Strong Baroclinicity Research Articles

A case study of an extreme flooding episode in Charikar, Eastern Afghanistan

Abstract This work investigates the meteorological mechanisms forming a classical frontal system on 26 August 2020 in the northeast and eastern parts of Afghanistan. The weather system caused heavy rainfall and led to severe flash floods. Flooding, affected by torrential rain showers, struck mostly the city of Charikar in Parvan province early in the morning day, while most people were asleep. This caused 150 deaths, and nearly 500 houses were destroyed. This research explores atmospheric processes by examining the National Centers for Environmental Prediction dataset and MERRA Model database. The calculation of the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and Showalter index extracted from the Skew-T log-pressure diagram shows a high value of the CAPE at around 2,632 J/kg and −6.6 for the Showalter index, respectively. This presents a very extreme instability in the study area during the time of the flood. The study reveals that the triggering of this system was mostly by thermodynamical aspects, low-level deep convergence, and local topographical aspects rather than the PV streamer. However, the anomaly climate analysis for different atmospheric elements with a comparison of the climate normal values shows the importance of climate change in the weather system into a stronger frontal activity associated with stronger baroclinicity over the study area.

Modulation of North Atlantic Polar Low Activity and Associated Flow Patterns by Sudden Stratospheric Warmings

Abstract Polar lows (PLs) are intense maritime mesoscale cyclones that can pose hazards to coastal communities and marine operation in the Arctic. This study examines the impacts of sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) on PL activity in the subarctic North Atlantic. The 20 days following SSWs are characterized by tropospheric circulation anomalies resembling the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. PL activity decreases significantly over the Labrador Sea, which can be attributed to the infrequent occurrence of low static stability and strong environmental baroclinicity, as well as reduced surface turbulent heat fluxes. These results suggest that a skillful prediction of SSWs can improve the extended-range forecast of PL activity over the Labrador Sea. For the Nordic seas, the results imply that the spatial structure of an SSW event is important for the PL modulation through different tropospheric circulation patterns. Situations with increased PL frequency in the Nordic seas are characterized by SSWs centered close to northern Greenland occurring over a smaller area, and a tropospheric response featuring enhanced cold-air outbreaks over the Norwegian Sea. Conversely, PL activity is suppressed over the Nordic seas when the SSW favors the formation of a tropospheric anticyclone above Greenland and Scandinavia. Significance Statement This study investigates the relationships between polar lows (PLs) and sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) over the subarctic North Atlantic. A better understanding of the effect of SSWs on PL development has the potential to improve extended-range forecasts of PLs. It is shown that SSWs are responsible for the significantly suppressed regional PL activity over the Labrador Sea, suggesting that SSWs can serve as a predictor for the extended-range forecast of PLs over this region. Following SSW events, the thermodynamic state of atmosphere becomes more stable over the Labrador Sea and hinders the convective development of PLs. For the northern Nordic seas, the impacts of SSWs on PL activity are sensitive to the spatial structure of stratospheric warming.

Characteristics of Transient Eddies During Ural Blocking Events With Different Lifetime in Winter

Ural blocking high (hereafter UB) is one of the most important weather systems influencing the weather and climate of China, with its onset and development closely connected with transient eddies. Herein, we classified the wintertime UB events during 1979–2015 into three types according to their lifetime, i.e., short, medium, and long lifetime UB events and further analyzed the characteristics of momentum and heat fluxes transported by transient eddies during the three types of UB events. The results show that the eddy momentum and heat transport by transient eddies over the Ural regions is strong, while the westerly is weak, favorable for the establishment and maintenance of the UB. Before the onset of all the UB events there are enhanced lower-level temperature disturbances, decelerated westerly and convergence of transient momentum and heat fluxes. After the onset of the UB, the upper-level jet stream is accelerated and eddy flux convergence is enhanced. Furthermore, it is found that the duration and position of convergence could be one of important factors determining the lifetime of UB event. The long-time strong convergence of transient eddies favors the maintenance of UB. During long UB events, the polar jet and the convergence of eddy momentum fluxes have the strongest intensity and northward shifted position. The convergence is further strengthened until Day +2 and weakened since Day +7, favorable for the long-time maintenance of UB. There is convergence on Day -3 of both short and medium UB events, which disappears on Day +4 during short events, while strengthened after the onset of medium events, leading to a long-time maintenance of UB. Furthermore, among the three types of UB events, the upward propagation of wave activity and E-P flux divergence are the strongest and most long-lasting during long UB events, while the weakest and shortest during short UB events, which can also verify strong atmospheric baroclinicity and long-lasting strong convergence of transient eddies are favorable for long duration of the UB.

