Role of a Meso-γ Vortex in Meiyu Torrential Rainfall over the Hangzhou Bay, China:An Observational Study

A mesoscale torrential rainfall event that occurred over eastern China in June 2013 is analyzed by using observational data. The results show that a mesoscale convergence line and a weak convective cloud line formed over the northern part of the Hangzhou Bay during the onset of the torrential rainfall event. A meso-vortex appeared over the confluence point of northeasterly flow associated with the Yellow-Sea high, easterly flow from rainfall area, and southeasterly flow from the Hangzhou Bay. The meso-vortex with a horizontal scale of 10-20 km lasted for about 1 h for stable surface circulations. The analysis of radar retrieval reveals that the meso-vortex in the boundary layer occurred at the south of strong radar echo. The formation of the meso-vortex turned to enhance convergence and cyclonic vorticity in the lower troposphere, which strengthened updrafts that are tilted into convective clouds and caused torrential rainfall. Thus, the occurrence of the meso-vortex in boundary layer is one of the mechanisms that are responsible for the enhancement of convective development.