scholarly journals Seasonal Changes in a Vertical Thermal Structure Producing Stable Lower-Troposphere Layers over the Inland Region of the Indochina Peninsula

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 3211-3223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato I. Nodzu ◽  
Shin-Ya Ogino ◽  
Manabu D. Yamanaka
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Mixed Boundary ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Stable Layer ◽  
Indochina Peninsula ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Temperature Advection

Abstract The authors performed a thermal budget analysis to understand the nature of seasonal changes in stable lower-troposphere layers over the inland region of the Indochina Peninsula, using atmospheric reanalysis data. The analysis focuses on subseasonal stable layers. Stability increase in the generation of stable layers is classified into three dominant thermal factors: vertical differences in horizontal potential temperature advection, vertical potential temperature advection, and their residual component Q1. The largest contributor to the stability increase is defined as the dominant thermal factor. Climatological typical heights where stable layers most frequently appear are the 850–700-, 700–600-, and 600–500-hPa levels in November–January, February–March, and April, respectively, according to a previous study. From November to January, most of the stable layers in the typical height are generated by vertical differences in horizontal potential temperature advection. Their generation (dissipation) is characterized by strong (weak) cooling due to horizontal advection below the stable layers. The strong cooling is related to cold surges in the winter monsoon. Generation of the stable layers in the typical height from February to April is characterized by vertical differences in Q1. Here, Q1 cooling below the stable layers is demonstrated in February and March. The authors propose a mixed boundary layer process in explaining the Q1 cooling. In April, the analyses demonstrate Q1 heating above the stable layers, coincident with a peak in the apparent moisture sink. The results indicate that the thermal processes of stable-layer generation change the height of the stable layer along the seasonal advance.

scholarly journals Impacts of Shallow Convection on MJO Simulation: A Moist Static Energy and Moisture Budget Analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2417-2431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiongqiong Cai ◽  
Guang J. Zhang ◽  
Tianjun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Longwave Radiation ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Moist Static Energy ◽  
Shallow Convection ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Static Energy

Abstract The role of shallow convection in Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) simulation is examined in terms of the moist static energy (MSE) and moisture budgets. Two experiments are carried out using the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model, version 3.0 (CAM3.0): a “CTL” run and an “NSC” run that is the same as the CTL except with shallow convection disabled below 700 hPa between 20°S and 20°N. Although the major features in the mean state of outgoing longwave radiation, 850-hPa winds, and vertical structure of specific humidity are reasonably reproduced in both simulations, moisture and clouds are more confined to the planetary boundary layer in the NSC run. While the CTL run gives a better simulation of the MJO life cycle when compared with the reanalysis data, the NSC shows a substantially weaker MJO signal. Both the reanalysis data and simulations show a recharge–discharge mechanism in the MSE evolution that is dominated by the moisture anomalies. However, in the NSC the development of MSE and moisture anomalies is weaker and confined to a shallow layer at the developing phases, which may prevent further development of deep convection. By conducting the budget analysis on both the MSE and moisture, it is found that the major biases in the NSC run are largely attributed to the vertical and horizontal advection. Without shallow convection, the lack of gradual deepening of upward motion during the developing stage of MJO prevents the lower troposphere above the boundary layer from being preconditioned for deep convection.

scholarly journals Climatological Description of Seasonal Variations in Lower-Tropospheric Temperature Inversion Layers over the Indochina Peninsula

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (13) ◽  
pp. 3307-3319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato I. Nodzu ◽  
Shin-Ya Ogino ◽  
Yoshihiro Tachibana ◽  
Manabu D. Yamanaka
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Temperature Inversion ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Type I ◽  
Tropospheric Temperature ◽  
Malay Peninsula ◽  
Indochina Peninsula

Abstract In this study operational rawinsonde data are used to investigate climatological features of seasonal variations in static stability in order to understand the behavior of temperature inversion layers, that is, extremely stable layers in the lower troposphere over the Indochina Peninsula region, at the southeastern edge of the Asian continent. Static stability was evaluated from the vertical gradient in potential temperature (Δθ/Δz). Stable (Δθ/Δz > 10 K km−1) and unstable (Δθ/Δz < 1 K km−1) layers frequently appear over the Indochina Peninsula region during boreal winter. Temporal and vertical variations in stability during the boreal winter can be categorized into three characteristic types, type I: the mean height of stable layers increases from 2 to 5 km from the dry to the rainy season over inland areas of the Indochina Peninsula and southern China; type II: similar to type I, with the additional occurrence of stable layers at a height of ∼1 km, mainly over coastal areas of the Indochina Peninsula; and type III: stable layers at a height of ∼2 km, mainly over the Malay Peninsula. We did not find any significant seasonal change in the vertical distribution of stable layers over the Malay Peninsula.

