[Objective] One mesoscale system of rainstorm in the warm zone in Nansha area during June 8 and 9 in 2009 was studied.[Method] By dint of routine meteorological observation data,NCEP reanalysis data,FY-2C TBB,and wind...[Objective] One mesoscale system of rainstorm in the warm zone in Nansha area during June 8 and 9 in 2009 was studied.[Method] By dint of routine meteorological observation data,NCEP reanalysis data,FY-2C TBB,and wind line data,etc.,the circulation situation,physics field,and the activity of convection system of mesoscale of one rainstorm in the warm zone of Nansha during June 8 and 9 in 2009 were expounded so as to explore the causes of such rainstorm.[Result] The rainstorm had distinct convection nature,with large precipitation intensity,uneven distribution,and short timeliness.Most precipitation fell in 5 hours.And the rainstorm in the warm zone was directly related to the activity of meso-convective system and was resulted from moderate β scale convection system(Mβcss).The flux field of the high layer of convection layer had fine absorption effect.Coordinating with the southwest and south field at middle and low 500 and 850 hPa in the middle and lower layer to converge around the Zhujiang Delta,it provided unstable condition and humidity for the rainstorm in Nansha area.The advantageous combination of flux in convective layer,vortex and vertical speed field and the sufficient water supply provided dynamic and water vapor guarantee for the generation of rainstorm in the Nansha area.The vertical speed of <-0.3 m/s reflected the beginning of precipitation and the smaller the vertical speed was,the stronger the precipitation intensity became.[Conclusion] It provided reference for the report of rainstorm of such kind in the future.展开更多
Accurately simulating mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)is essential for predicting global precipitation patterns and extreme weather events.Despite the ability of advanced models to reproduce MCS climate statistics,c...Accurately simulating mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)is essential for predicting global precipitation patterns and extreme weather events.Despite the ability of advanced models to reproduce MCS climate statistics,capturing extreme storm cases over complex terrain remains challenging.This study utilizes the Global–Regional Integrated Forecast System(GRIST)with variable resolution to simulate an eastward-propagating MCS event.The impact of three microphysics schemes,including two single-moment schemes(WSM6,Lin)and one double-moment scheme(Morrison),on the model sensitivity of MCS precipitation simulations is investigated.The results demonstrate that while all the schemes capture the spatial distribution and temporal variation of MCS precipitation,the Morrison scheme alleviates overestimated precipitation compared to the Lin and WSM6 schemes.The ascending motion gradually becomes weaker in the Morrison scheme during the MCS movement process.Compared to the runs with convection parameterization,the explicit-convection setup at 3.5-km resolution reduces disparities in atmospheric dynamics due to microphysics sensitivity in terms of vertical motions and horizontal kinetic energy at the high-wavenumber regimes.The explicit-convection setup more accurately captures the propagation of both main and secondary precipitation centers during the MCS development,diminishing the differences in both precipitation intensity and propagation features between the Morrison and two single-moment schemes.These findings underscore the importance of microphysics schemes for global nonhydrostatic modeling at the kilometer scale.The role of explicit convection for reducing model uncertainty is also outlined.展开更多
A mesoscale convective system(MCS) occurred over the East China coastal provinces and the East China Sea on 30April 2021, producing damaging surface winds near the coastal city Nantong with observed speeds reaching 45...A mesoscale convective system(MCS) occurred over the East China coastal provinces and the East China Sea on 30April 2021, producing damaging surface winds near the coastal city Nantong with observed speeds reaching 45 m s^(–1). A simulation using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with a 1.5-km grid spacing generally reproduces the development and subsequent organization of this convective system into an MCS, with an eastward protruding bow segment over the sea. In the simulation, an east-west-oriented high wind swath is generated behind the gust front of the MCS. Descending dry rear-to-front inflows behind the bow and trailing gust front are found to feed the downdrafts in the main precipitation regions. The inflows help to establish spreading cold outflows and enhance the downdrafts through evaporative cooling. Meanwhile, front-to-rear inflows from the south are present, associated with severely rearward-tilted updrafts initially forming over the gust front. Such inflows descend behind(north of) the gust front, significantly enhancing downdrafts and near-surface winds within the cold pool. Consistently, calculated trajectories show that these parcels that contribute to the derecho originate primarily from the region ahead(south) of the east-west-oriented gust front, and dry southwesterly flows in the low-to-middle levels contribute to strong downdrafts within the MCS. Moreover, momentum budget analyses reveal that a large westward-directed horizontal pressure gradient force within the simulated cold pool produced rapid flow acceleration towards Nantong. The analyses enrich the understanding of damaging wind characteristics over coastal East China and will prove helpful to operational forecasters.展开更多
The onset,evolution,and propagation processes of convective cells can be reflected by the organizational morphology of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs),which are key factors in determining the potential for heavy pr...The onset,evolution,and propagation processes of convective cells can be reflected by the organizational morphology of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs),which are key factors in determining the potential for heavy precipitation.This paper proposed a method for objectively classifying and segmenting MCSs using geosynchronous satellite observations.Validation of the product relative to the classification in radar composite reflectivity imagery indicates that the algorithm offers skill for discriminating between convective and stratiform areas and matched 65%of convective area identifications in radar imagery with a false alarm rate of 39%and an accuracy of 94%.A quantitative evaluation of the similarity between the structures of 50 MCSs randomly obtained from satellite and radar observations shows that the similarity was as high as 60%.For further testing,the organizational modes of the MCS that caused the heavy precipitation in Northwest China on August 21,2016(hereinafter known as the“0821”rainstorm)were identified.It was found that the MCS,accompanied by the“0821”rainstorm,successively exhibited modes of the isolated cell,squall line with parallel stratiform(PS)rain,and non-linear system during its life cycle.Among them,the PS mode might have played a key role in causing this flooding.These findings are in line with previous studies.展开更多
