Formation of intrathermocline eddies at ocean fronts by wind-driven destruction of potential vorticity     

Leif N. Thomas   《Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans》2008,45(3-4):252

A mechanism for the generation of intrathermocline eddies (ITEs) at wind-forced fronts is examined using a high resolution numerical simulation. Favorable conditions for ITE formation result at fronts forced by “down-front” winds, i.e. winds blowing in the direction of the frontal jet. Down-front winds exert frictional forces that reduce the potential vorticity (PV) within the surface boundary in the frontal outcrop, providing a source for the low-PV water that is the materia prima of ITEs. Meandering of the front drives vertical motions that subduct the low-PV water into the pycnocline, pooling it into the coherent anticyclonic vortex of a submesoscale ITE. As the fluid is subducted along the outcropping frontal isopycnal, the low-PV water, which at the surface is associated with strongly baroclinic flow, re-expresses itself as water with nearly zero absolute vorticity. This generation of strong anticyclonic vorticity results from the tilting of the horizontal vorticity of the frontal jet, not from vortex squashing. During the formation of the ITE, high-PV water from the pycnocline is upwelled alongside the subducting low-PV surface water. The positive correlation between the ITE’s velocity and PV fields results in an upward, along-isopycnal eddy PV flux that scales with the surface frictional PV flux driven by the wind. The relationship between the eddy and wind-induced frictional PV flux is nonlocal in time, as the eddy PV flux persists long after the wind forcing is shut off. The ITE’s PV flux affects the large-scale flow by driving an eddy-induced transport or bolus velocity down the outcropping isopycnal layer with a magnitude that scales with the Ekman velocity.  相似文献   

A Case Study on a Quasi-Stationary Meiyu Front Bringing About Continuous Rainstorms with Piecewise Potential Vorticity Inversion          下载免费PDF全文

ZHAO Yuchun  LI Zechun  XIAO Ziniu 《Acta Meteorologica Sinica》2008,22(2):202-223

A 4-day persistent rainstorm resulting in serious flooding disasters occurred in the north of Fujian Province under the influences of a quasi-stationary Meiyu front during 5-8 June 2006. With 1°× 1° latitude and longitude NCEP reanalysis data and the ground surface rainfall, using the potential vorticity （PV） analysis and PV inversion method, the evolution of main synoptic systems, and the corresponding PV and PV perturbation （or PV anomalies） and their relationship with heavy rainfall along the Meiyu front are analyzed in order to investigate the physical mechanism of the formation, development, and maintenance of the Meiyu front. Furthermore, the PV perturbations related to different physics are separated to investigate their different roles in the formation and development of the Meiyu front. The results show： the formation and persistence of the Meiyu front in a quasi-WE orientation are mainly due to the maintenance of the high-pressure systems in its south/north sides （the West Pacific subtropical high/ the high pressure band extending from the Korean Peninsula to east of North China）. The Meiyu front is closely associated with the PV in the lower troposphere. The location of the positive PV perturbation on the Meiyu front matches well with the main heavy rainfall area along the Meiyu front. The PV inversion reveals that the balanced winds satisfying the nonlinear balanced assumption represent to a large extent the real atmospheric flow and its evolution basically reflects the variation of stream flow associated with the Meiyu front. The unbalanced flow forms the convergence band of the Meiyu front and it mainly comes from the high-pressure system in the north side of the Meiyu front. The positive PV perturbation related to latent heat release in the middle-lower troposphere is one of the main factors influencing the formation and development of the Meiyu front. The positive vorticity band from the total balanced winds is in accordance with the Meiyu front band and the magnitude of the posit  相似文献   

A Diagnostic and Numerical Study on a Rainstorm in South China Induced by a Northward-Propagating Tropical System   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1       下载免费PDF全文

