Abstract
In this paper, the potential vorticity structure and inversion of the cyclogenesis over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys during 21–23 June 2003 are investigated with a potential vorticity (PV) framework. The cyclogenesis is manifested by a lower-tropospheric PV anomaly over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys at early stages mainly due to latent heat release, which greatly affects the evolution of the associated lower-tropospheric geopotential height and wind fields as demonstrated by piecewise PV inversion. At later stages, an upper-tropospheric PV anomaly develops, resulting in the growth of ridges over the cyclone in both the upstream and downstream, which provide a favorable background field for the low-level cyclone development. But the effect of a surface thermal anomaly always impedes the development of the cyclone to different extents during this cyclogenesis. It is further demonstrated that the position and the strength of the PV anomaly are closely related to the low-level cyclone development, and the lower-tropospheric PV anomaly seems to constitute the most significant feature, for instance, contributing about 60% to the low-level jet (LLJ).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Black, R. X., and R. M. Dole, 1993: The dynamics of a large-scale cyclogenesis over the North Pacific Ocean. J. Atmos. Sci., 50, 421–442.
Bresky, W. C., and S. J. Colucci, 1996: A forecast and analyzed cyclogenesis event diagnosed with potential vorticity. Mon. Wea. Rev., 124, 2227–2244.
Bretherton, F. P., 1966: Critical layer instability in baroclinic flows. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 92, 325–334.
Charney, J. G., 1955: The use of primitive equations of motion in numerical prediction. Tellus, 7, 22–26.
Chen, G. T. J., C. C. Wang, and S. C. C. Liu, 2003: Potential vorticity diagnostics of a Mei-Yu front case. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2680–2696.
Davis, C. A., 1992a: A potential-vorticity diagnosis of the importance of initial structure and condensational heating in observed extratropical cyclogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2409–2428.
Davis, C. A., 1992b: Piecewise potential vorticity inversion. J. Atmos. Sci., 49, 1397–1411.
Davis, C. A., and K. A. Emanuel, 1991: Potential vorticity diagnostics of cyclogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 119, 1929–1953.
Hoskins, B. J., M. E. McIntyre, and A. W. Robertson, 1985: On the use and significance of isentropic potential vorticity maps. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 111, 877–947.
Hou Dingchen, 1991: The potential vorticity structure of summer cyclones over the Changjiang-Huaihe valley. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 49, 141–150. (in Chinese)
Li Bai, Yu Weipin, Lu Yun, and Lu Dachun, 2002: The numerical simulation study of the mesoscale characteristics on the development of Jiang-Huai cyclones. Scientia Meteorologia Sinica, 22, 72–80. (in Chinese)
Ma Leiming, Qin Zenghao, and Duan Yihong, 2002: Case study on the impact of atmospheric baroclinicity to the initial development of Jianghuai cyclones. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 24, 95–104.
Martin, J. E., and N. Marsili, 2002: Surface cyclolysis in the North Pacific Ocean. Part II: Piecewise potential vorticity diagnosis of a rapid cyclolysis event. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130, 1264–1281.
Martin, J. E., and J. A. Otkin, 2004: The rapid growth and decay of an extratropical cyclone over the central Pacific Ocean. Wea. Forecasting, 19, 358–376.
Nielsen, N. W., and B. H. Sass, 2003: A numerical high-resolution study of the life cycle of the severe storm over Denmark on 3 December 1999. Tellus, 55A, 338–351.
Parker, D. J., and A. J. Thorpe, 1995: The role of snow sublimation in frontogenesis. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 121, 763–782.
Peng Jiayi, Wu Rongsheng, and Wang Yuan, 2002: Initiation mechanism of a meso-scale convective system. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 19, 870–884.
Raymond, D. J., 1992: Nonlinear balance and potential-vorticity thinking at large Rossby number. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 118, 987–1015.
Reed, R. J., M. T. Stoelinga, and Y.-H. Kuo, 1992: A model-aided study of the origin and evolution of the anomalously high potential vorticity in the inner region of a rapidly deepening marine cyclone. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 893–913.
Robinsion, W. A., 1988: Analysis of LIMS data by potential inversion. J. Atmos. Sci., 45, 2319–2342.
Stoelinga, M. T., 1996: A potential-vorticity based study of the role of diabatic heating and friction in a numerically simulated baroclinic cyclone. Mon. Wea. Rev., 124, 849–874.
Tao Shiyan, Zhang Xiaoling, and Zhang Shunli, 2004: Rainstorms in Meiyu front. Chapter 3, A Study on the Disasters of Heavy Rainfalls over the Yangtze River Basin in the Mei-Yu Period. China Meteorological Press, Beijing, 39–116. (in Chinese)
Xing Qian, and Zheng Weizhong, 1999: A mesoscale cyclone numerical simulation and analysis of a heavy rain process in the Changjiang-Huaihe River basin. Scientia Meteorologica Sinica, 19, 242–250. (in Chinese)
Zhao Bingke, 2006: A study on the mechanism of cyclogenesis over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys in summer. Ph. D. dissertation, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 133pp. (in Chinese)
Zhao Bingke, Yao Xiuping, and Wu Guoxiong, 2005: The structure and activity characteristics of the western Pacific subtropical anticyclone and its dynamical mechanism during the Mei-Yu period over the Huaihe basin in 2003. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 29, 771–779. (in Chinese)
Zhao Sixiong, Tao Zuyu, Sun Jianhua, and Bei Naifang, 2004: Study of Weather Systems during Heavy Rainfalls on Meiyu Front. Chapter 2, Study on the Mechanism of Formation and Development of Heavy Rainfalls on the Meiyu Front in the Yangtze River. China, Meteorological Press, Beijing, 21–65. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhao, B., Wu, G. & Yao, X. Potential vorticity structure and inversion of the cyclogenesis over the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 24, 44–54 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-007-0044-7
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-007-0044-7