Mesoscale eddies play a central role in the poleward oceanic heat flux in the Southern Ocean.Previous studies have documented changes in the location of temperature fronts in the Southern Ocean,but little attention ha...Mesoscale eddies play a central role in the poleward oceanic heat flux in the Southern Ocean.Previous studies have documented changes in the location of temperature fronts in the Southern Ocean,but little attention has been paid to changes in the genesis locations of mesoscale eddies.Here,we provide evidence from three decades of satellite altimetry observations for the heterogeneity of the poleward shift of mesoscale activities,with the largest trend of~0.23°±0.05°(10 yr)^(-1) over the Atlantic sector and a moderate trend of~0.1°±0.03°(10 yr)^(-1) over the Indian sector,but no significant trend in the Pacific sector.The poleward shift of mesoscale eddies is associated with a southward shift of the local westerly winds while being constrained by the major topographies.As the poleward shift of westerly winds is projected to persist,the poleward oceanic heat flux from mesoscale eddies may influence future ice melt.展开更多
Mesoscale air-sea interactions play a critical role in damping eddy activities.However,how mesoscale heat flux influences the distribution of eddy kinetic energy(EKE)in the wavenumber space remains unclear.In this stu...Mesoscale air-sea interactions play a critical role in damping eddy activities.However,how mesoscale heat flux influences the distribution of eddy kinetic energy(EKE)in the wavenumber space remains unclear.In this study,we investigate the EKE and temperature variance(T_(var))budgets in the Kuroshio Extension(KE)region using wavenumber spectral analysis based on 1/10°coupled climate simulations.These simulations include a standard high-resolution simulation and a smoothed simulation that overlooks mesoscale heat flux.By comparing the differences between these models,we confirm that air-sea heat exchange significantly dissipates Tvar.Neglecting mesoscale heat flux results in a 60% underestimation of the Tvar damping rate,which in turn increases energy transfer to EKE through the vertical buoyancy flux by 22%.This enhanced vertical buoyancy flux leads to a 20% higher EKE level and larger energy budget terms,particularly in the diffusion term,which is closely related to wind power.Furthermore,underestimating air-sea heat exchange could lead to an overestimation of the inverse kinetic energy cascade,thereby distorting the overall energy budget in the KE region.展开更多
Dear Editor,The mammalian brain exhibits cross-scale complexity in neuronal morphology and connectivity,the study of which demands high-resolution morphological reconstruction of individual neurons across the entire b...Dear Editor,The mammalian brain exhibits cross-scale complexity in neuronal morphology and connectivity,the study of which demands high-resolution morphological reconstruction of individual neurons across the entire brain[1-4].Current commonly used approaches for such mesoscale brain mapping include two main types of three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy:the block-face methods,and the lightsheet-based methods[5,6].In general,the high imaging speed and light efficiency of light-sheet microscopy make it a suitable tool for high-throughput volumetric imaging,especially when combined with tissue-clearing techniques.However,large brain samples pose major challenges to this approach.展开更多
Mesoscale eddies play a pivotal role in deciphering the intricacies of ocean dynamics and the transport of heat,salt,and nutrients.Accurate representation of these eddies in ocean models is essential for improving mod...Mesoscale eddies play a pivotal role in deciphering the intricacies of ocean dynamics and the transport of heat,salt,and nutrients.Accurate representation of these eddies in ocean models is essential for improving model predictions.In this study,we propose a convolutional neural network(CNN)that combines data-driven techniques with physical principles to develop a robust and interpretable parameterization scheme for mesoscale eddies in ocean modeling.We use a highresolution reanalysis dataset to extract subgrid eddy momentum and then applying machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and correlations.To ensure physical consistency,we have introduced conservation of momentum constraints in our CNN parameterization scheme through soft and hard constraints.The interpretability analysis illustrate that the pre-trained CNN parameterization shows promising results in accurately solving the resolved mean velocity and effectively capturing the representation of unresolved subgrid turbulence processes.Furthermore,to validate the CNN parameterization scheme offline,we conduct simulations using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model(MITgcm)ocean model.A series of experiments is conducted to compare the performance of the model with the CNN parameterization scheme and high-resolution simulations.The offline validation demonstrates the effectiveness of the CNN parameterization scheme in improving the representation of mesoscale eddies in the MITgcm ocean model.Incorporating the CNN parameterization scheme leads to better agreement with high-resolution simulations and a more accurate representation of the kinetic energy spectra.展开更多
Mesoscale eddies are widespread in the global ocean,significantly influencing the physical,chemical,and biological structures of water column.Based on the CTD data and suspended particulate matter(SPM)data collected a...Mesoscale eddies are widespread in the global ocean,significantly influencing the physical,chemical,and biological structures of water column.Based on the CTD data and suspended particulate matter(SPM)data collected at 36 hydrographic stations during a field cruise in southern Mozambique Channel,combined with satellite altimeter observations,we identified a series of mesoscale eddies traversing the Mozambique Channel.Our hydrographic measurements,coupled with in situ chlorophyll fluorescence data,reveal that these eddies significantly influence thermohaline structure and chlorophyll distribution,which in turn affects primary productivity and SPM concentrations in the upper ocean.The cyclonic eddies facilitate the upwelling of cold subsurface water,leading to a shallowing of the pycnocline and the creation of a low-temperature anomaly with variable salinity anomalies at different depths.Conversely,anticyclonic eddies submerge warm surface water,deepening the pycnocline,and resulting in a high-temperature anomaly accompanied by distinct salinity patterns.Significantly,a coastal anticyclonic eddy was observed to intercept terrestrial material from the Delagoa Bight,redirecting it west of 36°E.This study presents unique and quasi-synchronous CTD datasets capturing mesoscale eddy impacts,and provided valuable insights into SPM variability within the often-neglected southern Mozambique Channel.展开更多
In this work,a morphology transition mode is revealed in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)when stretching at 120℃:moving from the slightly deformed region to the necked region,the morphology transfers ...In this work,a morphology transition mode is revealed in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)when stretching at 120℃:moving from the slightly deformed region to the necked region,the morphology transfers from small spherulites to a mixture of transcrystalline and enlarged spherulites,and finally to pure transcrystalline;meanwhile,the lamellae making up the transcrystalline or spherulite were fragmented into smaller ones;spatial scan by wide-angle X-ray scattering(WAXS)and small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS)revealed that the crystallinity is increased from 25.3%to 30.1%and the crystal orientation was enhanced greatly,but the lamellae orientation was quite weak.The rise of enlarged spherulites or a mixture of transcrystalline and spherulites can also be found in UHMWPE stretched at 140 and 148℃,whereas absent in UHMWPE stretched at 30℃.In situ WAXS/SAXS measurements suggest that during stretching at 30℃,the crystallinity is reduced drastically,and a few voids are formed as the size increases from 50 nm to 210 nm;during stretching at 120℃,the crystallinity is reduced only slightly,and the kinking of lamellae occurs at large Hencky strain;during stretching at 140 and 148℃,an increase in crystallinity with stretching strain can be found,and the lamellae are also kinked.Taking the microstructure and morphology transition into consideration,a mesoscale morphology transition mode is proposed,in the stretching-induced crystallization the fragmented lamellae can be rearranged into new supra-structures such as spherulite or transcrystalline during hot stretching.展开更多
