ANALYSES OF INTRASEASONAL OSCILLATION CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOOD-CAUSING RAINSTORMS IN XIJIANG RIVER VALLEY DURING THE ANNUALLY FIRST RAINING SEASON IN THE PAST YEARS

Based on the daily precipitation data of nine stations representing the Xijiang River valley and the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (USA) reanalysis data, this study uses the wavelet analysis and band-pass filter methods to investigate the atmospheric intraseasonal oscillation characteristics of flood-causing rainstorms in the valley during the annually first raining seasons in 1968, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2005. Results show that the daily precipitation in the valley exhibits significant quasi-biweekly (10 to 20 days) oscillations. The flood-causing rainstorms in the valley were mainly associated with the confluence of low-frequency warm and humid airflow in the lower latitudes and cold and dry airflow in the higher latitudes. The low-frequency vortexes were propagating or in control when this type of rainstorms took place over the valley, being favorable for the convergence of moisture at lower levels and thus vital to the formation of the rainstorms.

ANALYSIS OF RAINSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH SIMILAR TRACK TROPICAL CYCLONES HAITANG (0505) AND BILIS (0604)

It is generally thought that the influence of comparable track typhoons is approximately similar, but in fact their wind and especially their rainstorm distribution are often very different. Therefore, a contrastive analysis of rainstorms by tropical cyclones (TCs) Haitang (0505) and Bilis (0604), which are of a similar track, is designed to help understand the mechanism of the TC rainstorm and to improve forecasting skills. The daily rainfall of TC Haitang (0505) and Bilis (0604) is diagnosed and compared. The result indicates that these two TCs have similar precipitation distribution before landfall but different precipitation characteristics after landfall. Using NCEP/GFS analysis data, the synoptic situation is analyzed; water vapor transportation is discussed regarding the calculated water vapor flux and divergence. The results show that the heavy rainfall in the Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces associated with Haitang (0505) and Bilis (0604) before landfall results from a peripheral easterly wind, a combination of the tropical cyclone and the terrain. After landfall and moving far inland of the storm, the precipitation of Haitang is caused by water vapor convergence carried by its own circulation; it is much weaker than that in the coastal area. One of the important contributing factors to heavy rainstorms in southeast Zhejiang is a southeast jet stream, which is maintained over the southeast coast. In contrast, the South China Sea monsoon circulation transports large amounts of water vapor into Bilis – when a water-vapor transport belt south of the tropical cyclone significantly strengthens – which strengthens the transport. Then, it causes water vapor flux to converge on the south side of Bilis and diverge on the north side. Precipitation is much stronger on the south side than that on the north side. After Bilis travels far inland, the cold air guided by a north trough travels into the TC and remarkably enhances precipitation. In summary, combining vertical wind shear with water vapor transportation is a good way to predict rainstorms associated with landing tropical cyclones.

THE SYNTHETIC ANALYSIS OF THE VERY HEAVY RAINSTORMS IN GUANGDONG

Twelve very heavy rainstorms that caused severe floods in Pearl River drainage basin from 1949to 1994 are analyzed here. It is found that the rainstorms can be divided into three kinds. and they have differentcharacteristics in circulation and physical quantities. Rainstorms that caused floods in the Xijiang River andBeijiang River usually happen during the first flood season of the year (Apr.-Jun.). They last long. cover largeareas and cause severe disasters. There are Stable circulation backgrounds and complete tyontal precipitationsystems, and large stratification instability fields. Rainstorms often cause floods in coastal rivers and small tributaries during the second floods season (Jul.-Sept.). They happen suddenly, last a short time but have strong raillfail intensity. They are always caused by tropical cyclones but show significant instability only in rainstorm fields.The characteristics of rainstorms causing floods in the Dongjiang River or other main tributaries are similar to thetwo above. That is, they may be connected with fronts or tropical cyclones, and its stability degree is between thepreceding two kinds.