ZHAO Yuchun  LI Zechun  XIAO Ziniu 《Acta Meteorologica Sinica》2008,22(3):284-302

A strong cyclonic wind perturbation generated in the northern South China Sea （SCS） moved northward quickly and developed into a mesoscale vortex in southwest Guangdong Province, and then merged with a southward-moving shear line from mid latitudes in the period of 21-22 May 2006, during which three strong mesoscale convective systems （MCSs） formed and brought about torrential rain or even cloudburst in South China. With the 1° ×1° NCEP （National Centers for Environment Prediction） reanalysis data and the Weather and Research Forecast （WRF） mesoscale model, a numerical simulation, a potential vorticity inversion analysis, and some sensitivity experiments are carried out to reveal the formation mechanism of this rainfall event. In the meantime, conventional observations, satellite images, and the WRF model outputs are also utilized to perform a preliminary dynamic and thermodynamic diagnostic analysis of the rainstorm systems. It is found that the torrential rain occurred in favorable synoptic conditions such as warm and moist environment, low lifting condensation level, and high convective instability. The moisture transport by strong southerly winds associated with the rapid northward advance of the cyclonic wind perturbation over the northern SCS provided the warm and moist condition for the formation of the excessive rain. Under the dynamic steering of a southwesterly flow ahead of a north trough and that on the southwest side of the West Pacific subtropical high, the mesoscale vortex （or the cyclonic wind perturbation）, after its genesis, moved northward and brought about enormous rain in most parts of Guangdong Province through providing certain lifting forcing for the triggering of mesoscale convection. During the development of the mesoscale vortex, heavy rainfall was to a certain extent enhanced by the mesoscale topography of the Yunwu Mountain in Guangdong. The effect of the Yunwu Mountain is found to vary under different prevailing wind directions and intensities. The location o  相似文献   

沙澧河流域两场大暴雨过程的对比分析   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

胡燕平  田秀霞  赵规划  单铁良  程锦霞  王颖  董羽仑  惠付梅 《气象》2008,34(8):95-103

利用常规观测资料、自动站资料和NCEP1°×1°再分析资料对2007年7月5日和14日沙澧河流域两场大暴雨过程进行了诊断对比分析.结果表明:不同影响系统下产生的大暴雨过程其动力机制有所差异.垂直螺旋度计算结果显示:两次过程700hPa等压面上正垂直螺旋度中心的移向和强度变化与降水落区及趋势变化有很好的对应关系,暴雨区出现在正垂直螺旋度中心移动的前方,对流域大暴雨的落区有一定的指示意义.5日呈现中低层正、高层负的垂直螺旋度配置,动力条件更有利于大暴雨的发生.湿位涡演变分析发现,5日中低层既存在对流不稳定,又存在对称不稳定,有利于垂直对流和倾斜对流发生,造成流域大暴雨.14日中低层大气处于对流稳定状态,但边界层和中层存在对流不稳定,同时中层还存在较强的对称不稳定,垂直涡度得到较大增长,导致上升运动的加强和水汽的垂直输送,有利于降水增幅.  相似文献   

一次无地面冷空气触发的西南涡特大暴雨分析   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

王中  白莹莹  杜钦  李东川 《气象》2008,34(12):63-71

利用NCEP 1°×1°的再分析资料对2007年7月17日重庆西部的特大暴雨天气过程的环流背景、主要影响系统--西南涡的演变进行诊断分析.结果表明:(1)在有利的大尺度环流背景配合下,产生此次过程的主要影响系统为西南涡和低空急流,副热带高压的西进北抬为水汽的输送提供了有利的条件;(2)最强降水时段出现在西南涡的最强盛期,垂直螺旋度的大值中心位置和强弱变化与低涡及强降雨的位置和强度有很好的对应关系;(3)在此次过程中虽然无地面冷空气的触发,但由于高层较强的冷平流形成的干冷盖和低层的暖湿气流与强烈的上升运动的极佳配合,使得强对流天气得以发生,高层的干侵入成为此次过程的触发动力;(4)西南低涡上空的不同高度上不同强度的干侵入效应,使得高层高位涡下传,而高层高位涡区的下传和中低层高位涡区的加强,导致西南低涡的气旋性环流加强,降水增强.  相似文献   

“海棠”台风(2005)暴雨过程数值模拟及位涡分析   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

郭煜  寿绍文  岳彩军 《气象与减灾研究》2010,33(2):26-34

采用WRF模式对2005年"海棠"台风登陆福建省前后24h内所造成的降水过程进行了数值模拟,在此基础上,利用模式输出结果,借助位涡理论分析位涡与台风低压流场及降水的关系,并结合对风场、相当位温、相对湿度等诊断量的分布特征分析,探讨了台风强降水的发展和维持机制。结果表明,310K等熵面上高位涡发展演变较好反映了台风低压系统路径移动以及强度变化的过程。暴雨中心主要出现在位涡大值区及其偏东北方向,且位涡气块回旋少动,与暴雨的发展维持密切相关。高位涡区主要位于等熵面坡度和梯度最大处,当等熵面上下贯通,对流层高层的高位涡沿等熵面下传,形成位涡柱时,有利于暴雨增幅。台风环流内水汽充足,上升运动强烈,也有助于此次台风降水强度持续强大。  相似文献   

