ANALYSIS OF A STRONG MESOSCALE ENERGY FRONT CAUSING AN EXCEPTIONAL RAINSTORM^*

Under the outer-region effect of Typhoon Prapiroon (No.0012),an exceptional rainstorm occurred in northeastern Jiangsu Province from 0200 BT (Beijing Time) 30 August to 0800 BT 31 August 2000,which is an event of noticeable locality,abruptness,high intensity,a new record of rainfall measurement in history and very heavy damage caused,leading to the 24 h rainfall of 801.6 mm in County Xiangshui as the center of the rainstorm in the second quadrant of the outer region of the typhoon,i.e.,the northeastern Jiangsu Province,where a meso-β energy frontal zone is available at surface,serving as a weather system for generating and maintaining the exceptional rainstorm.Frontogenesis function used in diagnosing the production and development of the frontal zone displays different effects as follows:the deformation term plays a decisive role,the convergence term makes substantial contribution,but diabatic heating has some effect in the initial stage but less on the maintenance.Numerical study of a two-dimensional mesoscale equation shows that the driving around the frontal zone causes a vortex,whose ascending leg transports upwards warm and moist air from the high-energy area to such a level as to make it into cloud for precipitation and whose descending branch is liable for quick falling of raindrops and drawing cold air down onto surface for temperature drop there,allowing the frontal zone to be maintained and intensified,thus making rainfall intensity increased greatly.Comprehensive research indicates that when such a frontal zone is established the interactions among the convergent line,mesolow, mesohigh and driving-generated disturbance vortex in the neighborhood of the frontal zone are finally for the occurrence of the exceptional rainstorm.