The Clouds Microstructure and the Rain Stimulation by Acoustic Waves

A simplified model of clouds' microstructure dynamics under turbulent conditions is presented. The nature of rain stimulation by acoustic waves, based on the drops injection in the region of turbulent coagulation, is de-scribed. The conditions for effective rain stimulating are estimated.

Comparative Analysis on the Rainfall and Snowfall Weather with Close Interval Time and the Key Point of Forecast

From the circulation situation,the influence system,the temperature stratification characteristics in middle and low levels,the application of numerical forecast products and so on,the rainfall and snowfall weather processes with shorter interval time in February of 2009 were contrasted and analyzed.The results showed that it not only needed analyze in detail the vertical distribution situation of temperature,but also needed exactly forecast the invasion time of cold air and the decline speed of temperature to judge the precipitation form in winter was the rain or the snow.Particularly,the temperature threshold in high-low level which coordinated with the boundary of rain and snow was the key point of rain and snow forecast.Before the precipitation,different temperatures in high-altitude and on the ground were main causes of different precipitation natures.

Simulation of a Freezing Rain and Snow Storm Event over Southern China in January 2008 Using RIEMS 2.0

The Regional Integrated Environmental Model System （RIEMS 2.0） with NCEP Reanalysis II is utilized to simulate the severe freezing rain and snow storm event over southern China in January 2008, which caused severe damage in the region. The relationships between the freezing rain process and the large-scale cir- culation, in terms of the westerly and low-level jets, water vapor transportation, and northerly wind area/intensity indices, were analyzed to tmderstand the mechanisms of the freezing rain occurrence. The results indicate the fol- lowing： （1） RIEMS 2.0 reproduced the pattern of precipi- tation in January 2008 well, especially for the temporal evolution of daily precipitation averaged over the Yangtze River valley and southern China; （2） RIEMS 2.0 repro- duced the persistent trough in the South Branch of the westerlies, of which the southwesterly currents trans- ported abundant moisture into southern China; （3） RIEMS 2.0 reasonably reproduced the pattern of frequencies of light and moderate rain, although it overestimated the frequency of rain in southern China. This study shows that RIEMS 2.0 can be feasibly applied to study extreme weather and climate events in East Asia.

POSSIBLE IMPACTS OF MADDEN–JULIAN OSCILLATION ON THE SEVERE RAIN-SNOW WEATHER IN CHINA DURING NOVEMBER 2009

Possible relationships between MJO and the severe rain-snow weather in Eastern China during November of 2009 are analyzed and results show that a strong MJO process is one of the strong impact factors.MJO is very active over the Indian Ocean in November 2009.Especially,it maintains 9 days in MJO phase 3,just corresponding to the two strongest rain-snow processes.Composites of MJO events show that when the MJO convective center is located over the Indian Ocean,the probability of rainfall is significantly increased and the temperature is lower than normal in eastern China,which is consistent with the situation in November of 2009.Atmospheric circulation anomalies of mid-and higher-latitudes can be influenced by the tropical MJO convection forcing and this influence could be realized by teleconnection.When the MJO is over the Indian Ocean,it is favorable for the maintenance of a circulation pattern of two ridges versus one trough at mid-and higher-latitudes.Meanwhile,the western Pacific subtropical high is stronger and more westward than normal,and a significant convective belt appears over eastern East Asia.All these circulation anomalies shown in the composite result also appeared in the observations in November 2009,which indicates the general features of relationships between the MJO and the circulation anomalies over the extratropics.Besides the zonal circulation anomalies,the MJO convection can also lead to meridional circulation anomalies.When the MJO convection is located over the Indian Ocean,the western Pacific is dominated by anomalous descending motion,and the eastern East Asia is controlled by strong convergence and ascending motion.Therefore,an anomalous meridional circulation is formed between the tropics and middle latitudes,enhancing the northward transportation of low-level moisture.It is potentially helpful to understanding and even forecasting such kind of rain-snow weather anomalies as that in November 2009 using MJO.