一次华北暴雨过程的数值模拟及水汽螺旋度和水汽涡度收支应用分析   总被引：2，自引：2，他引：0  

骆凯  李耀东  秦丽 《气象与减灾研究》2010,33(2):35-42

运用WRF模式对2009年8月发生在华北地区的一次暴雨过程进行了数值模拟,按照性质的不同对模拟降水进行了研究,还进行了湿度场试验,最后利用模式输出结果对水汽螺旋度和水汽涡度收支进行了诊断分析。结果表明,数值模式比较合理地再现了本次暴雨天气过程。显式降水在模拟的总降水量中占了很大的比重,但是在暴雨爆发初期,积云降水起了重要作用。对流层中层的水汽饱和程度对模拟降水性质及降水量大小有重要影响,显式降水一般发生在空气饱和程度较高的区域,而位势不稳定则是诱发积云降水的主要原因。对流层中低层水汽螺旋度的强度变化在一定程度上代表了降水系统的强弱变化,其高值区与强降水落区在出现的时间和空间上都存在较好的一致性。水汽涡度收支对于水汽涡度及水汽螺旋度的变化具有很好的指示意义,可以作为预报降水的一个动力指标。  相似文献   

豫西突发性暴雨成因   总被引：8，自引：1，他引：7  

王新敏  张霞  范学峰  何立富 《气象科技》2010,38(1):15-20

利用常规观测、FY-2C气象卫星资料及NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,对2007年7月28～30日豫西卢氏县引发历史罕见山洪暴雨的进行了天气动力学和中尺度分析。结果表明:西太平洋副热带高压增强与贝加尔湖高压叠加形成阻塞形势,其西侧低空急流携带大量水汽与较强的锋生场交汇在豫西,导致了这次极端暴雨事件的发生;大尺度强斜升运动区中,低层存在一个条件性对称不稳定机制,引发中β云团生成、合并、发展,从而造成暴雨。  相似文献   

Comparative Studies of Different Mesoscale Convection Parameterization Schemes in the Simulation of Mei-Yu Front Heavy Rain   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1       下载免费PDF全文

PING Fan  LUO Zhe-Xian 《大气和海洋科学快报》2010,3(3):132-138

The mei-yu front heavy rainstorms occurred over Nanjing on 3 5 and 8 9 July 2003 and were simulated in this paper using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRFv3.1) with various mesoscale convection parameterization schemes (MCPSs). The simulations show that the temporal and spatial evolution and distribution of rainstorms can be modeled; however, there was incongruity between the comparative simulations of four different MCPSs and the observed data. These disparities were exhibited in the simulations of both the 24-hour surface rainfall total and the hourly precipitation rate. Further analysis revealed that the discrepancies of vertical velocity and the convective vorticity vector (CVV) between the four simulations were attributed to the deviation of rainfall values. In addition, the simulations show that the mid-scale convection, particularly the mesoscale convection system (MCS) formation, can be well simulated with the proper mesoscale convection parameterization schemes and may be a crucial factor of the mei-yu front heavy rainstorm. These results suggest that, in an effort to enhance simulation and prediction of heavy rainfall and rainstorms, subsequent studies should focus on the development and improvement of MCPS.  相似文献   

“低温雨雪冰冻”天气过程锋区特征分析   总被引：18，自引：1，他引：17  

杨贵名  毛冬艳  孔期 《气象学报》2009,67(4):652-665

2008年年初低温雨雪冰冻期间(包括4次过程),冷暖气团长期对峙是"低温雨雪冰冻"天气持续的主要原因;准静止锋稳定、少动,锋面较平缓;等θse经向和垂直向梯度不断加强;冷暖气团形成的逆温很明显;主锋区前部上空存在多层锋区现象;锋区渐强,最强时在10个纬度内南北温差超过20℃;相对湿度≥90%的高湿度区的移动趋势、范围、垂直伸展高度均与4次过程吻合较好;锋生函数的分布与等θse密集区的分布一致,呈向北倾斜上升状,滇黔地区准静止锋区域内,多数时间段有锋生发生,华南地区上空静止少动的锋生中心,正是低温雨雪冰冻期间准静止锋长期稳定的原因之一;南北风交界线的移动趋势与低温雨雪冰冻过程趋势一致,4次过程都伴有偏南风低空急流;当副热带高空急流逐渐加强、水平风垂直切变加强并向下伸展时,低空急流加强;高位涡舌向下伸展,高纬度的高位涡舌与主锋区的中高层相对应,中纬度高位涡舌与副热带锋区对应;湿位涡斜压项PMV2量级较小,但其与,4次过程的对应关系非常好;锋区上界和下界等熵面上的气流能较好地反映准静止锋区上、下界特征;约290 K等熵面上(锋区下界以下)在贵州均为偏东气流,这是贵州及江南大部分地区长时间维持低层冷气团的主要原因.  相似文献