Efficiency of Severe Recorded Rainstorms over Maharashtra State

12 severe rainstorms have been experienced by different meteorological sub-divisions of Maharashtra State during the last 100-year period from 1891-1990. For each of the rainstorms efficiency factors (i.e. P/ M ratios) were worked out for maximum one-day duration and for three standard areas of 1000, 5000, and 10,000 km2. Comparison of these ratios with the past has shown that the most efficient rainstorm over Maharashtra was the rainstorm of June, 1908 over the Vidarbha region whose full DAD data as well as isohyetal pattern have been given.

Comparative Analysis of Two Local Heavy Rainstorms in Northwestern Shandong

[Objective] The aim was to comparatively analyze two local heavy rainstroms in northwestern Shandong Province, China. [Method] Based on the observation data from automatic weather station, sounding data and NCEP reanalysis data, two local heavy rainstorms at night on July 18 and August 9 in 2010 in northwestern Shandong was comparatively analyzed from the aspects of circulation situation, influence system and physical field, and the internal structure and possible formation mechanism of local heavy rain in Shandong were discussed further. [Result] The two rainstorms occurred in the forepart of southwest air in front of 500 hPa trough, and there was stronger atmospheric baroclinicity in the front zone near 850 hPa. The two rainstorms were affected by southwest warm and humid airflow at low level and shear line at 850 hPa; rainstorm often appeared in intensive area behind θse high-energy tongue, and rainstorm area corresponded with the area with high vertical speed well. From the differences, during the first rainstorm, there was obvious southwest low level jet and shear line at 700 hPa, and the area with high precipitation was located in the south of warm shear line at 700 hPa; during the latter rainstorm, there was no obvious southwest low level jet and shear line, and the area with high precipitation was located in the region between two high pressures. [Conclusion] The study could provide valuable thinking for the forecast of this kind of rainstorm in the future.

Characters and Impacts Evaluation of Rainstorms and Floods from July 8 to 13,2010 in Zunyi City

A strong rainfall during June 8-13,2010 in Zunyi City is comprehensively analyzed by several diagnosis methods,including space location,maximum value,history comparison,maximum value assumption and disaster influence analysis.Results show that this time the successive heavy precipitation fall in the northeastern area of Zunyi City,which are Zheng’an,Daozheng and Wuchuan etc..There are in total of 4 times of heavy rainstorms,8 times of rainstorms and 8 times of heavy rains in 14 meteorological observatories of the entire city.In the whole 215 towns,the daily precipitation in 162 stations reaches rainstorm scale,of which 45 stations reaches heavy rainstorm scale.The 24 hours rainfall of the heavy rain in Wuchuan Maotian town reaches 288.6 mm and the maximum rainfall intensity is 90.2 mm.The total precipitation from 22:00 on 7th to 05:00 on 10th in Fenshui,Wuchuan reaches 423.0 mm.The 1 h maximum precipitation,daily maximum precipitation and the maximum precipitation in any 3 days all surpasses the rainstorm which occurs once in a hundred years.The heavy precipitation results in large range of water-logging and flooding;the water level of several rivers passes the dangerous or warning line.The damages and impacts of the disaster are also put forward in this paper.

Rainstorms,Thunder,and Lightning

Strong winds are starting to blow.The sun is retreating behind a cloud-or so it seems.The huge,dark cloud is getting bigger and bigger until it seems to be covering the whole sky.Suddenly a bright flash of light darts across the darkened sky.A few seconds pass.Then it happens!A loud clap of thunder crashes through the clouds.The thunderstorm is getting nearer.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MERIDIONALLY ORIENTED SHEAR LINES OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH RAINSTORMS IN THE BOREAL SUMMER HALF-YEAR

