Characteristics and evolution of atmospheric circulation patterns during Meiyu over the Jianghuai valley

Abstract

This study focuses on the evolution of large-scale circulations before and after the beginning of the Meiyu and analyzes the formations of the typical vertical circulation pattern associated with Meiyu and its relationship with the Meiyu rainband. Results show that the typical vertical circulation pattern during the Meiyu season is characterized by the “two-leg”-type pattern in the vorticity field, a typhoon eye-like structure of the equivalent potential temperature field, as well as the sharp gradient of the equivalent potential temperature zone, i.e., the Meiyu front are typically presented in the Meiyu season. Tracking its evolution process, we find that the typical vertical circulation pattern is built at late March and early April along with the rainband locating at the area south to the Yangtze River. This typical pattern and the rainband both advance northward affecting Jianghuai valley since the beginning of Meiyu. Moreover, the typical vertical circulation pattern derived from Meiyu season has been formed in April and corresponds to the reverse of the land-sea thermal contrast between the Eastern Asia and western Pacific Ocean, demonstrating the close relationship of the movement between the rainband and the march of the East Asian subtropical summer monsoon.