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Volume 30 Issue 1

Jan.  2013

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Article >  ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES  > 2013 >  30(1): 77-88

TRMM-retrieved Cloud Structure and Evolution of MCSs over the Northern South China Sea and Impacts of CAPE and Vertical Wind Shear

  • 1.

    Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Laboratory of Cloud and Precipitation and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029,;Laboratory of Cloud and Precipitation and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081;Laboratory of Cloud and Precipitation and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029


doi: 10.1007/s00376-012-2055-2

  • Cloud structure and evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) retrieved from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TRMM TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were investigated and compared with some pioneer studies based on soundings and models over the northern South China Sea (SCS). The impacts of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and environmental vertical wind shear on MCSs were also explored. The main features of MCSs over the SCS were captured well by both TRMM PR and TMI. However, the PR-retrieved surface rainfall in May was less than that in June, and the reverse for TMI. TRMM-retrieved rainfall amounts were generally consistent with those estimated from sounding and models. However, rainfall amounts from sounding-based and PR-based estimates were relatively higher than those retrieved from TRMM-TMI data. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling simulation underestimated the maximum rain rate by 22% compared to that derived from TRMM-PR, and underestimated mean rainfall by 10.4% compared to the TRMM-TMI estimate, and by 12.5% compared to the sounding-based estimate. The warm microphysical processes modeled from both the WRF and the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) models were quite close to those based on TMI, but the ice water contents in the models were relatively less compared to that derived from TMI. The CAPE and wind shear induced by the monsoon circulation were found to play critical roles in maintaining and developing the intense convective clouds over SCS. The latent heating rate increased more than twofold during the monsoon period and provided favorable conditions for the upward transportation of energy from the ocean, giving rise to the possibility of inducing large-scale interactions.
  • [1] Shuang LUO, Yunfei FU, Shengnan ZHOU, Xiaofeng WANG, Dongyong WANG, 2020: Analysis of the Relationship between the Cloud Water Path and Precipitation Intensity of Mature Typhoons in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 37, 359-376.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-9204-9
    [2] CHEN Xiao, YAN Youfang, CHENG Xuhua, QI Yiquan, 2013: Performances of Seven Datasets in Presenting the Upper Ocean Heat Content in the South China Sea, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 30, 1331-1342.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-013-2132-1
    [3] Hongke CAI, Yaqin MAO, Xuanhao ZHU, Yunfei FU, Renjun ZHOU, 2024: Comparison of the Minimum Bounding Rectangle and Minimum Circumscribed Ellipse of Rain Cells from TRMM, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 41, 391-406.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-023-2281-9
    [4] MA Leiming, DUAN Yihong, ZHU Yongti, 2004: The Structure and Rainfall Features of Tropical Cyclone Rammasun (2002), ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 21, 951-963.  doi: 10.1007/BF02915597
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    [6] Long S. CHIU, Zhong LIU, Jearanai VONGSAARD, Stanley MORAIN, Amy BUDGE, Paul NEVILLE, Chandra BALES, 2006: Comparison of TRMM and Water District Rain Rates over New Mexico, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 23, 1-13.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-006-0001-x
    [7] CHEN Haoming, YUAN Weihua, LI Jian, YU Rucong, 2012: A Possible Cause for Different Diurnal Variations of Warm Season Rainfall as Shown in Station Observations and TRMM 3B42 Data over the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 29, 193-200.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-011-0218-1
    [8] Peter C. Chu, C.-P. Chang, 1997: South China Sea Warm Pool in Boreal Spring, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 14, 195-206.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-997-0019-8
    [9] Liu Qinyu, Jia Yinglai, Wang Xiaohua, Yang Haijun, 2001: On the Annual Cycle Characteristics of the Sea Surface Height in South China Sea, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 18, 613-622.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-001-0049-6
    [10] ZHOU Lian-Tong, Chi-Yung TAM, ZHOU Wen, Johnny C. L. CHAN, 2010: Influence of South China Sea SST and the ENSO on Winter Rainfall over South China, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 27, 832-844.  doi: 10.1007/s00376--009-9102-7
    [11] Lu Riyu, Chan-Su Ryu, Buwen Dong, 2002: Associations between the Western North Pacific Monsoon and the South China Sea Monsoon, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 19, 12-24.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-002-0030-z
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    [13] Haoya LIU, Weibiao LI, Shumin CHEN, Rong FANG, Zhuo LI, 2018: Atmospheric Response to Mesoscale Ocean Eddies over the South China Sea, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 35, 1189-1204.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-018-7175-x
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    [16] Hailong LIU, Pingxiang Chu, Yao Meng, Mengrong DING, Pengfei LIN, Ruiqiang Ding, Pengfei Wang, Weipeng ZHENG, 2024: The Predictability Limit of Oceanic Mesoscale Eddy Tracks in the South China Sea, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES.  doi: 10.1007/s00376-024-3250-7
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    • Manuscript History

    Manuscript received: 10 January 2013
    Manuscript revised: 10 January 2013
    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

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    TRMM-retrieved Cloud Structure and Evolution of MCSs over the Northern South China Sea and Impacts of CAPE and Vertical Wind Shear

    • 1. Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Laboratory of Cloud and Precipitation and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029,;Laboratory of Cloud and Precipitation and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081;Laboratory of Cloud and Precipitation and Severe Storms, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029
    • Manuscript received: 2013-01-10
    • Manuscript revised: 2013-01-10

    Abstract: Cloud structure and evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) retrieved from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TRMM TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were investigated and compared with some pioneer studies based on soundings and models over the northern South China Sea (SCS). The impacts of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and environmental vertical wind shear on MCSs were also explored. The main features of MCSs over the SCS were captured well by both TRMM PR and TMI. However, the PR-retrieved surface rainfall in May was less than that in June, and the reverse for TMI. TRMM-retrieved rainfall amounts were generally consistent with those estimated from sounding and models. However, rainfall amounts from sounding-based and PR-based estimates were relatively higher than those retrieved from TRMM-TMI data. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling simulation underestimated the maximum rain rate by 22% compared to that derived from TRMM-PR, and underestimated mean rainfall by 10.4% compared to the TRMM-TMI estimate, and by 12.5% compared to the sounding-based estimate. The warm microphysical processes modeled from both the WRF and the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) models were quite close to those based on TMI, but the ice water contents in the models were relatively less compared to that derived from TMI. The CAPE and wind shear induced by the monsoon circulation were found to play critical roles in maintaining and developing the intense convective clouds over SCS. The latent heating rate increased more than twofold during the monsoon period and provided favorable conditions for the upward transportation of energy from the ocean, giving rise to the possibility of inducing large-scale interactions.

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