Mechanisms of secondary convection within a Mei‐Yu frontal mesoscale convective system in eastern China

Abstract

AbstractThe generation of secondary convection, following an earlier episode of convection, within a heavy‐rain‐producing mesoscale convective system (MCS) along a Mei‐Yu front in eastern China on 6–8 July 2013 is studied based on convection‐permitting Weather Research and Forecasting simulations. The initiation of the secondary convection is found to be directly linked to the downward development of a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) spawn by the MCS. In the early and mature stage, the MCV center is located at the middle troposphere; it descends gradually with time as the parent MCS began to decay, with the associated convection transitioning from deep to shallow convection. The descent of the MCV occurs in response to the lowering of the maximum diabatic heating within the convective system, which increases positive potential vorticity down below. When the MCV reaches the lower troposphere, it becomes coupled with the prefrontal southwesterly low‐level jet (LLJ). The confluence of the MCV rotational flow with the LLJ notably enhances the convergence on the southern flank of the MCV, where the secondary convection is triggered and swapped through the southeastern flank of the MCV. Unlike that found in the MCV of the U.S. Central Plains, the cold pool produced by the Mei‐Yu frontal MCS is rather weak and shallow and appears to play only a minor role in promoting convection. The balanced isentropic lifting by the MCV circulation is also weak, although the MCV circulation does help localize the secondary convection.