Open AccessObservational and dynamic downscaling analysis of a heavy rainfall event in Beijing, China during the 2008 Olympic Games
Author(s) -
Li Huiqi,
Cui Xiaopeng,
Zhang Wenlong,
Qiao Lin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.667
Subject(s) - beijing , downscaling , climatology , environmental science , convective storm detection , meteorology , storm , precipitation , terrain , outflow , china , geography , geology , cartography , archaeology
A local precipitation event with several dispersedly distributed heavy rainfall centers exceeding 50 mm occurred in Beijing, China on 14 August 2008 during the Beijing Olympic Games. The heavy rainfall event was produced by a few scattered convective storms. Detailed observational analysis with data from automatic weather stations ( AWSs ) as well as the meteorological radar in Beijing and a dynamic downscaling analysis with a diagnostic model, California Meteorological Model ( CALMET ), showed that convergence zones caused by small‐scale topography and colliding outflow boundaries were key influencing factors in the initiation and development of the convective storms. Convergence helped to induce upward vertical motion as well as concentrate moisture to reduce the convective inhibition ( CIN ). Horizontal wind speed may modulate the effectiveness of convergence. Downscaled wind fields by CALMET not only retain the overall features of the original fields, but also present more detailed structures, especially near complex terrain, which is much helpful in analyzing and predicting the development of the storms.