Comparative Analysis of the Generalized Omega Equation and Generalized Vertical Motion Equation

Research on vertical motion in mesoscale systems is an extraordinarily challenging effort.Allowing for fewer assumptions,a new form of generalized vertical motion equation and a generalized Omega equation are derived in the Cartesian coordinate system(nonhydrostatic equilibrium)and the isobaric coordinate system(hydrostatic equilibrium),respectively.The terms on the right-hand side of the equations,which comprise the Q vector,are composed of three factors:dynamic,thermodynamic,and mass.A heavy rain event that occurred from 18 to 19 July 2021 in southern Xinjiang was selected to analyze the characteristics of the diagnostic variable in the generalized vertical motion equation(Qz)and the diagnostic variable in the generalized Omega equation(Qp)using high-resolution model data.The results show that the horizontal distribution of the Qz-vector divergence at 5.5 km is roughly similar to the distribution of the Qp-vector divergence at 500 hPa,and that both relate well to the composite radar reflectivity,vertical motion,and hourly accumulated precipitation.The Qz-vector divergence is more effective in indicating weak precipitation.In vertical cross sections,regions with alternating positive and negative large values that match the precipitation are mainly concentrated in the middle levels for both forms of Q vectors.The temporal evolutions of vertically integrated Qz-vector divergence and Qp-vector divergence are generally similar.Both perform better than the classical quasigeostrophic Q vector and nongeostrophic Q vector in indicating the development of the precipitation system.

Influence of mesoscale eddies on primary production in the South China Sea during spring inter-monsoon period

Mesoscale eddies have been suggested to have an impact on biological carbon fixation in the South China Sea （SCS）. However, their overall contribution to primary production during the spring inter-monsoon pe riod is still unknown. Based on large-scale biological and environmental in situ observations and synchro nous remote sensing data, the distribution patterns of phytoplankton biomass and the primary production, and the role of mesoscale eddies in regulating primary production in different eddy-controlled waters were investigated. The results suggested that the surface chlorophyll a concentrations and water column inte grated primary production （IPP） are significantly higher in cyclonic eddies and lower in the anticyclonic eddies as compared to that in non-eddy waters. Although eddies could affect various environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light availability, nutrient supply is suggested to be the most important one through which mesoscale eddies regulated the distribution patterns of phytoplankton biomass and pri mary production. The estimated IPP in cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies are about 29.5% higher and 16.6% lower than the total average in the whole study area, respectively, indicating that the promotion effect of mesoscale cold eddies on the primary production was much stronger than the inhibition effect of the warm eddies per unit area. Overall, mesoscale eddies are crucial physical processes that affect the biological car bon fixation and the distribution pattern of primary production in the SCS open sea, especially during the spring inter-monsoon period.