In this paper,European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF)Reanalysis-Interim(ERAInterim)data and daily precipitation data in China from May to October during 1981-2016 are used to study the climatic characteristics of the meridionally oriented shear lines(MSLs)over the Tibetan Plateau(TP).The relationship between the MSL and rainstorms in the eastern TP and neighboring areas of the TP during the boreal summer half-year is also investigated.An objective method,which uses a combination of three parameters,i.e.the zonal shear of the meridional wind,the relative vorticity and the zero line of meridional wind,is adopted to identify the shear line.The results show that there are two high-occurrence centers of MSL.One is over the central TP(near 90°E)and the other is over the steep slope area of the eastern TP.Fewer MSLs are found along the Yarlung Zangbo River over the western TP and the southern Tibet.There are averagely 42.2 MSL days in each boreal summer half-year.The number of MSL days reaches the maximum of 62 in 2014 and the minimum of 22 in 2006.July and October witness the maximum of 10.2 MSL days/year and the minimum of 4.2 MSL days/year,respectively.The annual number of the MSL days shows periodicities of 2-4 and 4-6 years,which is quite similar to those of the MSL rainstorm days.In the neighboring areas of the TP,nearly56%of the MSLs lead to rainstorms,and nearly 40%of rainstorms are caused by the MSLs,indicating a close relationship between the MSLs and rainstorms in this region.

Variational Data Assimilation Experiments of Mei-Yu Front Rainstorms in China

The numerical forecasts of mei-yu front rainstorms in China has been an important issue. The intensity and pattern of the frontal rainfall are greatly influenced by the initial fields of the numerical model. The 4-dimensional variational data assimilation technology (4DVAR) can effectively assimilate all kinds of observed data, including rainfall data at the observed stations, so that the initial fields and the precipitation forecast can both be greatly improved. The non-hydrostatic meso-scale model (MM5) and its adjoint model are used to study the development of the mei-yu front rainstorm from 1200 UTC 25 June to 0600 UTC 26 June 1999. By numerical simulation experiments and assimilation experiments, the T106 data and the observed 6-hour rainfall data are assimilated. The influences of many factors, such as the choice of the assimilated variables and the weighting coefficient, on the precipitation forecast results are studied. The numerical results show that 4DVAR is valuable and important to mei-yu front rainfall prediction.

CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATIONS OF LIGHTNING AND RADAR ECHOES FOR STRONG CONVECTIVE RAINSTORMS IN YUNNAN

Based on cloud-ground lightning data and Doppler weather radar echo products, both thecharacteristics and the relations of lightning and radar echoes for strong convective rainstorms over Yunnanare analyzed during the flood season of 2007. The results show that most rainstorms are convective in whichlightning is mostly negative and the negative lightning number accounts for more than 90% of the total.Although the correlation between precipitation and the lightning number is small on the rainstorm day, thelarge day-lightning frequency usually produces heavy precipitation. Hourly evolution of precipitation andlightning frequency shows peak-style characteristics. And their evolution is very coherent in strongrainstorm, but lightning often occurs before precipitation, whose peaks are in phase with or 1-to-2-hourlagged behind that of lightning frequency. Meanwhile the peaks of positive frequency are in phase with orfall behind that of precipitation. When the wind field is heterogeneous in radial velocity, it is conducive toboth the development of convection echoes and occurrence of lightning. Strong lightning-producingconvective rainstorms correspond to strong echo fields and usually result in reflectivity above 30 dBZ andecho top ET of more than 9 km, respectively.

DISTRIBUTIONS AND HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE RAINSTORMS AND FLOODS IN CHINA

Regional distribution of the rainstorms and floods caused and affected by tropical cyclones are described and the geographicla divisions of China are also given in this paper. The hydrological characteristics of tropical cyclone rainstorms and floods are discussed and compared with that on non-tropical cyclones.

