The Roles of Low-level Jets in “21·7” Henan Extremely Persistent Heavy Rainfall Event

An extremely heavy rainfall event lasting from 17 to 22 July 2021 occurred in Henan Province of China, with accumulated precipitation of more than 1000 mm over a 6-day period that exceeded its mean annual precipitation. The present study examines the roles of persistent low-level jets(LLJs) in maintaining the precipitation using surface station observations and reanalysis datasets. The LLJs triggered strong ascending motions and carried moisture mainly from the outflow of Typhoon In-fa(2021). The varying directions of the LLJs well corresponded to the meridional shifts of the rainfall. The precipitation rate reached a maximum during 20-21 July as the LLJs strengthened and expanded vertically into double LLJs, including synoptic-weather-system-related LLJs(SLLJs) at 850–700 hPa and boundary-layer jets(BLJs)at ~950 hPa. The coupling of the SLLJ and BLJ provided strong mid-and low-level convergence on 20 July, whereas the SLLJ produced mid-level divergence at its entrance that coupled with low-level convergence at the terminus of the BLJ on21 July. The formation mechanisms of the two types of LLJs are further examined. The SLLJs and the low-pressure vortex(or inverted trough) varied synchronously as a whole and were affected by the southwestward movement of the WPSH in the rainiest period. The persistent large total pressure gradient force at low levels also maintained the strength of low-level geostrophic winds, thus sustaining the BLJs on the synoptic scale. The results based on a Du-Rotunno 1D model show that the Blackadar and Holton mechanisms jointly governed the BLJ dynamics on the diurnal scale.

Analysis of the Characteristics of the Low-level Jets in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River during the Mei-yu Season

Here,we analyze the characteristics and the formation mechanisms of low-level jets(LLJs)in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River during the 2010 mei-yu season using Wuhan station radiosonde data and the fifth generation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ERA5)reanalysis dataset.Our results show that the vertical structure of LLJs is characterized by a predominance of boundary layer jets(BLJs)concentrated at heights of 900-1200 m.The BLJs occur most frequently at 2300 LST(LST=UTC+8 hours)but are strongest at 0200 LST,with composite wind velocities>14 m s^(-1).Synoptic-system-related LLJs(SLLJs)occur most frequently at 0800 LST but are strongest at 1100LST,with composite wind velocities>12 m s^(-1).Both BLJs and SLLJs are characterized by a southwesterly wind direction,although the wind direction of SLLJs is more westerly,and northeasterly SLLJs occur more frequently than northeasterly BLJs.When Wuhan is south of the mei-yu front,the westward extension of the northwest Pacific subtropical high intensifies,and the low-pressure system in the eastern Tibetan Plateau strengthens,favoring the formation of LLJs,which are closely related to precipitation.The wind speeds on rainstorm days are greater than those on LLJ days.Our analysis of four typical heavy precipitation events shows the presence of LLJs at the center of the precipitation and on its southern side before the onset of heavy precipitation.BLJs were shown to develop earlier than SLLJs.

Formation of Low-Level Jets over Southern China in the Mei-yu Season

This study examines the diversity of low-level jet(LLJ)formation and related physical processes over southern China.A total of 171 LLJ formation events with enhanced daily southwesterlies and early-morning maximum wind speeds were observed during the mei-yu seasons of 1989–2018.The LLJs can be further categorized into four types based on the increases in the daily mean and diurnal amplitude of the low-level winds.Analysis of the synoptic-scale disturbances shows that the two types of LLJ formation(Q1 and Q4),which feature large increases of daily southerly wind components,are mainly induced by west-east dipole patterns of pressure change,in association with the enhanced southwest vortex and/or the western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH).In contrast,the other two types(Q2 and Q3),which feature relatively large increases in their daily westerly components,are related to a northwest-southeast dipole pattern of pressure change due to the mid-latitude trough and the WPSH.We further analyze the considerable variations in the diurnal thermal forcing among the LLJ formation events.The strong(weak)daytime heating of solar radiation leads to relatively large(small)increases in the diurnal amplitude of low-level winds in Q1 and Q2(Q3 and Q4)types.Therefore,different combinations of synopticscale disturbances and diurnal thermal forcings are found to account for the diversity in LLJ formation and associated differences in downstream rainfall patterns.These results help to improve our understanding and prediction of the formation of LLJs.

