A Cloud-resolving Study on the Role of Cumulus Merger in MCS with Heavy Precipitation

The cumulus merging processes in generating the mesoscale convective system （MCS） on 23 August 2001 in the Beijing region are studied by using a cloud-resolving mesoscale model of MM5. The results suggest that the merger processes occurred among isolated convective cells formed in high mountain region during southerly moving process play critical role in forming MCS and severe precipitating weather events such as hailfall, heavy rain, downburst and high-frequency lightning in the region. The formation of the MCS experiences multi-scale merging processes from single-cell scale merging to cloud cluster-scale merging, and high core merging. The merger process can apparently alter cloud dynamical and microphysical properties through enhancing both low- and middle-level forcing. Also, lightning flash rates are enhanced by the production of more intense and deeper convective cells by the merger process, especially by which, the more graupel-like ice particles are formed in clouds. The explosive convective development and the late peak lightning flash rate can be found during merging process.

积云并合在强对流系统形成中的作用

利用中尺度非静力平衡模式(MM5V3),模拟研究了积云并合过程在北京2001年8月23日一次产生强降水和冰雹对流天气形成中的作用。研究结果表明,积云并合在此次强中尺度对流系统(MCS)形成中有非常重要作用。整个形成过程经历了从单体并合、积云团并合和强中心并合的多尺度并合过程。首先,相邻孤立对流单体之间通过在中层形成云桥并合成为积云团,接着相邻积云团之间也通过中层云桥并合形成具有多个强中心的中尺度对流系统,最后,中尺度对流系统内强中心实现并合。而强中心并合过程伴随着强降水、大风等剧烈天气的产生。积云下沉气流对于积云并合有着重要作用,由强辐散出流形成的上升气流及与环境风相互作用有利于并合的形成和发展。并合过程导致云内上升-下沉气流增强,对流运动发展加强,有利于水汽转化,形成大量过冷云水和冰相粒子。大量冰晶和霰的形成有利于强降水的产生。