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.

Modulation of the Wind Field Structure of Initial Vortex on the Relationship between Tropical Cyclone Size and Intensity

This study investigates the modulation of initial wind field structure on the relationship between the size and intensity of a simulated vortex.A series of idealized experiments are conducted by varying the radius of maximum wind(RMW)and shape parameter of the initial vortices.The size–intensity relationship is quantified by the linear regression coefficient of the azimuthally-averaged gale-force wind radius against the maximum wind during the development stage,reflecting the degree of size expansion at the same intensity increment.The regression coefficient increases with increased RMW and decreased,with the RMW being the primary constraint.The effect of lowering on the elevation of the regression coefficient gradually stands out when the initial RMW is large.Enlarging the RMW leads to a secondary circulation with a horizontally elongated structure,which retards the intensification while promoting size expansion,thus substantially enhancing size expansion as the vortex intensifies.Broadening the wind field outside the RMW by reducing results in abounding convection in the outer region,which promotes size expansion.Based on the axisymmetric tangential wind tendency and Sawyer–Eliassen equations,when the RMW is large,the active convection in the outer region can weaken the radial inflow induced by the eyewall heating in the inner region,thus retarding the intensification by reducing the radial imports of vorticity near the RMW.

Analysis of Characteristic and Causes of a Strong Cooling Process in China in the Early Winter of 2020/2021

The characteristics and causes of a drop in temperature during a cold wave process in the early winter of 2020/2021 were analyzed.The results show that the air temperature at 700-600 hPa over China was firstly and mostly influenced by the cold wave process,and then the cold air gradually extended to the lower layer,causing the most severe cooling in North China and its nearby areas.During the cold wave,the longitude of the upper-level jet over the Chinese mainland was larger;the Ural blocking high and the East Asian trough were stronger,so that the geopotential height gradient between the two was also significantly larger;the meridional air flow was abnormally strong,which was conducive to the southward transport of cold air from the middle and high latitudes.Results of the diagnostic analysis further show that the outbreak of the cold wave and the negative temperature tendency anomaly in the key area were mainly caused by the meridional temperature horizontal advection anomaly,while the temperature rise accompanied by abnormal air subsidence compensated for the abnormal decrease in temperature,which was conducive to the gradual rise of temperature in the key area.

Diagnostic Analysis of the Evolution Mechanism for a Vortex over the Tibetan Plateau in June 2008

Based on the final analyses data （FNL） of the Global Forecasting System of the NCEP and the obser- vational radiosonde data, the evolution mechanism of an eastward-moving low-level vortex over the Tibetan Plateau in June 2008 was analyzed. The results show that the formation of the vortex was related to the convergence between the northwesterly over the central Tibetan Plateau from the westerly zone and the southerly from the Bay of Bengal at 500 hPa, and also to the divergence associated with the entrance re- gion of the upper westerly jet at 200 hPa. Their dynamic effects were favorable for ascending motion and forming the vortex over the Tibetan Plateau. Furthermore, the effect of the atmospheric heat source （Q1） is discussed based on a transformed potential vorticity （PV） tendency equation. By calculating the PV budgets, we showed that Q1 had a great inffuence on the intensity and moving direction of the vortex. In the developing stage of the vortex, the heating of the vertically integrated Q1 was centered to the east of the vortex center at 500 hPa, increasing PV tendency to the east of the vortex. As a result, the vortex strengthened and moved eastward through the vertically uneven distribution of Q1. In the decaying stage, the horizontally uneven heating of Q1 at 500 hPa weakened the vortex through causing the vortex tubes around the vortex to slant and redistributing the vertical vorticity field.

Intra-seasonal Features of an Extreme High Temperature Event in 2011 in Eastern China and Its Atmospheric Circulation

Based on the daily maximum air temperature(T_(max))data from the China Meteorological Data Network and the NCEP/DOE reanalysis data,the intra-seasonal circulation and evolution of an extreme high temperature event(EHTE)in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River(MYR)from August 9-21,2011 were explored,as well as the influence of diabatic heating on the position variation of the Western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH).Results show that the daily T_(max) in the MYR exhibits a vigorous intraseasonal oscillation(ISO)of 10-25 days in the extended summer of 1980-2018.The main factors affecting the EHTE in the summer of 2011 are the low-frequency wave train propagating southeastward in the mid-latitude of the upper troposphere and the low-frequency anticyclone moving northwestward in the lowlatitude of the mid-lower troposphere.The diagnosis of 925hPa thermodynamic equation indicates that the ISO features of the T_(max) in the core region is determined by the intra-seasonal variation of the adiabatic variation.In addition,the variations of the WPSH correspond well to the distribution of apparent heat source.In the early stage of the high temperature process,the apparent heat source in the north of the Bay of Bengal is a certain indicator for the westward extension of the WPSH.