic heating and vertical advection effects are weakened due to reduced deep convection;therefore,the PV anomaly in the model run is not stronger than that in the control run,and the RI process of Mujigae disappears.Therefore,from the viewpoint of upper and lower-level interactions,how SST impacts upper-tropospheric PV anomalies and their interactions with RI are clarified.Thus,in addition to SST,the upper-tropospheric PV anomaly might be a significant factor in differentiating between RI and non-RI tropical cyclones.

A Note on Similarity Reductions of Barotropic and Quasi-geostrophic Potential Vorticity Equation

Applying the classical Lie symmetry approach to the barotropic and quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity equation without forcing and dissipation on a β-plane channel, we find a new symmetry, which is not presented in a previous work [F. Huang, Commun. Theor. Phys. （Beijing, China） 42 （2004） 903]. A general finite transformation group is obtained based on the full Lie point symmetry, Furthermore, two new types of similarity reduction solutions are obtained.