Thermodynamics and Microphysical Characteristics of an Extreme Rainfall Event Under the Influence of a Low-level Jet over the South China Coast

In this paper,the data of Automatic Weather Stations(AWSs),ERA5 reanalysis,sounding,wind profile radar,and dual-polarization radar are used to study an extreme rainfall event in the south China Coast on 11 to 12 May 2022 from the aspects of thermodynamics and microphysical characteristics under the influence of low-level jets(LLJs).Results show that:(1)The extreme rainfall event can be divided into two stages:the first stage(S1)from 0000 to 0600 LST on May 12 and the second stage(S2)from 0700 to 1700 LST on the same day.During S1,the rainfall is mainly caused by the upper-level shortwave trough and the boundary layer jet(BLJ),characterized by strong upward motion on the windward side of mountains.In S2,the combined influence of the BLJ and synoptic-system-related low-level jet(SLLJ)increases the vertical wind shear and vertical vorticity,strengthening the rainstorm.In combination with the effect of topography,a warm and humid southwest flow continuously transports water vapor to farther north,resulting in a significant increase in rainfall over the study area(on the terrain’s windward slope).From S1 to S2,the altitude of a divergence center in the upper air decreases obviously.(2)The rainfalls in the two stages are both associated with the mesoscale convergence line(MCL)on the surface,and the wind field from the mesoscale outflow boundary(MOB)in S1 is in the same direction as the environmental winds.Due to a small area of convergence that is left behind the MOB,convection moves eastward quickly and causes a short duration of heavy rainfall.In S2,the convergence along the MOB is enhanced,which strengthens the rainfall and leads to strong outflows,further enhancing the surface convergence near the MOB and forming a positive feedback mechanism.It results in a slow motion of convection and a long duration of heavy rainfall.(3)In terms of microphysics,the center of a strong echo in S1 is higher than in S2.The warm-rain process of the oceanic type characterizes both stages,but the convective intensity in S2 is significantly stronger than that in S1,featuring bigger drop sizes and lower concentrations.It is mainly due to the strengthening of LLJs,which makes small cloud droplets lift to melting levels,enhancing the ice phase process(riming process),producing large amounts of graupel particles and enhancing the melting and collision processes as they fall,resulting in the increase of liquid water content(LWC)and the formation of large raindrops near the surface.

Change of Low-level Jet in a Heavy Rainstorm Process of Xiangtan in July 2016

Based on the previous research on the model of rainstorm weather with low-level jet in Xiangtan,using the classification result of radar echo characteristics,the wind profile data provided by new generation of weather radar in Changsha and hourly rainfall data,a thorough study of the heavy rainfall from 2 to 5 July 2016 in Xiangtan was conducted. It was concluded that heavy precipitation had the characteristics of the WPSH pattern of rainstorm with low-level jet at early stage,and then it converted to cold shear jet pattern in latter stage. When low-level southwest jet began to have momentum download,that is to say,there was more than 12 m/s of southwest jet below 1 km,and it rapidly strengthened and expanded downward,it was conducive to the occurrence of short-term rainstorm. The low-level jet would not immediately cause a strong precipitation when it reached the station,with a certain lag. A positive correlation existed between the increase of low-level jet index and precipitation intensity,and low-level jet index could predict the occurrence of heavy rainfall and rain intensity.

