Statistical Characteristics of Environmental Parameters for Hail over the Two-Step Terrains of China

  • CAO Yancha ,
  • TIAN Fuyou ,
  • ZHENG Yongguang ,
  • SHENG Jie
Expand
  • National Meteorological Centre, Beijing 100081, China

Received date: 2017-03-13

  Online published: 2018-02-28

Abstract

Based on the hourly hail observations of 671 stations and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Final Analysis (FNL) data from March 1 to September 30 during 2002-2010, the atmospheric environmental conditions for hail over the two-step terrain (shortly for first-step and second-step respectively) areas of China with altitude above sea level of 1 km as the dividing line were analyzed. The hourly hail data and NCEP FNL data were matched by employing a temporal-spatial matching method. Due to the close relationship between hail forming and the height of characteristic temperature layers, the samples were filtered by using height of 0℃ layer above the ground, and then the environmental parameters representing moisture content, instability, and triggers were carefully analyzed, and the scatter plots also were studied. The results show that the environmental moisture conditions, the instability and best convective available potential energy (CAPE) conditions favorable for hails over the two-steps were much different. The hails over the first-step always had stronger instability, more CAPE, more moisture, and stronger vertical wind shear. The main scopes of total precipitable water (PWAT) for hails over the first-step terrain was 15~41 mm, but for the second-step, it was 6~30 mm. Almost no hails reported as PWAT were greater than 56 mm over the two-steps. More than 50% hails over the two-steps occurred under negative best lifted index (BLI) environment. If characterized by best CAPE, the percentage was greater than 75%. No hail was expected when BLI is above 2.8℃ over the two-steps. If measured by the vertical temperature lapse rate (TLR), more than 50% hails happened under high TLR environments. The differences on environmental conditions favorable for hails over the two steps were revealed dramatically by the scatter plots and probability density of parameters. The results provide an objective basis for the subjective and objective hail potential forecasting over the two-step terrains in China.

Cite this article

CAO Yancha , TIAN Fuyou , ZHENG Yongguang , SHENG Jie . Statistical Characteristics of Environmental Parameters for Hail over the Two-Step Terrains of China[J]. Plateau Meteorology, 2018 , 37(1) : 185 -196 . DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-0534.2017.00044

