Abstract
A rainstorm which occurred between May 22 and 23, 2014 in Guangdong Province of the South China warm region was simulated by using the ARW-WRF model. Three “echo-trainings” over the rainstorm center were analyzed and the results of both the simulation and observational analysis showed that this rainstorm process was composed of three stages. In the first stage, gravity waves triggered the simultaneous but relatively independent formation of linear convection and convective cells, which moved toward the northeast through the rain center, thus creating the echo-training. In the second stage, with the formation of cold outflow, new convective cells were continuously created in the southwest and northwest of the rain area and then gradually moved to merge into the northeast rain area, thus forming a new echo-training. In the third stage, multiple rain bands above the rain area moved southeastward and passed through the strongest precipitation center, thus creating the third echo-training. The model simulation showed that a substantial warming appeared at 900 hPa before the convective initiation, leading to the formation of a stable layer below 900 hPa, which was the primary cause for the gravity waves that triggered the multiple convective cells. The multiple convective cells formed the convective line, following which new convection was formed from the cold outflow in its southwest and northwest directions. The new convection in the southwest maintained the rain band; however, the new convection in the northwest, combined with the rain band of the north, formed a large radar reflectivity area and consequently, a larger MCS.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aylward R P, Dyer J L (2010). Synoptic environments associated with the training of convective cells. Weather Forecast, 25(2): 446–464
Bauer-Messmer B, Smith J A, Baeck M L, Zhao W (1998). Heavy rainfall: contrasting two concurrent Great Plains thunderstorms. Weather Forecast, 12(4): 785–798
Chen M, Wang Y, Xiao X, Gao F (2013). Initiation and propagation mechanism for the Beijing Extreme heavy rainstorm clusters on 12 July 2012. Acta Meteorol Sin, 71(4): 569–592 (in Chinese)
Gong D L, Wu Z M, Gang F (2005). Analysis of the mesoscale characteristics about a severe thunderstorm in North China. Chin J Atmos Sci, 29(3): 453–464 (in Chinese)
Hitchens N M, Brooks H E (2013). Preliminary investigation of the contribution of supercell thunderstorms to the climatology of heavy and extreme precipitation in the United States. Atmos Res, 123: 206–210
Huang X, Chen J, Ye C (2010). Doppler radar echo characteristic analysis of an extraordinary rainstorm caused by BILIS in southeastern Hunan Province. Transactions of Atmospheric Sciences, (01): 7–13
Kawashima M (2016). The role of vertically propagating gravity waves forced by melting-induced cooling in the formation and evolution of wide cold-frontal rainbands. J Atmos Sci, 73(7): 2803–2836
Ke W, Yu X, Lin W, Huang E, Guan X, Huang T, Yang X (2012). Analytical study of a torrential rainstorm caused by “echo-training”. Meteorol Monogr, 38(5): 552–560 (in Chinese)
Knupp K R, Cotton W R (1987). Internal structure of a small mesoscale convective system. Mon Weather Rev, 115(3): 629–645
Koch S, Jamison B, Lu C, Smith T, Tollerud E, Girz C, Wang N, Lane T, Shapiro M, Parrish D, Cooper O (2005). Turbulence and gravity waves within an upper-level front. J Atmos Sci, 62(11): 3885–3908
Koch S, O’ Handley C (1997). Operational forecasting and detection of mesoscale gravity waves. Weather Forecast, 12(2): 253–281
Kuester M, Alexander M, Ray E (2008). A model study of gravity waves over hurricane Humberto (2001). J Atmos Sci, 65(10): 3231–3246
Lane T, Moncrieff M (2008). Stratospheric gravity waves generated by multiscale tropical convection. J Atmos Sci, 65(8): 2598–2614
Li H J, Li X, Fang H, Li J, Qin C (2013). Analyses on triggered MCC evolution process and structural characteristic in a heavy rainstorm in Guangxi. Plateau Meteorol, 32(3): 806–817 (in Chinese)