THE FEATURES OF EAST ASIAN JET STREAM IN PERSISTENT SNOWSTORM AND FREEZING RAIN PROCESSES OVER SOUTHERN CHINA IN EARLY 2008

Based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research(NCEP/NCAR) daily reanalysis data and the upper-level objective analysis data provided by the Meteorological Information Comprehensive Analysis and Process System(MICAPS),the feature of the spatio-temporal variation of the East Asian jet stream(EAJS) in persistent snowstorm and freezing rain processes over southern China in January 2008 have been investigated.Each of the storm events was closely linked with the extraordinarily abnormal variations of East Asian subtropical jet(EASJ) and East Asian polar front jet(EAPJ) at that time.The stronger EASJ with abnormally northward position of the jet axis corresponded to the more intense storm event with broader ranges and longer duration time.The heavy freezing-rain-and-snow event occurred over the region where a strong southerly wind of EASJ prevailed.Meanwhile,the westerly and northerly winds of the EAPJ were significantly intensified,which were also closely related to the beginning,enhancement,and ending of the heavy snowfall.The meridional component of the EAPJ was dominated by the northerly wind during the snowstorm.Thus,the intensification of the snowstorm was attributed to both the strengthening of the meridional wind of EAPJ and the southerly wind of EASJ.Further analysis indicated that wind speed and the zonal wind of the two jets exhibited precursory signals about half a month prior to this extreme event,and the precursory signals were found in the meridional components of the two jets about 20 days preceding the event.The sudden weakening of the meridional component of EASJ and the zonal component of EAPJ signified the ending of this persistent snowstorm.

Test of newly developed conceptual hydrological model for simulation of rain-on-snow events in forested watershed

A conceptual hydrological model that links the Xin＇anjiang hydrological model and a physically based snow energy and mass balance model, described as the XINSNOBAL model, was developed in this study for simulating rain-on-snow events that commonly occur in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The resultant model was applied to the Lookout Creek Watershed in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the western Cascade Mountains of Oregon, and its ability to simulate streamflow was evaluated. The simulation was conducted at 24-hour and one-hour time scales for the period of 1996 to 2005. The results indicated that runoffand peak discharge could be underestimated if snowpack accumulation and snowmelt under rain-on-snow conditions were not taken into account. The average deterministic coefficient of the hourly model in streamflow simulation in the calibration stage was 0.837, which was significantly improved over the value of 0.762 when the Xin＇anjiang model was used alone. Good simulation performance of the XINSNOBAL model in the WS 10 catchment, using the calibrated parameter of the Lookout Creek Watershed for proxy-basin testing, demonstrates that transplanting model parameters between similar watersheds can orovide a useful tool for discharge forecastin~, in un^au^ed basins.

The Effects of Power Control on Free-Space Optical Communications during Snowfall and Rainfall

Free-space optical (FSO) communication requires a line-of-sight connection between a transmitter and a receiver in which the information signal is modulated by an optical carrier that propagates in free space. The FSO channel is greatly affected by weather conditions such as fog, rain, and snow. In the literature, several adaptive techniques, such as power control (PC), have been suggested to mitigate channel link degradations. In this paper, we investigate the effects of snow and rain attenuation on the bit error rate (BER) of the FSO system using two types of modulations, the on-off keying (OOK) modulation and the pulse-position modulation (16-PPM). The effect of PC on the performance of FSO communications is also examined in this study. We evaluated the system’s performance with two types of snow, wet snow and dry snow, as well as with different rain regions. Results show that PC improves the BER of the FSO system;a high rate of improvement is found for wet snow and rain. PC has almost no effect with dry snow because of the high attenuation and the limitations on transmitted power. The BER for 16-PPM is better than that for OOK modulation.

