A Fourteen-Year Climatology of the Southwest Vortex in Summer

Statistical studies were conducted on the southwest vortex(SWV) during the summers of 2000–13 using high-resolution reanalysis data with a horizontal resolution of 0.5°× 0.5°. A total of 578 SWVs were detected, with a maximum interannual frequency of 55. The variation of the interannual frequency featured a period of around six years. The most active period of SWVs was early July and the maximum occurrence of SWVs appeared in early morning(0200–0800 Beijing Standard Time(BST)). Most of the SWVs were short-lived, with only 66 cases(11.4%) lasting for more than 24 h. In addition, the moving tracks and three-dimensional shape of long-lived(≥ 36 h) SWVs are also presented. For those SWVs that lasted for more than 12 h, four types of SWVs(Types I–IV) were identified using a new method, and the results indicated that the dynamical and thermodynamical conditions before the formation of SWVs are effective indicators of the subsequent evolution of the vortex and associated severe weathers. Moreover, a further level of classification was also constructed for Type II SWVs, which accounted for the largest proportion out of Types I–IV, and the results indicated that the lifespan, radius and maximum 6-h precipitation were all closely related to the intensity of precipitation before the formation of SWVs.

The Impact of the Eastward Propagation of Convective Systems over the Tibetan Plateau on the Southwest Vortex Formation in Summer

Based on the temperature of the black body (TBB),station observed and NCEP reanalysis data,the impacts of the eastward propagation of convective cloud systems over the Tibetan Plateau on the southwest vortex (SWV) formation that occurred at 1800 UTC on 29 June 2003 are analyzed by using the Zwack-Okossi (Z-O) equation to diagnose the thermal and dynamic processes.It is found that,in summer,severe convective activities often occur over the Tibetan Plateau due to the abundant supply of moisture.The convective cloud near the east edge of the plateau could move eastward with a shortwave trough in the westerly.The divergent center that is induced by latent heat release,which is associated with severe convective activities,moves out with the convective cloud and contributes to the low level decompression which is favorable for the formation of plateau edge cyclogenesis (PEC).The Z-O equation indicates that,in this case,the latent heat release and convergence are the two most important factors for SWV formation,which amounts to about 42% and 15% of the term TOTAL,respectively.It is implied that the thermal process effect was more important than the dynamic process during SWV formation.

An Analysis of the Eddy Kinetic Energy Budget of a Southwest Vortex during Heavy Rainfall over South China

Based on the 6-hour-interval reanalysis data with 1°× 1°resolution from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/the National Center for Atmospheric Research （NCEP/NCAR）, the eddy kinetic energy （EKE） budget of a southwest vortex （SWV） that caused heavy rainfall in Guangxi over South China （from 1200 UTC 11 to 0000 UTC 13 June） is calculated. The results are as follows： （a） The SWV is a kind of subtropical vortex, with characteristics of both an extratropical vortex and a tropical vortex. （b） In the case examined, large-scale circulation and other perturbation fields contributed to the formation and development of the SWV. （c） When the SWV moved from weak large-scale circulation EKE areas to strong ones, the EKE of the SWV increased, and vice versa. （d） Sub-grid processes and frictional dissipation were the main sinks of the SWV EKE, which contributed to the decay of the SWV. （e） The residual term （RES） and the Total （composite effect of all right hand side （rhs） terms except the RES in the EKE equation） varied almost in the same tendency, which kept the EKE varying in a moderate way. （f） The EKE between 550 hPa and 850 hPa increased most intensively, corresponding to the vertical stretching of the SWV.

Continuous observation of black carbon aerosol during winter in urban Beijing,China

Black carbon(BC)has a significant impact on air quality and atmospheric light absorption due to its unique physical properties.In this study,a ten-wavelength black carbon monitor was used to measure BC concentrations continuously during winter in urban Beijing.A comparison of BC concentrations was carried out between the ten-wavelength black carbon monitor and a multiangle absorption photometer(MAAP)and a thermal optical transmission method carbon analyzer.The results showed significant correlations between BC measured by the MAAP,the thermal optical transmission method carbon analyzer and BC measured at the 660 nm wavelength using the ten-wavelength black carbon monitor.Obvious differences in BC concentrations were recorded at the different wavelength ranges.The BC concentrations observed in the visible ranges,near-infrared ranges and near-ultraviolet ranges were on average 3.1,2.6,and 4.6μg m?3,respectively.The differences between the absorption coefficient of BC370 nm and BC880 nm increased with the enhancement of OC:TC(ratio of organic carbon to total carbon)and PM2.5,indicating that organic matter had strong light absorption at near-ultraviolet wavelength.BC concentrations had clear diurnal variations with maxima at 0300 and minima at 1400(Local time).In addition,potential contribution source areas of BC were also analyzed.This is the first time that BC measurements have been conducted using the ten-wavelength BC monitor,which provided more information of BC at different wavelengths compared to other methods.

