Open AccessAnalysis of a waterspout at Zhuhai, China, on June 12, 2019
Author(s) -
Chan Pak Wai,
Tse S.M.,
Lee Jeffrey Chi Wai,
Li Q.S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
meteorological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1469-8080
pISSN - 1350-4827
DOI - 10.1002/met.1904
Subject(s) - mesoscale meteorology , tornado , meteorology , nowcasting , cyclone (programming language) , climatology , doppler radar , microscale chemistry , environmental science , tropical cyclone , radar , geology , precipitation , airflow , geography , mechanical engineering , telecommunications , mathematics education , mathematics , field programmable gate array , computer science , computer hardware , engineering
This paper reports on a waterspout presiding over the Pearl River Estuary near Zhuhai, China. It is observed mainly using the terminal Doppler weather radar in Hong Kong. A slanting radar reflectivity core and airflow circulating around was seen in the vertical cross‐section across the mesoscale/microscale cyclone associated with the waterspout. The vertical wind profile associated with the cyclone was analysed and found to exhibit characteristics similar to those of a tornado reported in the region in a previous study. The primary characteristic of the waterspout was a circulating flow stronger at higher levels (approximately a few kilometres above ground) than at lower levels. In terms of nowcasting, the performance of a convection‐permitting numerical weather prediction model (2 km horizontal resolution) was analysed. It was found to demonstrate reasonable simulation skill for the mesoscale/microscale cyclone, although the slanting feature was not well predicted. The results of this study can serve as a useful reference for similar studies of waterspouts/tornadoes worldwide.