Improvement in two aspects is done of the one-level mesoscale numerical model of Mass et al.(1985)and the re- vised model is used to make a simulation of a severe convective weather process in North China,with the res...Improvement in two aspects is done of the one-level mesoscale numerical model of Mass et al.(1985)and the re- vised model is used to make a simulation of a severe convective weather process in North China,with the result showing the pronounced effects of the topography upon the mesoscale systems.展开更多
The mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (MM4) in which the computations of the turbulent exchange coefficient in the boundary layer and surface fluxes are improved, is used to study the influences of boundary...The mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (MM4) in which the computations of the turbulent exchange coefficient in the boundary layer and surface fluxes are improved, is used to study the influences of boundary layer parameterization schemes on the predictive results of the mesoscale model. Seven different experiment schemes (including the original MM4 model) designed in this paper are tested by the observational data of several heavy rain cases so as to find an improved boundary layer parameterization scheme in the mesoscale meteorological model. The results show that all the seven different boundary layer parameterization schemes have some influences on the forecasts of precipitation intensity, distribution of rain area, vertical velocity, vorticity and divergence fields, and the improved schemes in this paper can improve the precipitation forecast. Key words Boundary layer parameterization - Mesoscale numerical weather prediction (MNWP) - Turbulent exchange coefficient - Surface fluxes - Heavy rain This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49875005 and No. 49735180).展开更多
Data from the Beijing SAFIR 3000 lightning detection system and Doppler radar provided some insights into the three-dimensional lightning structure and evolution of a leading-line and trailing-stratiform （LLTS） meso...Data from the Beijing SAFIR 3000 lightning detection system and Doppler radar provided some insights into the three-dimensional lightning structure and evolution of a leading-line and trailing-stratiform （LLTS） mesoscale convective system （MCS） over Beijing on 31 July 2007. Most of the lightning in the LLTS-MCS was intracloud （IC） lightning, while the mean ratio of positive cloud-to-ground （＋CG） lightning to –CG lightning was 1：4, which was higher than the average value from previous studies. The majority of CG lightning occurred in the convective region of the radar echo, particularly at the leading edge of the front. Little IC lightning and little ＋CG lightning occurred in the stratiform region. The distribution of the CG lightning indicated that the storm had a tilted dipole structure given the wind shear or the tripole charge structure. During the storm’s development, most of the IC lightning occurred at an altitude of ～9.5 km; the lightning rate reached its maximum at 10.5 km, the altitude of IC lightning in the mature stage of the storm. When the thunderstorm began to dissipate, the altitude of the IC lightning decreased gradually. The spatial distribution of lightning was well correlated with the rainfall on the ground, although the peak value of rainfall appeared 75 min later than the peak lightning rate.展开更多
In this paper, we report the location results for the parent lightning strokes of more than 30 red sprites observed over an asymmetric mesoscale convective system(MCS) on 30 July 2015 in Shandong Province, China, with...In this paper, we report the location results for the parent lightning strokes of more than 30 red sprites observed over an asymmetric mesoscale convective system(MCS) on 30 July 2015 in Shandong Province, China, with a long-baseline lightning location network of very-low-frequency/low-frequency magnetic field sensors. The results show that almost all of these cloud-to-ground(CG) strokes are produced during the mature stage of the MCS, and are predominantly located in the trailing stratiform region, which is similar to analyses of sprite-productive MCSs in North America and Europe. Comparison between the location results for the sprite-producing CG strokes and those provided by the World Wide Lightning Location Network(WWLLN) indicates that the location accuracy of WWLLN for intense CG strokes in Shandong Province is typically within 10 km, which is consistent with the result based on analysis of 2838 sprite-producing CG strokes in the continental United States. Also, we analyze two cases where some minor lightning discharges in the parent flash of sprites can also be located, providing an approach to confine the thundercloud region tapped by the sprite-producing CG strokes.展开更多
The multi-scale weather systems associated with a mei-yu front and the corresponding heavy precipitation during a particular heavy rainfall event that occurred on 4 5 July 2003 in east China were successfully simulate...The multi-scale weather systems associated with a mei-yu front and the corresponding heavy precipitation during a particular heavy rainfall event that occurred on 4 5 July 2003 in east China were successfully simulated through rainfall assimilation using the PSU/NCAR non-hydrostatic, mesoscale, numerical model （MM5） and its four-dimensional, variational, data assimilation （4DVAR） system. For this case, the improvement of the process via the 4DVAR rainfall assimilation into the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems is investigated. With the rainfall assimilation, the convection is triggered at the right location and time, and the evolution and spatial distribution of the mesoscale convective systems （MCSs） are also more correctly simulated. Through the interactions between MCSs and the weather systems at different scales, including the low-level jet and mei-yu front, the simulation of the entire mei-yu weather system is significantly improved, both during the data assimilation window and the subsequent 12-h period. The results suggest that the rainfall assimilation first provides positive impact at the convective scale and the influences are then propagated upscale to the meso- and sub-synoptic scales. Through a set of sensitive experiments designed to evaluate the impact of different initial variables on the simulation of mei-yu heavy rainfall, it was found that the moisture field and meridional wind had the strongest effect during the convection initialization stage, however, after the convection was fully triggered, all of the variables at the initial condition seemed to have comparable importance.展开更多
