Effect of condensation latent heat release on the relative vorticity tendency in extratropical cyclones:a case study

Taking an extratropical cyclone that produced extreme precipitation as the research object,this paper calculates the contribution of condensation latent heat release(LHR)to relative vorticity tendency based on the complete-form vertical vorticity tendency equation.The results show that the heating rate of convectional condensation LHR can reach up to about 40 times that of stable condensation LHR.Both the stable and convectional heating centers are higher than 700 hPa,which would cause∂Q/∂z>0 and a positive vorticity source in the lower troposphere.The vertical gradient of stable condensation LHR contributes little to the growth of relative vorticity,while the relative vorticity tendency associated with the vertical gradient of convectional condensation LHR can be an order of magnitude higher than the former.The positive vorticity source is always located right below the latent heating center,and its maximum value can always be found in the lower troposphere.Convectional LHR is the primary factor for cyclone development from the perspective of diabatic heating.The horizontal gradient of total condensation LHR can contribute about 65%of the actual vorticity growth,but the effect of the vertical gradient of convectional condensation(LHR)can reach twice as much.The adiabatic heating from LHR can cause vorticity tendency directly.However,it can also change the vertical and horizontal gradient of potential temperature,which can further induce vorticity tendency.

Estimation of precipitation condensation latent heat in rainy season over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The basic data for this research comprise the outgoing long-wave radiation(OLR) data observed by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) series satellites from June 1974 through December 2005 over the area of 75°-105°E and 25°-40°N(totaling 91 grid zones when the horizontal resolution is 2.5° longitude by 2.5° latitude) and the monthly rainfall data recorded,from 1961 through 2005,by 93 conventional meteorological stations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Based on the research of the relation between rainfall and OLR and climate regionalization,a mathematic model was established for each region and grid zone,which is applied to estimate the monthly rainfall and then to estimate the monthly latent heat resulting from the condensation of precipitation year by year from 1961 through 2005.The results indicated that the multi-year average precipitation is 401.5 mm and the condensation latent heat is 18.55×1020 J in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau;the increasing rate of condensation latent heat is 0.218×1020J/10a in the recent 45 years;that is to say,it will increase 1.2 percent in each decade.Furthermore,the total condensation latent heat and its variation rate in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are slightly larger than in the east to the plateau.

Influence of Late Springtime Surface Sensible Heat Flux Anomalies over the Tibetan and Iranian Plateaus on the Location of the South Asian High in Early Summer

Variation in the location of the South Asian High （SAH） in early boreal summer is strongly influenced by elevated surface heating from the Tibetan Plateau （TP） and the Iranian Plateau （IP）. Based on observational and ERA-Interim data, diagnostic analyses reveal that the interannual northwestward-southeastwaxd （NW-SE） shift of the SAH in June is more closely correlated with the synergistic effect of concurrent surface thermal anomalies over the TP and IP than with each single surface thermal anomaly over either plateau from the preceding May. Concurrent surface thermal anomalies over these two plateaus in May are characterized by a negative correlation between sensible heat flux over most parts of the TP （TPSH） and IP （IPSH）. This anomaly pattern can persist till June and influences the NW-SE shift of the SAH in June through the release of latent heat （LH） over northeastern India. When the IPSH is stronger （weaker） and the TPSH is weaker （stronger） than normal in May, an anomalous cyclone （anticyclone） appears over northern India at 850 hPa, which is accompanied by the ascent （descent） of air and anomalous convergence （divergence） of moisture flux in May and June. Therefore, the LH release over northeastern India is strengthened （weakened） and the vertical gradient of apparent heat source is decreased （increased） in the upper troposphere, which is responsible for the northwestward （southeastward） shift of the SAH in June.

Formation and Replacement Mechanism of the Concentric Eyewall of Super Typhoon Muifa(1109)

Based on high-fidelity numerical simulation by using the Weather Research and Forecast(WRF)model,we analyzed the formation and replacement mechanism of the concentric eyewall of Super Typhoon Muifa(1109)from the aspects of the potential vorticity(PV),dynamic/thermodynamic structure change,sea surface flux,and water vapor content.Observational data and sensitivity tests were also adopted to verify the results.We found that:(1)The abnormal increase of the PV in the rain zone is mainly due to the condensation latent heat.Sufficient water vapor conditions are beneficial to the formation of the outer eyewall structure,and when the environmental water vapor content is larger,the intensity of the outer eyewall becomes greater.(2)After the formation of the typhoon’s outer eyewall,in the area where the outer eyewall is located,the increase of inertial stability contributes to the decrease of the intensity of the inner eyewall.When the intensity of the outer eyewall is larger,the divergence and subsidence motion in the upper layer of the outer eyewall has a greater weakening effect on the intensity of the inner eyewall.(3)The increase of potential temperature of the outer eyewall is mainly due to the condensation latent heat release and the warming of dry air subsidence motion in the moat area.(4)The increase of sea surface heat flux can prolong the concentric eyewall replacement process.