The Utility of 1000 - 500 mb Thickness and Weather Type as a Rain-Snow Divide: A 30-Year Study at Albany, NY

Winter synoptic conditions that produce snowfall with bitterly cold temperatures create both social and economic hazards in the capital city of Albany, NY. Sometimes these systems are forecasted in error to produce rain or mixed precipitation. It is beneficial for meteorologists to better understand the commonly used 5400 and 1300 GPM line to better forecast rain versus snow events. Other studies have looked into the use of the 5400 GPM (540 dm) line but none have assessed the validity of this boundary with respect to weather type characterization at Albany. This study aims to determine the reliability of the widely referenced guides for depicting the rain-snow line, and improve forecast aids for the vertical atmosphere during winter precipitation events. The mean daily 500, 850, 925 and 1000 mb heights and weather type frequency of the Spatial Synoptic Classification between November and March of 1980 - 2012 are analyzed. Results indicate that the standard vertical boundaries are inaccurate indicators of a rain versus snow event in Albany. More reasonable rain-snow cut offs for the 1000 - 500 and 1000 - 850 mb thicknesses are 5222 and 1262 GPM. For the 1000 - 925 mb level, 606 GPM is a helpful aid of identifying the rain-snow boundary. Further scrutinizing by weather type indicates that the rain-snow boundary also varies depending on what air mass/weather type is present on a given day. For instance, when the most prominent weather type is observed over Albany (Dry Polar), at the 1000 - 850 mb and 1000 - 500 mb layers, a boundary of 1242 GPM and 5152 GPM is found to be most representative. Results indicate only for the rarest of winter weather types observed over Albany, Moist Tropical, are the standard cut offs useful. Determining the reliability of this precipitation indicator at a specific station, like Albany, could enable meteorologists in other regions of the country to draw parallels between weather type, precipitation, and thickness in their forecast zones.

湖北省持续低温雨雪过程评估与分析

气候变化背景下,极端持续低温雨雪过程时有发生,给社会生活带来诸多不利影响,为了进一步评估持续低温雨雪天气,对湖北省单站持续低温雨雪过程的评估指标进行了修订,同时建立区域性持续低温雨雪过程评估模型,并将修订后的评估指标应用于湖北省单站及区域性持续低温雨雪过程的梳理及分析。结果表明:(1)湖北省最严重的5次区域性持续低温雨雪过程分别出现在1954、1969、1977、1984和2008年,最严重的是1954年12月24日-1955年1月18日的过程,其次是2008年1月12日-2008年2月5日的过程。(2)湖北省区域性持续低温雨雪过程的易发区主要集中在鄂西的高山或半高山地区、江汉平原荆州一带、汉江河谷一带、鄂东南南部低山平原地区以及鄂东北山脉的缺口处。(3)气候变暖的背景下,湖北省单站和区域性持续低温雨雪过程均是在20世纪80年代前发生次数多,90年代后属于减少的阶段,但其强度更趋极端。

2024年2月17—23日中国大范围强寒潮雨雪冰冻强对流过程涉及的若干问题

2024年2月中下旬我国出现一次多灾种高影响天气过程。这是一次几十年一遇的过程,出现了大范围强寒潮雨雪冰冻天气并伴随强对流发生,涉及到强寒潮、沙尘、降雨、降雪、冻雨,以及强对流和伴随的大冰雹和雷暴大风,多种高影响天气在一次过程中都有所呈现,其过程之复杂异常罕见。本文针对此次过程中值得深入探讨的问题、高影响天气发生发展可能机理、相应的预报挑战等进行简要梳理,为后续对此次过程的细致和深入分析研究做一个引子。

我国南方西南和中东部区域两次持续性低温雨雪过程与关键环流系统的关系研究

利用NCEP再分析资料和国家气象信息中心提供的753站逐日气温和降水资料,对比分析了我国南方西南和中东部区域两次持续10 d以上的低温雨雪过程,结果表明:(1)两次过程中欧亚大陆中高纬东亚大槽均加深,但环流形势有差异。西南过程呈现"北高南低"形势,关键脊区在贝加尔湖,而中东部区域过程"北高南低"和"西高东低"形势共存,关键脊区从乌拉尔山延伸至贝加尔湖。两次过程异常的环流与北大西洋向东传播的波列有关。(2)西南过程关键脊区提前过程3 d发展并东移至贝加尔湖,形成稳定形势;而中东部区域过程关键脊区提前过程一周发展,在开始日达最强。两次过程均伴随蒙古高压东移南压使地面降温,500 hPa关键脊区超前蒙古高压2 d变化。西南过程降温主要受到冷平流和绝热冷却影响,而中东部区域过程主要受到冷平流的影响。(3)西南过程水汽来自孟加拉湾,只受南支槽支配。中东部区域过程水汽来自孟加拉湾、南海和西太平洋,由南支槽和西太平副热带高压的共同影响。两次过程水汽正收支主要来自南边界。

