Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The Intensification of the Low-Level Jet during the Development of Mesoscale Convective Systems on a Mei-Yu Front

Chaing Chen Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, and Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland

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Wei-Kuo Tao Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Pay-Liam Lin Department of Atmospheric Physics, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan

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George S. Lai Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, and Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland

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S-F. Tseng Department of Atmospheric Physics, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan

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Tai-Chi Chen Wang Department of Atmospheric Physics, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan

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Print Publication:
01 Feb 1998
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1998)126<0349:TIOTLL>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
349–371
Restricted access

Abstract

During the period of 21–25 June 1991, a mei-yu front, observed by the post–Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment, produced heavy precipitation along the western side of the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. Several oceanic mesoscale convective systems were also generated in an area extending from Taiwan to Hong Kong. Numerical experiments using the Penn State–NCAR MM5 mesoscale model were used to understand the intensification of the low-level jet (LLJ). These processes include thermal wind adjustment and convective, inertial, and conditional symmetric instabilities.

Three particular circulations are important in the development of the mei-yu front. First, there is a northward branch of the circulation that develops across the upper-level jet and is mainly caused by the thermal wind adjustment as air parcels enter an upper-level jet streak. The upper-level divergence associated with this branch of the circulation triggers convection.

Second, the southward branch of the circulation, with its rising motion in the frontal region and equatorward sinking motion, is driven by frontal vertical deep convection. The return flow of this circulation at low levels can produce an LLJ through geostrophic adjustment. The intensification of the LLJ is sensitive to the presence of convection.

Third, there is a circulation that develops from low to middle levels that has a slantwise rising and sinking motion in the pre- and postfrontal regions, respectively. From an absolute momentum surface analysis, this slantwise circulation is maintained by conditionally symmetric instability located at low levels ahead of the front. The presence of both the LLJ and moisture is an essential ingredient in fostering this conditionally symmetric unstable environment.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Chaing Chen, Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 912, Greenbelt, MD 20771.

Abstract

During the period of 21–25 June 1991, a mei-yu front, observed by the post–Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment, produced heavy precipitation along the western side of the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. Several oceanic mesoscale convective systems were also generated in an area extending from Taiwan to Hong Kong. Numerical experiments using the Penn State–NCAR MM5 mesoscale model were used to understand the intensification of the low-level jet (LLJ). These processes include thermal wind adjustment and convective, inertial, and conditional symmetric instabilities.

Three particular circulations are important in the development of the mei-yu front. First, there is a northward branch of the circulation that develops across the upper-level jet and is mainly caused by the thermal wind adjustment as air parcels enter an upper-level jet streak. The upper-level divergence associated with this branch of the circulation triggers convection.

Second, the southward branch of the circulation, with its rising motion in the frontal region and equatorward sinking motion, is driven by frontal vertical deep convection. The return flow of this circulation at low levels can produce an LLJ through geostrophic adjustment. The intensification of the LLJ is sensitive to the presence of convection.

Third, there is a circulation that develops from low to middle levels that has a slantwise rising and sinking motion in the pre- and postfrontal regions, respectively. From an absolute momentum surface analysis, this slantwise circulation is maintained by conditionally symmetric instability located at low levels ahead of the front. The presence of both the LLJ and moisture is an essential ingredient in fostering this conditionally symmetric unstable environment.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Chaing Chen, Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 912, Greenbelt, MD 20771.

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