Case studies of atmospheric rivers over China and Australia: new insight into their rainfall generation
Jingjing Chen A B , Huqiang Zhang C F , Chengzhi Ye B , Hongzhuan Chen D and Ruping Mo E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Nanjing, China.
B Hunan Meteorological Observatory, Changsha, China.
C Australian Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289k, Vic. 3001, Australia.
D Huaihua Meteorological Bureau, Huaihua, China.
E National Lab-West, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
F Corresponding author. Email: Huqiang.Zhang@bom.gov.au
Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science 70(1) 17-35 https://doi.org/10.1071/ES19026
Submitted: 29 March 2019 Accepted: 11 September 2019 Published: 2 September 2020
Journal Compilation © BoM 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
While the Australia–Asian (A-A) monsoon is a prominent feature of weather and climate in China and Australia, there are significant differences in their dominant weather patterns and climate drivers. In order to explore different characteristics of atmospheric rivers (ARs) affecting weather and climate in these two countries, this paper compares two typical AR events that occurred in the boreal summer (austral winter) in 2016. The event in China produced record-breaking rainfall in North China, whereas the event in Australia was accompanied by a classic Northwest Cloud Band (NWCB) and produced a rainfall belt across the continent. Using global reanalysis products and ground-based observational data, we analysed the synoptic backgrounds, vertical structures, water vapour sources and relationship between ARs and cloud distributions. In both China and Australia, heavy precipitation was triggered by strong water vapour transport by ARs ahead of midlatitude frontal systems. The main differences between these two AR events and their associated rainfall effectiveness were that (i) the AR intensity in the Asian summer monsoon was stronger than that in the austral winter season over Australia; (ii) the centre of AR maximum moisture transport in China was around 850 hPa, whereas in Australia, it was located at around 700 hPa; and (iii) the AR-induced rainfall was heavier in China than in Australia. These differences were caused by numerous factors, including a lack of topographic influence, a dry climate background in Australia, and different interactions between warm and moist air conveyed by ARs from the tropics with cold air from the midlatitudes. We paid particular attention to the relationship between the Australian AR and its associated cloud structure and rainfall to understand precipitation efficiency of the NWCB. In addition, we assessed the forecast skills of an Australian numerical weather prediction system (ACCESS-APS2) for the two events with different lead times. The model produced reasonable forecasts of the occurrence and intensity of both AR events several days in advance, and the AR forecast skill was better than its forecasts of rainfall location and intensity. This demonstrates the value of using AR analysis in guiding extreme rainfall forecasts with longer lead time.
Keywords: ACCESS-APS2, atmospheric river, cloud structures, extreme rainfall, monsoon, Northwest Cloud Band, numerical weather prediction, water vapour transport.
References
American Meteorological Society (2019). Atmospheric River. In Glossary of Meteorology. Available at http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Atmospheric_river.Bao, J.-W., Michelson, S. A., Neiman, P. J., Ralph, F. M., and Wilczak, J. M. (2006). Interpretation of enhanced integrated water vapor bands associated with extratropical cyclones: Their formation and connection to tropical moisture. Mon. Wea. Rev. 134, 1063–1080.
| Interpretation of enhanced integrated water vapor bands associated with extratropical cyclones: Their formation and connection to tropical moisture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bauer, P., Thorpe, A., and Brunet, G. (2015). The quiet revolution of numerical weather prediction. Nature 525, 47–54.
| The quiet revolution of numerical weather prediction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26333465PubMed |
Browning, K. (2018). Atmospheric rivers in the U.K. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 99, 1108–1109.
| Atmospheric rivers in the U.K.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
BNOC (Bureau National Operations Centre) (2016). APS2 Upgrade to the ACCESS-G Numerical Weather Prediction System. BNOC Operations Bulletin Number 105. Bureau of Meteorology. 32pp.
Cai, W. J., and Cowan, T. (2008). Dynamics of late autumn rainfall reduction over southeastern Australia. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35, L09708.
| Dynamics of late autumn rainfall reduction over southeastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chang, C. P. (2004). East Asian Monsoon. World Scientific Series on Meteorology of East Asia. World Scientific, 2, 564pp.