A Study of the Relationship between Low-level Jet and inversion Layer over an Agroforest Ecosystem in East China Plain

The relationship between the super–low–level jet (LLJ) and inversion layer over an agroforest ecosystem on the Huang–Huai–Hai plain in the eastern China is studied by means of a time–independent K–closure model. It is found that the intensified inversion near the surface of a luxuriantly growing agroforest ecosystem leads to the formation and development of the LLJ, the more intense the inversion, the stronger is the LLJ. The critical value of inversion intensity index for the LLJ formation is 0.75°C/ 100 m, which relates to the necessary geostraphic wind velocity of 6.0 to 10 m / s at the top level of the model. The numerical calculations show that the roughness length of the underlying surface has considerable effects on the LLJ structure. Key words Low?level jet - Temperature inversion - Agroforest ecosystem The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (49975016).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF LOW-LEVEL JET STREAMS IN NANJING AREA BASED ON WIND PROFILER DATA

In order to understand the activity characteristics of low-level jets in the Nanjing area,statistical analysis and comparative study are carried out on their monthly and diurnal variations,characteristics of their cores and accompanying weather conditions using wind profile data in 2005-2008 collected by two wind profilers.The results show that low-level jets have significant monthly and diurnal variations.They occur more frequently in spring and summer than in autumn and winter and are more active in early morning and at night,with the maximum wind speed usually occurring at midnight.The central part of the low-level jet occurs mainly at the height of less than 1400 meters,and the enhancement of central speed is beneficial to the appearance of precipitation.Meanwhile,when the low-level jet appears in summer,it helps cause heavy rain.The statistical results of the boundary wind profiler are well consistent with those of the tropospheric wind profiler.Two kinds of wind profilers also have the capability of continuously detecting the development of low-level jets.

Excitation of Low-level Jet as Seen by GOES (I-O) Satellite off the Somali Coast

The intensification of a low-level jet off the Somali coast, as observed through GOES (I-O) satellite during Indian summer monsoon 1979 has been studied. Excitation of Low-level cross-equatorial flow in the western Indian ocean results from an interaction between extratropical perturbations moving eastward across the South African-Malgassy region of the Southern Hemisphere. This excitation occurs 2-3 days after the first appearance of a northward propagation cold front across the South African-Malgassy region. Inten-sification of cross-equatorial flow is followed by an increase in rainfall activity along the west coast of India after 3-4 days. The study reveals that this association can be used to forecast an increase in rainfall activity along the west coast of India 5-7 days in advance.

Assessment of Wet Season Precipitation in the Central United States by the Regional Climate Simulation of the WRFG Member in NARCCAP and Its Relationship with Large-Scale Circulation Biases

Assessment of past-climate simulations of regional climate models(RCMs)is important for understanding the reliability of RCMs when used to project future regional climate.Here,we assess the performance and discuss possible causes of biases in a WRF-based RCM with a grid spacing of 50 km,named WRFG,from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program(NARCCAP)in simulating wet season precipitation over the Central United States for a period when observational data are available.The RCM reproduces key features of the precipitation distribution characteristics during late spring to early summer,although it tends to underestimate the magnitude of precipitation.This dry bias is partially due to the model’s lack of skill in simulating nocturnal precipitation related to the lack of eastward propagating convective systems in the simulation.Inaccuracy in reproducing large-scale circulation and environmental conditions is another contributing factor.The too weak simulated pressure gradient between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico results in weaker southerly winds in between,leading to a reduction of warm moist air transport from the Gulf to the Central Great Plains.The simulated low-level horizontal convergence fields are less favorable for upward motion than in the NARR and hence,for the development of moist convection as well.Therefore,a careful examination of an RCM’s deficiencies and the identification of the source of errors are important when using the RCM to project precipitation changes in future climate scenarios.