Statistical Characteristics and Composite Environmental Conditions of Explosive Cyclones over the Japan Sea and Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension

Statistical characteristics and composite synoptic-scale environmental conditions of explosive cyclones (ECs) over the Japan Sea and Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension are examined and compared using ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis to give a better understanding of their differences. ECs over the Japan Sea frequently occur in late autumn and early winter and those over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension mainly occur in winter and early spring. The maximum deepening rate, minimum central sea level pressure and explosive-developing lifetime of ECs over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension are generally larger, lower and longer, respectively, than those over the Japan Sea. ECs over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension formed over the East China Sea tend to develop more rapidly, and weak and moderate ECs generally begin to develop explosively over the sea to the east of the Japan Islands, while the strong and super ECs over the sea to the south of Japan Islands have longer explosive-developing tracks. Composite analysis shows that synoptic-scale environmental conditions favoring rapid EC development over these two regions are significantly different. ECs over the Japan Sea have stronger baroclinicity and cyclonic vorticity, but weaker water vapor convergence and upper-level jet stream than those over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension. The key factor contributing to the baroclinicity is the cold air intrusion over the Japan Sea and the strong warm current heating over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension. The potential vorticity shows anomalies in upper and low levels for both EC areas and extends further downwards over the Japan Sea.

A dynamic and thermodynamic coupling view of the linkages between Eurasian cooling and Arctic warming

Investigating the contrast between wintertime warming in the Arctic and cooling in Eurasia is of great importance for understanding regional climate change. In this study, we propose a dynamic and thermodynamic coupling view of the linkages between wintertime Arctic warming and Eurasian cooling since 1979. The key factors are the energy budget at the Earth’s surface, the diabatic heating and baroclinicity of the atmosphere, and subsurface ocean heat. A summertime origin of wintertime Arctic warming suggests a partial driving role of the Arctic in wintertime Eurasian cooling. The reasons for this finding are as follows. First, there is a dipole pattern in the diabatic heating change in winter over the Arctic Ocean corresponding to the anticyclonic circulation that links Eurasian cooling and Arctic warming. Second, the change in diabatic heating of the atmosphere is determined by sensible heat at the Earth’s surface through vertical diffusion. Third, the positive sensible heat change in the eastern Arctic sector in winter originates from the summertime enhanced absorption of solar radiation by the subsurface ocean over the sea ice loss region. Meanwhile, the negative sensible heat change in the western Arctic sector and wide Arctic warming can be explained by the circulation development triggered by the change in the east. Additionally, the background strong baroclinicity of the atmosphere in mid-high latitudes and corresponding two-way Arctic and mid-latitude interactions are necessary for circulation development in winter. Furthermore, the seasonality of the changes indicates that Eurasian cooling occurs only in winter because the diabatic heating change in the Arctic is strongest in winter. Overall, the comprehensive mechanisms from the summertime Earth’s surface and subsurface ocean to the wintertime atmosphere suggest a driving role of the Arctic. Note that the situation in interannual variability is more complex than the overall trend because the persistence of the influence of summertime sea ice is weakly established in terms of interannual variability.