Chen, L. X., Zhu, Q. G., and Luo, H. B. (1991). East Asian Monsoon. China Meteorological Press, Beijing, 362pp. [in Chinese]
Dacre, H. F., Clark, P. A., Martinez-Alvarado, O., et al. (2015). How Do Atmospheric Rivers Form? Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 96, 1243–1255.
| How Do Atmospheric Rivers Form?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dettinger, M. D., Ralph, F. M., Das, T., et al. (2011). Atmospheric rivers, floods and the water resources of California. Water 3, 445–78.
| Atmospheric rivers, floods and the water resources of California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Draxler, R. R., and Hess, G. D. (1998). An overview of the HYSPLIT_4 modeling system for trajectories, dispersion and deposition. Australian Meteorological Magazine 47, 295–308.
Ding, Y. (2004). Seasonal march of the East-Asian summer monsoon. ‘East Asian Monsoon.’ (Ed. C.-P. Chang) pp. 3–53. (World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.: Singapore.)
Eiras-Barca, J., Brands, S., and Miguez-Macho, G. (2016). Seasonal variations in North Atlantic atmospheric river activity and associations with anomalous precipitation over the Iberian Atlantic margin. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmos. 121, 931–948.
| Seasonal variations in North Atlantic atmospheric river activity and associations with anomalous precipitation over the Iberian Atlantic margin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Frederiksen, C. S., and Balgovind, R. C. (1994). The influence of the Indian Ocean/Indonesian SST gradient on the Australian winter rainfall and circulation in an atmospheric GCM. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc. 120, 923–952.
| The influence of the Indian Ocean/Indonesian SST gradient on the Australian winter rainfall and circulation in an atmospheric GCM.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fu, J. L., Ma, X. K., Chen, T., et al. (2017). Characteristics and Synoptic Mechanism of the July 2016 Extreme Precipitation Event in North China. Meteorol. Mon. 43, 528–539.
Gimeno, L., Nieto, R., Vázquez, M., et al. (2014). Atmospheric rivers: a mini-review. Front. Earth Sci. 2, 1–6.
| Atmospheric rivers: a mini-review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gimeno, L., Dominguez, F., Nieto, R., et al. (2016). Major mechanisms of atmospheric moisture transport and their role in extreme precipitation events. Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 41, 117–114.
| Major mechanisms of atmospheric moisture transport and their role in extreme precipitation events.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guan, B., and Waliser, D. E. (2015). Detection of atmospheric rivers: Evaluation and application of an algorithm for global studies. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 120, 12514–12535.
| Detection of atmospheric rivers: Evaluation and application of an algorithm for global studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
He, J., Sun, C., Liu, Y., et al. (2007). Seasonal transition features of large-scale moisture transport in the Asian-Australian monsoon region. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 24, 1–14.
| Seasonal transition features of large-scale moisture transport in the Asian-Australian monsoon region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huang, R. H., Zhang, Z. Z., Huang, G., et al. (1998). Characteristics of the Water Vapour Transport in East Asian Monsoon Region and Its Difference from that in South Asian Monsoon Region in Summer. Chin. J. Atmos. Sci. 22, 460–469.
Jiang, T., Evans, K., Deng, Y., et al. (2014). Intermediate frequency atmospheric disturbances: A dynamical bridge connecting western U.S. extreme precipitation with East Asian cold surges. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 119, 3723–3735.
| Intermediate frequency atmospheric disturbances: A dynamical bridge connecting western U.S. extreme precipitation with East Asian cold surges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones, D. A., Wang, W., and Fawcett, R. (2009). High-quality spatial climate data-sets for Australia. Aust. Meteorol. Oceanogr. J. 58, 233–248.
| High-quality spatial climate data-sets for Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavender, S. L., and Abbs, D. J. (2013). Trends in Australian rainfall: contribution of tropical cyclones and closed lows. Clim. Dyn. 40, 317–326.
| Trends in Australian rainfall: contribution of tropical cyclones and closed lows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavers, D. A., Allan, R. P., Wood, E. F., et al. (2011). Winter floods in Britain are connected to atmospheric rivers. Geophys. Res. Lett. 38, L23803.
