Impacts of the mountain–plains solenoid and cold pool dynamics on the diurnal variation of warm-season precipitation over northern China

Bao, Xinghua; Zhang, Fuqing

doi:10.5194/acp-13-6965-2013

Cited by 54 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…3 and 4, respectively. Consistent with previous studies (Carbone et al, 2002(Carbone et al, , 2008Wang et al, 2004;BZS11;Xu and Zipser, 2011), the diurnal variation of precipitation has an evident phase-delayed feature east of the big topography (TP and the Rocky Mountains, Fig. 2).…”

Section: Wave-number-frequency Spectral Analysis and Decompositionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Recent studies have explored diurnal variation of precipitation using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center(CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH) rainfall data set and have shown that precipitation propagates downslope, eastward/southeastward, at a speed of ∼ 13 ms −1 from the eastern edge of the TP, the second-step terrain in northern China (He and Zhang, 2010;BZS11;Sun and Zhang, 2012). Through convectionpermitting simulations that successfully captured the diurnal precipitation propagation, Bao and Zhang (2013) further investigated what controls the diurnal peak propagation speed. Consistent with Trier et al (2010), they found that besides the impact of the mountains-plains solenoids (MPSs), the steering-level mean flow and the cold pool dynamics both play an essential role in the propagation and maintenance of the precipitation peak over the plains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of the diurnal variations of warm-season precipitation for East Asia vs. North America downstream of the Tibetan Plateau vs. the Rocky Mountains

Zhang

Sun

2014

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract.A wave-number-frequency spectral decomposition technique is used to analyze the high-resolution NOAA/Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH) precipitation data set and to explore the differences and similarities of the diurnal variation of warm-season precipitation in the East Asia and North America downstream of big topography. The predominant phase speed of precipitation at different time scales for North America, averaged over all warm-season months (May-August) for [2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010], is ∼ 20 ms −1 , which is faster than the speed of ∼ 14 ms −1 calculated for East Asia. Consistent with the recent studies of the precipitation diurnal cycles for these two regions, the difference in the diurnal phase propagation is likely due to the difference in the mean steering level wind speed for these two regions. The wave-number-frequency spectral analysis further reveals the complex, multi-scale, multi-modal nature of the warm-season precipitation variation embedded within the diurnal cycle over both continents, with phase speeds varying from 10 to 30 ms −1 and wave periods varying from diurnal to a few hours. At the diurnal frequency regulated by the thermodynamically driven mountains-plains solenoids (MPSs), increased precipitation for both continents first originates in the afternoon from the eastern edge of big topography and subsequently moves downslope in the evening and reaches the broad plains area at night. More complex diurnal evolutions are observed in East Asia due to the more complex, multistep terrains east of the Tibetan Plateau and the associated localized MPS circulations. Nevertheless, increased variation of precipitation at smaller spatial and temporal scales is evident in the active phase of the dominant diurnal cycle for both continents.

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Section: Wave-number-frequency Spectral Analysis and Decompositionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the diurnal variations of warm-season precipitation for East Asia vs. North America downstream of the Tibetan Plateau vs. the Rocky Mountains

Zhang

Sun

2014

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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“…Another sensitivity experiment NOVAP was performed similarly to the IDEAL experiment except that the evaporation of liquid water, which prevents the cold pool generation from moisture convection process, was turned off. A similar methodology has been used to study diurnal cycles of precipitation in many different regions (Trier et al, 2010;Sun and Zhang, 2012;Bao and Zhang, 2013;Chen et al, 2016Chen et al, , 2017. The biggest advantage of this method is that it is able to capture the general characteristics of the diurnal cycle of precipitation and the related dynamical processes instead of just focusing on a single case.…”