Impact of the Complex Terrain in Beijing on Formation of Low-Level Jets

This study investigated how the Taihang Mountains and the Yanshan Mountains affect low-level jets(LLJs)in the Beijing area,based on conventional radiosonde observations from Nanjiao Observatory(2016–2017)and high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting–Advanced Research WRF(WRF-ARW)model simulations.Analysis of radiosonde observations indicated that LLJs in the study area are mainly from the southwest and northwest directions,with occurrence frequency of 44.6%and 33.0%,respectively.Southwest(northwest)LLJs are aligned parallel(perpendicular)to the orientation of the Taihang Mountain Range.Terrain sensitivity experiments using the WRF-ARW model were then conducted to examine the effects of terrain forcing on the northwest and southwest LLJs,with adopted terrain heights of 100%and 50%.The results showed that for northwest LLJs,reduction in the elevation of the Taihang Mountain Range led to weakening of jet intensity by approximately 20%and reduction in jet maximum height by approximately 250 m;lowering the Yanshan Mountain Range had minor influence on the northwest LLJs,with only a 5.2%reduction in intensity and no substantial change in jet maximum height.For southwest LLJs,reduction in the elevation of both the Taihang and Yanshan Mountain ranges resulted in minor changes in the intensity and height of the jets.Further analysis revealed that the topography in the Beijing area could modulate the height and intensity of the stable layer by altering the inversion structure within the boundary layer.The LLJs can develop rapidly within the stable layer,and both the location and the scale of the jet core exhibited reasonable agreement with the extent of the stable layer.

Influence of Coastal Marine Boundary Layer Jets on Rainfall in South China

Coastal marine boundary layer jets(CMBLJs)play an important role in coastal and inland rainfall in South China.Using 21 years of ERA5 and CMORPH rainfall data,two main CMBLJs are found,one on each side of Hainan Island(named BLJ-WEST and BLJ-EAST),which are always strengthened jointly.Both CMBLJs often occur in the pre-summer rainy season and exhibit an evident diurnal cycle with a maximum at night.With the emergence of the CMBLJs,rainfall is significantly enhanced in South China,particularly downstream of each CMBLJ.The response of rainfall to the CMBLJs is mainly attributed to convergence at the terminus of each CMBLJ,terrain-induced lifting,and relevant atmospheric stratification.Coastal rainfall downstream of the BLJ-WEST is much weaker than that downstream of the BLJ-EAST because of higher CIN over the Beibu Gulf,which is caused by lower temperature lapse rates and adiabatic heating in the lee of the Annamite Range.The inland rainfall increases along with CMBLJ intensity,whereas coastal rainfall reaches a maximum in the presence of moderate CMBLJs rather than stronger CMBLJs.Stronger CMBLJs induce stronger dynamic lifting but higher CIN near the coastal area.Additionally,CAPE near the coast does not become highest with strongest CMBLJs,because the CAPE generation contributed by coastal dynamic lifting can be offset by the negative contribution caused by the horizontal advection of cold and dry air from the Indochina Peninsula.Therefore,anomalous dynamic lifting,moisture flux convergence,and CAPE/CIN associated with CMBLJ intensity jointly result in anomalous rainfall.

Nocturnal Low-levelWinds and Their Impacts on Particulate Matter over the Beijing Area

Three-month wind profiles, 260 m PM_1 concentrations [i.e., particulate matter(PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1μm], and carrier-to-noise ratio data at two Beijing sites 55 km apart(urban and suburban) were collected to analyze the characteristics of low-level nocturnal wind and PM in autumn and winter. Three mountain-plain wind events with wind shear were selected for analysis. The measurements indicated that the maximum wind speeds of the northerly weak low-level jet(LLJ) below 320 m at the suburban site were weaker than those at the urban site, and the LLJ heights and depths at the suburban site were lower than those at the urban site. The nocturnal 140 m mean vertical velocities and the variations in vertical velocity at the urban site were larger than those at the suburban site. A nocturnal breeze with a weak LLJ of ～3 m s^(-1) noticeably offset nocturnal PM transport due to southerly flow and convergence within the northern urban area of Beijing. Characteristics of the nocturnal LLJ, such as start-up time, structure, intensity, and duration, were important factors in determining the decrease in the nocturnal horizontal range and site-based low-level variations in PM.