西南地区一次典型冰冻雨雪复合极端灾害天气事件的环流特征及降水相态差异分析

在全球变暖气候背景下,复合型极端灾害天气事件频发。2008年以来我国南方冬季频发的雨雪冰冻,就是一种典型的复合型致灾极端天气事件。因此,本研究分析了西南地区一次典型大雪冻雨复合天气事件的大雪与冻雨期环流特征及降水相态差异,揭示了二者的关联特征。冻雨发生在贵州境内的云贵准静止锋锋面强斜压环境中,降雪主要发生在四川北部,位于静止锋以北的冷区。降雪区和冻雨区的垂直环流存在显著差异:降雪区以上升运动为主,温度基本随高度递减;冻雨区大气中低层存在逆温层,导致温度层结出现冷—暖—冷的分布,垂直运动呈两层环流模态,低层的上升运动受到中层下沉运动抑制,强上升运动不易发展。借助可综合表征环流特征和水汽相变的广义湿位涡理论,分别诊断大雪和冻雨发生发展时期的广义湿位涡分布特点,发现其斜压项的异常能更好体现准静止锋附近的大气斜压性,也可指示出大雪冻雨降水的落区及变化,可作为大雪冻雨区的动力识别特征量之一。通过气压扰动方程的计算分析,表明向下的扰动气压梯度力与浮力的平衡差异,是降雪与冻雨垂直环流特征差异的主要原因。本研究从环流特征入手开展雨雪冰冻复合极端灾害天气分析,可为复合降水相态预报和发电企业电力运行保障提供参考。

我国南方两次低温雨雪天气成因对比分析

2018年末和2021年末我国南方分别发生了一次大范围的低温雨雪天气,通过对比分析两次低温雨雪天气成因,结果表明:两次过程期间,对流层中层中高纬阻塞流场显著,阻高位于贝加尔湖西侧,脊前偏北气流在下游横槽后部堆积,使得西伯利亚高压强度增强。东传的Rossby波在阻高区域发生能量频散,利于阻高减弱、崩溃,横槽转竖引导槽后冷空气南下,导致地面强烈降温,同时在西伯利亚高压东侧和南侧,低频风温度平流是造成强降温的主要原因。低纬南支槽活跃,向北的暖湿空气与中高纬南下的冷空气汇合,造成我国南方大范围的低温雨雪、冻雨天气。与2018年过程相比,2021年过程持续时间较短,降水范围小,关键区域降温幅度更大,是因为2021年过程期间Rossby波能量频散更快,阻高维持时间较短,冷空气从中高纬地区直接南下侵袭我国,而2018年冷空气在贝加尔湖附近发生堆积、西折,向南渗透时势力减弱。

Analysis of A Heavy Snow Process in Liaoning Province in 2009

Based on the conventional meteorological data and 4 times daily NCEP reanalysis data,the causes of rain changing snowstorm in Liaoning during February 12-13 of 2009 were discussed.The low-level jet conditions,temperature conditions and coupling mechanism of water vapor and dynamics of heavy snow were diagnosed and analyzed.The low-level jet provided abundant water vapor for this process.The convergence at low level,divergence in the upper troposphere and strong ascend movement provided dynamic conditions for the snowstorm.The wedging of cold air was the chief cause of rain changing snow.The strongprecipitation area corresponded to the moist potential vorticity well.

