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http://dx.doi.org/10.14191/Atmos.2014.24.1.049

WRF Numerical Study on the Convergent Cloud Band and Its Neighbouring Convective Clouds  

Kim, Yu-Jin (Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
Lee, Jae Gyoo (Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
Publication Information
Atmosphere / v.24, no.1, 2014 , pp. 49-68 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study analyzed atmospheric conditions for the convergent cloud band (Cu-Cb line) in developing stage and its neighbouring convections formed over the East Sea on 1 February 2012, by using synoptic, satellites data, and WRF numerical simulation output of high resolution. In both satellite images and the WRF numerical simulation outputs, the Cu-Cb line that stretched out toward northwest-southeast was shown in the East Sea, and cloud lines of the L mode were aligned in accordance with the prevailing surface wind direction. However, those of the T mode were aligned in the direction of NE-SW, which was nearly perpendicular direction to the surface winds. The directions of the wind shear vectors connecting top winds and bottom winds of the moist layers of the L mode and the T mode were identical with those of the cloud lines of L mode and T mode, respectively. From the WRF simulation convection circulations with a convergence in the lower layer of atmosphere and a divergence above 1.5 km ASL (Above Sea Level) were identified in the Cu-Cb line. A series of small sized vortexes (maximum vortex: $320{\times}10^{-5}s^{-1}$) of meso-${\gamma}$-scale formed by convergences was found along the Cu-Cb lines, suggesting that Cu-Cb lines, consisting of numerous convective clouds, were closely associated with a series of the small vortexes. There was an absolute unstable layer (${\partial}{\theta}/{\partial}z$ < 0) between sfc and ~0.3 km ASL, and a stable layer (${\partial}{\theta}/{\partial}z$ > 0) above ~2 km ASL over the Cu-Cb line and cloud zones. Not only convectively unstable layers (${\partial}{\theta}_e/{\partial}z$ < 0) but also neutral layers (${\partial}{\theta}_e/{\partial}z{\approx}=0$) in the lower atmosphere (sfc~1.5 km ASL) were scattered around over the cloud zones. Particularly, for the Cu-Cb line there were convectively unstable layers in the surface layer, and neutral layers (${\partial}{\theta}_e/{\partial}z{\approx}=0$) between 0.2 and ~1.5 km ASL over near the center of the Cu-Cb line, and the neutralization of unstable layers came from the release of convective instability.
Keywords
Convergent cloud band; numerical simulation; convection circulations; convergence; convectively unstable layer;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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