S-band and X-band Radar Observation Characteristics of EF2 Tornado at Qingyuan of Baoding in 2021

Chen Xuejiao; Hua Jiajia; Pei Yujie; Wang Zhenchao; Liu Shu; Liu Shujun; Wang Fuxia

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20240505

Vol.35, NO.5, 2024

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Article Navigation > Journal of Applied Meteorological Science > 2024 > 35(5): 564-576

Chen Xuejiao, Hua Jiajia, Pei Yujie, et al. S-band and X-band radar observation characteristics of EF2 tornado at Qingyuan of Baoding in 2021. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(5): 564-576. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240505.

Citation:

Chen Xuejiao, Hua Jiajia, Pei Yujie, et al. S-band and X-band radar observation characteristics of EF2 tornado at Qingyuan of Baoding in 2021. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(5): 564-576. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240505.

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S-band and X-band Radar Observation Characteristics of EF2 Tornado at Qingyuan of Baoding in 2021

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240505

Chen Xuejiao^{1, 2, 3},
Hua Jiajia^{1, 3},
Pei Yujie^{4
,
,},
Wang Zhenchao^{1, 3},
Liu Shu^{1, 3},
Liu Shujun^{1, 3},
Wang Fuxia⁴

1.
China Meteorological Administration Xiong'an Atmospheric Boundary Layer Key Laboratory, Xiong'an New Area 070001
2.
Key Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of CMA, Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing 210041
3.
Hebei Xiong'an New Area Meteorological Service, Xiong'an New Area 070001
4.
Hebei Meteorological Observatory, Shijiazhuang 050000

Received Date: 2024-05-25
Rev Recd Date: 2024-08-14
Publish Date: 2024-09-30

Abstract

Abstract

Using multiple observations such as S-band radar (SPOL) in Shijiazhuang, X-band phased array radar (XPAR) in Xiong'an, and ground-based encrypted automatic stations, detection features and evolutions of EF2 tornado at Donglü Village, Qingyuan District of Baoding City Hebei Province on 21 July 2021 are studied. The tornado occurred within the center of high dew point values and in an area characterized by a significant temperature gradient. There are convergence lines within the center of high dew point temperatures and a temperature gradient zone. From perspectives of environmental conditions such as convective available potential energy (CAPE), 0-6 km vertical wind shear, and the lifting condensation level (LCL), there is a possibility for tornado occurrence. It is evident that the tornado formed within a low-vortex precipitation cloud system, showing significant divergence at high altitudes. The subsequent storm propagation leads to multiple single-cell mergers and a supercell formation. A significant reflectivity factor core moving from southeast to northwest is observed at the top of hook echo, corresponding to the tornado location. Both SPOL and XPAR detected continuous mesocyclones on average radial velocity images, with dimensions ranging from 1.4 to 4.2 km, and rotating speeds of 10-20 m·s^-1, indicating weak mesocyclones with short durations (30-35 min). During tornado development, a decrease in the lower angle detection of adjacent rotational speed pairs coincides with mesocyclone downward extension to 1.2-1.4 km and its diameter shrinking to 0.8-1 km, indicating tornado formation. Tornado storm parameters show maximum rotation speed and vorticity at low levels, promoting its intensification. Compared with XPAR storm parameters, SPOL features a larger maximum reflectivity factor (noless than 55 dBZ) and a greater distribution height (8-10 km). The consistency of SPOL and XPAR in detecting the tornado location, radial velocity, and storm diameter is compared. On the radar radial velocity image, there are pairs of positive and negative velocity values arranged symmetrically along the radial direction. The echo top of XPAR radar is approximately 6 km higher than that of SPOL radar, and the peak time of XPAR echo coincides with the storm's appearance. The tornado vortex signature (TVS) reaches its strongest period from 1536 BT to 1542 BT, extending vertically up to 2-4 km.
- tornado;
- storm characteristic parameters;
- X-band phased array radar;
- mesocyclone

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References(38)

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1 Photo of tornado at Donglü Village, Qingyuan District, Baoding City, Hebei Province on 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 2 500 hPa geopotential height (the blue contour, unit: hPa), 500 hPa temperature (the red dashed line, unit: ℃) with 850 hPa wind (the barb) (a) and pressure (the blue contour, unit: hPa) with wind (the barb) at the surface(b) at 0800 BT 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 3 Time-height section of physical elements at Qingyuan Station from 0800 BT 21 Jul to 0800 BT 22 Jul in 2021 (the shaded denotes specific humidity, the curve denotes vertical velocity(unit: Pa·s^-1) and the barb denotes wind)

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Fig. 4 Hook shaped echoes over Donglü Village, Qingyuan at 0.5° elevtion of Shijiazhuang SPOL on 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 5 Reflectivity factor and radial velocity of SPOL at 1548 BT 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 6 Comparison of combined reflectivity factor and radial velocity of SPOL at 1548 BT and XPAR at 1544 BT on 21 Jul 2021(a)combined reflectivity factor of SPOL, (b)combined reflectivity factor of XPAR, (c)radial velocity at 0.5° elevation of SPOL, (d)radial velocity at 3.0° elevation of XPAR

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Fig. 7 Radial velocity of XPAR at 155130 BT 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 8 Tornado storm parameters of SPOL and XPAR from 1530 BT to 1600 BT on 21 Jul 2021(a)maximum reflectivity factor, (b)height of maximum reflectivity factor, (c)vertical integrated liquid water content, (d)echo top height

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Fig. 9 Maximum positive and negative velocities of mesocyclone with different elevation angles of SPOL and XPAR from 1530 BT to 1600 BT on 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 10 Low elevation rotation velocity and the maximum vorticity of mesocyclone from SPOL and XPAR on 21 Jul 2021

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Fig. 11 Mesocyclone(a) and TVS parameters(b) of XPAR on 21 Jul 2021

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Table 1 Statistical table of characteristic parameters of mesocyclone

仰角/(°)		旋转速度/(m·s^-1)		涡度/s^-1		直径/km
XPAR	SPOL	XPAR	SPOL	XPAR	SPOL	XPAR	SPOL
0.0	0.5	12.8	11.0	12.4	10.4	4.8	4.7
1.5	1.5	13.2	11.1	13.0	9.1	4.9	5.1
3.0	2.4	13.8	8.8	12.0	8.0	5.3	4.6
4.5	3.4	13.6	7.1	12.2	9.3	5.3	3.8
6.0	4.3	13.6	8.3	10.5	8.5	6.1	3.6
7.5	6.0	12.5	5.8	11.6	3.8	5.2	5.8

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