Diagnostic Analysis of the Generative Mechanism of Extratropical Cyclones in the Northwest Pacific and Northwest Atlantic

We investigated the early-stage development of cyclones occurring in the strong baroclinic regions in the Northwest Pacific and the Northwest Atlantic based on European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis-Interim (ERA-Interim) data. The composite background conditions corresponding to the cyclones on the onset day are characterized by upper troposphere divergence of westerly jet ahead of a trough, low troposphere convergence of westerly jet behind a trough, and strong meridional air temperature gradient (baroclinicity) both in the Northwest Pacific and the Northwest Atlantic, but with stronger baroclinicity in the Northwest Pacific. The composite velocity and temperature fields of the cyclone on the onset day show a clear horizontal front and a westward and northward vertical tilting of cyclonic circulation to the cold zone. The composite Northwest Pacific cyclone filed on the onset day has a warm core, whereas the composite Northwest Atlantic cyclone field has a cold core in the low troposphere. The leading adiabatic processes that contribute to the developing of the cold core cyclone in the Northwest Atlantic on the onset day is the temperature advection, while stronger vertical motion induces stronger adiabatic warming in the Northwest Pacific cyclones, which has a significant contribution to the development of warm core cyclones on the onset day.

Characteristics of Long-Duration Heavy Precipitation Events along the West Coast of the United States

AbstractProlonged periods (e.g., several days or more) of heavy precipitation can result in sustained high-impact flooding. Herein, an investigation of long-duration heavy precipitation events (HPEs), defined as periods comprising ≥3 days with precipitation exceeding the climatological 95th percentile, is conducted for 1979–2019 for the U.S. West Coast, specifically Northern California. An objective flow-based categorization method is applied to identify principal large-scale flow patterns for the events. Four categories are identified and examined through composite analyses and case studies. Two of the categories are characterized by a strong zonal jet stream over the eastern North Pacific, while the other two are characterized by atmospheric blocking over the central North Pacific and the Bering Sea–Alaska region, respectively. The composites and case studies demonstrate that the flow patterns for the HPEs tend to remain in place for several days, maintaining strong baroclinicity and promoting occurrences of multiple cyclones in rapid succession near the West Coast. The successive cyclones result in persistent water vapor flux and forcing for ascent over Northern California, sustaining heavy precipitation. For the zonal jet patterns, cyclones affecting the West Coast tend to occur in the poleward jet exit region in association with cyclonic Rossby wave breaking. For the blocking patterns, cyclones tend to occur in association with anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking on the downstream flank of the block. For Bering Sea–Alaska blocking cases, cyclones can move into this region in conjunction with cyclonically breaking waves that extend into the eastern North Pacific from the upstream flank of the block.

Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for a Sea Fog Process in 2016

The visibility characteristics and meteorological conditions of a sea fog process on 27th February, 2016 are analyzed and the heavy fog process is simulated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in this paper. The forecast results show that the visibility in Qingdao coastal area is light fog on the night of the 26th. In the WRF simulation, it can be observed from the sea-level pressure that the wind direction of Qingdao and the coastal area turned southerly with the eastward movement of the low pressure system on surface from 1200 UTC to 1800 UTC on the 26th. A large amount of water vapor brought by easterly and southerly wind provides sufficient water vapor conditions for the formation and development of the sea fog. At 975 hPa, there is a strong warm tongue over Shandong Peninsula at 0600 UTC on the 26th, while the offshore is affected by the cold tongue, where the horizontal temperature gradient is large and there is a strong baroclinicity. At 850 hPa, there is a weak warm ridge over Qingdao at 1200 UTC on the 26th, which means that it is an inversion layer, which is conducive to the maintenance of fog.

Lake-Effect Snowbands in Baroclinic Environments

Abstract Lake-effect snowstorms are often observed to manifest as dominant bands, commonly produce heavy localized snowfall, and may extend large distances inland, resulting in hazards and high societal impact. Some studies of dominant bands have documented concomitant environmental baroclinity (i.e., baroclinity occurring at a scale larger than the width of the parent lake), but the interaction of this baroclinity with the inland structure of dominant bands has been largely unexplored. In this study, the thermodynamic environment and thermodynamic and kinematic structure of simulated dominant bands are examined using WRF reanalyses at 3-km horizontal resolution and an innovative technique for selecting the most representative member from the WRF ensemble. Three reanalysis periods are selected from the Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS) field campaign, encompassing 185 simulation hours, including 155 h in which dominant bands are identified. Environmental baroclinity is commonly observed during dominant-band periods and occurs in both the north–south and east–west directions. Sources of this baroclinity are identified and discussed. In addition, case studies are conducted for simulation hours featuring weak and strong along-band environmental baroclinity, resulting in weak and strong inland extent, respectively. These contrasting cases offer insight into one mechanism by which along-band environmental baroclinity can influence the inland structure and intensity of dominant bands: in the case with strong environmental baroclinity, inland portions of this band formed under weak instability and therefore exhibit slow overturning, enabling advection far inland under strong winds, whereas the nearshore portion forms under strong instability, and the enhanced overturning eventually leads to the demise of the inland portion of the band.

