Simulations of the Motion of Tropical Cyclone-like Vortices in the Presence of Synoptic and Mesoscale Circulations

Initial mesoscale vortex effects on the tropical cyclone （TC） motion in a system where three components coexist （i.e., an environmental vortex （EV）, a TC, and mesoscale vortices） were examined using a barotropic vorticity equation model with initial fields where mesoscale vortices were generated stochastically. Results of these simulations indicate that the deflection of the TC track derived from the initial mesoscale vortices was clearly smaller than that from the beta effect in 60% of the cases. However, they may have a more significant impact on the TC track under the following circumstances. First, the interaction between an adjacent mesoscale vortex and the TC causes the emergence of a complicated structure with two centers in the TC inner region. This configuration may last for 8 h, and the two centers undergo a cyclonic rotation to make the change in direction of the TC motion. Second, two mesoscale vortices located in the EV circulation may merge, and the merged vortex shifts into the EV inner region, intensifying both the EV and steering flow for the TC, increasing speed of the TC.

A three-dimensional ocean general circulation model for mesoscale eddies——Ⅱ Diagnostic analysis

A three-dimensional density field associated with mesoscaie unstable waves generated by the 3-D, primitive-equation model (Wang and Ikeda, 1996) is provided to the quasi-geostrophic pressure tendency and ω-equations, and to the (ageostrophic) Q-vector equation. Diagnostic analyses, analogous to the approaches in meteorology: ω-equation and Q-vector method, are for the first time developed to examine the mesoscaie dynamical processes and mechanisms of the unstable waves propagating in the mid-latitude ocean. The weaknesses and strengths of these two diagnostic approaches are evaluated and compared to the model results. The Q-vector method is then recommended to diagnose the vertical motion associated with the mesoscaie dynamics from a hydrographic CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) array, while the quasi-geostrophic equations produce some small-scale features (errors) in the diagnosed fields.

The Major Research Advances of Mesoscale Weather Dynamics in China Since 2003

This paper reviews the main theoretical progress of mesoscale weather dynamics since 2003, including： （1） The dynamic mechanisms of balanced and unbalanced flow are applied to study the genesis and development problems of mesoscale circulation. The symmetric instability and transverse-wave instability are analyzed in line and vortex atmosphere convection, and further research has been done on nonlinear convective symmetric instability. The interaction between forced convection and unstable convection and the wave characteristics of mesoscale motion are also discussed. （2） Intermediate atmosphere dynamic boundary layer models are developed. The complicated nonlinear interaction is analyzed theoretically between the atmospheric boundary layer and the free atmosphere. The structure of the topography boundary layer, atmospheric frontogenesis, the structure and circulation of the low-level front and other boundary layer dynamic problems are discussed. （3） The formation and development of meso-β-scale rainstorms under the background of the East-Asia atmosphere circulation are diagnosed with the variation of MPV （moist potential vorticity） anomalies. And some physical vectors are modified and applied in the moist atmosphere.

The Effect of Mesoscale Flows on Regional Atmospheric Transport in a Complex Terrain

Model results simulated over a complex terrain under a synoptically calm condition, using a three-dimensional (3-D) regional-scale meteorological acid deposition model (RMADM), show that thermally induced mesoscale circulations (MCs): sea-and land-breeze circulations and up- and down-slope flow circulations play a fundamental role in determining how the pollutants being dispersed . Analysis showed that under synoptically calm condition, the role played by the MC would dilute the smoke released during the early stage of the emission; the accumulation, however, would become important if the synoptically calm condition lasts long. Since the structure and intensity of the MCs depend on geography and topographical allocation, land surface coverage, incoming solar radiation intensity and so on, it makes the estimates of source-reception relationship and long-range atmospheric dispersion more difficulty. It concluded that it is impossible for a pollution model to correctly simulate smokes transport using only the synoptic station data, since the mesoscale information can not be resolved from these datasets.

Mesoscale Impacts on Cold Season PM_(2.5) in the Yukon Flats

Near-surface PM2.5 and meteorological observations were performed in three rural communities in the high latitude Yukon Flats valley at various times during the cold season (October to April). These data were synthesized with data from other meteorological sites, NCEP reanalysis and MAIAC retrieved aerosol optical depths data to analyze the role of mesoscale processes and radiation on air quality. Under weak large-scale forcing mountain-valley circulations develop that are driven by the differences in insolation. During the long dark nights, radiative cooling occurs in the near-surface layer of the mountain slopes of the Brooks, Ogilvie and White Mountains Ranges and at the bottom of the valley. Here surface-based inversions (SBI)—known as roof-top inversions—forms, while the cold air drains from the slopes. A frontal wedge forms when the cold air slides over the relatively colder air in the valley. Drainage of cold air from the Brooks Range governed the circulation and cold air pooling in the valley. Concentrations during times with and without SBI differed significantly (at 95% confidence) at two sites indicating that local emissions were the major contributor. At the site, which is closest to the mountains, concentrations marginally changed in the presence of inversions. At all sites, 24-h mean PM2.5 remained below the National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

