Numerical Modeling of an Orographically Enhanced Precipitation Event Associated with Tropical Storm Rachel over Taiwan

Abstract

Abstract An orographic rainfall event that occurred on 6–7 August 1999 during the passage of Tropical Storm (TS) Rachel over Taiwan is investigated by performing triply nested, nonhydrostatic numerical simulations using the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) model. By examining both observational data and numerical model output, it is found that this orographic rainfall event may be separated into three distinct stages. During the first stage (0000–1200 UTC 6 August), TS Rachel was located in the South China Sea and tracked northeastward to Taiwan. Meanwhile, TS Paul was steered by the subtropical high over southwest Japan. During the second stage (1200 UTC 6 August–0000 UTC 7 August), the southwesterly monsoon current as well as the circulation of TS Rachel over southwest Taiwan strengthened and formed a low-level jet (LLJ) with high equivalent potential temperature when TS Rachel moved closer to Taiwan. In comparing the control and sensitivity...