scholarly journals Interannual Variability and Trends in Sea Surface Temperature, Lower and Middle Atmosphere Temperature at Different Latitudes for 1980–2019

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 454
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Jakovlev ◽  
Sergei P. Smyshlyaev ◽  
Vener Y. Galin
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Sea Surface Temperature ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
The Impact

The influence of sea-surface temperature (SST) on the lower troposphere and lower stratosphere temperature in the tropical, middle, and polar latitudes is studied for 1980–2019 based on the MERRA2, ERA5, and Met Office reanalysis data, and numerical modeling with a chemistry-climate model (CCM) of the lower and middle atmosphere. The variability of SST is analyzed according to Met Office and ERA5 data, while the variability of atmospheric temperature is investigated according to MERRA2 and ERA5 data. Analysis of sea surface temperature trends based on reanalysis data revealed that a significant positive SST trend of about 0.1 degrees per decade is observed over the globe. In the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, the trend (about 0.2 degrees per decade) is 2 times higher than the global average, and 5 times higher than in the Southern Hemisphere (about 0.04 degrees per decade). At polar latitudes, opposite SST trends are observed in the Arctic (positive) and Antarctic (negative). The impact of the El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon on the temperature of the lower and middle atmosphere in the middle and polar latitudes of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is discussed. To assess the relative influence of SST, CO2, and other greenhouse gases’ variability on the temperature of the lower troposphere and lower stratosphere, numerical calculations with a CCM were performed for several scenarios of accounting for the SST and carbon dioxide variability. The results of numerical experiments with a CCM demonstrated that the influence of SST prevails in the troposphere, while for the stratosphere, an increase in the CO2 content plays the most important role.

Quantifying the Effects of Long-Term Climate Change on Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Using a Cloud-Resolving Model: Examples of Two Landfall Typhoons in Taiwan

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Chieh Wang ◽  
Bo-Xun Lin ◽  
Cheng-Ta Chen ◽  
Shih-How Lo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Sensitivity Tests ◽  
Cloud Resolving Model ◽  
Typhoon Rainfall ◽  
Climate Background ◽  
Rain Rates ◽  
Long Term Trend

Abstract To quantify the effects of long-term climate change on typhoon rainfall near Taiwan, cloud-resolving simulations of Typhoon (TY) Sinlaku and TY Jangmi, both in September 2008, are performed and compared with sensitivity tests where these same typhoons are placed in the climate background of 1950–69, which is slightly cooler and drier compared to the modern climate of 1990–2009 computed using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data. Using this strategy, largely consistent responses are found in the model although only two cases are studied. In control experiments, both modern-day typhoons yield more rainfall than their counterpart in the sensitivity test using past climate, by about 5%–6% at 200–500 km from the center for Sinlaku and roughly 4%–7% within 300 km of Jangmi, throughout much of the periods simulated. In both cases, the frequency of more-intense rainfall (20 to >50 mm h−1) also increases by about 5%–25% and the increase tends to be larger toward higher rain rates. Results from the water budget analysis, again quite consistent between the two cases, indicate that the increased rainfall from the typhoons in the modern climate is attributable to both a moister environment (by 2.5%–4%) as well as, on average, a more active secondary circulation of the storm. Thus, a changing climate may already have had a discernible impact on TC rainfall near Taiwan. While an overall increase in TC rainfall of roughly 5% may not seem large, it is certainly not insignificant considering that the long-term trend observed in the past 40–50 yr, whatever the causes might be, may continue for many decades in the foreseeable future.

Method for Identifying and Clustering Rossby Wave Breaking Events in the Northern Hemisphere

2021 ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
A. V. Gochakov ◽  
◽  
O. Yu. Antokhina ◽  
V. N. Krupchatnikov ◽  
Yu. V. Martynova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rossby Wave ◽  
Potential Vorticity ◽  
Wave Breaking ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Method Development ◽  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Rossby Wave Breaking ◽  
Dynamic Phenomena