Two intense quasi-linear mesoscale convective systems（QLMCSs） in northern China were simulated using the WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting） model and the 3D-Var（three-dimensional variational） analysis system ...Two intense quasi-linear mesoscale convective systems（QLMCSs） in northern China were simulated using the WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting） model and the 3D-Var（three-dimensional variational） analysis system of the ARPS（Advanced Regional Prediction System） model.A new method in which the lightning density is calculated using both the precipitation and non-precipitation ice mass was developed to reveal the relationship between the lightning activities and QLMCS structures.Results indicate that,compared with calculating the results using two previous methods,the lightning density calculated using the new method presented in this study is in better accordance with observations.Based on the calculated lightning densities using the new method,it was found that most lightning activity was initiated on the right side and at the front of the QLMCSs,where the surface wind field converged intensely.The CAPE was much stronger ahead of the southeastward progressing QLMCS than to the back it,and their lightning events mainly occurred in regions with a large gradient of CAPE.Comparisons between lightning and non-lightning regions indicated that lightning regions featured more intense ascending motion than non-lightning regions;the vertical ranges of maximum reflectivity between lightning and non-lightning regions were very different;and the ice mixing ratio featured no significant differences between the lightning and non-lightning regions.展开更多
Observational analysis shows that a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) occurred on May 13-14 2004 along the coastal area in South China. The MCS initiated among the southwesterly flows within a west-east orientation lo...Observational analysis shows that a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) occurred on May 13-14 2004 along the coastal area in South China. The MCS initiated among the southwesterly flows within a west-east orientation low-level shear line. Associated with the system, in its subsequent development stages, no distinct vortex circulation developed in low-level. Instead, a cyclonic flow disturbance was observed in the mid-troposphere. How the convection starts to develop and evolve into a MCS With observational analysis and numerical simulation, the problem has been studied. The high-resolution MM5 simulation shows that topographic convergence along the coastal line and the nearby mountains in western South China plays an important role to initiate the MCS convection. Once the convection occurs, due to the condensation heating, a cooperative interaction between the preexisting mid-level disturbance and convection is created, which may greatly affect the MCS development during periods when the system continues moving eastward. Compared to some typical MCS that happen in Southern China, which are usually accompanied with upward development of cyclonic vorticity, the development and evolution of the investigated MCS shows distinguishing features. In this article, the physical mechanisms responsible for the intensification of mid-level disturbance are discussed, and a viewpoint to interpret the effects of mid-level disturbance on the MCS organizational development is proposed.展开更多
Progress over the past decade in understanding moisture-driven dynamics and torrential rain storms in China is reviewed in this paper. First, advances in incorporating moisture effects more realistically into theory a...Progress over the past decade in understanding moisture-driven dynamics and torrential rain storms in China is reviewed in this paper. First, advances in incorporating moisture effects more realistically into theory are described, including the development of a new parameter, generalized moist potential vorticity（GMPV） and an improved moist ageostrophic Q vector（Qum）. Advances in vorticity dynamics are also described, including the adoption of a ＂parcel dynamic＂ approach to investigate the development of the vertical vorticity of an air parcel; a novel theory of slantwise vorticity development, proposed because vorticity develops easily near steep isentropic surfaces; and the development of the convective vorticity vector（CVV）as an effective new tool. The significant progress in both frontal dynamics and wave dynamics is also summarized, including the geostrophic adjustment of initial unbalanced flow and the dual role of boundary layer friction in frontogenesis, as well as the interaction between topography and fronts, which indicate that topographic perturbations alter both frontogenesis and frontal structure. For atmospheric vortices, mixed wave/vortex dynamics has been extended to explain the propagation of spiral rainbands and the development of dynamical instability in tropical cyclones. Finally, we review wave and basic flow interaction in torrential rainfall, for which it was necessary to extend existing theory from large-scale flows to mesoscale fields, enriching our knowledge of mesoscale atmospheric dynamics.展开更多
Sprites are brief optical emissions occurring above thunderstorms. Features of sprites and their parent thunderstorms and lightning activities have been studied by many researchers. Here, we report a single sprite rec...Sprites are brief optical emissions occurring above thunderstorms. Features of sprites and their parent thunderstorms and lightning activities have been studied by many researchers. Here, we report a single sprite recorded over a mesoscale convective system during its life cycle in Northeast China. The results show that the sprite might have been a dancing one, with a 20 km horizontal displacement from its parent cloud-to-ground flash （CG） and a 38 ms time delay; all the sprite elements occurred during the continuing current process of the parent flash. The peak current of the parent CG was the largest during the almost one-hour time window containing the sprite, and the absolute values of all the negative flashes were smaller than 100 kA during the same time period and did not produce sprite. The sprite did not occur during the time period in which the maximum area of the thunderstorm reached. The occurrence of sprite corresponded well with the decay of the thunderstorm convection, and no significant relationship between the occurrence of sprite and the increase in the 30-35 dBZ and 35-40 dBZ interval was found. The large wind gradient in the 8-12 km region of the thunderstorm may have played an important role in the sprite production.展开更多
Based on the previous statistical analysis of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)over the second-step terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley,eight representative long-lived eastward-propagating MCSs are selected for...Based on the previous statistical analysis of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)over the second-step terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley,eight representative long-lived eastward-propagating MCSs are selected for model-based sensitivity testing to investigate the initiation and evolution of these types of MCSs as well as their impact on downstream areas.We subject each MCS to a semi-idealized(CNTL)simulation and a sensitivity(NOLH)simulation that neglects condensational heating in the formation region.The CNTL experiment reveals convection forms in the region downstream of a shortwave trough typified by persistent southwesterly winds in the low-to midtroposphere.Upon merging with other convective systems,moist convection develops into an MCS,which propagates eastward under the influence of mid-tropospheric westerlies,and moves out of the second-step terrain.The MCS then merges with pre-existing local convection over the plains;the merged convection reinforces the cyclonic wind perturbation into a mesoscale vortex at 850 hPa.While this vortex moves eastward to regions with local vortex at 850 hPa,another vortex at 925 hPa is also intensified.Finally,the vortices at 850 and 925 hPa merge together and develop into a mesoscale convective vortex(MCV).In contrast,MCSs fail to form and move eastward in the NOLH experiment.In the absence of eastward-propagating MCSs,moist convection and mesoscale vortices still appear in the plains,but the vortex strength and precipitation intensity are significantly weakened.It is suggested the eastward-propagating MCSs over the second-step terrain significantly impact the development and enhancement of moist convection and vortices in the downstream areas.展开更多
