Large-Scale Weather Systems: A Future Research Priority

A brief assessment is provided of both the case against and the case for assigning priority to research on large-scale weather systems （LSWS）. The three-fold case against is based upon： the emergence of new overarching themes in environmental science; the fresh emphasis upon other sub-disciplines of the atmospheric science; and the mature state of research and prediction of LSWS. The case for is also supported by three arguments. First is the assertion that LSWS research should not merely be an integral but a major component of future research related to both the new overarching themes and the other sub-disciplines. Second recent major developments in LSWS research, as epitomized by the paradigm shifts in the prediction strategy for LSWS and the emergence of the potential vorticity perspective, testify to the theme＇s on-going vibrancy. Third the field＇s future development, as exemplified by the new international THORPEX （The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment） programme, embodies a perceptive dovetailing of intellectually challenging fundamental research with directed application（s） of societal and economic benefit. It is thus inferred that LSWS research, far from being in demise, will feature at the forefront of the new relationship between science and society.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL CYCLONES ACTIVITIES VARYING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDS OF MID-AND LOWER-LATITUDES

Using historical data from 1951 to 1996, this paper makes statistical study and elaborate comparisons of tropical cyclone (TC) activity in middle and low latitudes. Some useful results have been achieved. For example, about 65% (90% in May) of the low-latitude tropical cyclones can move north into middle latitudes; TCs in middle latitudes move by about 60 more to the east and 10 km/h faster than in low latitudes; about 60% of the TCs dissipate in middle latitudes; the mean intensity is the maximum near the line dividing the middle and low latitude systems. The work paves the way for more work on revealing characteristics of interactions between middle and low latitude circulation systems.

Reliability of X-band Dual-polarization Phased Array Radars Through Comparison with an S-band Dual-polarization Doppler Radar

Based on the observations of a squall line on 11 May 2020 and stratiform precipitation on 6 June 2020 from two X-band dual-polarization phased array weather radars(DP-PAWRs)and an S-band dual-polarization Doppler weather radar(CINRAD/SA-D),the data reliability of DP-PAWR and its ability to detect the fine structures of mesoscale weather systems were assessed.After location matching,the observations of DP-PAWR and CINRAD/SA-D were compared in terms of reflectivity(Z_(H)),radial velocity(V),differential reflectivity(Z_(DR)),and specific differential phase(K_(DP)).The results showed that:(1)DP-PAWR has better ability to detect mesoscale weather systems than CINRAD/SAD;the multi-elevation-angles scanning of the RHI mode enables DP-PAWR to obtain a wider detection range in the vertical direction.(2)DP-PAWR’s Z_(H)and V structures are acceptable,while its sensitivity is worse than that of CINRAD/SA-D.The Z H suffers from attenuation and the Z_(H)area distribution is distorted around strong rainfall regions.(3)DP-PAWR’s Z_(DR)is close to a normal distribution but slightly smaller than that of CINRAD/SA-D.The K_(DP)products of DP-PAWR have much higher sensitivity,showing a better indication of precipitation.(4)DP-PAWR is capable of revealing a detailed and complete structure of the evolution of the whole storm and the characteristics of particle phase variations during the process of triggering and enhancement of a small cell in the front of a squall line,as well as the merging of the cell with the squall line,which cannot be observed by CINRAD/SA-D.With its fast volume scan feature and dual-polarization detection capability,DP-PAWR shows great potential in further understanding the development and evolution mechanisms of meso-γ-scale and microscale weather systems.

Advances in Atmospheric Sciences:A featured journal from Essential Science Indicators

In May 2008, ScienceWatch.com named Advances in Atmospheric Sciences a Rising Star among Geosciences journals. According to Essential Science IndicatorsSM from Thomson Reuters, the journal＇s cur-rent citation record includes 764 papers cited a total of 1,658 times between January 1, 1998 and February 29 2008.