Spatiotemporal Pattern Evolution of Rainstorms with Different Intensities in China

In the context of global warming,there are more frequent heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms,which leads to growingly severe rainstorm disasters.In previous studies,heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms were classified into rainstorms so that it was impossible to fully grasp the spatiotemporal pattern of heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms.Therefore,based on the daily precipitation data of 659 meteorological stations in China,this study calculated the rainfall amount,the rain day,and the rainfall intensity of rainstorms,heavy rainstorms,and extraordinary rainstorms in 1951–2010,and analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of rainstorms,heavy rainstorms,and extraordinary rainstorms in China.The results showed that: In terms of the proportion to the total rainstorms,rainstorms were the largest,followed by heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms;in terms of time,the rainfall amount,the rain day,and the rainfall intensity of interdecadal rainstorms and heavy rainstorms in China show a dynamic increase trend;in terms of space,only the rainfall amount and rainy days had an expansion trend,while the rainfall intensity did not change much.Temporally,the rainfall amount and the rain day of interdecadal extraordinary rainstorms were characterized by “increase—decline—increase”,while their rain intensity was characterized by “decline-increase-decline”.Spatially,there was no significant change in the rainfall amount,the rain day,and the rainfall intensity of extraordinary rainstorms.In short,rainstorms in China were developing towards extremes,which might be a result of combination of human factors and natural factors.

Comparative Analysis of Two Rainstorms in the Southwest of Hunan Province

Using NCEP 1° × 1° reanalysis data within 6 h, conventional observational data, data from regional automatic rainfall stations, satellite cloud pictures and Doppler radar data, we compared the physical conditions, dynamic and thermodynamic characteristics of two rainstorms in the southwest of Hunan Province on May 12 and June 15 in 2011. The results showed that the first process was triggered by strong cold air under unstable potential, while the second process was caused by shear line appearing from the east; during the first process, cold air divided into many parts and moved towards south, rainfall was uniform and lasted for a long time, while rainfall was relatively concentrated and strong, and lasted for a short time during the second process; the peak of K index appeared only during the second process; no sign of heavy rainfall was found from satellite cloud pictures and radar echo pictures during the first process, while obvious cloud cluster and echo ribbons could be found from satellite cloud pictures and radar echo pictures during the second process, which were the sign of heavy rainfall; slow movement of echo or little movement resulted in the second rainstorm, and constant echo intensity was the main reason for the occurrence of the second rainstorm. In addition, there was low-level southwest jet during the two processes, which provided favorable conditions for the transportation of water vapor and energy during the two processes. However, there was a great difference between the two rainstorms in the intensity and thickness of low-level jet, that is, the intensity and thickness of low-level jet during the first process were obviously weaker than these during the second process.

Analysis of the Comparison of Twice Regional Large Rainstorms in Northwest Yantai City

[Objective] The twice regional rainstorms in northwest Yantai in July in 2009 and July in 2010 were expounded.[Method] The twice regional rainstorm in northwest Yantai in July in 2009 and July in 2010 were selected for comparison analysis by dint of conventional and non-conventional weather data,from the aspects of circulation background,physics quantity,and radar echo,etc.[Result] The twice large rainstorm process were regional convective strong precipitation.The rainstorm fell in the northwest of Yantai and had a strong precipitation center above 200 mm.The twice large rainstorm was affected by subtropical and shear line.The rainstorm area was related to the location of 588 dagpm line,westerly trough,and shear line.It was regional rainstorm of typical subtropical edge warm and wet airstream,combination of low vortex and shear line of westerly.The precipitation occurred around the center of water vapor flux;K index had pretty good indication effects to the generation of rainstorm.Large rainstorm occurred around the place with high K index.The K index of twice large rainstorm was larger than or equal to 34 ℃,and was close to the rainstorm falling area where K index was larger than or equal to 35 ℃.The reflection factor of twice large rainstorms at 0.5° elevation,the largest echo intensity was from 55 to 60 dBz,in strip echo from south to north,through the west peninsula,forming train effect.The data report product also had important reference basis for the report of regional large rainstorm.[Conclusion] The study provided references and basis for the report of large rainstorm in the future.

