Comparative analysis of heavy rainfall area between landfalling typhoon LUPIT (2109) and typhoon LISA (9610)

Abstract

Based on the ERA5 reanalysis data and the surface observations from automatic weather stations, a comparative analysis has been conducted to investigate the differences in heavy rainfall distributions caused by two landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs): LUPIT (2109) and LISA (9610). The two TCs have similar tracks, intensity and landing points, but show different asymmetric features in their rainstorm location relative to their tracks. The results indicate that the TC rainfall differences are mainly caused by different rainstorm formation mechanisms. The wind shear contributes most to the rainstorm of LISA, while land-sea contrast and topographical effect are the main factors of LUPIT rainstorm. Under the influence of strong environmental vertical wind shear and the weak cold air invasion from the west, the circulation center of LISA tilts westward with height, which cooperates with the low-level water vapor convergence and vertical ascending movement on the western side of the TC center to jointly cause the heavy rainstorm to the west of LISA center. In contrast, LUPIT has weak environmental vertical wind shear and no obvious structure tilting with height. Topographic effect plays a crucial role in causing the heavy rainstorm on the north of TC center. The southeasterly jet is blocked by the Taimu Mountain in the northeastern Fujian Province, and the strong ascending motion caused by the terrain-induced convergence appears to the north of LUPIT center. In addition, the moisture convergence is more pronounced in the north and weaker in the south. The intrusion of weak cold air from the east to the coastal areas of central-northern Fujian, and the moisture-convergence distribution, jointly cause the heavy rainstorm to the north of LUPIT.

Keywords

• Similar track
• Tropical cyclone structure
• Vertical wind shear
• Cold air
• Topographic effect