Initiation Mechanism of Meso-β Scale Convective Systems

With the aid of the Penn State-NCAR MM5 model, the initiation mechanism of meso-β scaleconvective systems (MCS) is investigated on the basis of simulation of the temporal and spatialthermodynamic structure of the MCS that occurred in Wuhan, Hubei, China and its surrounding area on 21July 1998. Using the PV inversion method, comparisons among the upper-, middle-, and low-leveltropospheric potential vorticity (PV) perturbations, as well as their effects on the initiation of MCS, indicatethat the low-level tropospheric PV perturbations play an important role in the triggering of MCS. Furtheranalysis reveals that the interaction between the southwest low-level jet and the gravity-inertia wave indeedinitiates MCS in the conditionally unstable ambient atmosphere.