Many large-scale dynamic phenomena in the Earth’s atmosphere are associated with the processes of propagation and breaking of Rossby waves. A new method for identifying the Rossby wave breaking (RWB) is proposed. It is based on the detection of breakings centers by analyzing the shape of the contours of potential vorticity or temperature on quasimaterial surfaces: isentropic and iserthelic (surfaces of constant Ertel potential vorticity (PV)), with further RWB center clustering to larger regions. The method is applied to the set of constant PV levels (0.3 to 9.8 PVU with a step of 0.5 PVU) at the level of potential temperature of 350 K for 12:00 UTC. The ERA-Interim reanalysis data from 1979 to 2019 are used for the method development. The type of RWB (cyclonic/anticyclonic), its area and center are determined by analyzing the vortex geometry at each PV level for every day. The RWBs obtained at this stage are designated as elementary breakings. Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise algorithm (DBSCAN) was applied to all elementary breakings for each month. As a result, a graphic dataset describing locations and dynamics of RWBs for every month from 1979 to 2019 is formed. The RWB frequency is also evaluated for each longitude, taking into account the duration of each RWB and the number of levels involved, as well as the anomalies of these parameters.

Different energetics of global monsoon over land and ocean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arindam Chakraborty ◽  
Chetankumar Jalihal ◽  
Jayaraman Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Surface Energy ◽  
Energy Flux ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Summer Precipitation ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Vertical Transport ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Global Monsoon ◽  
Surface Energy Flux

<p>Monsoons were traditionally considered to be land-based systems. Recent definitions of monsoons based on either the seasonal reversal of winds or the local summer precipitation accounting for more than 50% of the annual precipitation suggests that monsoon domains extend over oceanic regions as well. The concept of global monsoon combines all the monsoon domains into a single entity. Modern observations show that the variations in precipitation are nearly coherent across all the individual monsoon domains on decadal timescales. Using a transient simulation of the global climate over the last 22,000 years as well as reanalysis data of the modern climate, we have shown that tropical precipitation has different characteristics over land and ocean grids. This is due to the differences in the energetics of monsoon over land and ocean grids. With a lower thermal heat capacity, the net surface energy flux over land is negligible, whereas it is quite large over the ocean. In fact, the orbital scale variability of net energy flux into the atmosphere over the ocean is controlled by the surface energy flux. Another major difference between land and ocean grids of the global monsoon is in the vertical profile of the vertical pressure velocity. It is bottom-heavy over land and top-heavy over the ocean. This results in smaller vertical transport of moist static energy (which has a minimum in the lower troposphere) over land, and a larger vertical transport over the ocean. These differences between the land and ocean, suggest that the land and ocean grids should not be combined as is traditionally done. Global monsoon-land and global monsoon-ocean should be studied separately.</p>

scholarly journals A comparison between the GNSS tomography technique and the WRF model in retrieving 3D wet refractivity field in Hong Kong

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaohui Xiong ◽  
Bao Zhang ◽  
Yibin Yao
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Lower Accuracy

Abstract. Water vapor plays an important role in various scales of weather processes. However, there are limited means to monitor its 3-dimensional (3D) dynamical changes. The Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tomography technique are two of the limited means. Here, we conduct an interesting comparison between the GNSS tomography technique and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model (a representative of the NWP models) in retrieving Wet Refractivity (WR) in Hong Kong area during a rainy period and a rainless period. The GNSS tomography technique is used to retrieve WR from the GNSS slant wet delay. The WRF Data Assimilation (WRFDA) model is used to assimilate GNSS Zenith Tropospheric Delay (ZTD) to improve the background data. The WRF model is used to generate reanalysis data using the WRFDA output as the initial values. The radiosonde data are used to validate the WR derived from the GNSS tomography and the reanalysis data. The Root Mean Square (RMS) of the tomographic WR, the reanalysis WR that assimilate GNSS ZTD, and the reanalysis WR that without assimilating GNSS ZTD are 6.50 mm/km, 4.31 mm/km and 4.15 mm/km in the rainy period. The RMS becomes 7.02 mm/km, 7.26 mm/km and 6.35 mm/km in the rainless period. The lower accuracy in the rainless period is mainy due to the sharp variation of WR in the vertical direction. The results also show that assimilating GNSS ZTD into the WRFDA model only slightly improves the accuracy of the reanalysis WR and that the reanalysis WR is better than the tomographic WR in most cases. However, in a special experimental period when the water vapor is highly concentrated in the lower troposphere, the tomographic WR outperforms the reanalysis WR in the lower troposphere. When we assimilate the tomographic WR in the lower troposphere into the WRFDA model, the reanalysis WR is improved.

scholarly journals Characterization of transport regimes and the polar dome during Arctic spring and summer using in situ aircraft measurements

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (23) ◽  
pp. 15049-15071
Author(s):  
Heiko Bozem ◽  
Peter Hoor ◽  
Daniel Kunkel ◽  
Franziska Köllner ◽  
Johannes Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
High Arctic ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Mixing Ratios