ENERGETIC DIAGNOSIS FOR TWO KINDS OF LOW LEVEL JETS

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On the Key Dynamical Processes Supporting the 21.7 Zhengzhou Record-breaking Hourly Rainfall in China

An extremely heavy rainfall event occurred in Zhengzhou,China,on 20 July 2021 and produced an hourly rainfall rate of 201.9 mm,which broke the station record for China's Mainland.Based on radar observations and a convection-permitting simulation using the WRF-ARW model,this paper investigates the multiscale processes,especially those at the mesoscale,that support the extreme observed hourly rainfall.Results show that the extreme rainfall occurred in an environment characteristic of warm-sector heavy rainfall,with abundant warm moist air transported from the ocean by an abnormally northward-displaced western Pacific subtropical high and Typhoon In-Fa(2021).However,rather than through back building and echo training of convective cells often found in warm-sector heavy rainfall events,this extreme hourly rainfall event was caused by a single,quasi-stationary storm in Zhengzhou.Scale separation analysis reveals that the extreme-rainproducing storm was supported and maintained by the dynamic lifting of low-level converging flows from the north,south,and east of the storm.The low-level northerly flow originated from a mesoscale barrier jet on the eastern slope of the Taihang Mountain due to terrain blocking of large-scale easterly flows,which reached an overall balance with the southerly winds in association with a low-level meso-β-scale vortex located to the west of Zhengzhou.The large-scale easterly inflows that fed the deep convection via transport of thermodynamically unstable air into the storm prevented the eastward propagation of the weak,shallow cold pool.As a result,the convective storm was nearly stationary over Zhengzhou,resulting in record-breaking hourly precipitation.

An Extreme Monsoonal Heavy Rainfall Event over Inland South China in June 2022: A Synoptic Causes Analysis

An extreme monsoonal heavy rainfall event lasted for nine days and recurred in the interior of northern south China from June 13 to 21, 2022. Using regional meteorological stations and ERA5 reanalysis data, the causes of this extreme monsoonal rainfall event in south China were analyzed and diagnosed. The results are shown as follows. A dominant South Asian high tended to be stable near the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing favorable upper-level dispersion conditions for the occurrence of heavy rainfall in south China. A western Pacific subtropical high dominated the eastern part of the South China Sea, favoring stronger and more northward transport of water vapor to the northern part of south China at lower latitudes than normal. The continuous heavy precipitation event can be divided into two stages. The first stage(June 13-15) was the frontal heavy rainfall caused by cold air(brought by an East Asian trough)from the mid-latitudes that converged with a monsoonal airflow. The heavy rains occurred mostly in the area near a shear in front of the center of a synoptic-system-related low-level jet(SLLJ), and the jet stream and precipitation were strongest in the daytime. The second stage(June 16-21) was the warm-sector heavy rainfall caused by a South China Sea monsoonal low-level jet penetrating inland. The heavy rainfall occurred on the windward slope of the Nanling Mountains and in the northern part of a boundary layer jet(BLJ). The BLJ experienced five nighttime enhancements, corresponding well with the enhancement of the rainfall center, showing significant nighttime heavy rainfall characteristics. Finally, a conceptual diagram of inland-type warm-sector heavy rainfall in south China is summarized.

The Monsoon Low-Level Jet:Climatology and Impact on Monsoon Rainfall over the West Coast and Central Peninsular India

The monsoon low-level jet(MLLJ)originates at Mascarene high and after traveling thousands of kilometers enters India from the western boundary causing deep convection,cloudiness,and rainfall.Although its core lies at 850 hPa,it has a large vertical extent;therefore,different meteorological parameters at different levels have a large influence on the Indian summer monsoon rainfall.This study aims to examine the upper-air climatology of 9 stations on the west coast and central Peninsular India and to find out the effects of various parameters at different standard pressure levels on the Indian summer monsoon rainfall variability.We used the 34-yr(1971–2004)actual upper-air radiosonde/radio wind and standard synoptic surface observations data from these 9 stations and reported some new aspects of the MLLJ.The NCEP/NCAR and ECMWF reanalysis wind data have also been used to holistically study the features of MLLJ over sea and land areas.This study,as opposed to some recent studies,confirms the splitting of MLLJ into two branches,which can be seen on a few days during the monsoon season.Further analyses show that the change in geopotential height between 800 and 900 hPa has a strong bearing on the strength of MLLJ.The change in the upper-air pressure gradient force over the Indian landmass can cause a change in the wind speed of MLLJ during the monsoon season.

