Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

How Were the Eastward-Moving Heavy Rainfall Events from the Tibetan Plateau to the Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Enhanced?

Yang Zhao State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, China
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

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Deliang Chen Regional Climate Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0288-5618
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Yi Deng School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia

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Seok-Woo Son School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

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Xiang Wang Institute for Climate and Application Research, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Di Di Key Laboratory for Aerosol–Cloud–Rain of China Meteorological Administration, School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Mengting Pan Institute for Climate and Application Research, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Xiaodan Ma Key Laboratory for Aerosol–Cloud–Rain of China Meteorological Administration, School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Online Publication:
18 Dec 2020
Print Publication:
01 Jan 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0226.1
Page(s):
607–620
Restricted access

Abstract

This study investigates eastward-moving summer heavy rainfall events in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (LRYR), which are associated with the Tibetan Plateau (TP) vortices. On the basis of rainfall data from gauges and additional atmospheric data from ERA-Interim, the dynamic and thermodynamic effects of moisture transport and diabatic heating are estimated to determine the physical mechanisms that support the eastward-moving heavy rainfall events. As the rainband moves eastward, it is accompanied by anomalous cyclonic circulation in the upper and middle troposphere and enhanced vertical motion throughout the troposphere. In particular, the rainfall region is located in the fore of the upper-level trough, which is ideal for baroclinic organization of the convective system and further development of the eastward-moving vortex. The large atmospheric apparent heat source (Q1) also contributes for lifting the lower-level air into the upper atmosphere and for enhancing the low-level convective motion and convergence during the heavy rainfall process. Piecewise potential vorticity inversion further verifies the crucial role that the diabatic heating played in developing the anomalous geopotential height favorable for the enhanced rainfall. The combined action of the dynamic and thermodynamic processes, as well as the rich moisture supply from the seas, synergistically sustained and enhanced the eastward-moving rainfall.

© 2020 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Deliang Chen, deliang@gvc.gu.se

Abstract

This study investigates eastward-moving summer heavy rainfall events in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (LRYR), which are associated with the Tibetan Plateau (TP) vortices. On the basis of rainfall data from gauges and additional atmospheric data from ERA-Interim, the dynamic and thermodynamic effects of moisture transport and diabatic heating are estimated to determine the physical mechanisms that support the eastward-moving heavy rainfall events. As the rainband moves eastward, it is accompanied by anomalous cyclonic circulation in the upper and middle troposphere and enhanced vertical motion throughout the troposphere. In particular, the rainfall region is located in the fore of the upper-level trough, which is ideal for baroclinic organization of the convective system and further development of the eastward-moving vortex. The large atmospheric apparent heat source (Q1) also contributes for lifting the lower-level air into the upper atmosphere and for enhancing the low-level convective motion and convergence during the heavy rainfall process. Piecewise potential vorticity inversion further verifies the crucial role that the diabatic heating played in developing the anomalous geopotential height favorable for the enhanced rainfall. The combined action of the dynamic and thermodynamic processes, as well as the rich moisture supply from the seas, synergistically sustained and enhanced the eastward-moving rainfall.

© 2020 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Deliang Chen, deliang@gvc.gu.se
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