Numerical Study of a Southwest Vortex Rainstorm Process Influenced by the Eastward Movement of Tibetan Plateau Vortex

A number of studies revealed the possible eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau low-pressure system in summer and indicated the enhancement effect of this process on the southwest vortex in the Sichuan Basin, which can induce strong convective precipitation and flood events in China. In this stud...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in meteorology 2018-01, Vol.2018 (2018), p.1-10
Main Authors: Jin, Shuanglong, Cao, Zhibin, Ma, Endian, Liu, Xiaoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric precipitations
Atmospheric sciences
Cloud structure
Cloud water
Clouds
Computer simulation
Convective precipitation
Crystals
Embedded systems
Floods
Graupel
Heat
Heavy rainfall
Ice
Ice clouds
Ice crystals
Numerical analysis
Numerical simulations
Plateaus
Precipitation
Pressure
Rain
Rain and rainfall
Rainfall
Simulation
Studies
Vortices
Vorticity
Weather
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A number of studies revealed the possible eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau low-pressure system in summer and indicated the enhancement effect of this process on the southwest vortex in the Sichuan Basin, which can induce strong convective precipitation and flood events in China. In this study, a numerical simulation of a southwest vortex rainstorm process was performed. The results show that the low-pressure system originated from the Tibetan Plateau affects the southwest vortex mainly at the middle level, causing the strength increase of southwest vortex (SWV), and acts as a connection between the positive vorticity centers at the upper and lower layers. For the microscopic cloud structure, the vertical updraft of the cloud cluster embedded in the SWV increases as the low-pressure system from the plateau arrives at the Sichuan Basin. Vapor and liquid cloud water at the lower level are transported upward, based on which the ice cloud at the upper level and the warm cloud at the lower level are joined to create favorable conditions for the growth of ice crystals. As the ice crystals grow up, snow and graupel particles form, which substantially elevates the precipitation. This effect leads to the rapid development of SWV rainstorm clouds and the occurrence of precipitation. In addition to the effect of the plateau vortex, the subsequent merging of the convective clouds is another important factor for heavy rainfall because it also leads to development of convective clouds, causing heavy rainfall.
ISSN:1687-9309
1687-9317
DOI:10.1155/2018/9081910