文摘[Objective] One mesoscale system of rainstorm in the warm zone in Nansha area during June 8 and 9 in 2009 was studied.[Method] By dint of routine meteorological observation data,NCEP reanalysis data,FY-2C TBB,and wind line data,etc.,the circulation situation,physics field,and the activity of convection system of mesoscale of one rainstorm in the warm zone of Nansha during June 8 and 9 in 2009 were expounded so as to explore the causes of such rainstorm.[Result] The rainstorm had distinct convection nature,with large precipitation intensity,uneven distribution,and short timeliness.Most precipitation fell in 5 hours.And the rainstorm in the warm zone was directly related to the activity of meso-convective system and was resulted from moderate β scale convection system(Mβcss).The flux field of the high layer of convection layer had fine absorption effect.Coordinating with the southwest and south field at middle and low 500 and 850 hPa in the middle and lower layer to converge around the Zhujiang Delta,it provided unstable condition and humidity for the rainstorm in Nansha area.The advantageous combination of flux in convective layer,vortex and vertical speed field and the sufficient water supply provided dynamic and water vapor guarantee for the generation of rainstorm in the Nansha area.The vertical speed of <-0.3 m/s reflected the beginning of precipitation and the smaller the vertical speed was,the stronger the precipitation intensity became.[Conclusion] It provided reference for the report of rainstorm of such kind in the future.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42305169)the Basic Research Fund of CAMS(Grant No.2023Y001)the National Key Scientific and Technological Infrastructure project“Earth System Numerical Simulation Facility”(Earth Lab)。
文摘Accurately simulating mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)is essential for predicting global precipitation patterns and extreme weather events.Despite the ability of advanced models to reproduce MCS climate statistics,capturing extreme storm cases over complex terrain remains challenging.This study utilizes the Global–Regional Integrated Forecast System(GRIST)with variable resolution to simulate an eastward-propagating MCS event.The impact of three microphysics schemes,including two single-moment schemes(WSM6,Lin)and one double-moment scheme(Morrison),on the model sensitivity of MCS precipitation simulations is investigated.The results demonstrate that while all the schemes capture the spatial distribution and temporal variation of MCS precipitation,the Morrison scheme alleviates overestimated precipitation compared to the Lin and WSM6 schemes.The ascending motion gradually becomes weaker in the Morrison scheme during the MCS movement process.Compared to the runs with convection parameterization,the explicit-convection setup at 3.5-km resolution reduces disparities in atmospheric dynamics due to microphysics sensitivity in terms of vertical motions and horizontal kinetic energy at the high-wavenumber regimes.The explicit-convection setup more accurately captures the propagation of both main and secondary precipitation centers during the MCS development,diminishing the differences in both precipitation intensity and propagation features between the Morrison and two single-moment schemes.These findings underscore the importance of microphysics schemes for global nonhydrostatic modeling at the kilometer scale.The role of explicit convection for reducing model uncertainty is also outlined.
基金primarily supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (MOST)(Grant No. 2018YFC1507303)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 419505044,41941007, and 42230607)+1 种基金by the Talent Research Start-Up Fund of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics(Grant No. 1007-90YAH22046)supported by The High Performance Computing Platform of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics。
文摘A mesoscale convective system(MCS) occurred over the East China coastal provinces and the East China Sea on 30April 2021, producing damaging surface winds near the coastal city Nantong with observed speeds reaching 45 m s^(–1). A simulation using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with a 1.5-km grid spacing generally reproduces the development and subsequent organization of this convective system into an MCS, with an eastward protruding bow segment over the sea. In the simulation, an east-west-oriented high wind swath is generated behind the gust front of the MCS. Descending dry rear-to-front inflows behind the bow and trailing gust front are found to feed the downdrafts in the main precipitation regions. The inflows help to establish spreading cold outflows and enhance the downdrafts through evaporative cooling. Meanwhile, front-to-rear inflows from the south are present, associated with severely rearward-tilted updrafts initially forming over the gust front. Such inflows descend behind(north of) the gust front, significantly enhancing downdrafts and near-surface winds within the cold pool. Consistently, calculated trajectories show that these parcels that contribute to the derecho originate primarily from the region ahead(south) of the east-west-oriented gust front, and dry southwesterly flows in the low-to-middle levels contribute to strong downdrafts within the MCS. Moreover, momentum budget analyses reveal that a large westward-directed horizontal pressure gradient force within the simulated cold pool produced rapid flow acceleration towards Nantong. The analyses enrich the understanding of damaging wind characteristics over coastal East China and will prove helpful to operational forecasters.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(41965001)。
文摘The onset,evolution,and propagation processes of convective cells can be reflected by the organizational morphology of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs),which are key factors in determining the potential for heavy precipitation.This paper proposed a method for objectively classifying and segmenting MCSs using geosynchronous satellite observations.Validation of the product relative to the classification in radar composite reflectivity imagery indicates that the algorithm offers skill for discriminating between convective and stratiform areas and matched 65%of convective area identifications in radar imagery with a false alarm rate of 39%and an accuracy of 94%.A quantitative evaluation of the similarity between the structures of 50 MCSs randomly obtained from satellite and radar observations shows that the similarity was as high as 60%.For further testing,the organizational modes of the MCS that caused the heavy precipitation in Northwest China on August 21,2016(hereinafter known as the“0821”rainstorm)were identified.It was found that the MCS,accompanied by the“0821”rainstorm,successively exhibited modes of the isolated cell,squall line with parallel stratiform(PS)rain,and non-linear system during its life cycle.Among them,the PS mode might have played a key role in causing this flooding.These findings are in line with previous studies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42230405,42006029)Science and Technology Plan of Liaoning Province(2024JH2/102400061)+1 种基金Dalian Science and Technology Innovation Fund(2024JJ11PT007)Dalian Science and Technology Pro-gram for Innovation Talents of Dalian(2022RJ06).
