Recognition Method of the Tibetan Plateau Vortex Based on Meteorological Satellite Data

Based on long-term meteorological satellite data and multi-source observation and reanalysis datasets, the recognition method of the Tibetan Plateau vortex is studied. Based on the method, the Plateau weather analysis software is developed and the vortex dataset of almost 30 years is established. The location, track and distribution of low vortexes based on yearbooks and satellite are compared and the origin region, track and seasonal distribution of low vortexes are studied. Results show that the height and wind fields over the Tibetan Plateau of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset are the most consistent with sounding data which can be used to identify the Tibetan Plateau vortex. Climate vortexes from satellite show there are two vortex activity centers located in the east and the west of the Plateau, respectively. In the eastern part of the Plateau with several sounding stations, high value vortex activity centers are coincided with which from yearbooks(east of 90°E).In winter, the frequency of vortex activity from satellite data is obviously higher than that from yearbooks caused by the activity of vortex in the western part of the Plateau. The analysis of annual vortex tracks also show that vortexes from the satellite recognition are in good agreement with that from yearbooks except for the central, western and southern parts of the Plateau without sounding stations, which indicates that vortex data from the satellite recognition is feasible in the eastern part of the Plateau. After three new sounding stations are built in the central and western part of the Plateau in 2015, vortexes in yearbook show there are several vortexes to the west of 90°E near new stations which account for about 22% of the total number in 2015. The distribution of vortex from satellite and yearbook is accordant near three new stations which indicates the credibility of vortex data from the satellite recognition in the central and western part of the Plateau. Therefore, vortexes from satellite recognition are consistent with vortexes from yearbooks when there are sounding stations and it also can be used to track the origin of the vortex. At the same time, it also can identify vortexes occurring in western part of the Plateau, especially in winter. It is an effective supplement to the low vortex yearbook datasets.