Study on the mesoscale eddies around the Ryukyu Islands

Results of the Ocean General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator（OFES） from January 1977 to December2006 are used to investigate mesoscale eddies near the Ryukyu Islands. The results show that：（1） Larger eddies are mainly east of Taiwan, above the Ryukyu Trench and south of the Shikoku Island. These three sea areas are all in the vicinity of the Ryukyu Current.（2） Eddies in the area of the Ryukyu Current are mainly anticyclonic, and conducive to that current. The transport of water east of the Ryukyu Islands is mainly toward the northeast.（3）The Ryukyu Current is significantly affected by the eddies. The lower the latitude, the greater these effects.However, the Kuroshio is relatively stable, and the effect of mesoscale eddies is not significant.（4） A warm eddy south of the Shikoku Island break away from the Kuroshio and move southwest, and is clearly affected by the Ryukyu Current and Kuroshio. Relationships between the mesoscale eddies, Kuroshio meanders, and Ryukyu Current are discussed.

Numerical Simulation of Fluxes Generated by Inhomogeneities of the Underlying Surface over the Jinta Oasis in Northwestern China

Using land-use types derived from satellite remote sensing data collected by the EOS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer （EOS/MODIS）, the mesoscale and turbulent fluxes generated by inhomogeneities of the underlying surface over the Jinta Oasis, northwestern China, were simulated using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System （RAMS4.4）. The results indicate that mesoscale circulation generated by land-surface inhomogeneities over the Jinta Oasis is more important than turbulence. Vertical heat fluxes and water vapor are transported to higher levels by mesoscale circulation. Mesoscale circulation also produces mesoscale synoptic systems and prevents water vapor over the oasis from running off. Mesoscale circulation transports moisture to higher atmospheric levels as the land-surface moisture over the oasis increases, favoring the formation of clouds, which sometimes leads to rainfall. Large-scale wind speed has a significant impact on mesoscale heat fluxes. During the active phase of mesoscale circulation, the stronger large-scale winds are associated with small mesoscale fluxes; however, background wind seems to intensify the turbulent sensible heat flux and turbulent latent heat flux. If the area of oasis is enlarged properly, mesoscale circulation will be able to transport moisture to higher levels, favoring the formation of rainfall in the oasis and protecting its ＂cold island＂ effect. The impact of irrigation on rainfall is important, and increasing irrigation across the oasis is necessary to protect the oasis.

Diurnal Cycle of Heating and Water Vapor in the Metropolitan Area of Porto in Portugal

In this work, it is investigated the Urban Heat Island (UHI) using conservative thermodynamic variables observed by surface weather stations on the Metropolitan Area of Porto (Oporto) in Portugal, under adiabatic conditions at the surface. These conditions are usually present and associated with the development of a mixture layer into the diurnal Convective Boundary Layer (CBL), which residual layer in the late afternoon defines the initial state for the development of the nocturnal UHI. Both the spatial structure and temporal variation of potential temperature and specific humidity were considered, along the hours and days of the year, from a statistical point of view, resulting in hourly climatology. Details of the hourly evolution of the meteorological variables on the Oporto surface are presented and discussed. Results show a seasonal variation of the potential temperature up to 17°C throughout the year, which is associated with horizontal thermal gradients that can control and trigger mesoscale circulations such as sea-land, urban and valley-mountain breezes.

Diagnosis of the Secondary Circulation of Tropical Storm Bilis(2006) and the Effects of Convective Systems on Its Track

We diagnose characteristics of the quasi-balanced flow and secondary circulation（SC） of tropical storm Bilis（2006） using the potential vorticity（PV）-ω inversion method.We further analyze how secondary steering flows associated with mesoscale convective systems affected the track of tropical storm Bilis after it made landfall.The quasi-balanced asymmetric and axisymmetric circulation structures of tropical storm Bilis are represented well by the PV-w inversion.The magnitude of the nonlinear quasi-balanced vertical velocity is approximately 75%of the magnitude simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting（WRF） model.The SC of Bilis（2006） contained two strong regions of ascending motion,both of which were located in the southwest quadrant of the storm.The first（150-200 km southwest of the storm center） corresponded to the eyewall region,while the second（approximately 400 km southwest of the storm center） corresponded to latent heat release associated with strong precipitation in major spiral rainbands.The SC was very weak in the northeast quadrant（the upshear direction）.Dynamical processes related to the environmental vertical wind shear produced an SC that partially offset the destructive effects of the environmental vertical wind shear（by 20%-25%）.This SC consisted of upward motion in the southwest quadrant and subsidence in the northeast quadrant,with airflow oriented from southwest to northeast at high altitudes and from northeast to southwest at lower levels.The inverted secondary zonal and meridional steering flows associated with continuous asymmetric mesoscale convective systems were about-2.14 and-0.7 m s^（-1）,respectively.These steering flows contributed substantially to the zonal（66.15%） and meridional（33.98%） motion of the storm at 0000 UTC15 July 2006.The secondary steering flow had a significant influence on changing the track of Bilis from southward to northward.The direction of the large-scale meridional steering flow（3.02 m s^（-1）） was opposite to the actual meridional motion（-2.06 m s^（-1））.