Analysis on Similarity Characteristics of 4 Heavy Rainstorms of Regional Station near FAST

Based on routine data of MICAPS system and data of regional automatic station,characteristics of similar environmental field for 4 heavy rainstorms of regional station in Luodian County near FAST in summer were analyzed.It was found that 4 heavy rainstorms of regional station had internal similarity:it maintained high-altitude situation of"high in west and low in east"from Lake Baikal to North China;the Western Pacific subtropical high was zonal;ridge line of subtropical high was near 15°N;θse at 850 hPa reached certain index value,showing that air mass had extremely strong warm and humid characteristics.Under common influence of high-altitude trough,low-value system at low layer and weak cold air,heavy rainstorm occurred.

Urban flood inundation and damage assessment based on numerical simulations of design rainstorms with different characteristics

In the context of global climate change and urbanization,urban flooding is an important type of natural disaster that affects urban development,especially in China,which is experiencing rapid urbanization.In the past 10 years,urban flooding events have caused huge disaster losses in Chinese cities.This has resulted in significant negative effects on the urban infrastructure,socioeconomic systems,and urban residents,thus causing widespread concern.Studies have confirmed the change in extreme rainstorms is due to the changing environments in many cities globally.Conducting studies on the impact of these rainstorms with different characteristics for urban flooding is valuable for coping with unfavorable situations.In addition,numerical simulations provide an economical and viable means to perform these studies.This paper presents a numerical model of Xiamen Island in China.Simulations were conducted for 12 design rainstorm events with different return periods,rain patterns,and durations.The results indicate that,in the case of an equal rainfall amount,the rainfall intensity is the key factor that affects the inundated area,depth,and damages.However,the rainfall intensity is not the only determining factor;the rainfall pattern also affects the inundations.In regard to the rainfall pattern,a higher rainfall peak coefficient usually leads to severe urban inundation and damage.As a result,the lag time would be shorter,which may further exacerbate the impact of urban flood disasters.The results of this study provide insights into managing flood risks,developing urban flood prevention strategies,and designing flood prevention measures.

Record Flood-Producing Rainstorms of July 2021 and August 1975 in Henan of China:Comparative Synoptic Analysis Using ERA5

This study compares two rainstorms that swept through Henan Province of China in July 2021 and August 1975.The heavy rainfall and related synoptic systems and processes are diagnosed based on hourly ERA5 reanalysis data and precipitation observations from the China Meteorological Administration.It is estimated that most of the daily rainfall in Henan was caused by synoptic-scale precipitation,with the sub-synoptic convective rainfall intermittently dominating some of the hourly total rainfall.The rainband moved at about 2 m s^(-1) during the July 2021 rainstorm,whereas it was almost stationary during the August 1975 rainstorm when the heavy rainfall was concentrated in southern Henan.A double-typhoon circulation pattern with a subtropical high over the Bohai and Yellow Seas was observed during both rainstorms.The heavy rainfall during the July 2021 event was controlled remotely by Typhoons Cempaka and In-Fa,which provided a path for the transport of moisture via the southerly jet associated with Typhoon Cempaka and the easterly(or southeasterly)jet associated with Typhoon In-Fa.The rainstorm in August1975 was caused more directly by Typhoon Nina,which made landfall in Fujian Province and moved toward Henan Province.The rainfall around the inverted trough of the motionless Typhoon Nina produced a cumulative effect.The two rainstorms also differed in their circulation patterns in the upper troposphere.The intrusion of high potential vorticity air over Central China occurred in the July 2021 extreme rainstorm,whereas the South Asian high was enhanced and biased further north during the August 1975 rainstorm.Further analysis showed that the northward and westward transport of moisture took place during the July 2021 rainstorm,whereas the westward transport of moisture from the east of Henan dominated near the inverted trough of Typhoon Nina during the August 1975 rainstorm.

