Effects of rainy weather on traffic accidents of a freeway using cellular automata model

The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of rainy weather on traffic accidents of a freeway. The micro-scale driving behaviors in rainy weather and possible vehicle rear-end and sideslip accidents are analyzed. An improved CA model of two lanes one-way freeway is presented, where some vehicle accidents will occur when the necessary conditions are simultaneously satisfied. The characteristics of traffic flow under different rainfall intensities are discussed and the accident probabilities are analyzed via the simulation experiments by using variable speed limit （VSL） and incoming flow control. The results indicate that the measures are effective especially during heavy rainstorms or short-time heavy rainfall. According to different rainfall intensities, an appropriate strategy should be adopted in order to reduce the probability of vehicle accidents and enhance traffic flux as well.

Variation Characteristics of Low Temperature and Rainy Weather in Guangxi during Spring Sowing Period of Recent 50 Years

[Objective] The research aimed to study the variation characteristics of low temperature and rainy weather in Guangxi during spring sowing period of recent 50 years.[Method] Based on the daily average temperature data from 1961 to 2010 at 88 meteorological stations in Guangxi,yearly days and end date of low temperature and rainy weather during spring sowing period were carried out statistics.The variation characteristics of low temperature and rainy weather in Guangxi during spring sowing period of recent 50 years were analyzed by using linear tendency calculation,phased analysis,Morlet wavelet analysis and correlation analysis.Moreover,the influences of climate warming on days and end date of low temperature and rainy weather in spring sowing period were analyzed.[Result] The average days of low temperature and rainy weather in Guangxi during spring sowing period from 1961 to 2010 was during 3.5-23.2 d.The regional distribution characteristics were that it was more in northeast and mountain zone,and less in southwest and valley.The regional distribution characteristics of end date were that it was late in northeast and mountain zone,and early in southwest and valley.The days of low temperature and rainy weather in Guangxi during spring sowing period of recent 50 years presented slight decrease trend,and the end date presented slight advancing trend.The phased variation characteristics of days and end date of low temperature and rainy weather were obvious.The days of low temperature and rainy weather from the early 1980s to metaphase of 1990s was obviously more,and the end date was obviously later.After the 1990s,the days of low temperature and rainy weather was obviously less,and the end date was obviously earlier.The days of low temperature and rainy weather had periodic oscillation signals of 4,6,8,10-14 years.The end date had periodic oscillation signals of 6,12-14 years.The days and end date of low temperature and rainy weather in Guangxi during spring sowing period significantly related to average temperature from middle dekad of February to first dekad of April.The climate warming made that the days of low temperature and rainy weather tended to decrease,and the end date tended to advance.[Conclusion] The research provided reference for further understanding the occurrence rule of low temperature and rainy weather,going after profits and avoiding disadvantages,reasonably arranging production,carrying out correlated research.

Irregular Information of the Rainstorm in a Continuous Rainy Weather

[Objective] The research aimed to analyze irregular information of the local rainstorm process (during 5-6 September,2009) in autumn continuous rainy weather in north Shaanxi. [Method] Based on V-3θ chart, routine observation data provided by Micaps system, satellite cloud chart and data at 100 automatic meteorological stations of Shaanxi, for rainstorm process in autumn continuous rainy weather in north Shaanxi during 4-10 September, 2009, by using structure analysis method, irregular information in local rainstorm weather was analyzed. [Result] In whole precipitation process, atmospheric structure in rainstorm zone presented obvious evolution process. Before precipitation, typical atmospheric structure information of the sudden convective weather appeared. Obvious ultra-low temperature structure appeared at 200 hPa, and consistent clockwise rotation flow was at vertical wind field. Meanwhile, water vapor was sufficient, and unstable energy existed at low layer. Structure characteristic of the convective strong precipitation appeared by advancing for 12h. As precipitation weakened, unstable energy was released, and ultra-low temperature disappeared. [Conclusion] The research provided some thoughts for the forecast of such weather process.

Analysis of Continuous Rainy and Cold Weather in Yiwu in Early Spring of 2009

Continuous rainy and cold weather in Yiwu in early spring of 2009 was analyzed. The results showed that the continuous rainy and cold weather occurred after temperature increased in early days. It is mainly because that the high geopotential height near Ural Mountains lasted for a long time, while the geopotential height was abnormally low in the east of central Asia. Meanwhile, the Iow-prassure trough in the south of Qinghai -Tibet Plateau was very active and moved towards the east frequently, and subtropical high was strong. Compared with continuous rainy and cold weather in early 2008, during the process of this continuous rainy and cold weather in 2009, the decrease in sea surface temperature of the middle and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator was weaker; the blocking high pressure was slightly weaker, and the low pressure over Mongolia was strong; subtropical high was stronger and showed zonal distribution; south trough was slightly weaker. Compared with the previous continuous rainy and cold weather, the duration of this continuous rainy and cold weather in 2009 was not the longest, and its sunshine hours were not the least, but its temperature was higher, which might result from obvious increase of temperature in the early days. The research could provide scientific references for the prediction of continuous rainy and cold weather in future.

Analysis of a Rare Continuous Rainy Process in Midsummer

[Objective] The research aimed to analyze a rare low temperature and rainy weather process which happened in Anhui Province from July 22 to August 14,2009.[Method] Based on the data of conventional observation,NCEP analysis field and automatic station,a rare low temperature and rainy weather process which occurred in Anhui Province from July 22 to August 14,2009 was analyzed.The formation reason of continuous rainy process in midsummer was discussed.The circulation characteristics and influence systems of continuous rainy process were revealed.On the base,the influences of configuration of circulation fields and difference of physical quantity fields at high and low layers on range and intensity of precipitation were analyzed.[Result] According to the circulation situation and influence system,the continuous rainy process could be divided into four stages:July 22-24,from July 27 to August 1,August 4-8 and August 9-14.Moreover,it was respectively affected by northeast low vortex,cold and warm air,high-level low trough,typhoon and periphery of subtropical high at four stages.The maintenance of big specific humidity zone provided sufficient water vapor condition for the continuous rainy weather.The rainstorm appeared in dense zone of specific humidity line,where the specific humidity >13 g/kg in the humidity front zone.A temperature trough maintained at 850 hPa.The cold air which continued to diffuse and go south was main reason of the abnormally low temperature during the continuous rainy period.Moreover,it provided ascending motion condition for precipitation maintenance.[Conclusion] The research provided references for actual forecast of continuous rainy weather.

Intelligent Speed Limit System for Safe Expressway Driving in Rainy and Foggy Weather Based on Internet of Things

The feature bends and tunnels of mountainous expressways are often affected by bad weather,specif-ically rain and fog,which significantly threaten expressway safety and traffic efficiency.In order to solve this problem,a vehicle–road coordination system based on the Internet of Things(IoT)is developed that can share vehicle–road information in real time,expand the environmental perception range of vehicles,and realize vehicle–road collaboration.It helps improve traffic safety and efficiency.Further,a vehicle–road cooperative driving assistance system model is introduced in this study,and it is based on IoT for improving the driving safety of mountainous expressways.Considering the influence of rain and fog on driving safety,the interaction between rainfall,water film,and adhesion coefficient is analyzed.An intelligent vehicle–road coordination assistance system is constructed that takes in information on weather,road parameters,and vehicle status,and takes the stopping sight distance model as well as rollover and sideslip model as boundary constraints.Tests conducted on a real expressway demonstrated that the assistance system model is helpful in bad weather conditions.This system could promote intelligent development of mountainous expressways.