文摘Mesoscale eddies play a central role in the poleward oceanic heat flux in the Southern Ocean.Previous studies have documented changes in the location of temperature fronts in the Southern Ocean,but little attention has been paid to changes in the genesis locations of mesoscale eddies.Here,we provide evidence from three decades of satellite altimetry observations for the heterogeneity of the poleward shift of mesoscale activities,with the largest trend of~0.23°±0.05°(10 yr)^(-1) over the Atlantic sector and a moderate trend of~0.1°±0.03°(10 yr)^(-1) over the Indian sector,but no significant trend in the Pacific sector.The poleward shift of mesoscale eddies is associated with a southward shift of the local westerly winds while being constrained by the major topographies.As the poleward shift of westerly winds is projected to persist,the poleward oceanic heat flux from mesoscale eddies may influence future ice melt.
基金supported by the Natu-ral Science Foundation of China and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant Nos.42176006,42422601,202241006 to H.Y.)the Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42225601 to Z.C.).
文摘Mesoscale air-sea interactions play a critical role in damping eddy activities.However,how mesoscale heat flux influences the distribution of eddy kinetic energy(EKE)in the wavenumber space remains unclear.In this study,we investigate the EKE and temperature variance(T_(var))budgets in the Kuroshio Extension(KE)region using wavenumber spectral analysis based on 1/10°coupled climate simulations.These simulations include a standard high-resolution simulation and a smoothed simulation that overlooks mesoscale heat flux.By comparing the differences between these models,we confirm that air-sea heat exchange significantly dissipates Tvar.Neglecting mesoscale heat flux results in a 60% underestimation of the Tvar damping rate,which in turn increases energy transfer to EKE through the vertical buoyancy flux by 22%.This enhanced vertical buoyancy flux leads to a 20% higher EKE level and larger energy budget terms,particularly in the diffusion term,which is closely related to wind power.Furthermore,underestimating air-sea heat exchange could lead to an overestimation of the inverse kinetic energy cascade,thereby distorting the overall energy budget in the KE region.
基金supported by the STI 2030-Major Project(2021ZD0204400,2022ZD0205203,2021ZD0200104,2022ZD0211900)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(RCYX20210706092100003,RCBS20221008093311027)+3 种基金the Shenzhen Medical Research Funds(A2303005)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(2022367)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32100896)NSFC-Guangdong Joint Fund(U20A6005).
文摘Dear Editor,The mammalian brain exhibits cross-scale complexity in neuronal morphology and connectivity,the study of which demands high-resolution morphological reconstruction of individual neurons across the entire brain[1-4].Current commonly used approaches for such mesoscale brain mapping include two main types of three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy:the block-face methods,and the lightsheet-based methods[5,6].In general,the high imaging speed and light efficiency of light-sheet microscopy make it a suitable tool for high-throughput volumetric imaging,especially when combined with tissue-clearing techniques.However,large brain samples pose major challenges to this approach.
基金The National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No.2021YFC3101602the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42176017 and 41976019.
文摘Mesoscale eddies play a pivotal role in deciphering the intricacies of ocean dynamics and the transport of heat,salt,and nutrients.Accurate representation of these eddies in ocean models is essential for improving model predictions.In this study,we propose a convolutional neural network(CNN)that combines data-driven techniques with physical principles to develop a robust and interpretable parameterization scheme for mesoscale eddies in ocean modeling.We use a highresolution reanalysis dataset to extract subgrid eddy momentum and then applying machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and correlations.To ensure physical consistency,we have introduced conservation of momentum constraints in our CNN parameterization scheme through soft and hard constraints.The interpretability analysis illustrate that the pre-trained CNN parameterization shows promising results in accurately solving the resolved mean velocity and effectively capturing the representation of unresolved subgrid turbulence processes.Furthermore,to validate the CNN parameterization scheme offline,we conduct simulations using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model(MITgcm)ocean model.A series of experiments is conducted to compare the performance of the model with the CNN parameterization scheme and high-resolution simulations.The offline validation demonstrates the effectiveness of the CNN parameterization scheme in improving the representation of mesoscale eddies in the MITgcm ocean model.Incorporating the CNN parameterization scheme leads to better agreement with high-resolution simulations and a more accurate representation of the kinetic energy spectra.
基金Supported by the Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province (Nos.TS20190913,tsqn202211054)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.202241007)the Youth Innovation Team Program in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province (No.2022KJ045)
文摘Mesoscale eddies are widespread in the global ocean,significantly influencing the physical,chemical,and biological structures of water column.Based on the CTD data and suspended particulate matter(SPM)data collected at 36 hydrographic stations during a field cruise in southern Mozambique Channel,combined with satellite altimeter observations,we identified a series of mesoscale eddies traversing the Mozambique Channel.Our hydrographic measurements,coupled with in situ chlorophyll fluorescence data,reveal that these eddies significantly influence thermohaline structure and chlorophyll distribution,which in turn affects primary productivity and SPM concentrations in the upper ocean.The cyclonic eddies facilitate the upwelling of cold subsurface water,leading to a shallowing of the pycnocline and the creation of a low-temperature anomaly with variable salinity anomalies at different depths.Conversely,anticyclonic eddies submerge warm surface water,deepening the pycnocline,and resulting in a high-temperature anomaly accompanied by distinct salinity patterns.Significantly,a coastal anticyclonic eddy was observed to intercept terrestrial material from the Delagoa Bight,redirecting it west of 36°E.This study presents unique and quasi-synchronous CTD datasets capturing mesoscale eddy impacts,and provided valuable insights into SPM variability within the often-neglected southern Mozambique Channel.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52003249,12072325 and 52273027)the Natural Science Foundation of Henan(No.242300421236).