Analysis of a Local Rainstorm in Central Inner Mongolia

Based on conventional observation data,satellite cloud image data and new generation Doppler radar data,the local rainstorm weather situation and physical quantities in Ulanqab City from 08:00 to 20:00 on June 24,2019 were analyzed by means of synoptic methods.The results show that the local rainstorm was caused by the forward trough system and the convergence of warm and cold air,and triggered by the low-level jet and the surface convergence line.The splitting and merging of cloud clusters in satellite cloud images and strong radar echoes had a good guiding effect on short-term heavy precipitation.

西风角动量输送的气候特征及其与急流关系研究

摘要利用1958-1997年NCEP／NCAR一日四次的风场再分析资料，系统地分析了季节平均西风角动量（即U角动量）经向、垂直输送通量及其三个分量（平均经圈环流、定常波、瞬变涡输送通量）的气候特征，特别是讨论了12-2月、6-8月它们与东、西风带、副热带西风急流、极夜急流之间的联系。结果表明：（1）包含纬度因子的角动量通量与动量通量在高纬地区存在显著差别，高纬对流层上部的强动量输送中心在角动量通量中不明显。而U角动量强经向输送主要在中低纬对流层顶附近和冬半球高纬平流层项附近，副热带西风急流和极夜西风急流均位于“角动量强向极输送中心及其高纬一侧的辐合区中。（2）发现三个输送分量对急流维持的作用随纬度、季节不同。北半球冬季（夏季）的副热带西风急流主要由平均经圈环流（强度相当的定常波和瞬变涡）强经向输送及辐合维持；南半球西风急流全年均由平均经圈环流和瞬变涡旋输送及辐合维持；冬半球中平流层极夜急流主要由定常波、瞬变涡旋输送及其辐合共同维持。（3）热带东风区是牵连角动量（即Q角动量）的高值区，它主要由平均经圈环流向对流层上部输送；冬半球副热带及中纬西风区存在“角动量垂直输送的切变区，它主要由平均经圈环流和瞬变涡旋完成；热带对流层顶附近有”角动量的定常波弱向下输送。

多模式对美国中部草原大气边界层模拟的对比分析

利用DICE试验的4个大气模式(UM、GEM、LMD和WRF)模拟结果,结合探空资料,对比分析了不同模式对1999年10月23—26日美国中部草原白天对流边界层和夜间稳定边界层的模拟效果。结果表明:对于白天对流边界层,不同模式之间存在明显差异,这与各自的边界层参数化方案密切相关。其中,UM和LMD模式中,边界层和自由大气之间强的卷夹作用导致了偏强的湍流混合,进而使模拟的混合层高度高于观测值;GEM模式模拟的白天湍流混合偏弱,边界层为不稳定的大气层结,且模拟的风速在边界层中随高度基本呈递增趋势,但与观测值差异较大;所有模式中WRF模式模拟效果最佳,成功模拟出24日边界层与自由大气之间的水汽干层和低风速区。对于夜间稳定边界层,不同模式之间差异较小。其中,UM和GEM模式模拟的24、25日夜间低空急流偏弱,而LMD和WRF模式模拟的夜间低空急流更接近实况。

鞍山市一次冻雨天气过程分析(英文)

Based on MICAPS(Meteorological Information Combine Analysis and Process System) and observational data in Anshan Observatory,the freezing rain event occurred rarely in Anshan on February 24 in 2010 was analyzed.The results showed that there existed the inversion layer from the ground to 850 hpa level even to 700 hPa level when the local surface temperature was below 0 ℃.The temperature stratification structure of coldness-warmth-coldness was prevailing from the upper level to the ground with the existence of the ice melting layer of a certain thickness.Thus the freezing event occurred in Anshan.