Mechanisms of Deep and Bottom Water Ventilation over the Antarctic Continental Slope

Actual in situ observations at the Antarctic continental slope performed with eddy-resolving spatial resolution were used. As a result, some parameterizations were verified that describe the processes of instability of density flows on a sloping bottom derived during the laboratory experiments. These processes were identified based on observational data. Any changes in the bottom slope (local or general, linked to the transition of the steep slope into the deep-sea floor) lead to changes in the regime of dense water runoff. The resulting hydraulic jumps lead to the turbulent mixing and function as one of the main mechanisms of ventilation of deep and bottom water. In the areas of local bottom rubs, disturbances like leeward waves are sometimes observed at the dense water top. They cause the intrusive layering and subsequent occurrence of turbulence centers in the slope area; the eddy lenses which also take part in the slope water ventilation are sometimes observed over bottom rubs. A strong baroclinity of the Antarctic slope front (ASF) in a steep part of the slope is another mechanism of deep water ventilation. It leads to the instability of cascading, subsequent intrusive layering and eddy formation. The baroclinic instability is amplified by the increased dynamics of dense water runoff at the bottom slope increase. However, the realization of shear instability at density interface is possible but at the smaller spatial scale than the instability scales observed in the ASF area.

Diagnosis of the Dynamic Efficiency of Latent Heat Release and the Rapid Intensification of Supertyphoon Haiyan (2013)

AbstractBefore landfall in the Philippines, Supertyphoon Haiyan in 2013 experienced a period of rapid intensification (RI) with the maximum wind speed increasing by 31 m s−1 in 24 h. A 2-km horizontal resolution full-physics cloud-resolving model is used to study the RI of Haiyan. To aid in the diagnosis of RI, we employ a dynamic efficiency factor (DEF), which is based on axisymmetric gradient wind vortex theory. The DEF measures the efficacy of convective heating at any point in generating kinetic energy. The DEF is large in the presence of strong baroclinicity near the eyewall. The simulated tropical cyclone (TC) becomes more symmetric and resembles the observations of Haiyan during the RI period. Our results highlight the nonlinear feedback process in which deep convection becomes collocated with the large DEF area near the eyewall. With the intensity increase, the eyewall convection results in significant subsidence warming at the edge of the eye rather than at the center of the eye. The overall eye warming enhances the baroclinicity near the eyewall and the system DEF in the eye-core region is increased by 33% before and after the RI onset. The vortex intensity increase during the RI period also leads to large unbalanced radial inflow in the boundary layer. The large radial inflow causes the deep convection to occur in the region of large inertial stability inside the radius of maximum wind. The deep convection further efficiently intensifies the TC. Our simulation emphasizes the importance of model resolution in simulating the internal nonlinear processes of RI.

Effects of Non-orographic Gravity Wave Drag on Seasonal and Medium-range Predictions in a Global Forecast Model

This study implements the parameterizations of convective and frontal gravity wave drag (GWD) with wide phase speed spectra into a global forecast model with a model top near 0.3 hPa. The new convective GWD scheme replaces the existing one that considers only a stationary convective GW, and the frontal GWD scheme is newly introduced. When the new GWD schemes are used, the Rayleigh friction, applied above 2 hPa to mimic the effects of missing GWD, is removed. The convective (frontal) GWs are generated mainly in the Intertropical Convergence Zone and winter extratropical storm track regions (extratropics where strong baroclinicity exists). The convective and frontal GWD derived from the new schemes are significant near the model top, with maxima of ~2-4 and ~26-58 m s−1 day−1, respectively. The differences in convective GWD between the stationary and non-stationary schemes appear mainly in the tropics and summer hemisphere, where stationary GWs cannot propagate upward. The new schemes improve the seasonal representation of stratospheric wind, through changes in both the GWD and the resolved wave forcing, which is modulated by the changed large-scale wind due to the GWD. The downward influence, in response to the changed GWD, is also positive in the tropospheric fields, such as subtropical jet and planetary-scale disturbances. For the medium-range forecasts, improved skill scores on wind speed are achieved globally with the new schemes. The improvements mostly appear only in the stratosphere during the early forecast period (~3 days) but expand to the troposphere as forecast time increases.