On the Development of Meso-Scale Heavy Rain Parcels in China

Heavy rains occur in China frequently, which often bring us floods and serious disasters in the summer half-year. The meso-scale heavy rain parcels (MHRP) in the mid-latitude are usually developed in following cases:I.By the approaching, meeting and / or overlapping of different weather systems, when two or more different rainfall systems are getting to conjugate, some MHRPs could be developed, such as: 1) a new cold/warm front or squall line approaches an old front or squall, even when the old one is somewhat decrepit; 2) at the places where two or more synoptic systems with different characteristics are meeting together, such as the meeting of tropical cyclone with the cold airs coming from the mid- and / or high-latitudes, or the low latitude vortex meeting with the westerly trough; 3) at the intersections of some different weather systems, such as the intersection of drylines, squall lines or fronts moving from different directions; and 4) by the overlapping of rainfall parcels produced continuously from a meso-generation centre.II.Resonance Effect and Tibetan Plateau Influence are two reasons why high frequency of heavy and torrential rains arround the meiyu front is discussed also.

The Persistent Heavy Rainfall over Southern China in June 2010:Evolution of Synoptic Systems and the Effects of the Tibetan Plateau Heating

This study investigates influencing weather systems for and the effect of Tibetan Plateau （TP）’s surface heating on the heavy rainfall over southern China in June 2010, focusing on the four persistent heavy rainfall events during 14-24 June 2010. The ma jor weather systems include the South Asian high, midlatitude trough and ridge, western Pacific subtropical high in the middle troposphere, and shear lines and eastward-moving vortices in the lower troposphere. An ensemble of convection-permitting simulations （CTL） is carried out with the WRF model for these rainfall events, which successfully reproduce the observed evolution of precipitation and weather systems. Another ensemble of simulations （SEN） with the surface albedo over the TP and its southern slope changed artificially to one, i.e., the surface does not absorb any solar heating, otherwise it is identical to CTL, is also performed. Comparison between CTL and SEN suggests that the surface sensible heating of TP in CTL significantly affects the temperature distributions over the plateau and its surroundings, and the thermal wind adjustment consequently changes atmospheric circulations and properties of the synoptic systems, leading to intensified precipitation over southern China. Specifically, at 200 hPa, anticyclonic and cyclonic anomalies form over the western and eastern plateau, respectively, which enhances the southward cold air intrusion along the eastern TP and the divergence over southern China;at 500 hPa, the ridge over the northern plateau and the trough over eastern China are strengthened, the southwesterly flows along the northwestern side of the subtropical high are intensified, and the positive vorticity propagation from the plateau to its downstream is also enhanced significantly;at 850 hPa, the low-pressure vortices strongly develop and move eastward while the southwesterly low-level jet over southern China strengthens in CTL, leading to increased water vapor convergence and upward motion over the precipitation region.

Weather Information Acquisition and Health Significance during Extreme Cold Weather in a Subtropical City:A Crosssectional Survey in Hong Kong

Health and disaster risk reduction are important and necessary components in building a smart city,especially when climate change may increase the frequency of extreme temperatures and the health risks of urban dwellers.However,limited knowledge is available about the best way to disseminate weather warnings and health protection information.This study explores the weather information acquisition patterns of the Hong Kong public and examines the sociodemographic predictors of these patterns to establish the potential public health implications of smart city development.A population-based,stratified crosssectional,random digit dialing telephone survey was conducted among the Cantonese-speaking population aged over 15 years in Hong Kong in early 2016.Analyses were conducted based on 1017 valid samples,with a response rate of 63.6%.Cold Weather Warnings were well disseminated in Hong Kong,with 95.7% of the respondents reporting awareness of the public warnings.Television and smartphone apps were the two most important channels for weather information acquisition.Age and education level are the main social-demographic variables associated with the current utilization and future preference of smartphone technology.Among those who were not using a preferredchannel to acquire weather information,61.3% considered switching to a smartphone app.Moreover,the patterns of individual health protection measures and self-reported health impacts were significantly different between smartphone app users and non-users.Weather information dissemination should be tailored to the sociodemographic characteristics of the users.