Gravity Wave Activity and Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange During Typhoon Molave(2020)

To investigate the stratosphere-troposphere exchange(STE)process induced by the gravity waves(GWs)caused by Typhoon Molave(2020)in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere,we analyzed the ERA5 reanalysis data provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the CMA Tropical Cyclone Best Track Dataset.We also adopted the mesoscale forecast model Weather Research and Forecasting model V4.3 for numerical simulation.Most of the previous studies were about typhoon-induced STE and typhoon-induced GWs,while our research focused on the STE caused by typhoon-induced gravity waves.Our analysis shows that most of the time,the gravity wave signal of Typhoon Molave appeared below the tropopause.It was stronger on the east side of the typhoon center(10°-20°N,110°-120°E)than on the west side,suggesting an eastward tilted structure with height increase.When the GWs in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere region on the west side of the typhoon center broke up,it produced strong turbulence,resulting in stratosphere-troposphere exchange.At this time,the average potential vorticity vertical flux increased with the average ozone mass mixing ratio.The gravity wave events and STE process simulated by the WRF model were basically consistent with the results of ERA5 reanalysis data,but the time of gravity wave breaking was different.This study indicates that after the breaking of the GWs induced by typhoons,turbulent mixing will also be generated,and thus the STE.

Features of Ozone Mini-Hole Events over the Tibetan Plateau

Based on TOMS total ozone data and SCIAMACHY ozone profile data, climatology of the ozone minihole events over the Tibetan Plateau and ozone vertical structure variations during an ozone mini-hole event in December 2003 are analyzed. The analyses show that before 1990 ozone mini-hole events only occurred in November-December of 1987 but that the number of events increases after 1990. These events only occur from October through February, with maximum occurrence frequency in December. During the event in December 2003, the decrease in total ozone of over 20% is mainly caused by the ozone loss in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere region due to the horizontal transport of low ozone from the lower latitude subtropics and the uplift of low ozone from the lower troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau.

Regional applicability of seven meteorological drought indices in China

The definition of a drought index is the foundation of drought research.However,because of the complexity of drought,there is no a unified drought index appropriate for different drought types and objects at the same time.Therefore,it is crucial to determine the regional applicability of various drought indices.Using terrestrial water storage obtained from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment,and the observed soil moisture and streamflow in China,we evaluated the regional applicability of seven meteorological drought indices:the Palmer Drought Severity Index(PDSI),modified PDSI(PDSI_CN) based on observations in China,self-calibrating PDSI(scPDSI),Surface Wetness Index(SWI),Standardized Precipitation Index(SPI),Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index(SPEI),and soil moisture simulations conducted using the community land model driven by observed atmospheric forcing(CLM3.5/ObsFC).The results showed that the scPDSI is most appropriate for China.However,it should be noted that the scPDSI reduces the value range slightly compared with the PDSI and PDSI_CN;thus,the classification of dry and wet conditions should be adjusted accordingly.Some problems might exist when using the PDSI and PDSI_CN in humid and arid areas because of the unsuitability of empiricalparameters.The SPI and SPEI are more appropriate for humid areas than arid and semiarid areas.This is because contributions of temperature variation to drought are neglected in the SPI,but overestimated in the SPEI,when potential evapotranspiration is estimated by the Thornthwaite method in these areas.Consequently,the SPI and SPEI tend to induce wetter and drier results,respectively.The CLM3.5/ObsFC is suitable for China before 2000,but not for arid and semiarid areas after 2000.Consistent with other drought indices,the SWI shows similar interannual and decadal change characteristics in detecting annual dry/wet variations.Although the long-term trends of drought areas in China detected by these seven drought indices during 1961-2013 are consistent,obvious differences exist among the values of drought areas,which might be attributable to the definitions of the drought indices in addition to climatic change.