Characteristics of Environment Condition and Cloud Microphysics during Heavy Wet Thunderstorms at Guanzhong in Mid Summer

ZHANG Yabin; HUANG Lei; MAO Dongyan; YANG Rui

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-0534.2017.00041

2018 , Vol. 37 >Issue 1: 167 - 184

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0534.2017.00041

Characteristics of Environment Condition and Cloud Microphysics during Heavy Wet Thunderstorms at Guanzhong in Mid Summer

ZHANG Yabin ,
HUANG Lei ,
MAO Dongyan ,
YANG Rui

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Xi'an Meteorological Observatory of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an 710016, Shaanxi, China;National Meteorological Centre, Beijing 100081, China;Xi'an Meteorological Bureau of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an 710016, Shaanxi, China

Received date: 2017-01-19

Online published: 2018-02-28

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Abstract

Spatial and temporal distribution of cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes and mesoscale characteristics of two heavy wet thunderstorm processes with most CG lightning in the last 10 years at Guanzhong, which occurred respectively on August 11-12, 2010 (the "0811") and August 15-16, 2011(the "0815"), were analyzed by using NCEP reanalysis, CG lightning, satellite, Radar and WRF data. The results show that heavy wet thunderstorms at Guanzhong occurred favorably under the circulation background of two-through and one-ridge in Eurasia mid-high latitude, and Shaanxi province is controlled by the stable West Pacific Subtropical High. Low level shear line is the directly influence system. During thunderstorm, cold advection on upper levels and moist barotropic potential vorticity move southward, the energy frontal zone over northern Shaanxi move southward and invade the unstable stratification environment over central and southern Shaanxi. The low-level warm tongue over southwest of Shaanxi extend to the northeast. With unstable stratification increasing and high humidity at the early stage, the unstable energy at Guanzhong increases significantly with CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) above 3 000 J·kg^-1. The vertical ascending motion is strong and deep. Aforementioned characteristics provide favorable environmental conditions for strong wet thunderstorm. The West Pacific Subtropical High develops strongly and westward, unstable stratification with dry air at high levels and wet at low levels, high temperature and humidity near surface layer, obviously CAPE, relatively high altitudes of vertical motion center and convective cloud, above factors are important reasons for that heavy wet thunderstorms have more CG flashes than ordinary rainstorms. The accumulated areas of CG flashes are consistent with the high potential temperature areas at lower levels, which also mainly located near positive helicity that below 50 m^-2·s^-2. There is a significant difference between the distribution pattern of TBB and CG flashes at different stages of heavy wet thunderstorm. At the developing stage, the oval cold-cloud cap of MCS had expanded significantly, the high gradient area of TBB bended northward with anticyclone shape. Convective cloud tops did not match the accumulated areas of the aggregating and increasing CG flashes. At the mature stage, the accumulated areas of CG flashes were basically coincidence with the convective cloud tops, the density and frequency of CG flashes reached maxima. Meanwhile, the center temperature of TBB reduced below to -76℃ and reached minimum, positive CG flashes scattered near southwest of the areas that accumulated negative CG flashes and also reached the maximum frequency of whole process. At the dissipating stage, the CG flashes weakened and dispersed obviously and its accumulated areas gradually separated from the convective cloud tops, but positive CG flashes were relatively active. Snow and graupel mixing ratio at -20~-10℃ layers is an effective indicator to flash trend. There are positive correlations between the number of particles and the frequency of CG flashes. Snow particle areas are relatively continuous and around the flash. Graupel particle areas are relatively dispersed and closer to the center of CG flash areas. At the mature stage, the vertical distribution of snow particle ranged from 8 to 16 kilometers, while graupel ranged from 6 to 12 kilometers. Accumulated areas of above particles corresponded to areas with large vertical velocity. With the significant increase of convection and vertical ascending motion, average current of CG flashes and rainfall intensity are increased, and the snow particles have obvious correlation with CG flash activity. When the vertical ascending motion become weak, average current of CG flashes and rainfall intensity will become small and have obvious correlation with graupel. Rate of CG flashes peak when convective cloud develop to the highest altitude. After CG flash doubling, cold-cloud area reach to peak in the next 3 hours and the maximum rainfall happen subsequently.

Key words： Thunderstorm; Cloud-to-Ground ligh; environment conditio; ice phase particles; WRF model

Cite this article

ZHANG Yabin , HUANG Lei , MAO Dongyan , YANG Rui . Characteristics of Environment Condition and Cloud Microphysics during Heavy Wet Thunderstorms at Guanzhong in Mid Summer[J]. Plateau Meteorology, 2018 , 37(1) : 167 -184 . DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-0534.2017.00041

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