Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Impacts of Vertical Structure of Large-Scale Vertical Motion in Tropical Climate: Moist Static Energy Framework

Hien Xuan Bui Earth System Science Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

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Jia-Yuh Yu Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

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Chia Chou Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-16-0031.1
Page(s):
4427–4437
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Abstract

Interactions between cumulus convection and its large-scale environment have been recognized as crucial to the understanding of tropical climate and its variability. In this study, the moist static energy (MSE) budget is employed to investigate the potential impact of the vertical structure of large-scale vertical motion in tropical climate based on results from both reanalysis data and model simulation. Two domains are selected over the western and eastern Pacific with vertical motion profiles that are dominated by top-heavy and bottom-heavy structures, respectively. The bottom-heavy structure is climatologically associated with more shallow convection, while the top-heavy structure is related to more deep convection. The column-integrated vertical MSE advection of top-heavy vertical motion is positive, while that of bottom-heavy vertical motion tends to be negative. Controlling factors responsible for the above vertical MSE advection contrast are discussed based on a simple decomposition of the MSE budget equation. It was found that the sign of vertical MSE advection is determined mainly by the vertical moisture transport, the magnitude of which is very sensitive to the structure of vertical motion. A top-heavy (bottom heavy) structure of vertical motion favors an export (import) of MSE and a positive (negative) value of the vertical MSE advection.

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-16-0031.s1.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Jia-Yuh Yu, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan. E-mail: jiayuh@atm.ncu.edu.tw

Abstract

Interactions between cumulus convection and its large-scale environment have been recognized as crucial to the understanding of tropical climate and its variability. In this study, the moist static energy (MSE) budget is employed to investigate the potential impact of the vertical structure of large-scale vertical motion in tropical climate based on results from both reanalysis data and model simulation. Two domains are selected over the western and eastern Pacific with vertical motion profiles that are dominated by top-heavy and bottom-heavy structures, respectively. The bottom-heavy structure is climatologically associated with more shallow convection, while the top-heavy structure is related to more deep convection. The column-integrated vertical MSE advection of top-heavy vertical motion is positive, while that of bottom-heavy vertical motion tends to be negative. Controlling factors responsible for the above vertical MSE advection contrast are discussed based on a simple decomposition of the MSE budget equation. It was found that the sign of vertical MSE advection is determined mainly by the vertical moisture transport, the magnitude of which is very sensitive to the structure of vertical motion. A top-heavy (bottom heavy) structure of vertical motion favors an export (import) of MSE and a positive (negative) value of the vertical MSE advection.

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-16-0031.s1.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Jia-Yuh Yu, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 300 Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan. E-mail: jiayuh@atm.ncu.edu.tw

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