Section: Observation Dataset and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interactions between land breeze and prevailing wind are likely to produce precipitation over the coastal area or tropical islands (Keenan et al, 1988;Chen et al, 2017). Recent studies (Bao et al, 2013;Chen et al, 2016Chen et al, , 2017 have also found that convectively driven cold pools and latent cooling, as well as environmental wind and moisture, may play important roles in the propagation and maintenance of diurnal rainfall in coastal regions. How cold pools and latent cooling affect the diurnal cycle of rainfall and related LSB over a tropical island has not been studied extensively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of sea- and land-breeze circulations on the diurnal variability in precipitation over a tropical island

et al. 2017

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Abstract. This study examines the diurnal variation in precipitation over Hainan Island in the South China Sea using gauge observations from 1951 to 2012 and Climate Prediction Center MORPHing technique (CMORPH) satellite estimates from 2006 to 2015, as well as numerical simulations. The simulations are the first to use climatological mean initial and lateral boundary conditions to study the dynamic and thermodynamic processes (and the impacts of land-sea breeze circulations) that control the rainfall distribution and climatology. Precipitation is most significant from April to October and exhibits a strong diurnal cycle resulting from land-sea breeze circulations. More than 60 % of the total annual precipitation over the island is attributable to the diurnal cycle with a significant monthly variability. The CMORPH and gauge datasets agree well, except that the CMORPH data underestimate precipitation and have a 1 h peak delay. The diurnal cycle of the rainfall and the related landsea breeze circulations during May and June were well captured by convection-permitting numerical simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, which were initiated from a 10-year average ERA-Interim reanalysis. The simulations have a slight overestimation of rainfall amounts and a 1 h delay in peak rainfall time. The diurnal cycle of precipitation is driven by the occurrence of moist convection around noontime owing to low-level convergence associated with the sea-breeze circulations. The precipitation intensifies rapidly thereafter and peaks in the afternoon with the collisions of sea-breeze fronts from different sides of the island. Cold pools of the convective storms contribute to the inland propagation of the sea breeze. Generally, precipitation dissipates quickly in the evening due to the cooling and stabilization of the lower troposphere and decrease of boundary layer moisture. Interestingly, the rather high island orography is not a dominant factor in the diurnal variation in precipitation over the island.

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“…Cooling by evaporation of precipitation below convective clouds results in cold pools, which are characterized by a near-surface horizontal flow of relatively cold and dry air. A few studies (e.g., Grabowski et al 2006;Khairoutdinov and Randall 2006;Böing et al 2012;Bao and Zhang 2013;Schlemmer and Hohenegger 2014) investigated how precipitation-driven cold pools aid the transition from shallow to deep convection. Vertical lifting and moisture accumulation at the leading edge of the cold pool play an important role.…”

Section: October 2016 P a N O S E T T I E T A Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

Idealized Large-Eddy and Convection-Resolving Simulations of Moist Convection over Mountainous Terrain

Panosetti

Böing

Schlemmer

et al. 2016

Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

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On summertime fair-weather days, thermally driven wind systems play an important role in determining the initiation of convection and the occurrence of localized precipitation episodes over mountainous terrain. This study compares the mechanisms of convection initiation and precipitation development within a thermally driven flow over an idealized double-ridge system in large-eddy (LESs) and convection-resolving (CRM) simulations. First, LES at a horizontal grid spacing of 200 m is employed to analyze the developing circulations and associated clouds and precipitation. Second, CRM simulations at horizontal grid length of 1 km are conducted to evaluate the performance of a kilometer-scale model in reproducing the discussed mechanisms.Mass convergence and a weaker inhibition over the two ridges flanking the valley combine with water vapor advection by upslope winds to initiate deep convection. In the CRM simulations, the spatial distribution of clouds and precipitation is generally well captured. However, if the mountains are high enough to force the thermally driven flow into an elevated mixed layer, the transition to deep convection occurs faster, precipitation is generated earlier, and surface rainfall rates are higher compared to the LES. Vertical turbulent fluxes remain largely unresolved in the CRM simulations and are underestimated by the model, leading to stronger upslope winds and increased horizontal moisture advection toward the mountain summits. The choice of the turbulence scheme and the employment of a shallow convection parameterization in the CRM simulations change the strength of the upslope winds, thereby influencing the simulated timing and intensity of convective precipitation.

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Impacts of the mountain–plains solenoid and cold pool dynamics on the diurnal variation of warm-season precipitation over northern China

Cited by 54 publications

References 56 publications

Comparison of the diurnal variations of warm-season precipitation for East Asia vs. North America downstream of the Tibetan Plateau vs. the Rocky Mountains

Comparison of the diurnal variations of warm-season precipitation for East Asia vs. North America downstream of the Tibetan Plateau vs. the Rocky Mountains

The influence of sea- and land-breeze circulations on the diurnal variability in precipitation over a tropical island

Idealized Large-Eddy and Convection-Resolving Simulations of Moist Convection over Mountainous Terrain

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