Lu et al. (2025) Mountain-plain solenoid over a deep basin modified by the Tibetan Plateau terrain effects on synoptic circulations

Identification

• Journal: Atmospheric Research
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-21
• Authors: Zhen Lu, Jun Hu, Tianliang Zhao, Yuqing Zhang, Guicai Ning, Qingjian Yang, Xiaoyun Sun, Zhikuan Li, Deyang Wang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108646

Research Groups

• Key Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
• Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Fujian Academy of Environmental Sciences, Fuzhou 350011, China
• Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Science and Satellite Remote Sensing, Anhui Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Hefei 230031, China

Short Summary

This study investigates how the Tibetan Plateau's topography modifies the Mountain-Plain Solenoid (MPS) circulation over the Sichuan Basin under different synoptic wind patterns, identifying two distinct MPS types (Westerly-type and Easterly-type) with varying vertical structures and intensities.

Objective

• To understand the mechanical influences of Tibetan Plateau (TP) topography on Mountain-Plain Solenoid (MPS)-type circulation, specifically how it is modulated by synoptic circulations.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (Tibetan Plateau, Sichuan Basin), mesoscale atmospheric circulation.
• Temporal Scale: Synoptic patterns, with implications for the frequent occurrence of the phenomenon.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
• Data sources: K-means clustering was used for identification. Specific data sources (e.g., reanalysis, observations) are not mentioned in the provided text.

Main Results

• Two types of Mountain-Plain Solenoid (MPS) were identified using K-means clustering, distinguished by their synoptic background of westerly and easterly winds between the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and Sichuan Basin (SCB).
• Westerly-type MPS (W-MPS): Characterized by weak high-pressure systems over the southeastern SCB. Lower-tropospheric westerlies away from the TP's eastern slope induce lee-side downdrafts, which suppress the W-MPS circulation by offsetting the plateau-basin thermal forcing.
• Easterly-type MPS (E-MPS): Linked to weak high-pressure and post-trough systems over the basin, featuring prevailing easterlies flowing onto the TP's eastern slope in the lower troposphere.
• The TP terrain blocking of easterly winds in E-MPS triggers two vertical circulations (one in the free troposphere and another in the lower boundary layer), which jointly intensify the MPS circulation over the SCB, forming an "ultrahigh" MPS with a vertical structure extending up to the mid-troposphere (around 500 hPa).

Contributions

• Reveals distinct patterns of MPS modified by the TP's topographic forcing on synoptic circulations, moving beyond studies focused solely on thermal effects.
• Deepens the understanding of how the synergistic thermal and dynamic forcing of the TP terrain regulates regional atmospheric circulations.
• Highlights the significant role of mechanical and dynamical forcings (large-scale terrain effects and synoptic-scale circulations) in modulating the vertical structure and configuration of MPS.

Funding

• Not mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Lu2025Mountainplain,
  author = {Lu, Zhen and Hu, Jun and Zhao, Tianliang and Zhang, Yuqing and Ning, Guicai and Yang, Qingjian and Sun, Xiaoyun and Li, Zhikuan and Wang, Deyang},
  title = {Mountain-plain solenoid over a deep basin modified by the Tibetan Plateau terrain effects on synoptic circulations},
  journal = {Atmospheric Research},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108646},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108646}
}