文摘In this work,a morphology transition mode is revealed in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)when stretching at 120℃:moving from the slightly deformed region to the necked region,the morphology transfers from small spherulites to a mixture of transcrystalline and enlarged spherulites,and finally to pure transcrystalline;meanwhile,the lamellae making up the transcrystalline or spherulite were fragmented into smaller ones;spatial scan by wide-angle X-ray scattering(WAXS)and small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS)revealed that the crystallinity is increased from 25.3%to 30.1%and the crystal orientation was enhanced greatly,but the lamellae orientation was quite weak.The rise of enlarged spherulites or a mixture of transcrystalline and spherulites can also be found in UHMWPE stretched at 140 and 148℃,whereas absent in UHMWPE stretched at 30℃.In situ WAXS/SAXS measurements suggest that during stretching at 30℃,the crystallinity is reduced drastically,and a few voids are formed as the size increases from 50 nm to 210 nm;during stretching at 120℃,the crystallinity is reduced only slightly,and the kinking of lamellae occurs at large Hencky strain;during stretching at 140 and 148℃,an increase in crystallinity with stretching strain can be found,and the lamellae are also kinked.Taking the microstructure and morphology transition into consideration,a mesoscale morphology transition mode is proposed,in the stretching-induced crystallization the fragmented lamellae can be rearranged into new supra-structures such as spherulite or transcrystalline during hot stretching.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Improvement in two aspects is done of the one-level mesoscale numerical model of Mass et al.(1985)and the re- vised model is used to make a simulation of a severe convective weather process in North China,with the result showing the pronounced effects of the topography upon the mesoscale systems.
文摘The mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (MM4) in which the computations of the turbulent exchange coefficient in the boundary layer and surface fluxes are improved, is used to study the influences of boundary layer parameterization schemes on the predictive results of the mesoscale model. Seven different experiment schemes (including the original MM4 model) designed in this paper are tested by the observational data of several heavy rain cases so as to find an improved boundary layer parameterization scheme in the mesoscale meteorological model. The results show that all the seven different boundary layer parameterization schemes have some influences on the forecasts of precipitation intensity, distribution of rain area, vertical velocity, vorticity and divergence fields, and the improved schemes in this paper can improve the precipitation forecast. Key words Boundary layer parameterization - Mesoscale numerical weather prediction (MNWP) - Turbulent exchange coefficient - Surface fluxes - Heavy rain This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49875005 and No. 49735180).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 40930949)Key Subject Project of Beijing Atmospheric Physics and Environment,the One Hundred Person Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Data from the Beijing SAFIR 3000 lightning detection system and Doppler radar provided some insights into the three-dimensional lightning structure and evolution of a leading-line and trailing-stratiform （LLTS） mesoscale convective system （MCS） over Beijing on 31 July 2007. Most of the lightning in the LLTS-MCS was intracloud （IC） lightning, while the mean ratio of positive cloud-to-ground （＋CG） lightning to –CG lightning was 1：4, which was higher than the average value from previous studies. The majority of CG lightning occurred in the convective region of the radar echo, particularly at the leading edge of the front. Little IC lightning and little ＋CG lightning occurred in the stratiform region. The distribution of the CG lightning indicated that the storm had a tilted dipole structure given the wind shear or the tripole charge structure. During the storm’s development, most of the IC lightning occurred at an altitude of ～9.5 km; the lightning rate reached its maximum at 10.5 km, the altitude of IC lightning in the mature stage of the storm. When the thunderstorm began to dissipate, the altitude of the IC lightning decreased gradually. The spatial distribution of lightning was well correlated with the rainfall on the ground, although the peak value of rainfall appeared 75 min later than the peak lightning rate.
基金supported by the National Key Basic Research and Development (973) Program of China (Grant No. 2014CB441405)the Open Research Program of the Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology) of the Ministry of Education (Grant No. KLME1414)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41574179)the Natural Science Foundation of Excellent Youth Program of China (Grant No. 41622501)“The Hundred Talents Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2013068)
文摘In this paper, we report the location results for the parent lightning strokes of more than 30 red sprites observed over an asymmetric mesoscale convective system(MCS) on 30 July 2015 in Shandong Province, China, with a long-baseline lightning location network of very-low-frequency/low-frequency magnetic field sensors. The results show that almost all of these cloud-to-ground(CG) strokes are produced during the mature stage of the MCS, and are predominantly located in the trailing stratiform region, which is similar to analyses of sprite-productive MCSs in North America and Europe. Comparison between the location results for the sprite-producing CG strokes and those provided by the World Wide Lightning Location Network(WWLLN) indicates that the location accuracy of WWLLN for intense CG strokes in Shandong Province is typically within 10 km, which is consistent with the result based on analysis of 2838 sprite-producing CG strokes in the continental United States. Also, we analyze two cases where some minor lightning discharges in the parent flash of sprites can also be located, providing an approach to confine the thundercloud region tapped by the sprite-producing CG strokes.
基金This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 40325014, 40333031SRFDP, TRAP0YT, FANEDD 11999, and under the support of The Key Scientific and Technological Project of the Ministry of Education The State Key Basic Research Program （Grant No. 2004CB18300）.
文摘The multi-scale weather systems associated with a mei-yu front and the corresponding heavy precipitation during a particular heavy rainfall event that occurred on 4 5 July 2003 in east China were successfully simulated through rainfall assimilation using the PSU/NCAR non-hydrostatic, mesoscale, numerical model （MM5） and its four-dimensional, variational, data assimilation （4DVAR） system. For this case, the improvement of the process via the 4DVAR rainfall assimilation into the simulation of mesoscale precipitation systems is investigated. With the rainfall assimilation, the convection is triggered at the right location and time, and the evolution and spatial distribution of the mesoscale convective systems （MCSs） are also more correctly simulated. Through the interactions between MCSs and the weather systems at different scales, including the low-level jet and mei-yu front, the simulation of the entire mei-yu weather system is significantly improved, both during the data assimilation window and the subsequent 12-h period. The results suggest that the rainfall assimilation first provides positive impact at the convective scale and the influences are then propagated upscale to the meso- and sub-synoptic scales. Through a set of sensitive experiments designed to evaluate the impact of different initial variables on the simulation of mei-yu heavy rainfall, it was found that the moisture field and meridional wind had the strongest effect during the convection initialization stage, however, after the convection was fully triggered, all of the variables at the initial condition seemed to have comparable importance.
