Diagnostic Analysis of Diabatic Heating in an Extreme Rainfall Event in Shandong Province, China

Abstract

This study utilizes data from national ground meteorological observation stations in Shandong province, Fengyun-4 satellite data, and ERA5 reanalysis data. Through the calculation of atmospheric heat source changes, the role of diabatic heating in the occurrence and development of heavy rainfall is revealed. The widespread heavy-to-torrential rainfall event in Shandong province on 25 June 2018 is analyzed as a case study. It was found that a deep and robust southwest jet stream was the key system for the formation of this rainfall event. Satellite cloud images during the peak rainfall period showed vigorous development in the rainfall cloud region. During the concentrated rainfall period and when the low-altitude jet stream strengthened, there was mostly cold advection overhead at the observation station. The low-altitude jet stream transported moisture, increasing the humidity gradient, thus enhancing frontogenesis. The warm advection in the low-altitude jet stream was not the main energy supplier during heavy rainfall, and local temperature variations were the primary contributors to the thermodynamic conditions during the peak rainfall period. The rate of warming caused by the condensation and release of heat from water vapor significantly increased during the concentrated rainfall period. This warming effect played a heating role in the middle and lower layers, and the positive feedback from the latent heat release of water vapor condensation intensified the weather system affecting the rainfall, providing strong thermodynamic and dynamic conditions for heavy rainfall. © 2024 by the authors.