Wu et al. (2026) Characteristic Identification of Short-Term Heavy Rainfall in Plateau Mountainous Areas

Identification

• Journal: Lecture notes in civil engineering
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Qianwen Wu, Leilei Qin, Jun Liu, Yu Zhang
• DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-4889-7_31

Research Groups

• Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture Meteorological Bureau, Xichang, Sichuan, China
• China Three Gorges Construction Engineering (Group) Co., Ltd, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
• Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Short Summary

This study analyzes upper-air and surface meteorological data from 2012-2022 at the Baihetan Hydropower Station to identify the circulation backgrounds and physical characteristic parameters of four types of short-term heavy rainfall events in plateau mountainous areas, aiming to improve forecasting capabilities.

Objective

• To analyze and investigate the circulation backgrounds and physical characteristic parameters of four types of short-term heavy rainfall events (baroclinic frontogenesis, upper-level cold advection forcing, lower-level warm advection forcing, and quasi-baroclinic types) in plateau mountainous areas.
• To understand the climatic characteristics of plateau regions and provide a scientific basis for future forecasting and early warning systems to enhance short-term heavy rainfall forecasting capability.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Baihetan Hydropower Station dam area, located in a plateau mountainous region of Southwest China.
• Temporal Scale: 11 years (2012 to 2022).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly mentioned. The study uses analysis of meteorological parameters and synoptic configurations based on established classification criteria (e.g., China Short-Term Heavy Rainfall Forecast Manual).
• Data sources: Upper-air and surface meteorological data from the Baihetan Hydropower Station. Sounding data from Xichang and Weining stations.

Main Results

• Four dominant types of short-term heavy rainfall were identified at the Baihetan Hydropower Station: baroclinic frontogenesis (41.4% of cases), upper-level cold advection forcing (24.1%), lower-level warm advection forcing (17.2%), and quasi-baroclinic (17.2%). No elevated thunderstorm type events were observed.
• Baroclinic Frontogenesis Type:
  • Hourly rainfall intensity typically 20-40 mm, with a maximum recorded value of 32.3 mm.
  • Circulation: Upper-level divergence (200 hPa), eastward-moving plateau trough with cold advection (500 hPa), southwesterly low-level airflow/jet and shear zones (700 hPa), and surface thermal low/convergence lines.
  • Physical parameters: Showalter Index (SI) generally ≤ 0.0 °C (minimum -3.69 °C), Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) around 1000 J/kg, Convective Inhibition (CIN) typically < 100 J/kg. Stratification is often "dry aloft, moist below" or "hourglass-shaped".
• Upper-Level Cold Advection Forcing Type:
  • Produces relatively intense hourly rainfall, with a maximum of 46.6 mm.
  • Circulation: Upper-level divergence (200 hPa), eastward-moving plateau trough with strong cold advection (500 hPa), southward-shifting shear lines with strong cold advection (700 hPa), and surface cold front/thermal lows with convergence lines.
  • Physical parameters: SI generally ≤ 0.0 °C (minimum -4.58 °C), moist layer thickness (Hwet) typically > 3000 m (maximum 10300.9 m), "dry aloft and moist below" stratification. Strong vertical wind shear in mid-to-lower or near-surface layers. Temperature difference between 500 hPa and 700 hPa exceeds 16 °C.
• Low-Level Warm Advection Forcing Type:
  • Hourly rainfall rates typically 20-30 mm, with a maximum of 34.3 mm.
  • Circulation: Upper-level divergence (200 hPa), eastward-moving plateau trough/periphery of high (weak/absent cold advection) (500 hPa), low-level jets/southwesterly/southerly warm-moist air transport (no cold advection) (700 hPa), and surface thermal low/southerly flow (weak cold air impact).
  • Physical parameters: SI generally ≤ 0.0 °C (minimum -2.42 °C), CAPE relatively low (maximum 1368.2 J/kg), Hwet varies significantly (up to 7040.4 m), "inverted V" or "hourglass" stratification. Weak vertical wind shear in mid-to-lower or near-surface layers. Temperature difference between 500 hPa and 700 hPa exceeds 16 °C.
• Quasi-Barotropic Type:
  • Hourly rainfall intensities typically 20-30 mm, with a maximum of 37.0 mm.
  • Circulation: Upper-level divergence (200 hPa), easterly/northeasterly flow on southern flank of continental high/subtropical high (500 hPa), warm-moist air influx from south/southwest (little cold advection) (700 hPa), and surface pressure equilibrium field (no significant cold air intrusion).
  • Physical parameters: SI generally ≤ 0.0 °C (minimum -2.11 °C), CAPE relatively low (maximum 1882.1 J/kg), Hwet shallow (maximum 2638.8 m) and concentrated in lower atmospheric layers. Weak vertical wind shear in mid-to-lower or near-surface layers.

Contributions

• Provides a detailed classification and characterization of short-term heavy rainfall events specific to the plateau mountainous region of the Baihetan Hydropower Station, which is crucial for infrastructure safety.
• Identifies distinct circulation backgrounds and physical characteristic parameters (e.g., SI, CAPE, Hwet, vertical wind shear, temperature gradients) for four dominant types of short-term heavy rainfall in this complex terrain.
• Offers a scientific basis for improving local forecasting and early warning systems for severe convective weather, addressing a critical need for hazard mitigation in hydropower construction areas.

Funding

• No explicit funding information is provided in the paper text.

Citation

@article{Wu2026Characteristic,
  author = {Wu, Qianwen and Qin, Leilei and Liu, Jun and Zhang, Yu},
  title = {Characteristic Identification of Short-Term Heavy Rainfall in Plateau Mountainous Areas},
  journal = {Lecture notes in civil engineering},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/978-981-95-4889-7_31},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-4889-7_31}
}