Study on the Evolution of a Northeast China Cold Vortex during the Spring of 2010

Based on the final analysis data with horizontal resolution of 1°× 1°(four times a day) from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP), a typical Northeast China cold vortex(NCCV) during the spring of 2010 was examined with the quasi-Lagrange- form eddy flux circulation(EFC) budget equation. Results indicated that the mechanisms that account for the development, maintenance, and attenuation of the cyclone varied with levels and stages. Displacement of the cyclone and transports by background environmental circulations dominated the variation of the cyclone in the middle and upper levels, whereas displacement and divergence associated with the cyclone dominated the evolution of the NCCV in the middle and lower levels. Moreover, interactions between the NCCV and other subsynoptic weather systems were important for the development of the cyclone, and the pattern of background environmental circulations was also important for the evolution of the NCCV, since the cyclone enhanced(weakened) as it moved from areas of low(high) vorticity to high(low) ones.

Study on the Dynamic Characteristics of an Eastward-offshore Mesoscale Vortex along the Meiyu-Baiu Front

The eastward-moving Meiyu-Baiu frontal mesoscale vortices (MBFMVs) appear frequently and often cause heavy rainfall events along their tracks. A move-off-shore MBFMV was selected to enhance our understanding of this type of vortex. Synoptic analyses indicate that the MBFMV is a type of meso-α vortex and mainly occurs in the lower troposphere. A short wave trough near the coastline is highly favorable for the formation, sustainment, and displacement of the MBFMV. Vorticity budgets indicate that at lower levels of the MBFMV, convergence is the dominant factor for the increase of positive vorticity, and at high levels of the MBFMV, the vertical transportation associated with convective activities is the most important factor. The hori-zontal transportation was the main factor decreasing the positive vorticity. The land and sea environments are crucial to the evolution of the MBFMV. The characteristics of the Meiyu-Baiu Front (MBF) are also vital to the variation of the vortex.

Quadrant-Averaged Structure and Evolution Mechanisms of a Northeast Cold Vortex during Its Mature Stage

A Northeast China cold vortex(NCCV) that maintained from 0200 UTC 3 July to 0500 UTC 3 July 2013 and caused several heavy rainfall events was analyzed in detail to reveal its quadrant-averaged structure and main maintaining mechanisms during its mature stage. Results indicated the vortex's intensity, divergence, ascending motions, precipitable water(PW), and thermal structures were all characterized by significant unevenness, and their main pattern changed gradually during the mature stage. Mechanisms accounting for the maintenance of the NCCV were also characterized by remarkable unevenness. Within different quadrants, dominant factors for the vortex's evolution may have differed from each other significantly. The NCCV-averaged vorticity budget revealed that the vertical advection of vorticity, which is closely related to convective activities, was the most favorable factor for maintaining the NCCV, whereas the tilting effect, which is closely related to the vertical shear of the horizontal wind(horizontal vorticity), was the most detrimental factor.

Moisture Transport and Associated Background Circulation for the Regional Extreme Precipitation Events over South China in Recent 40 Years

Based on the hourly precipitation data at 176 observational stations over south China and the hourly ERA5reanalysis data during the 40-yr period of 1981-2020, we analyzed the universal characteristics of moisture transport and their associated background circulations for four types of regional extreme precipitation events(REPEs) over south China. Main findings are shown as follow.(i) The wind that transported moisture for the REPEs over south China featured a notable diurnal variation, which was consistent with the variations of the precipitation.(ii) Four types of REPEs could be determined, among which the southwest type(SWT) and the southeast type(SET) accounted for ~92%and ~5.7%, respectively, ranking the first and second, respectively.(iii) Trajectory analyses showed that the air particles of the SWT-REPEs had the largest specific humidity and experienced the most intense ascending motion, and therefore their precipitation was the strongest among the four types.(iv) South China was dominated by notable moisture flux convergence for the four types of REPEs, but their moisture transport was controlled by different flow paths.(v)Composite analyses indicated that the background circulation of the four types of REPEs showed different features,particularly for the intensity, location and coverage of a western Pacific subtropical high. For the SWT-REPEs, their moisture transport was mainly driven by a lower-tropospheric strong southwesterly wind band in the low-latitude regions. Air particles for this type of REPEs mainly passed over the Indochina Peninsula and South China Sea. For the SET-REPEs, their moisture transport was mainly steered by a strong low-tropospheric southeasterly wind northeast of a transversal trough. Air particles mainly passed over the South China Sea for this type of REPEs.

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.