Abstract
A new frontogenesis function is developed and analyzed on the basis of a local change rate of the absolute horizontal gradient of the resultant deformation. Different from the traditional frontogenesis function, the newly defined deformation frontogenesis is derived from the viewpoint of dynamics rather than thermodynamics. Thus, it is more intuitive for the study of frontogenesis because the compaction of isolines of both temperature and moisture can be directly induced by the change of a flow field. This new frontogenesis function is particularly useful for studying the mei-yu front in China because mei-yu rainbands typically consist of a much stronger moisture gradient than temperature gradient, and involve large deformation flow. An analysis of real mei-yu frontal rainfall events indicates that the deformation frontogenesis function works remarkably well, producing a clearer mei-yu front than the traditional frontogenesis function based on a measure of the potential temperature gradient. More importantly, the deformation frontogenesis shows close correlation with the subsequent (6 h later) precipitation pattern and covers the rainband well, bearing significance for the prognosis or even prediction of future precipitation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergeron, T., 1928: Uber die dreidimensional Verkniipfende Vetteranalyse. I. Geof. Publ., 5(6), 1–111. (in Germany)
Bluestein, H. B., 1992: Synoptic-dynamic Meteorology in Midlati tudes. Vol. I, Principles of Kinematics and Dynamics, Oxford University Press, USA, 430 pp.
Davies-Jones, R. P., 1982: Observational and theoretical aspects of tornadogenesis. Intense Atmospheric Vortices, L. Bengtsson and J. Lighthill, Eds., Springer-Verlag, 175–189.
Davies-Jones, R. P., 1985: Comments on “A kinematic analysis of frontogenesis associated with a nondivergent vortex.” J. Atmos. Sci., 42, 2073–2075.
Doswell, C. A., III, 1984: A kinematic analysis of frontogenesis associated with a nondivergent vortex. J. Atmos. Sci., 41, 1242–1248.
Eliassen, A., 1962: On the vertical circulation in frontal zones. Geofys. Publ., 24(4), 147–160.
Fang, J., and R. S. Wu, 1998: Frontogenesis, evolution and the time scale of front formation. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 15, 233–246 doi.
Fang, J., and R. S. Wu, 2001: Topographic effect on geostrophic adjustment and frontogenesis. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18, 524–538 doi.
Gao, S. T., S. Yang, M. Xue, and C. G. Cui, 2008: The total deformation and its role in heavy precipitation events associated with deformation-dominant flow patterns. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 25, 11–23, doi: 10.1007/s00376-008-0011-y.
Gao, S. T., S. Yang, and B. Chen, 2010: Diagnostic analyses of dry intrusion and nonuniformaly saturated instability during a rainfall event. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D02102, doi: 10.1029/2009JD012467.
Hoskins, B. J., and F. P., Bretherton, 1972: Atmospheric frontogenesis models: Mathematical formulation and solution. J. Atmos. Sci., 29, 11–37.
Keyser, D., M. J. Pecnick, and M. A. Shapiro, 1986: Diagnosis of the role of vertical deformation in a two-dimensional primitive equation model of upper-level frontogenesis. J. Atmos. Sci., 43, 839–850.
Keyser, D., J. M., Reeder, and J. R., Reed, 1988: A generalization of Petterssen’s frontogenesis function and its relation to the forcing of vertical motion. Mon. Wea. Rev., 116, 762–780.
Li, N., L. K. Ran, Y. S. Zhou, and S. T. Gao, 2013: Diagnosis of the frontogenesis and slantwise vorticity development caused by the deformation in the Beijing “7.21” torrential rainfall event. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 71, 593–605.
Margules, M., 1906: Uber temperaturschichtung in stationar bewegter und ruhender luft Hann-Band. Meteorol. Z., 243–254. (in Germany)
Miller, J. E., 1948: On the concept of frontogenesis. J. Meteor., 5, 169–171.
Newton, C. W., 1954: Frontogenesis and frontolysis as a threedimensional process. J. Atmos. Sci., 11, 449–461.
Ninomiya, K., 1984: Characteristics of Baiu front as a predominant subtropical front in the summer northern hemisphere. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 62, 880–893.
Ninomiya, K., 2000: Large-and meso-scale characteristics of Meiyu/Baiu front associated with intense rainfalls in 1–10 July 1991. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 78, 141–157.
Norbury, J., 2002. Large-scale Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics. Vol I, Cambridge University Press, 2–7.
Petterssen, S., 1936: Contribution to the theory of frontogenesis. Geofys. Publ., 11(6), 1–27.
Petterssen, S., 1956: Weather Analysis and Forecasting. Vol.1, Motion and Motion Systems, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, 428 pp.
Ran, L. K., W. X. Yang, and Y. C. Hong, 2009: Deformation of moisture flux circulation surrounding the landfall typhoon “Bilis”. J. Trop. Meteor., 15, 167–180, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-8775.2009.02.006.
Reed, R. J., 1955: A study of a characteristic type of upper-level frontogenesis. J. Atmos. Sci., 12, 226–237.
Reed, R. J., and E. F. Danielsen, 1958: Fronts in the vicinity of the tropopause. Arch. Much. Meteor. Geophys. Bioklim., 11, 1–17.
Sawyer, J. S., 1956: The vertical circulation at meteorological fronts and its relation to frontogenesis. Proc. Roy. Soc. London A., 234, 346–362.
Schultz, D. M., and W. J. Steenburgh, 1999: The formation of a forward-tilting cold front with multiple cloud bands during superstorm 1993. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 1108–1124.
Schultz, D. M., and F. Sanders, 2002: Upper-level frontogenesis associated with the birth of mobile troughs in northwesterly flow. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130, 2593–2610.
Schultz, D. M., and R. J. Trapp, 2003: Nonclassical cold-frontal structure caused by dry subcloud air in northern Utah during the intermountain precipitation experiment. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2222–2246.
Schultz, D. M. D. Keyser, and L. F. Bosart, 1998: The effect of large-scale flow on low-level frontal structure and evolution in midlatitude cyclones. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 1767–1791.
Wu, R. S., and J. Fang, 2001: Mechanism of balanced flow and frontogenesis. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18, 323–334.
Wu, R. S., S. T. Gao, and Z. M. Tan, 2004: Front and Meso-scale Disturbation. China Meteorological Press, Beijing, 6–57.
Yang, S., 2007: The study of the formation mechanism of heavy rain events occurred in Huabei areas in China. Ph.D. dissertation, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 109 pp.
Yang, S., S. T. Gao, and D. H. Wang, 2007: Diagnostic analyses of the ageostrophic Q vector in the non-uniformly saturated, frictionless, and moist adiabatic flow. J. Geophys. Res., 112, D09114, doi: 10.1029/2006JD008142.
Yang, S., X. P. Cui, L. K. Ran, 2009: Analyses of dry intrusion and instability during heavy rainfall event occurred in Northern China. Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 2, 108–112.
Yang, S., S. T. Gao, and C. G. Lu, 2014: A generalized frontogenesis function and its application. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 31, 1065–1078, doi: 10.1007/s00376-014-3328-y.
Yu, F., S. M. Fu, S. X. Zhao, and J. H. Sun, 2012: Study on the dynamic characteristics of an eastward-offshore mesoscale vortex along the Meiyu-Baiu Front. Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 5, 360–366.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, S., Gao, S. & Lu, C. Investigation of the mei-yu front using a new deformation frontogenesis function. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 32, 635–647 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-014-4147-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-014-4147-7