Structures and Evolutions of Explosive Cyclones over the Northwestern and Northeastern Pacific

In this study, the structures and evolutions of moderate (MO) explosive cyclones (ECs) over the Northwestern Pacific (NWP) and Northeastern Pacific (NEP) are investigated and compared using composite analysis with cyclone-relative coordinates. Final Operational Global Analysis data gathered during the cold seasons (October–April) of the 15 years from 2000 to 2015 are used. The results indicate that MO NWP ECs have strong baroclinicity and abundant latent heat release at low levels and strong upper-level forcing, which favors explosive cyclogenesis. The rapid development of MO NEP ECs results from their interaction with a northern cyclone and a large middle-level advection of cyclonic vorticity. The structural differences between MO NWP ECs and MO NEP ECs are significant. This results from their specific large-scale atmospheric and oceanic environments. MO NWP ECs usually develop rapidly in the east and southeast of the Japan Islands; the intrusion of cold dry air from the East Asian continent leads to strong baroclinicity, and the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension provides abundant latent heat release at low levels. The East Asian subtropical westerly jet stream supplies strong upper-level forcing. While MO NEP ECs mainly occur over the NEP, the low-level baroclinicity, upper-level jet stream, and warm ocean currents are relatively weaker. The merged cyclone associated with a strong middle-level trough transports large cyclonic vorticity to MO NEP ECs, which favors their rapid development.

The Deep Western Boundary Current in the Labrador Sea From Observations and a High‐Resolution Model

AbstractLong‐term observations from a 17 year long mooring array at the exit of the Labrador Sea at 53°N are compared to the output of a high‐resolution model (VIKING20). Both are analyzed to define robust integral properties on basin and regional scale, which can be determined and evaluated equally well. While both, the observations and the model, show a narrow DWBC cyclonically engulfing the Labrador Sea, the model's boundary current system is more barotropic than in the observations and spectral analysis indicates stronger monthly to interannual transport variability. Compared to the model, the observations show a stronger density gradient, hence a stronger baroclinicity, from center to boundary. Despite this, the observed temporal evolution of the temperature in the central Labrador Sea is reproduced. The model results yield a mean export of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) (33.0 ± 5.7 Sv), which is comparable to the observed transport (31.2 ± 5.5 Sv) at 53°N. The results also include a comparable spatial pattern and March mixed layer depth in the central Labrador Sea (maximum depth ∼2,000 m). During periods containing enhanced deep convection (1990s) our analyses show increased correlation between LSW and LNADW model transport at 53°N. Our results indicate that the transport variability in LSW and LNADW at 53°N is a result of a complex modulation of wind stress and buoyancy forcing on regional and basin wide scale.

The Transformation of Salinity Variance: A New Approach to Quantifying the Influence of Straining and Mixing on Estuarine Stratification

AbstractThe roles of straining and dissipation in controlling stratification are derived analytically using a vertical salinity variance method. Stratification is produced by converting horizontal variance to vertical variance via straining, that is, differential advection of horizontal salinity gradients, and stratification is destroyed by the dissipation of vertical variance through turbulent mixing. A numerical model is applied to the Changjiang estuary in order to demonstrate the salinity variance balance and how it reveals the factors controlling stratification. The variance analysis reveals that dissipation reaches its maximum during spring tide in the Changjiang estuary, leading to the lowest stratification. Stratification increases from spring tide to neap tide because of the increasing excess of straining over dissipation. Throughout the spring–neap tidal cycle, straining is almost always larger than dissipation, indicating a net excess of production of vertical variance relative to dissipation. This excess is balanced on average by advection, which exports vertical variance out of the estuarine region into the plume. During neap tide, tidal straining shows a general tendency of destratification during the flood tide and restratification during ebb, consistent with the one-dimensional theory of tidal straining. During spring tide, however, positive straining occurs during flood because of the strong baroclinicity induced by the intensified horizontal salinity gradient. These results indicate that the salinity variance method provides a valuable approach for examining the spatial and temporal variability of stratification in estuaries and coastal environments.