Abstract. The springtime composition of the Arctic lower troposphere is to a large extent controlled by the transport of midlatitude air masses into the Arctic. In contrast, precipitation and natural sources play the most important role during summer. Within the Arctic region sloping isentropes create a barrier to horizontal transport, known as the polar dome. The polar dome varies in space and time and exhibits a strong influence on the transport of air masses from midlatitudes, enhancing transport during winter and inhibiting transport during summer. We analyzed aircraft-based trace gas measurements in the Arctic from two NETCARE airborne field campaigns (July 2014 and April 2015) with the Alfred Wegener Institute Polar 6 aircraft, covering an area from Spitsbergen to Alaska (134 to 17∘ W and 68 to 83∘ N). Using these data we characterized the transport regimes of midlatitude air masses traveling to the high Arctic based on CO and CO2 measurements as well as kinematic 10 d back trajectories. We found that dynamical isolation of the high Arctic lower troposphere leads to gradients of chemical tracers reflecting different local chemical lifetimes, sources, and sinks. In particular, gradients of CO and CO2 allowed for a trace-gas-based definition of the polar dome boundary for the two measurement periods, which showed pronounced seasonal differences. Rather than a sharp boundary, we derived a transition zone from both campaigns. In July 2014 the polar dome boundary was at 73.5∘ N latitude and 299–303.5 K potential temperature. During April 2015 the polar dome boundary was on average located at 66–68.5∘ N and 283.5–287.5 K. Tracer–tracer scatter plots confirm different air mass properties inside and outside the polar dome in both spring and summer. Further, we explored the processes controlling the recent transport history of air masses within and outside the polar dome. Air masses within the springtime polar dome mainly experienced diabatic cooling while traveling over cold surfaces. In contrast, air masses in the summertime polar dome were diabatically heated due to insolation. During both seasons air masses outside the polar dome slowly descended into the Arctic lower troposphere from above through radiative cooling. Ascent to the middle and upper troposphere mainly took place outside the Arctic, followed by a northward motion. Air masses inside and outside the polar dome were also distinguished by different chemical compositions of both trace gases and aerosol particles. We found that the fraction of amine-containing particles, originating from Arctic marine biogenic sources, is enhanced inside the polar dome. In contrast, concentrations of refractory black carbon are highest outside the polar dome, indicating remote pollution sources. Synoptic-scale weather systems frequently disturb the transport barrier formed by the polar dome and foster exchange between air masses from midlatitudes and polar regions. During the second phase of the NETCARE 2014 measurements a pronounced low-pressure system south of Resolute Bay brought inflow from southern latitudes, which pushed the polar dome northward and significantly affected trace gas mixing ratios in the measurement region. Mean CO mixing ratios increased from 77.9±2.5 to 84.9±4.7 ppbv between these two regimes. At the same time CO2 mixing ratios significantly decreased from 398.16 ± 1.01 to 393.81 ± 2.25 ppmv. Our results demonstrate the utility of applying a tracer-based diagnostic to determine the polar dome boundary for interpreting observations of atmospheric composition in the context of transport history.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Moist Static Energy in a Simulated Tropical Cyclone

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 319
Author(s):  
Lijun Yu ◽  
Shuhui Wu ◽  
Zhanhong Ma
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Moist Static Energy ◽  
Surface Heat Fluxes ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Static Energy ◽  
Radial Outflow

The characteristics of moist static energy (MSE) and its budget in a simulated tropical cyclone (TC) are examined in this study. Results demonstrate that MSE in a TC system is enhanced as the storm strengthens, primarily because of two mechanisms: upward transfer of surface heat fluxes and subsequent warming of the upper troposphere. An inspection of the interchangeable approximation between MSE and equivalent potential temperature (θe) suggests that although MSE is capable of capturing overall structures of θe, some important features will still be distorted, specifically the low-MSE pool outside the eyewall. In this low-MSE region, from the budget analysis, the discharge of MSE in the boundary layer may even surpass the recharge of MSE from the ocean. Unlike the volume-averaged MSE, the mass-weighted MSE in a fixed volume following the TC shows no apparent increase as the TC intensifies, because the atmosphere becomes continually thinner accompanying the warming of the storm. By calculating a mass-weighted volume MSE budget, the TC system is found to export MSE throughout its lifetime, since the radial outflow overwhelms the radial inflow. Moreover, the more intensified the TC is, the more export of MSE there tends to be. The input of MSE by surface heat fluxes is roughly balanced by the combined effects of radiation and lateral export, wherein a great majority of the imported MSE is reduced by radiation, while the export of MSE from the TC system to the environment accounts for only a small portion.

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