基金supported jointly by the National Key Basic Research and Development (973) Program of China (Grant No. 2014CB441401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41405007, 41175043, 41475002, and 41205027)
文摘Two intense quasi-linear mesoscale convective systems（QLMCSs） in northern China were simulated using the WRF（Weather Research and Forecasting） model and the 3D-Var（three-dimensional variational） analysis system of the ARPS（Advanced Regional Prediction System） model.A new method in which the lightning density is calculated using both the precipitation and non-precipitation ice mass was developed to reveal the relationship between the lightning activities and QLMCS structures.Results indicate that,compared with calculating the results using two previous methods,the lightning density calculated using the new method presented in this study is in better accordance with observations.Based on the calculated lightning densities using the new method,it was found that most lightning activity was initiated on the right side and at the front of the QLMCSs,where the surface wind field converged intensely.The CAPE was much stronger ahead of the southeastward progressing QLMCS than to the back it,and their lightning events mainly occurred in regions with a large gradient of CAPE.Comparisons between lightning and non-lightning regions indicated that lightning regions featured more intense ascending motion than non-lightning regions;the vertical ranges of maximum reflectivity between lightning and non-lightning regions were very different;and the ice mixing ratio featured no significant differences between the lightning and non-lightning regions.
基金Fundamental Scientific Research Condition, a project of Ministry of Science & Technology(2003DIB4J145)Key Scientific Project for Guangdong Province (2004B32601002)
文摘Observational analysis shows that a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) occurred on May 13-14 2004 along the coastal area in South China. The MCS initiated among the southwesterly flows within a west-east orientation low-level shear line. Associated with the system, in its subsequent development stages, no distinct vortex circulation developed in low-level. Instead, a cyclonic flow disturbance was observed in the mid-troposphere. How the convection starts to develop and evolve into a MCS With observational analysis and numerical simulation, the problem has been studied. The high-resolution MM5 simulation shows that topographic convergence along the coastal line and the nearby mountains in western South China plays an important role to initiate the MCS convection. Once the convection occurs, due to the condensation heating, a cooperative interaction between the preexisting mid-level disturbance and convection is created, which may greatly affect the MCS development during periods when the system continues moving eastward. Compared to some typical MCS that happen in Southern China, which are usually accompanied with upward development of cyclonic vorticity, the development and evolution of the investigated MCS shows distinguishing features. In this article, the physical mechanisms responsible for the intensification of mid-level disturbance are discussed, and a viewpoint to interpret the effects of mid-level disturbance on the MCS organizational development is proposed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 91437215 and 41375052)State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Open Project (Grant No. 2013LASW-A06)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZZD-EW05-01)
文摘Progress over the past decade in understanding moisture-driven dynamics and torrential rain storms in China is reviewed in this paper. First, advances in incorporating moisture effects more realistically into theory are described, including the development of a new parameter, generalized moist potential vorticity（GMPV） and an improved moist ageostrophic Q vector（Qum）. Advances in vorticity dynamics are also described, including the adoption of a ＂parcel dynamic＂ approach to investigate the development of the vertical vorticity of an air parcel; a novel theory of slantwise vorticity development, proposed because vorticity develops easily near steep isentropic surfaces; and the development of the convective vorticity vector（CVV）as an effective new tool. The significant progress in both frontal dynamics and wave dynamics is also summarized, including the geostrophic adjustment of initial unbalanced flow and the dual role of boundary layer friction in frontogenesis, as well as the interaction between topography and fronts, which indicate that topographic perturbations alter both frontogenesis and frontal structure. For atmospheric vortices, mixed wave/vortex dynamics has been extended to explain the propagation of spiral rainbands and the development of dynamical instability in tropical cyclones. Finally, we review wave and basic flow interaction in torrential rainfall, for which it was necessary to extend existing theory from large-scale flows to mesoscale fields, enriching our knowledge of mesoscale atmospheric dynamics.
基金supported jointly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41374153 and 41574141)the High Resolution Earth Observation Funds for Young Scientists(Grant No.GFZX04060103-711)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.2013053)
文摘Sprites are brief optical emissions occurring above thunderstorms. Features of sprites and their parent thunderstorms and lightning activities have been studied by many researchers. Here, we report a single sprite recorded over a mesoscale convective system during its life cycle in Northeast China. The results show that the sprite might have been a dancing one, with a 20 km horizontal displacement from its parent cloud-to-ground flash （CG） and a 38 ms time delay; all the sprite elements occurred during the continuing current process of the parent flash. The peak current of the parent CG was the largest during the almost one-hour time window containing the sprite, and the absolute values of all the negative flashes were smaller than 100 kA during the same time period and did not produce sprite. The sprite did not occur during the time period in which the maximum area of the thunderstorm reached. The occurrence of sprite corresponded well with the decay of the thunderstorm convection, and no significant relationship between the occurrence of sprite and the increase in the 30-35 dBZ and 35-40 dBZ interval was found. The large wind gradient in the 8-12 km region of the thunderstorm may have played an important role in the sprite production.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFC1507200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41975057).
文摘Based on the previous statistical analysis of mesoscale convective systems(MCSs)over the second-step terrain along Yangtze-Huaihe River Valley,eight representative long-lived eastward-propagating MCSs are selected for model-based sensitivity testing to investigate the initiation and evolution of these types of MCSs as well as their impact on downstream areas.We subject each MCS to a semi-idealized(CNTL)simulation and a sensitivity(NOLH)simulation that neglects condensational heating in the formation region.The CNTL experiment reveals convection forms in the region downstream of a shortwave trough typified by persistent southwesterly winds in the low-to midtroposphere.Upon merging with other convective systems,moist convection develops into an MCS,which propagates eastward under the influence of mid-tropospheric westerlies,and moves out of the second-step terrain.The MCS then merges with pre-existing local convection over the plains;the merged convection reinforces the cyclonic wind perturbation into a mesoscale vortex at 850 hPa.While this vortex moves eastward to regions with local vortex at 850 hPa,another vortex at 925 hPa is also intensified.Finally,the vortices at 850 and 925 hPa merge together and develop into a mesoscale convective vortex(MCV).In contrast,MCSs fail to form and move eastward in the NOLH experiment.In the absence of eastward-propagating MCSs,moist convection and mesoscale vortices still appear in the plains,but the vortex strength and precipitation intensity are significantly weakened.It is suggested the eastward-propagating MCSs over the second-step terrain significantly impact the development and enhancement of moist convection and vortices in the downstream areas.