The evolution, seasonality and impacts of western disturbances

Western disturbances (WDs) are upper‐level synoptic‐scale systems embedded in the subtropical westerly jet stream (STWJ), often associated with extreme rainfall events in north India and Pakistan during boreal winter. Here, a tracking algorithm is applied to the upper‐tropospheric vorticity field for 37 years of ERA‐Interim reanalysis data, giving a catalogue of over 3000 events. These events are analysed in a composite framework: the vertical structure is explored across a large number of dynamic and thermodynamic fields, revealing a significant northwestward tilt with height, strong ascent ahead of the centre, which sits above the maximum surface precipitation, and a warm‐over‐cold, dry‐over‐moist structure, among other signatures of strong baroclinicity. Evolution of the structures of cloud cover and vertical wind speed are investigated as the composite WD passes across northern India. Cloud cover in particular is found to be particularly sensitive to the presence of the Himalayan foothills, with a significant maximum at 300 hPa approximately 1 day after the WD reaches peak intensity. k‐means clustering is used to classify WDs according to both dynamical structure and precipitation footprint and the relationship between the two sets of WDs is explored. Finally, the statistical relationship between the STWJ position and WDs on interannual time‐scales is explored, showing that WD frequency in north India is highly sensitive to the jet location over Eurasia. Years with a greater number of WDs feature a STWJ shifted to the south, a pattern that is substantially more coherent and reaches as far west as North America during boreal winter. This suggests that it may be possible to predict the statistics of western disturbance events on seasonal time‐scales if suitable indicators of jet position can also be predicted.

On the Reduced North Atlantic Storminess during the Last Glacial Period: The Role of Topography in Shaping Synoptic Eddies

AbstractThe North Atlantic storminess of Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) fully coupled climate simulations is generally less intense than that of their preindustrial (PI) counterparts, despite having stronger baroclinicity. An explanation for this counterintuitive result is presented by comparing two simulations of the IPSL full climate model forced by Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (PMIP3) LGM and PI conditions. Two additional numerical experiments using a simplified dry general circulation model forced by idealized topography and a relaxation in temperature provide guidance for the dynamical interpretation. The forced experiment with idealized Rockies and an idealized Laurentide Ice Sheet has a less intense North Atlantic storm-track activity than the forced experiment with idealized Rockies only, despite similar baroclinicity. Both the climate and idealized runs satisfy or support the following statements. The reduced storm-track intensity can be explained by a reduced baroclinic conversion, which itself comes from a loss in eddy efficiency to tap the available potential energy as shown by energetic budgets. The eddy heat fluxes are northeastward oriented in the western Atlantic in LGM and are less well aligned with the mean temperature gradient than in PI. The southern slope of the Laurentide Ice Sheet topography forces the eddy geopotential isolines to be zonally oriented at low levels in its proximity. This distorts the tubes of constant eddy geopotential in such a way that they tilt northwestward with height during baroclinic growth in LGM while they are more optimally westward tilted in PI.

Downfront Winds over Buoyant Coastal Plumes

AbstractDownfront, or downwelling favorable, winds are commonly found over buoyant coastal plumes. It is known that these winds can result in mixing of the plume with the ambient water and that the winds influence the transport, spatial extent, and stability of the plumes. In the present study, the interaction of the Ekman velocity in the surface layer and baroclinic instability supported by the strong horizontal density gradient of the plume is explored with the objective of understanding the potential vorticity and buoyancy budgets. The approach makes use of an idealized numerical model and scaling theory. It is shown that when winds are present the weak stratification resulting from vertical mixing and the strong baroclinicity of the front results in near-zero average potential vorticity q. For weak to moderate winds, the reduction of q by diapycnal mixing is balanced by the generation of q through the geostrophic stress term in the regions of strong horizontal density gradients and stable stratification. However, for very strong winds the wind stress overwhelms the geostrophic stress and leads to a reduction in q, which is balanced by the vertical mixing term. In the absence of winds, the geostrophic stress dominates mixing and the flow rapidly restratifies. Nonlinearity, extremes of relative vorticity and vertical velocity, and mixing are all enhanced by the presence of a coast. Scaling estimates developed for the eddy buoyancy flux, the surface potential vorticity flux, and the diapycnal mixing rate compare well with results diagnosed from a series of numerical model calculations.