References

[1]Bunkers M J, 2002. Vertical wind shear associated with left-moving supercells[J]. Wea Forecasting, 17(4):845-855.
[2]Craven J P, Brooks H E, 2004. Baseline climatology of sounding derived parameters associated with deep moist convection[J]. National Weather Digest, 28:13-24.
[3]Doswell Ⅲ C A, Brooks H E, Maddox R A, 1996. Flash flood forecasting:An ingredients-based methodology[J]. Wea Forecasting, 11(4):560-580.
[4]Johns R H, Doswell Ⅲ C A, 1992. Severe local storms forecasting[J]. Wea Forecasting, 7(4):588-612.
[5]Johnson A W, Sugden K E, 2014. Evaluation of sounding-derived thermodynamic and wind-related parameters associated with large hail events[J]. Electronic J Severe Storms Meteor, 9(5):1-42.
[6]McNulty R P, 1995. Severe and convective weather:A central regional forecasting challenge[J]. Wea Forecasting, 10(2):187-202.
[7]Punge H J, Kunz M, 2016. Hail observations and hailstorm characteristics in Europe:A review[J]. Atmos Res, 176-177:159-184.
[8]Rasmussen E N, Blanchard D O, 1998. A baseline climatology of sounding-derived supercell and tornado forecast parameters[J]. Wea Forecasting, 13(4):1148-1164.
[9]Tian F Y, Zheng Y G, Zhang T, et al, 2015. Statistical characteristics of environmental parameters for warm season short-duration heavy rainfall over central and eastern China[J]. J Meteor Res, 29(3):370-384.
[10]Weisman M L, Klemp J B, 1982. The dependence of numerically simulated convective storms on vertical wind shear and buoyancy[J]. Mon Wea Rev, 110(6):504-520.
[11]Xie B G, Zhang Q H, Wang Y Q, 2010. Observed characteristics of hail size in four regions in China during 1980-2005[J]. J Climate, 23(18):4973-4982.
[12]Xie B G, Zhang Q H, Wang Y Q, 2008. Trends in hail in China during 1960-2005[J]. Geophy Res Lett, 35(13):195-209.
[13]Zhang C X, Zhang Q H, Wang Y Q, 2008. Climatology of hail in China:1961-2005[J]. J Appl Meteor, 47(3):795-804.
[14]Zheng L L, Sun J H, Zhang X L, et al, 2013. Organizational modes of mesoscale convective systems over central east China[J]. Wea Forecasting, 28(5):1081-1098.
[15]Duan Y, 2009. Hail disaster[M]. Beijing:China Meteorological Press, 131.<br/>段英, 2009.冰雹灾害[M].北京:气象出版社. 131.
[16]Fan L M, Yu X D, 2013. Characteristic analyses on environmental parameters in short-term severe convective weather in China[J]. Plateau Meteor, 32(1):156-165. DOI:10. 7522/j.issn. 1000-0534. 2012. 00016.<br/>樊李苗, 俞小鼎, 2013.中国短时强对流天气的若干环境参数特征分析[J].高原气象, 32(1):156-165.
[17]Fang C, Wang X G, Sheng J, et al, 2017. Temporal and spatial distribution of North China thunder-gust winds and the statistical analysis of physical characteristics[J]. Plateau Meteor, 36(5):1368-1385. DOI:10. 7522/j.issn. 1000-0534. 2016. 00083.<br/>方翀, 王西贵, 盛杰, 等, 2017.华北地区雷暴大风的时空分布及物理量统计特征分析[J].高原气象, 36 (5):1368-1385.
[18]Feng J Q, Yu X D, Fu W H, et al, 2012. Comparative analysis on supercell storm structure of a severe hail shooting in Fujian province in early spring of 2010[J]. Plateau Meteor, 31 (1):239-250.<br/>冯晋勤, 俞小鼎, 傅伟辉, 等, 2012. 2010年福建一次早春强降雹超级单体风暴对比分析[J].高原气象, 31(1):239-250.
[19]Guo E M, 1984. Hail observation over Tibet[J]. Acta Meteor Sinica, 42 (1):110-113.<br/>郭恩铭, 1984.西藏冰雹的观测[J].气象学报, 42 (1):110-113.
[20]Huang Z Y, Zhou Z M, Xu G R, et al, 2015. Monitoring application of hailstorm event with the observation of wind profile radar and ground-based microwave radiometer[J]. Plateau Meteor, 34 (1):269-278. DOI:10. 7522/j.issn. 1000-0534. 2013. 00130.<br/>黄治勇, 周志敏, 徐桂荣, 等, 2015.风廓线雷达和地基微波辐射计在冰雹天气监测中的应用[J].高原气象, 34 (1):269-278.
[21]Pu W Y, Li H B, Song Y, et al, 2015. Analysis and application of the effect of 0℃ layer height on melting hail[J]. Meteor Mon, 41 (8):980-985.<br/>濮文耀, 李红斌, 宋煜, 等, 2015. 0℃层高度的变化对冰雹融化影响的分析和应用[J].气象, 41(8):980-985.
[22]Sun J S, Shi Z Y, Wang L, 2006. A study on topography impacting on distribution of hail events[J]. Climatic Environ Res, 11 (1):76-84.<br/>孙继松, 石增云, 王令, 2006.地形对夏季冰雹事件时空分布的影响研究[J].气候与环境研究, 11(1):76-84.
[23]Wang X M, Yu X D, Zhu H, 2012. The applicability of NCEP reanalysis data to severe convection environment analysis[J]. J App Meteor Sci, 23 (2):139-146.<br/>王秀明, 俞小鼎, 朱禾, 2012. NCEP在分析资料在强对流环境分析中的应用[J].应用气象学报, 23(2):139-146.
[24]Xu F, Zheng Y Y, Xiao H, et al, 2016. Mesoscale characteristics of a severe hail event over the area along Yangtze River in Jiangsu[J]. Meteor Mon, 42 (5):567-577.<br/>徐芬, 郑媛媛, 肖卉, 等, 2016.江苏沿江地区一次强冰雹天气的中尺度特征分析[J].气象, 42 (5):567-577.
[25]Xu J L, 1978. On the effects of the fluctuating conditions on hail growth[J]. Scientia Atmos Sinica, 2 (3):230-237.<br/>徐家骝, 1978.起伏条件对冰雹增长的影响[J].大气科学, 2 (3):230-237.
[26]Xu X T, Wang N, Liu R F, et al, 2010. Comparative analyses on two severe convective hailstorm weather process in Shaanxi province in 2006[J]. Plateau Meteor, 29 (2):447-460.<br/>许新田, 王楠, 刘瑞芳, 等, 2010. 2006年陕西两次强对流冰雹天气过程的对比分析[J].高原气象, 29 (2):447-460.
[27]Yang G M, Ma X K, Zong Z P, 2003. Characteristics of hailfall in north China[J]. Meteor Mon, 29 (8):31-34.<br/>杨贵名, 马学款, 宗志平, 2003.华北地区降雹时空分布特征[J].气象, 29 (8):31-34.
[28]Zhao J T, Yue Y J, Wang J H, et al, 2015. Study on spatio-temporal pattern of hail disaster in China mainland from 1950 to 2009[J]. Chinese Journal of Agrometeorology, 36 (1):83-92.<br/>赵金涛, 岳耀杰, 王静爱, 等, 2015. 19502009年中国大陆地区冰雹灾害的时空格局分析[J].中国农业气象, 36 (1):83-92.
Outlines

/