Responses of Nutrients to the Precipitation Variation and Land Use in Subtropical Monsoonal Small Mountainous Rivers:A Case Study of Baixi Watershed

Small mountainous rivers are characterized by large instantaneous fluxes and susceptible to extreme weather events,which can rapidly transport materials into the sea and have a significant impact on the ecological environment of estuaries and bays.In order to investigate the seasonal characteristics of nutrients in small mountainous rivers in the subtropical monsoon region and the output pattern to the sea during heavy precipitation,surveys on the mountainous rivers were carried out in Baixi watershed in August 2020(wet season),March 2021(dry season)and June 2021(Meiyu period).The results showed that the dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN)of the rivers has an average concentration of 752μg L^(−1)in the wet season and 1472μg L^(−1)in the dry season.The concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP)in wet season and dry season were 63μg L^(−1)and 51μg L^(−1),respectively.Influenced by the changes of land use in sub-watersheds,DIN concentrations in the mainstream increased from 701μg L^(−1)in the upper reaches to 1284μg L^(−1)in the middle reaches.Two rainstorms during the Meiyu period in the watershed caused the pulse runoff in the river.The maximum daily runoff reached 70 times that before rains.The maximum daily fluxes of DIN and DIP were 109 and 247 times that before rains,respectively.In view that the watershed experienced several rainstorms in the wet season,the river,with pulse runoff,carries a large amount of nutrients into the sea in a short time,which will have a significant impact on the environment of Sanmen bay and its adjacent sea.

Spatial diversion and coordination of flood water for an urban flood control project in Suzhou, China

Suzhou City,located in the Yangtze River Delta in China,is prone to flooding due to a complex combination of natural factors,including its monsoon climate,low elevation,and tidally influenced position,as well as intensive human activities.The Large Encirclement Flood Control Project(LEFCP)was launched to cope with serious floods in the urban area.This project changed the spatiotemporal pattern of flood processes and caused spatial diversion of floods from the urban area to the outskirts of the city.Therefore,this study developed a distributed flood simulation model in order to understand this transition of flood processes.The results revealed that the LEFCP effectively protected the urban areas from floods,but the present scheduling schemes resulted in the spatial diversion of floods to the outskirts of the city.With rainstorm frequencies of 10.0%to 0.5%,the water level differences between two representative water level stations(Miduqiao(MDQ)and Fengqiao(FQ))located inside and outside the LEFCP area,ranged from 0.75 m to 0.24 m and from 1.80 m to 1.58 m,respectively.In addition,the flood safety margin at MDQ and the duration with the water level exceeding the warning water level at FQ ranged from 0.95 m to 0.43 m and from 4 h to 22 h,respectively.Rational scheduling schemes for the hydraulic facilities of the LEFCP in extreme precipitation cases were developed ac-cording to food simulations under seven scheduling scenarios.This helps to regulate the spatial flood diversion caused by the LEFCP during extreme precipitation.

Mesoscale and Microphysical Characteristics of a Double Rain Belt Event in South China on May 10–13,2022

A second rain belt sometimes occurs ahead of a frontal rain belt in the warm sector over coastal South China,leading to heavy precipitation.We examined the differences in the mesoscale characteristics and microphysics of the frontal and warm sector rain belts that occurred in South China on May 10–13,2022.The southern rain belt occurred in an environment with favorable mesoscale conditions but weak large-scale forcing.In contrast,the northern rain belt was related to low-level horizontal shear and the surface-level front.The interaction between the enhanced southeasterly winds and the rainfall-induced cold pool promoted the persistent growth of convection along the southern rain belt.The convective cell propagated east over the coastal area,where there was a large temperature gradient.The bow-shaped echo in this region may be closely related to the rear-inflow jet.By contrast,the initial convection of the northern rain belt was triggered along the front and the region of low-level horizontal shear,with mesoscale interactions between the enhanced warm-moist southeasterly airflow and the cold dome associated with the earlier rain.The terrain blocked the movement of the cold pool,resulting in the stagnation of the frontal convective cell at an early stage.Subsequently,a meso-γ-scale vortex formed during the rapid movement of the convective cell,corresponding to an enhancement of precipitation.The representative raindrop spectra for the southern rain belt were characterized by a greater number and higher density of raindrops than the northern rain belt,even though both resulted in comparable hourly rainfalls.These results help us better understand the characteristics of double rain belts over South China.