| Winter floods in Britain are connected to atmospheric rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavers, D. A., Villarini, G., Allan, R. P., et al. (2012). The detection of atmospheric rivers in atmospheric reanalyses and their links to British winter floods and the large-scale climatic circulation. J. Geophys. Res. 117, D20106.
| The detection of atmospheric rivers in atmospheric reanalyses and their links to British winter floods and the large-scale climatic circulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavers, D. A., and Villarini, G. (2013). The nexus between atmospheric rivers and extreme precipitation across Europe. Geophys. Res. Lett. 40, 3259–3264.
| The nexus between atmospheric rivers and extreme precipitation across Europe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavers, D., and Villarini, G. (2015). The contributions of atmospheric rivers to precipitation in Europe and the United States. J. Hydrol. 522, 382–390.
| The contributions of atmospheric rivers to precipitation in Europe and the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liang, P., Dong, G., Zhang, H., Zhao, M., and Ma, Y. (2020). Atmospheric rivers in association with summer heavy rainfall over the Yangtze Plain. J. South. Hemisph. Earth Syst. Sci. , .
| Atmospheric rivers in association with summer heavy rainfall over the Yangtze Plain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mahoney, K., Jackson, D. L., Neiman, P., Hughes, M., Darby, L., Wick, G., White, A., Sukovich, E., and Cifelli, R. (2016). Understanding the role of atmospheric rivers in heavy precipitation in the Southeast United States. Mon. Wea. Rev. 144, 1617–1632.
| Understanding the role of atmospheric rivers in heavy precipitation in the Southeast United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mo, R., Brugman, M. M., Milbrandt, J. A., Goosen, J., Geng, Q., Emond, C., Bau, J., and Erfani, A. (2019). Impacts of hydrometeor drift on orographic precipitation: Two case studies of landfalling atmospheric rivers in British Columbia, Canada. Wea. Forecasting 34, 1211–1237.
| Impacts of hydrometeor drift on orographic precipitation: Two case studies of landfalling atmospheric rivers in British Columbia, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mo, R., and Lin, H. (2019). Tropical-midlatitude interactions: Case study of an inland-penetrating atmospheric river during a major winter storm over North America. Atmos.-Ocean 57, 208–232.
| Tropical-midlatitude interactions: Case study of an inland-penetrating atmospheric river during a major winter storm over North America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neiman, P. J., Ralph, F. M., Wick, G. A., et al. (2008a). Diagnosis of an intense atmospheric river impacting the Pacific Northwest: Storm summary and offshore vertical structure observed with COSMIC satellite retrievals. Mon. Wea. Rev. 136, 4398–4420.
| Diagnosis of an intense atmospheric river impacting the Pacific Northwest: Storm summary and offshore vertical structure observed with COSMIC satellite retrievals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neiman, P. J., Ralph, F. M., Wick, G. A., et al. (2008b). Meteorological Characteristics and Overland Precipitation Impacts of Atmospheric Rivers Affecting the West Coast of North America Based on Eight Years of SSM/I Satellite Observations. J. Hydrometeor. 9, 22–47.
| Meteorological Characteristics and Overland Precipitation Impacts of Atmospheric Rivers Affecting the West Coast of North America Based on Eight Years of SSM/I Satellite Observations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Newell, R. E., Newell, N. E., Zhu, Y., et al. (1992). Tropospheric rivers-A pilot study. Geophys. Res. Lett. 12, 2401–2404.
| Tropospheric rivers-A pilot study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Newman, M., Kiladis, G. N., Weickmann, K. M., et al. (2012). Relative contributions of synoptic and low-frequency eddies to time-mean atmospheric moisture transport, including the role of atmospheric rivers. J. Climate 25, 7341–7361.
| Relative contributions of synoptic and low-frequency eddies to time-mean atmospheric moisture transport, including the role of atmospheric rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Qi, L., Leslie, L. M., and Zhao, S. X. (1999). Cut-off low pressure systems over southern Australia: climatology and case study. Int. J. Clim. 19, 1633–1649.
| Cut-off low pressure systems over southern Australia: climatology and case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Quan, W. Q., and He, L. F. (2016). Analysis of the July 2016 Atmospheric Circulation and Weather. Meteorol. Mon. 42, 1283–1288.
