Wind Profiler for Understanding of Meiyu at Dongshan

Abstract

Abstract: To understand the Meiyu Boundary layer evolutionand vertical structure of precipitating cloud systems over Dongshan, special observational campaigns have been conducted downstream of the Yangtze River during June and July in the years 2001 and 2002. We deployed a Lower Atmospheric Wind Profiler (LAWP) with Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) at the Meteorological Observatory, Dongshan within a mesoscale network that consists of three X-band Doppler radars, three AWS, and Micro rain radar to observe the inner structure of precipitating cloud systems seen frequently in the observational area. The LAWP provides vertical profiles of three-dimensional wind, vertical structure of the precipitating cloud system, convective boundary layer (CBL), and temperature from the (RASS) lower atmosphere with a height resolution of 60 m to 200 m and a time resolution of about 1 to 60 minutes. LAWP had been operated in two modes: low mode and high mode up to 4 km and 11 km height during non-rainy and rain conditions, respectively. A study was carried out during an intensive observational period (IOP-2001 and IOP-2002) to understand the pre-convective environments in the boundary layer during pre-Meiyu and Meiyu convective days to find out whether there is any precursor before the convection triggering. Further in Meiyu precipitating cloud systems, the reflectivity vertical structure can be used to identify the range of precipitation processes from the young, dynamically vigorous cells to the mature, bright band resolved stratiform rain.