Japan Science and Technology Corporation - Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (JST-CREST)
”Studies on structure and formation/development
Mechanisms of Mesoscale Convective Systems”
Jananese version here
Masanori Yoshizaki (Meteorological Research Institute)
A new project of “Studies on structure and formation/development
mechanisms of mesoscale convective systems” supported by Japan Science and
Technology Corporation (JST) - Core Research for Evolutional Science and
Technology (CREST) started from October 1998. It continues until October
2003. We expect that this project stimulates research activity of mesoscale
meteorology in Japan and makes breakthrough for new and further studies.
We opened a homepage (HP) of this project in order to communicate and
give/take information. It will be frequently renewed when interesting news
and reports are attained. We hope many people utilize this HP and get
fruitful products through active communication and cooperation.
I am a principal researcher of this project. Mesoscale convective systems
(MCSs) are my main concern. MCSs sometimes bring severe weathers such as
gust wind, heavy precipitation, lightening and so on, and therefore the logo
mark in the title was made as a combination of three legendary gods;
lightening (left), rain (dragon, middle) and wind (right). Ancient Japanese
people believed that such meteorological phenomena were brought by these
gods. Now we want to see them more clearly and elucidate their works by this
project. Hereafter I present outlines of objectives, research activity and
observation plans under the project.
Objectives of this project:
MCSs have horizontal scales of 100km, consisting of convective and
stratiform regions. Their horizontal form is various; line-shaped,
hook-shaped, and so on. They last for a long time by self-enhancement and
organization. MCSs play a key role on cycles of water and energy in the
global circulation and also bring heavy precipitation, sometimes producing
serious disasters. In Japan, MCSs occur with Baiu front, convergence bands/
small-scale cyclones over Japan Sea in winter, typhoons, and thunderstorms
over central mountains in summer. They are an important part of multi-scale
structures.
In this project, clarification of MCSs and multi-scale structures is aimed
at. For these purposes, studies combined with field experiments, analyses,
and numerical simulations are systematically performed about Baiu front
around Kyushu and convergence bands/ small-scale cyclones over Japan Sea in
winter. As field experiments, surface networks of Doppler radar, upper
sounding, GPS, boundary-layer radar (BLR) and observation vessels, and
mobile airplanes are combined. We want to elucidate inner structures of
MCSs, their formation/development mechanisms, accompanying disturbances such
as intermediate-scale disturbances and relationships between MCSs and
environmental fields.
Processes of research:
In this project, our research is processed as follows; (1) purchase of
meso-scale observation instruments and construction of ground-based
observation system, (2) special observations of MCSs, (3) production of data
base of special observation, (4) analytical studies, (5) numerical studies,
and (6) comparative studies with other MCSs and summary.
In particular, in (1) we purchased two BLRs, two surface meteorological
systems and one microwave radiometer for measuring vertical profiles of
temperature and moisture. We want to make a prototype of ground-based
measuring system by combining these instruments. In (2), total observations
by combining surface networks of Doppler radar, upper sounding, GPS and
BLRs, and mobile airplanes are planed once every fiscal year. Further, in
(5), real-time (but not operational) numerical simulations will be performed
during special observation periods by using a non-hydrostatic numerical
model (MRI-NHM). By utilizing these numerical results, mechanisms of
self-enhancement and organizations of MCSs are studies.
Research plan of fiscal year: (Fiscal year starts in April in Japan.):
- October 1998- March 1999:
Two BLRs, two surface meteorological systems and one microwave radiometer
for measuring vertical profiles of temperature and moisture were purchased.
- April 1999 - March 2000:
Observation of Baiu front over Kyushu and East China Sea. (X-BAIU-99)
- April 2000 - March 2001::
Observation of convergence bands/ small-scale cyclones over Japan Sea in
winter (January 2001)
- April 2001 - March 2002::
Observation of convergence bands/ small-scale cyclones over Japan Sea in
winter (January 2002).
- April 2002 - March 2003:
Observation of Baiu front over Kyushu and East China Sea (June - July 2002).
- April 2003 - October 2003:
International symposium of meso-scale precipitation systems.
Note: The observation plans may be changed when cooperation with other
observations is required.
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“X-BAIU-99” represents the observation of Baiu front over Kyushu and East China Sea in 1999. “X” means the abbreviation of East China Sea (ECS) and also an enigma/mystery. This project is supported by JST-CREST, National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)- Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Meteorological Research Institute (MRI), and also cooperated by GPS-MET/Kyushu group.