Ralph, F. M., Dettinger, M., Lavers, D., et al. (2017). Atmospheric rivers emerge as a global science and applications focus. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 98, 1969–1973.
| Atmospheric rivers emerge as a global science and applications focus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ralph, F. M., Neiman, P. J., and Wick, G. A. (2004). Satellite and CALJET aircraft observations of atmospheric rivers over the eastern North Pacific Ocean during the winter of 1997/98. Mon. Wea. Rev. 132, 1721–1745.
| Satellite and CALJET aircraft observations of atmospheric rivers over the eastern North Pacific Ocean during the winter of 1997/98.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ralph, F. M., Neiman, P. J., Wick, G. A., et al. (2006). Flooding on California’s Russian River: Role of atmospheric rivers. Geophys. Res. Lett. 33, L13801.
| Flooding on California’s Russian River: Role of atmospheric rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ralph, F. M., Coleman, T., Neiman, P. J., et al. (2013). Observed impacts of duration and seasonality of atmospheric-river landfalls on soil moisture and runoff in coastal northern California. J. Hydrometeor. 14, 443–459.
| Observed impacts of duration and seasonality of atmospheric-river landfalls on soil moisture and runoff in coastal northern California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ralph, F. M., Neiman, P. J., Kiladis, G. N., et al. (2011). A multiscale observational case study of a Pacific atmospheric river exhibiting tropical-extratropical connections and a mesoscale frontal wave. Mon. Wea. Rev. 139, 1169–89.
| A multiscale observational case study of a Pacific atmospheric river exhibiting tropical-extratropical connections and a mesoscale frontal wave.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ralph, F. M., Rutz, J. J., Cordeira, J. M., et al. (2019). A scale to characterize the strength and impacts of atmospheric rivers. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 100, 269–289.
| A scale to characterize the strength and impacts of atmospheric rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rivera, E. R., Dominguez, F., and Castro, C. L. (2014). Atmospheric rivers and cool season extreme precipitation events in the Verde River basin of Arizona. J. Hydrometeor. 15, 813–829.
| Atmospheric rivers and cool season extreme precipitation events in the Verde River basin of Arizona.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roberge, A., Gyakum, J. R., Atallah, E. H., et al. (2009). Analysis of intense poleward water vapor transports into high latitudes of western North America. Wea. Forecasting 24, 1732–1747.
| Analysis of intense poleward water vapor transports into high latitudes of western North America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saha, S., Moorthi, S., Wu, X., et al. (2014). The NCEP climate forecast system versions 2. J. Climate 27, 2186–2208.
| The NCEP climate forecast system versions 2.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Simmonds, I., Bi, D. H., Hope, P., et al. (1999). Atmospheric Water Vapour Flux and Its Association with Rainfall over China in Summer. J. Climate 12, 1353–1367.
| Atmospheric Water Vapour Flux and Its Association with Rainfall over China in Summer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Speer, M. S., Leslie, L. M., and Fierro, A. O. (2011). Australian east coast rainfall decline related to large scale climate drivers. Clim. Dyn. 36, 1419–1429.
| Australian east coast rainfall decline related to large scale climate drivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stan, C., Straus, D. M., Frederiksen, J. S., Lin, H., Maloney, E. D., and Schumacher, C. (2017). Review of tropical-extratropical teleconnections on intraseasonal time scales. Rev. Geophys. 55, 902–937.
| Review of tropical-extratropical teleconnections on intraseasonal time scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stunder, B. J. B. (1996). An assessment of the quality of forecast trajectories. J. Appl. Meteor. 35, 1319–1331.
| An assessment of the quality of forecast trajectories.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tao, S. Y., and Chen, L. (1987). A review of recent research on the East Asian summer monsoon. In ‘China Monsoon Metorology.’ (Eds C. P. Chang and T. N. Krishnamurti.) pp. 60–92. (Oxford University Press.)