Li M (1978). The triggering effect of gravity wave on the heavy rainstorm. Chin J Atmos Sci, 2(3): 201–209 (in Chinese)
Luo Y, Gong Y, Zhang D L (2014). Initiation and organizational modes of an extreme-rain-producing mesoscale convective system along a Mei-Yu Front in East China. Mon Weather Rev, 142(1): 203–221
Maddox R A, Chappell C F, Hoxit L R (1979). Synoptic and mesoscale aspects of flash flood event. Bull Amer Meteor Soc, 60
Nachamkin J E, Cotton W R (2000). Interactions between a developing mesoscale convective system and its environment. Part II: numerical simulation. Mon Weather Rev, 128(5): 1225–1244
Nachamkin J E, McAnelly R L, Cotton W R (2000). Interactions between a developing mesoscale convective system and its environment. Part I: observational analysis. Mon Weather Rev, 128 (5): 1205–1224
Nelson S P (1987). The hybrid multicellular–supercellular storm—An efficient hail producer. Part II: general characteristics and implications for hail growth. J Atmos Sci, 44(15): 2060–2073
Nelson S P, Knight N C (1987). The hybrid multicellular–supercellular storm—An efficient hail producer. Part I: an archetypal example. J Atmos Sci, 44(15): 2042–2059
Qi L, Nong M, Ji W (2012). Meso-scale characteristics of a rainstorm process in Guangxi Province between July, 2 and July, 4, 2009. Meteorol Monogr, 38(4): 438–447 (in Chinese)
Shou S, Li S, Yao X (2003). Mesometeorology. Beijing: Meteorological Press (in Chinese)
Skamarock W C, Klemp J B, Dudhia J (2008). A description of the Advanced Research WRF version 3. NCAR Tech. Note TN-4751STR, 113
Sun J, He N, Guo R, Chen M (2013). The configuration change and train effect mechanism of multi-cell storms. Chin J Atmos Sci, 37(1): 137–148 (in Chinese)
Sun J, He N, Wang G, Chen M, Miao X, Wang H (2012). Preliminary analysis on synoptic configuration evolvement and mechanism of a torrential rain occurring in Beijing on 21 July 2012. Torrential Rain and Disasters, 31(3): 218–225
Sun S, Zheng J, Zhi S, Xu A, Chen Y, Sheng Z, Yu A (2015). Study on a Meiyu front rainstorm caused by “echo-training”. Plateau Meteorol, 34(1): 190–201
Wang H, Luo Y, Jou B J D (2014). Initiation, maintenance, and properties of convection in an extraordinary rainfall event during SCMREX: observational analysis. J Geophys Res Atmos, 119(23): 13, 206–13, 232
Weisman M L, Klemp J B (1984). The structure and classification of numerically simulated convective storms in directionally varying wind shears. Mon Weather Rev, 112(12): 2479–2498
Xia D, Zheng L, Dong S, Song L (1983). Several mesoscale separation operators for meteorological field and their comparison. Chin J Atmos Sci, 7(3): 303–311 (in Chinese)
Xue J (2000). Study on the Heavy Rainfall of Summer in 1994 in Southern China. Beijing: Meteorological Press, 1–370 (in Chinese)
Xu Y, Yan J, Wang Q, Dong J (2013). A low layer gravity wave triggering mechanism of heavy rain in the warm region of Southern China. Plateau Meteorol, 32(4): 1050–1061 (in Chinese)
Yin J, Wang D, Zhai G (2014). A study of characteristics of the cloud microphysical parameterization schemes in mesoscale models and its applicability to China. Advances in Earth Science, 29(2): 238–249
Zhao Y, Wang Y (2009). A review of studies on torrential rain during pre-summer flood season in South China since the 1980’s. Torrential Rain and Disasters, 28(03): 3–38
Zülicke C, Peters D (2006). Simulation of inertia–gravity waves in a poleward-breaking Rossby Wave. J Atmos Sci, 63(12): 3253–3276
Acknowledgements
This study was jointly supported by State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (2015LASW-A07), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41530427) and the National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB430103). References
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ding, Z., Qian, L., Zhao, X. et al. Analysis of three echo-trainings of a rainstorm in the South China warm region. Front. Earth Sci. 12, 381–396 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-017-0651-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-017-0651-2