2024年2月我国两次雨雪冰冻过程中闪电活动特征对比分析

2024年1月31日-2月5日和2月18-25日(以下分别简称为"0131"和0218"过程)我国南方遭遇两次雨雪冰冻天气,并伴随密集的闪电发生。利用三维闪电定位数据、CLDAS-V2.0降水产品和Himawari-9号卫星红外云图资料,对比分析两次雨雪冰冻天气背景下的地闪时空分布、地闪回击数和雷电流累计概率分布特征,并研究了地闪与降水量及卫星黑体辐射亮温(TBB)间的关系。结果表明:(1)两次过程中共监测到地闪数13万余次,正、负地闪分别为2万和11万余次;两次过程的地闪均具有夜发性,正地闪较总地闪和负地闪峰值滞后约1~2h。两次过程中正地闪产生大电流的概率大于负地闪。(2)"0131"过程中地闪密度大值区出现在贵州南部及贵州、重庆、湖北三省交界处;"0218"过程中地闪密度大值区出现在湖北东部、江西北部、安徽、江苏和浙江大部。(3)"0131"过程中降水量和地闪的时空分布不一致,降水量峰值集中在白天,降水集中在湖南东南部、江西、安徽和江苏南部、浙江和福建大部;而"0218"过程中降水量和地闪的时空分布较一致,地闪出现的峰值较降水量峰值延迟2h。(4)两次过程中地闪的分布均很好地指示了对流区。地闪主要分布在对流云团发展方向的尾部且偏南处TBB变化梯度大的区域;对流合并会导致合并处地闪频数的跃增;对流发展最旺盛的冷云核心区几乎没有地闪发生。两次过程地闪密度随着TBB的增大呈现先增大后减小的变化特征。

三大洋海温异常对2022年2月中国南方持续低温雨雪的影响

2022年2月,中国南方出现持续低温雨雪天气:区域平均降水量126.6 mm,较多年(1981~2020年)平均偏多99.7%;日最低气温5.1℃,较多年平均偏低2.6℃。分析表明,该地区700 hPa到925 hPa异常强的经向风垂直切变是2月持续低温雨雪期间的关键环流特征。经向风垂直切变与三大洋的海温异常均有联系:在赤道中东太平洋海温偏冷的背景下,热带西太平洋和北太平洋中部海温偏暖可导致东亚槽加深和对流层低层到近地面出现偏北风异常;北大西洋中部海温偏暖可通过西欧—东亚沿岸的北支Rossby波列加强乌拉尔山高压脊和东亚槽,使得西伯利亚高压和中国南方低层偏北风增强;东南印度洋海温偏暖有利于南支槽加深和西北太平洋异常反气旋加强,对流层中层偏南风加强。海温对环流的影响有明显的季内变化,北太平洋中部和北大西洋中部海温与西伯利亚高压仅在2月显著相关,有利于2月气温偏低;东南印度洋海温与1月和2月的南支槽显著相关,与2月西北太平洋异常反气旋显著相关,中国南方地区降水从1月中旬起增多可能与该海域海温持续偏暖有关。因此,上述三个海区的海温异常可能与2021/2022年冬季暖干到冷湿的季内转折以及2022年2月持续低温雨雪有关。

2024年2月大气环流和天气分析

2024年2月北半球大气环流主要特征表现为极涡呈偶极型,东半球极涡中心位于鄂霍次克海到勘察加半岛上空,较常年同期偏强,影响我国的冷空气路径偏东;中纬度环流呈三波型,位于西伯利亚的平均槽较常年偏强,西风带短波槽活动频繁;南支槽位置偏东,西太平洋副热带高压显著偏强。2月全国平均气温为-1.8℃,较常年同期(-1.3℃)偏低0.5℃;平均降水量为22.5 mm,较常年同期(16.3 mm)偏多38%。月内有3次主要冷空气过程,其中2月17—22日强寒潮造成剧烈降温和显著低温。受南下冷空气和强盛的西南暖湿气流共同影响,月内出现2次大范围持续性低温雨雪冰冻天气过程,冻雨强度大、范围广,降水量具有极端性,对春运造成严重影响。此外,2月还出现了年度首次沙尘和强对流天气过程。