Tapp, R. G., and Barrell, S. L. (1984). The north-west Australian cloud band: Climatology, characteristics and factors associated with development. Int. J. Clim. 4, 411–424.
| The north-west Australian cloud band: Climatology, characteristics and factors associated with development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Telcik, N., and Pattiaratchi, C. (2014). Influence of Northwest Cloudbands on Southwest Australian Rainfall. J. Climate 2014, 671394.
| Influence of Northwest Cloudbands on Southwest Australian Rainfall.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ummenhofer, C. C., Sen, G. A., Pook, M. J., et al. (2008). Anomalous Rainfall over Southwest Western Australia Forced by Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures. J. Climate 21, 5113–5134.
| Anomalous Rainfall over Southwest Western Australia Forced by Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ummenhofer, C. C., Sen Gupta, A., Briggs, P. R., et al. (2011). Indian and Pacific ocean influences on southeast Australian drought and soil moisture. J. Climate 24, 1313–1336.
| Indian and Pacific ocean influences on southeast Australian drought and soil moisture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Ent, R. J., Savenije, H. H. G., Schaefli, B., et al. (2010). Origin and fate of atmospheric moisture over continents. Water Resour. Res. 46, W09525.
| Origin and fate of atmospheric moisture over continents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viale, M., Valenzuela, R., Garreaud, R. D., Ralph, F. M., et al. (2018). Impacts of atmospheric rivers on precipitation in southern South America. J. Hydrometeor. 19, 1671–1687.
| Impacts of atmospheric rivers on precipitation in southern South America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang, B. (2006). The Asian monsoon. Praxis Publishing, Chichester, 787pp.
Wang, L. P., Zhang, J. Z., Wang, W. G., et al. (2017). Decision-making Meteorological Service Analysis on “2016-July” Extreme Precipitation in the area from Jianghan to Huanghuai and North China. J. Inst. Disaster Prev. 19, 63–70.
Wick, G. A. (2014). Implementation and initial application of an atmospheric river detection tool based on integrated vapour transport. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2014, San Francisco, CA, USA. Abstract id A34E-06.
Wick, G. A., Neiman, P. J., and Ralph, F. M. (2013). Description and validation of an automated objective technique for identification and characterization of the integrated water vapour signature of atmospheric rivers. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. 51, 2166–2176.
| Description and validation of an automated objective technique for identification and characterization of the integrated water vapour signature of atmospheric rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wright, W. J. (1997). Tropical–extratropical cloudbands and Australian rainfall: I. climatology. Int. J. Clim. 17, 807–829.
| Tropical–extratropical cloudbands and Australian rainfall: I. climatology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wu, X., Ye, C., He, W., Chen, J., Xu, L., and Zhang, H. (2020). Atmospheric rivers impacting mainland China and Australia: climatology and interannual variations. J. South. Hemisph. Earth Syst. Sci. , .
| Atmospheric rivers impacting mainland China and Australia: climatology and interannual variations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang, Y., Zhao, T., Ni, G., et al. (2018). Atmospheric rivers over the Bay of Bengal lead to northern Indian extreme rainfall. Int. J. Climatol. 38, 1010–1021.
| Atmospheric rivers over the Bay of Bengal lead to northern Indian extreme rainfall.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ye, C. Z., Zhang, H. Q., Moise, A., and Mo, R. P. (2020). Atmospheric rivers in the Australia-Asian Region: a BoM-CMA collaborative study. J. South. Hemisph. Earth Syst. Sci. , .
| Atmospheric rivers in the Australia-Asian Region: a BoM-CMA collaborative study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhang, H. (2010). Diagnosing Australia-Asian monsoon onset/retreat using large-scale wind and moisture indices. Clim. Dyn. 35, 601–618.
| Diagnosing Australia-Asian monsoon onset/retreat using large-scale wind and moisture indices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhang, Z., Ralph, F. M., and Zheng, M. (2019). The relationship between extratropical cyclone strength and atmospheric river intensity and position. Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 1814–1823.
| The relationship between extratropical cyclone strength and atmospheric river intensity and position.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhu, Y., and Newell, R. E. (1994). Atmospheric rivers and bombs. Geophys. Res. Lett. 21, 1999–2002.
| Atmospheric rivers and bombs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhu, Y., and Newell, R. (1998). A proposed algorithm for moisture fluxes from atmospheric rivers. Mon. Wea. Rev. 126, 725–735.
| A proposed algorithm for moisture fluxes from atmospheric rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