Effects of cross-channel bathymetry and wind direction on destratification and hypoxia reduction in the Chesapeake Bay

A coupled estuarine hydrodynamic model and water quality model were used to analyze differences in destratification and anoxia/hypoxia reduction by wind directions in the north-south oriented Chesapeake estuary, USA. The predominant cross-channel bathymetry in the Bay's anoxic center is asymmetric with a steeper and narrower shoal on the eastern shore than on the western shore, which modifies wind-induced circulation differently for two opposite wind directions. Model experiments of winds for 2-day at 8 m/s indicated that, for a stratified water over the aforementioned asymmetric bottom topography, the easterly wind caused greater destratification and hypoxia reduction than the westerly wind. This is a result of differential modulations on the two wind-induced cross-channel circulations by the asymmetric cross channel bathymetry. The downwelling along the gentle slope in the easterly wind was characterized with stronger baroclinicity than the downwelling along the steep slope (nearly perpendicular to surfaces of constant density) in the westerly wind. On the broad slope, there undergo greater contrasting density readjustments to the vorticity changes around the bottom boundary layer (BBL) during upslope and downslope motions. During the upslope condition, the flow in BBL tends to decelerate under adverse pressure gradient which leads to a stable condition in the outer layer; whereas, during the downslope condition, the BBL tends to accelerate under favourable pressure gradient, which leads to unstable condition in the outer layer of the large scale flow. Overall, the easterly wind caused greater anoxia reduction than the westerly wind during the entire wind period. A similar case was found for northerly versus southerly winds in the early stages of the wind period; modulated by the aforementioned bathymetry on the wind-induced cross-channel circulation, the northerly wind caused greater anoxia reduction than the southerly wind. However, as wind continues, the wind-induced along-channel circulation influences a larger area of greater hypoxia in the mid-Bay, by which the southerly wind causes a greater destratification and anoxia reduction than the northerly wind. This can supersede the greater destratification and anoxia reduction by the northerly wind under the bathymetry-affected cross-channel circulation.

Composite Analysis of Long-Lived Mesoscale Vortices over the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Valley: Octant Features and Evolution Mechanisms

ABSTRACT A 14-yr climatology is presented of the mesoscale vortices generated in the vicinity of the Dabie Mountains [Dabie vortices (DBVs)] in the Yangtze River valley. Analyzing these vortices using the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), DBVs were found to be a frequent type of summer mesoscale weather system, with a mean monthly frequency of 12.2. DBVs were mainly located in the middle and lower troposphere, and ~92% of them triggered precipitation. Most DBVs were short lived, and only 19.5% persisted for more than 12 h. Latent heat release associated with precipitation is a dominant factor for the DBV’s three-dimensional geometry features, life span, and intensity. The long-lived DBVs, all of which triggered torrential rainfall, were analyzed using a composite analysis under the normalized polar coordinates. Results indicate that these vortices generally moved eastward and northeastward, which corresponded to the vortices’ orientation, divergence, vorticity budget, and kinetic energy budget. The evolution of long-lived DBVs featured significant unevenness: those octants located at the front and on the right side of the vortices’ moving tracks were more favorable for their development and maintenance, while those octants located at the back and on the left side acted conversely. Convergence-related shrinking was the most favorable factor for the vortices’ development and persistence, while the tilting effect was a dominant factor accounting for their attenuation. Long-lived DBVs featured strong baroclinity, and the baroclinic energy conversion acted as the main energy source for the vortices’ evolution. In contrast, the barotropic energy conversion favored the vortices’ development and maintenance at first, and later triggered their dissipation.