冷季不同锢囚类型温带气旋强降水过程统计分析

利用2006-2021年常规观测和风云卫星云顶黑体亮温(TBB)资料,结合欧洲中期天气预报中心(European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts,ECMWF)0.25°×0.25°的ERA5再分析资料,对冷季影响华北和东北地区北上类温带气旋强降水过程进行了统计分析。结果表明:(1)温带气旋爆发性发展过程中大多数有锢囚锋形成,但发展过程有所不同,Shapiro-Keyser(以下简称SK型)和经典的挪威(以下简称NW型)气旋发展过程各占一半,SK型气旋500hPa上为一深槽,斜压性强,引导气流为东北偏北气流,导致气旋路径偏西,造成的降水更偏北、范围更广;NW型气旋500hPa上为一浅槽,槽后冷平流弱,引导气流为东北偏东气流,导致气旋路径偏东,降水偏南,强度更强。(2)NW型气旋的大气河强于SK型气旋,相应的强降水范围更大、强度更强;随着气旋发展,SK型气旋大气河北侧有明显的后弯特征,导致SK型气旋的暖锋降水中心位于气旋西北象限,而NW型气旋暖锋降水中心位于气旋中心附近。(3)SK型气旋西北侧的暖锋锋生明显强于NW型,气旋锋生强迫产生的强上升运动,有利于强降雪。(4)SK型气旋300 hPa上存在高音符形状的强位涡块,NW型气旋高层块状位涡较弱。SK型气旋上空平流层位涡下传与低层高位涡连通形成位涡塔,其附近有深厚暖式锢囚结构;而NW型气旋高层位涡下伸不明显,没有位涡塔生成,SK型气旋首先在对流层中低层发展,然后发展到地面,而NW型气旋是从对流层低层发展起来。

暖干背景下的河南春季极端雨雪天气成因分析

过渡季节的春季极端雨雪天气一直以来都是预报中的难点。利用常规地面观测、探空、多普勒天气雷达等观测资料和ERA5再分析数据,对2023年3月16日发生在河南省的一次极端雨雪天气成因进行了分析,重点关注了其极端降水及复杂雨雪相态转换成因。主要结论如下:此次过程是一次发生在暖干背景下,由高空槽东移配合低涡切变线北抬造成的极端雨雪天气,具有转折性强、降雪强度大、强降雪时段长等特点,降雪时地面气温始终维持在0℃附近,雨雪相态转换复杂;异常偏强的极端动力强迫是此次过程小时降水强度大的重要因素,这与对流层低层异常偏强的低空急流所伴随的热、动力强迫有关。另外,条件对称不稳定也在一定程度上加剧了其垂直上升运动的发展,低涡移动缓慢、回波系统走向与移向夹角较小是其降水持续较长时间的关键;过程前期气温异常偏高,15日冷空气降温为雨雪相态转换提供了可能,但河南省中、东部边界层气温仍未达到雨转雪标准,过程开始阶段对流层低层存在明显干层,与此相伴随的由降水粒子蒸发等相变过程造成的降温,是其雨转雪的重要降温机制,干层的存在及降水的持续发展,成为边界层气温能否降到0℃附近的关键,大气趋于饱和之后,固态降水粒子的融化降温在降雪相态维持中也起到了十分重要的作用。

环境湿度影响人工催化消减雨效果的数值模拟研究

利用耦合了碘化银催化过程的WRF(Weather Research and Forecast)模式,对2014年8月16日南京青奥会开幕式当天实施的人工催化作业开展数值模拟,评估催化效果并通过敏感性数值试验调查低空环境干层对催化效果的影响。结果表明,催化作业产生了减雨效果,低空干区的存在是影响催化效果的关键。当低空存在深厚的相对湿度很小的干层时,催化导致减雨效果;当增加低层的相对湿度即弱化低空干层,催化减雨效果减弱甚至出现增雨效果。催化增强了雪的形成过程但减弱了雪的增长过程尤其是凝华增长,导致雪粒子浓度增加但粒径减小,融化产生更多的小雨滴增强了蒸发过程,最终导致地面降水减少。