1. Objectives of X-BAIU-99
- Study of inner structure of MCSs and their formation/development mechanisms in the Baiu season.
- Study of environmental fields of MCSs and multi-scale structure.
- Ground validation of TRMM with ground-based radar.
- Application of NHMs to heavy rainfall events.
- Study of temporal and spatial variations of physical quantities, in
particular, moisture, in/around MCSs.
2. Participants:
Following research institutes and universities participated in this
observation:
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- MRI
- Communications Research Laboratory (CRL)
- NASDA
- National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention
(NRIESDP)
- Hokkaido University - Graduate School of Science (HU-S)
- Hokkaido University ? Low Temperature Science Institute (HU-LTSI)
- Center for Environmental Remote Sensing (CEReS)- Chiba University
- University of Tokyo - Ocean Research Institute (ORI)
- Institute for Hydrospheric-Atmospheric Sciences, Nagoya University
(IHAS)
- Radio Atmospheric Science Center, Kyoto University (RASC)
- Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University (DPRI)
- Osaka Electro-Communication University (OECU)
- Kagoshima University (KU)
3.Details of observations:
- Observation periods:
- Usual observation period (UOP); 00UTC 15 June - 00UTC 15 July.
- Intensive observation period (IOP); 15UTC 26 June - 15UTC 6 July.
- Observation systems:
Total observations are made by two parts;
- ground-based observations
- airplane observations.
Ground-based observations:
- JMA observation vessels: (IOP)
Keifu-maru (128.0E,31.0−30.5N), Chofu-maru (128.0E,32.5−32.0N),
Seifu-maru (129.0E,34.0N), Shumpu-maru (133.5E,32.33N).
Upper sounding; 4 times/day. (8 times/day in heavy precipitation cases)
PPI radar: Keifu-maru.
Microwave radiometer; Keifu-maru [CEReS].
- JMA operational upper sounding (Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naze) : (IOP)
Upper sounding; 4 times/day.
- Nagashima Town; (UOP)
Upper sounding; [MRI]
- 2 times/day during the UOP and 4 times/day during the IOP.
- 8 times/day observations are done when heavy precipitation happens.
- All observed data are routinely reported into JMA-NAPS.
Doppler radar; [HU-LTSI]
BLR; [RASC/OECU]
Microwave radiometer; [MRI]
GPS; [MRI]
Surface meteorological system; [MRI]
- Sendai City: (UOP)
Doppler radar; [NASDA]
Microwave radiometer; [NASDA]
GPS; [KU]
Surface meteorological system; [NASDA]
- Fukiage Town; (UOP)
Doppler radar; [HU-S]
BLR; [CRL]
GPS; [KU]
Surface meteorological system; [MRI/HU-S]
- Minamitane Town; (IOP)
Upper sounding; [ORI/MRI]
- 4 times/day.
- 8 times/day observations are done when heavy precipitation happens.
- All observed data are routinely reported into JMA-NAPS.
Surface meteorological system; [ORI]
- Koshiki Islands;
Upper sounding; [DPRI] (24 June - 30 June)
Surface meteorological system; [DPRI]
PPI radar; [DPRI]
GPS; [DPRI]
Raindrop measurement; [HU-S] (UOP)
- When TRMM passes over the surface network and there are precipitation systems, additional observation will be made.
Airplane observations:
- Observation period is from 14 June to 10 July, including preparation.
- Airplane observations are made by two parts; cloud probe mission and dynamic mission. In the cloud probe mission, direct measurements of inner structure in the clouds are aimed at. In the dynamic mission, environmental dynamic fields around the precipitation systems are measured.
- Cloud probe mission: 14 June - 25 June
GS−U (Cloud radar (SPIDAR)) [HU-S/CRL]
B200 (Probe) [MRI]
- Dynamic mission: 27 June - 6 July
Citation X (Dropsonde, microwave radiometer) [IHAS/MRI/CEReS/NRIESDP]
B200 (Precipitation radar (CAMPR)) [CRL]
4.Data archive:
- Most observation data (upper sounding, Doppler radar, and so on) are archived (CD-ROM) by MRI until January 2000, and delivered to all participants.
- JMA operational data (operational radar, AMeDAS, surface meteorological stations and so on) are collected by MRI.
When you have comments, please contact us freely.
Name: Masanori Yoshizaki
Address: 1-1 Nagamine,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-0052 JAPAN
Phone: 0298-53-8631
Facsimile: 0298-53-8649
emai: myoshiza@mri-jma.go.jp
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